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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Testimony

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 7 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. 

Edit:  
July of 2013 we moved to Garrett County, Md.  I was very happy to be moving but sad to be leaving Harvester.  
I am now looking for another church and trust God to find another great church for me. : )

Edit:  September 2013
After going to a few churches and them just not feeling right we hit upon Mountain Lake Independent Baptist church with Pastor Leatherman as the pastor.  This is the church for us and we have been going for the past month or so with plans to join.  
I knew God wouldn't send us here without another great church in mind for us.  
I am happy to say that Ken now goes to church with me.  It is an answer to my prayer. : ) 

Edit:  On December 17, 2013 we joined the church. : ) 


Born again

23 comments:

The Furry Gnome said...

Dear Happyone, I've been following your blog with interest for several weeks now (thanks for visiting mine). I've even gone back and read some of the past, learning about your purchase of your Happy Trails property. I appreciate your testimony; life isn't always easy, but strong faith can help get us through. Have you ever read Edwin Way Teale's book 'A Naturalist Buys an Old Farm'? I thought of it immediately when I read about your Happy Trails. Good luck in your new community!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a wonderful testimony as to how God works all things out.

I'm glad your marriage was restored and that you are still together with God as the head of your family.

Have a lovely Christmas holiday season.

FlowerLady

mzzbev said...

What an awesome God we serve. He has been so good to us too, we are all so blessed. :)

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed reading your testimony. I think my parents were married in Garrett County, MD. They lived in WV at the time and my husband's uncle drove them! Isn't life funny sometimes?

M.K. said...

Thanks for sharing your testimony! That was a joy to read. Okay, now I know your husband's name is Ken, but I still don't know YOUR name, and I feel silly calling you Happy :)

Sola Scriptura said...

I enjoyed reading this, thank you for sharing!

Christine said...

Thank you so much for sharing your testimony. I thank God for His mercy & saving grace in your life & that we are members together of His body!
God bless you & your family!

Lisa said...

What a great testimony. I'm so happy your marriage was put back together Gods way. I am a firm believer that a marriage just will not survive unless God is in it. I was brought up in a Baptist church. I'm blessed to have a husband that goes to church too even though he attends a different denomination. We are so happy.
Lisa

Rose said...

This was special to read...I really enjoyed reading it.

Debby Ray said...

I have been reading your blog for a while now but never read your testimony until now. Thank you for sharing this and I am sure that this have given a lot of encouragement to someone who especially needed the message in it. God is a good, good Father, isn't He? Blessings to you!

Louca por porcelana said...

Thanks for sharing.Hugs.Maristella.

Turn The Page said...

Amen Sister! READ BOB GOFF!!!

Breathing In Grace said...

What an awesome testimony!!! I told my husband that I believe God worked a miracle in our marriage....he says it was a blessing....I privately disagree and still say it's a miracle...God is good! <3

Anonymous said...

Oh This is Awesome :-) Thank you for sharing

NanaDiana said...

This is a wonderful testimony to the power of God. love it.
I can't find a way to comment on your daily blog. Am I missing it or are comments closed there? Hugs- Diana

Jeff said...

I'm so thankful that I found your blog through my friend Inger's blog, "Desert Canyon Living." I love your testimony! Being a Christian is the best part of my life, and I believe that without Jesus in my life, I wouldn't be the husband and dad that I need to be for my girls. Thank you for sharing! God is good! ~Jeff

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

Checked out your blog while I was going through a list someone else was following. Thanks for sharing your story/testimony. Life isn't easy and so thankful you listened to God's voice and your life and marriage became more blessed. Praying all is well with you.

Sandi said...

This was wonderful to read, Karen. 😊 Thank you fo sharing it with us!

Tina said...

My mother recommended your blog to me and I love it. What an encouragement you are. Thank you so much for sharing your testimony and most of all, Jesus.

Kathie said...

I'm so thankful to you for sharing! What God allows, He will always see you through. Your testimony is one of resilience, faith and love. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing that wonderful testimony!

God Bless!

ellen b. said...

Been visiting for a while now and finally noticed the testimony tab. It was nice to get to know a little more of your journey with our Savior. God bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you!

Faith said...

I just found your blog!! I'm totally into hiking and of course here in eastern NY that is much too difficult in the winter months so I walk daily. Right now I'm only walking about 2 miles a day but i'd like to get up to 2 miles in the morning and 2 in the late afternoon. I'm recently retired from teaching Special needs prek children so my days are a lot emptier now :)

I'm loving this testimony!! GOD IS GOOD. Praise Him that you chose to follow him and that your husband is back in your life. What a blessing.