My Testimony

It is amazing how one can be lost for words when attempting to tell of the mercy and love of Christ...

I am 39 years old, a wife of 13 years to my husband Paul, and the mother of 3 wonderful children, ages 6,9, and 11 years old. I was introduced to Jesus from the beginning of my life, where I grew up in a loving, Christian home. I have a younger sister, and I remember always being in the Baptist Church. (My grandmother was Pentecostal, and my other was Southern Baptist).

I accepted Jesus into my heart at the age of 10 one night at a church camp. The invitation was given, and I accepted. After that time, I was very involved in the children's activities and youth. However, as time passed, I did not walk with Jesus by my side. By my teenage years, I was a "Sunday Christian", and went to church to see my friends. I did not read the Bible, and prayed only with meals, and before tests! I was "saved", but Jesus was not "my Lord".

I went to college and earned my B.A. in Psychology, and then went on to Nursing School. I earned my A.D.N and became a registered nurse. I married my husband, who was raised Catholic. We did not go to church at all until our daughter was 3 years old. We joined a Methodist church, and I was involved in many social activities for women. I picked up where I had left off, and was a Sunday Christian once again.

Some years passed by, and it was not until our 3rd child was born that everything changed. I sank into a deep depression, and was at rock-bottom. I hated my life. My husband would have to return home everyday from work at 2pm, so that I could go upstairs and go to bed. I think it lasted for months, but I really do not remember.

By God's grace, I woke up one Sunday morning, and knew I had to get to the Baptist church right around the corner from our house. I knew they would offer an invitation at the end of the sermon, and I knew I needed to go. I sat on the 2nd row on the end, so that I would only have to take 2 steps to reach the pastor. And when the invitation was extended to make Jesus my Savior and lord, I accepted.

I came home a different woman that day. I was finally free. My eyes were changed immediately, and what I saw of my life was wretched. None of my "friends" walked with Jesus, and my husband did not know Him personally. I called my parents and shared my news with them, and they rejoiced!

I wanted to get baptized again, because this time, I understood what it meant. So I did, and rededicated my life to make Jesus my Lord.

As I was growing in the Lord, I had to have numerous surgeries (4) in a 3 month period. I learned humility, trust, and saw the love of Christ in every person who helped my family during that time. Christians I did not even know provided meals for my family every night for 30 days straight. Then, they provided help and meals as the other surgeries happened. I never had seen the Lord so merciful.

Later that same year, in 2003, we moved here to Chapin, because of my husband's job. We both grew up in Columbia, so our prayer to finally return home was answered. I prayed that the Lord would send women in my path, who were on fire for Him, and who walked with Him. Within 48 hours of our move, we were at Chapin Baptist, and I found my friends.

I joined the church a few months later because I wanted to sing in the choir and be a part of the Prayer ministry. It was not long after joining, that I received the news I had Malignant Melanoma. A mole on my neck was cancerous, and my life changed.

I went to the prayer room at my church a few days after receiving the news. I fell to my knees and pleaded with God. I told Him that I had only recently discovered my spiritual gifts. I told Him I was not ready to die. I vowed that if He spared me, I would live my life for Him and honor Him with all I had. I screamed and cried, and then I trusted and believed.

To make a long story short, He healed me. The cancer did not spread to my body, and I underwent some chemo-type medication for a short while. My body could not tolerate the side effects of the medicine, and I had to discontinue it. That was 2 years ago, and the doctors watch me closely. My Great Physician, Jesus, takes care of me daily.

I have been walking with Christ, and He has been my" Everything" since this tragic time. Our Lord promises to work everything out for His good, so during the "cancer days", my husband asked Jesus into his heart. Praise God that He can be glorified in any situation if we seek His face and His will. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to get our focus on Him.

The more I learn about Christ, the more time I spend seeking His face, the deeper in love I fall with Him. He has blessed me beyond measure. The Lord sent me to Brazil on my first Mission trip this past July, and it was a life-changing experience. He commissioned me to bind up the broken-hearted with the Word of God, and to encourage the lost and hurting with prayer and His Word. The Lord has opened many doors for me to do just these things which I dearly love, and I give Him the glory and thanksgiving for using me. I am not worthy.

I have recently made a vow to God to live my life more seriously for Him. I do not want to ever be "lukewarm" in my heart for Jesus, though at times I find myself not focusing on Christ as I should. The Holy Spirit is grieved when we don't spend time with Him, and study His Word to know his Son better. My soul grieves when the Spirit is grieved within me.

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Whatever you do...

Do you want to know what the most incredible part of this writing ministry is to me?

The Most High God, the Lord Jesus Christ, has you in every vision and ever story He gives me to write. He takes me places and has me walk in your footsteps, seeing Him with your eyes, and feeling Him with your heart.

I merely write about what I witness.

I try my best to put into words simply what I see.

I see you, my Dear Reader.

I thank you for inspiring me to share Jesus with you. I thank you for encouraging me in this ministry, and for allowing me to share my heart with you.

May I always glorify our Lord Jesus Christ.

For His Glory,
         Alison