My Testimony...Part 3

     Okay, so if you have been keeping count...in my journey, I now am a mom of 4. Blessed with 3 boys and 1 girl! Church life is booming and we are busy doing all kinds of ministry work. Camps and VBS and all that stuff that goes along with Children's ministry. When my two oldest kids would come for visits, they too would come to church and became involved with the youth group. I would go to Falls Creek (youth camp) with them, and it was there that I realized I needed to be more involved with youth. Chris was doing a great job with the children, and he had lots of awesome volunteers. I felt I had more to offer to the youth because of my own testimony. I continued doing camp work through the next few years. I spent many a week as a head staffer for Summit Camps. Those were some of the best Summers of my life. I love Youth Camp!

     After almost 8 years of ministry at Baptist Temple, Chris and I were called to a new church...NEWCHURCH. That's the name. :) It was very hard to leave BT and the people there. They were family to us.They helped me get through some very hard times personally, through lots of prayer!  But when God calls, you answer! The work that God had begun in me was JUST getting started. If things were not already rough having to battle the evil one already, this move took on a whole new realm of battle. As a couple, our choices made earlier in our marriage didn't go away...they followed us! They followed us because we kept those doors open. If there is anything I have learned in this journey, it is CLOSE DOORS! No matter what that door may be. I would love to be more specific here, but this is my testimony and I can only share the things that God says I should share. It's my journey that I am led to talk about, in hopes that someone else might glean from it. Remember that verse..."we overcome by the blood/power of the lamb, and by the word of our testimony. Sharing is every bit as much for me as it is for someone else.

     Chris served as Associate Children's minister when we first started at NEWCHURCH. I tried out for the Praise/Worship team. I love singing for Jesus and I love helping to lead others to the throne of worship. Singing is something I love to do and on any given day, you might drive by my house and hear me at the top of my lungs. (when I'm by myself usually) or catch me in the car...yes! I love car singing. It brings me joy! Back to the story...We were trucking along, and all was well.Then an out of the blue surprise hit us! A precious little life was growing inside of me. We thought we were done on the kid thing, but God had another plan."For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord..." Jeremiah 29:11a.  So now the count is at 5 kids! 4 boys and 1 girl. That little life would become a saving grace for me, but not before another attack,  on me, on our marriage. Some things came to light and a rug or sorts was pulled out from under us. Truth revealed!  This was a good thing, really, but it was a setback that in most cases would have destroyed a marriage.   I began to have some troubles in different areas as well. Some my fault, others not so much, but that isn't important. There were troubles and I didn't handle any of it the way I should have. I wish sometimes that the whole truth would come forth, but I know that God is in control of all things that happen. This is where my big downward spiral began. Depression started to set in. I started to question my faith because of what was happening. Then my daddy got sick. His health hadn't always been too great, but this was much bigger. In 2 years time, several things happened in my personal/church life. Big things...

To be continued...