Favorite Things February #18: Testimony

On Sunday night at our small group bible study, the question was asked "When did you first realize that salvation was a free gift from God?" For some this may be an easy question to answer, some others may have think about when they actually realized this fact, and still others may not yet realize it. This question caused a few in the group to give their testimony. This is one of my favorite things, hearing people's testimonies on how God has worked or is working in their lives. Some people have "normal" stories like Timothy who learned about God at a young age ( (Ph. 2:22) and others are the Paul on the Damascus road type stories.

For me, I have a "normal" story. However, if we really look at the grace of God, the fact that we are even a chosen child of God is far from normal. It's pretty amazing, actually. But, anyway, I was brought up in a Christian home. When I say that, I mean to say that my parents both taught us from day 1 about Jesus and his saving work on the cross. I always knew that "Jesus loves me for the bible tells me so." My parents walked what they talked and encouraged us to make decisions in light of what the Scriptures said. In the denomination I grew up in we were taught the catechism from junior high on. What is your only comfort in life and death? (Anyone?!) We knew it and were expected to know it. However, it wasn't until my Junior year in high school that it really sunk in that it's more than head knowledge, it has to be heart knowledge with a personal relationship with Christ. That impacted me when I was 16, but then college came. Going away from home (especially from California to the wilds of Iowa) can really do something to a naive and insecure 18 year old. (As a side note, my kids will be home schooled for college). Unfortunately, in my quest to find security and acceptance, I looked to worldly standards. Instead of standing on the rock of Jesus, I crawled through the sinking sand of shallow relationships and poor decisions.

When I had met Dan, I was searching for a real relationship. One that wasn't based on weekend plans or partying hard. It was through my relationship with him, that I started to go back to my relationship with Christ. We were both searching for something more when it came to Christ in our lives. We knew where to start (because we both had been brought up in the same type of home) and we were getting to the point in our relationship that we knew we were in it for the long haul. Our decisions were going to impact each other. We knew we had to turn to Christ to be the center of our lives and especially the center of our future together. Ten days after we got married, Jesus took my dad to His heavenly home. It was a shock to all of us, but you can bet that it didn't take God by surprise. It was through this experience that my relationship with Christ became really real. My Savior is real and what he did for me was really real. It's more than just a few questions and answers, it's a lifestyle. It's daily denying yourself and picking up your cross to follow him.

That has been my testimony. As a wife and especially as a mom, I can appreciate God's grace shown to me even more. He is a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness (Ps. 86:15). I fail at all those things, miserably at times, but He is a God whose grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). The only standard I should aim for is His.

To hear the stories of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have put their trust is Christ alone makes my heart sing. A favorite, indeed.