Walking is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things. It is the one way of freedom. If you go to a place on anything but your own feet you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that were waiting for you by the wayside. Elizabeth von Arnim

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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Newsletter

Only time for a 4.5 mile walk this morning before church.  It was a cloudy morning and 30 degrees.  Walked down a couple of paths and a little on the sidewalks.  A few others were out walking dogs.
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There is a small newsletter for the women at church and each month one of the woman writes her Testimony and it is put into this newsletter.  I was asked to write one and mine was in the February issue.  I thought I'd share it with you here.

I was born and raised in northern New Jersey into a church going family.  It seemed we were always at church and I asked Jesus to come into my life at the young age of 6 one morning during Sunday school.   Jesus has always been part of my life, though I have not always put him first.

My parent’s marriage was not a happy one and when I was a teenager they got divorced.  Our church was not pleased and the people turned their backs on them and they both stopped going to church.  I went to Sunday school for a while but then I too stopped going.

When I was 18 my mom remarried and starting going to a new church.  I went a few times but not regularly.

I was married at 20 and my husband was in the military so we traveled around a lot and lived over seas for seven years.  It was a great life and we enjoyed our lives together.  We were blessed with two children.  During that time I went to a couple of churches on base but never really enjoyed going.  Back in the states I again tried a few different churches but nothing ever really clicked with me.
I eventually quit trying and didn’t go to church for years!!  I have  always read my Bible and prayed and thought that was enough for me.

Through the years my husband and family became number one in my life and God got put in second place.  
We were happily married for 37 years when things started to go a bit wrong in our marriage.  You see my husband had become my idol and God had to show me how wrong that was.  Of course I didn’t see that at first. 
The more I tried to hold on to my husband the more he pulled away and finally he left home and we lived apart for four months.
To back up a little bit we bought a townhouse in the middle of our troubles and there just happened to be a church down the road from where we lived. I passed right by it every morning going on my morning walk.  I kept having the feeling that I should go there but I kept ignoring it and thinking I just didn’t need to go to church again.  I read my Bible.  I prayed.  I was saved.
But when my husband left I was totally devastated and felt so alone and for a time I was depressed.  I prayed with all my heart for him to come home but it just wasn’t happening.  It was then that I finally listened to that voice, which I now believe was God telling me to go back to church.  Telling me that He was to be Number One in my life.  I wasn’t listening to Him and He had to do something to get my attention.  He did!!  

That church down the road was Harvester Baptist Church and the moment I walked in the door I felt like I had come home and I knew I belonged here.   After attending a few months I decided to be baptized and became part of this church. 
Being on my own and putting God first where He should be I began to change for the better and so did my life.   My husband and I worked things out with the help of a Christian counselor and my husband moved back home and we once again have a happy marriage.
I am thankful and blessed to be part of this church family.
Life is good and with God Number One in my life I know things are as they should be.

Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.


May you all have a blessed Sunday.
Happyone

11 comments:

Betsy Banks Adams said...

What an inspirational story, Karen. So glad, with God's help, that you and your husband could work things out... Sounds like you all have a great marriage now. Praise be to God for that.

Where are the children now? You may have talked about them---but I don't remember hearing much (since I started reading your blog).

Thanks so much for sharing this with us... Like I said, you are an inspiration to others.

Hugs,
Betsy

Retired Knitter said...

What a wonderful story. Maybe that is my problem ... I just haven't found the right church. Worth thinking about.

Fortunately when things were down and I turned to God in my heart, I got the help I needed. I believe in a very personal relationship with God. I also believe that God is accepting of all the ways in which we come to him, that no one way is right for all people. I am glad you finally found the way that works for you.
RetiredKnitter-Elaine

Anonymous said...

A beautiful story - thank you for sharing. Jet

Gwendolyn said...

Thank you so much Karen, for sharing your testimony with us. What a wonderful example you two are, of putting the Lord first in your life and committing to working out those difficulties in a marriage relationship. It is so worth doing things God's way! As I work with young mothers, I see their need for patience and humility and a self-sacrificing love and how it breaks my heart to see them take the quick and easy way out, though in the end, it does not bring happiness! But you are the Happyone! You chose well!! Many blessings!

Jeanne said...

Thank you for sharing your testimony. It is a good feeling to have a church home and church family isn't it! I also spent a long time not having this and now that we do I'm so very grateful! God bless you for making Him number one in your life!

Happy@Home said...

A wonderful testimony you have shared. It sure sounds like the right church came into your life at just the right time.
It's hard to believe that the members of your parent's church would turn their backs on them like that. Somehow that doesn't sound very Christian to me.
At any rate, I'm glad all has worked our well for you.

Vee said...

I remember at the beginning of the difficulties when you shared that you would still be "Happyone." That impressed me so very much because I felt then that you would be okay no matter which way things turned out. I'm so happy that the Lord put it all back together for you both. Wonderful testimony, Karen. It brought tears to my eyes.

Goosey said...

What a great testimony Karen, it's very easy to put other people or things before God, and I think we have all been guilty of that at some time.Thank you for sharing your story, it made me think whether I put God first or not.

Anonymous said...

Very inspirational and so grateful to you for sharing the plus and minus points of your life. I'm so pleased that you have found what is important to you in your life and how happy it has made you.

♥ Helen said...

That is a beautiful story of your life. I am very happy you found that church where you felt like home and that you and your husband came back together again. Thank you for being so open and sharing with us.

Cheryl said...

Thank you for sharing your story Karen. It really is inspirational. I've seen your life change so much! I'm so happy that things are as they should be.