#TestimonyDay

My testimony is not much of a testimony to me.

I did not grow up in a religious home, my parents rarely spoke of God, they still don't. I started attending church when I was a child after some youth ministers came to our neighborhood. I loved it. I was saved when I was 8 years old.

I attended church off and on for several years, well into my teen years. I even went to a Baptist High School. I was trying to cling to my faith in a world where no one else did. And that started the love affair with Jesus.

I grew up and life happened, and while I never lost my faith, I stopped practicing it. I had a family to raise and my husband was not religious at all. Somehow though, my faith never left me. After being in a near fatal accident, I turned back to the church.

An abusive marriage, divorce and marrying a second time has brought me where I am now. And I have rekindled my love for Christ.

I am raising my 2 young grandsons. Our baby is a special needs baby. We have had them for almost 2 years now, since the baby was 5 weeks old. This has been one of the worst and trying trials in my life. No one can ever imagine the hate, the tears, the verbal abuse unless they actually go through this.

While I have searched for a church for several years where I felt I really belonged, I decided, I don't honestly need a church to experience Christ. All I need to do is seek Him and His word. I will be led to the right place to worship in due time.

My Father has never left me. He is not angry at me for not seeking him all the time. He has forgiven me.

I was sitting in my desk chair trying to work and I just told myself, I needed to start listening to music again. I haven't listened to music for almost 2 years. But I didn't want to listen to a normal radio station so I decided to find my local Christian/Gospel station. I listened for a while, and decided I really liked the music I heard. I listened for a few more days feeling much better about my decision.

Then it hit me. My "soul" song. I heard the most beautiful voice singing to me. Exactly the words I needed to hear. I had never heard this song or this voice before. But it hit me like a ton of bricks. This one song had me in tears, on my knees, begging God to lead me where I needed to be. Begging to hear His word, begging to have him start a fire in me and create the person he wanted me to be. This one song changed my life forever. That song, "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless has now become the most treasured song in my life.


After picking myself back up, I wiped my tears, and I have been on a quest to learn God's word more indepth. I read my bible several times a day now, I am back in prayer with my Father, I can feel his love and peace over my life. I gave everything up to Him. He is now back in control. That one song started a fire in me. I love to spread the word of God and show others what He means to me. I don't preach, I don't condemn, I don't judge. That is not my place.

I'm just trying to love everyone like Jesus loves me. I want it so that when people look at me, they can see Christ working in me. I am not perfect, He is still working on me I know. But I know He will never leave me, He will always be here, and if I just follow Him, listen to Him, He will guide and direct me to His plans for me, for they are much greater than my own plan.

I thank God for sending that song to me that day. I thank Kutless for that heavenly voice that changed my life. I have since become a huge fan of this wonderful band and you will find me tweeting and facebooking about them and their music on a daily basis. Their songs seriously have touched my heart and soul in depths that I had no idea existed.

It's funny to think of the things that God uses to get our attention. Music has always been a big part of my life. I have always sang and danced, ever since I was a child. So music was the perfect avenue to use to get my attention.

Don't ignore His calling. He will find you when you least expect it, and it could be in a way that you never realized He would use. Have an open heart, and really listen for Him to speak to you. We are forgiven! Everything has been forgiven. We get to live an eternal life because our Savior paid the price for our sins. We will be with our Heavenly Father in Heaven for eternity because of the cross!

I will always Praise His Holy Name!! I will always make a joyful noise and sing out to my Savior!!

-Glory be to God

Shelly