While in the army I encountered a group of real Christians who impressed my with how they lived, particularly their speech. They were encouraging, positive and above all else no profanity. They seemed to have what I was missing deep inside. They were really different than the people I was working and living with on base. They took their Christianity seriously. They challenged me to make a real commitment to Christ.

That brought to my mind things from my childhood. I was taken to Sunday school as a child by my parents. At Sunday school I memorized Bible verses and heard many stories from the Bible. At that church children could become members at age 13. You would attend a membership class and at the completion you were baptized and then you wold become a member. During the class the Pastor had a time when he shared the Gospel. He told me I was disobedient, and I had broken God’s laws. Next, because of my disobedience to God I would be punished. That punishment is death and being forever separated from God in hell. However, Jesus took the punishment for me when He died on the cross. I needed to trust in Jesus and believe He did die for me, and that because He had risen from the grave He would give me eternal life. At age 13 I trusted Jesus for my salvation.

My Christian friends, I was developing when in the army, helped me be confident in Jesus. They showed me that since I had Jesus in my life I did have eternal life. Next God began to give me inner peace. I was shown a verse in the Bible, Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” That was a special message for me from God, that He is with me and will help me. The inner peace I desired began to come. But the greatest thing was I was certain that I had a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ and I had eternal life.

However, when I hit high school, things changed. I started running with a new crowd and got involved in things I shouldn’t have. My life was spiraling out of control. In an effort to change and gain respect of my dad, I joined the Marines. Once again, I excelled in all I did as I was promoted and received awards as I gained the approval of my superiors and peers.

That was, until I was transferred to a place known as “The Rock,” Okinawa, Japan. It was known as a place where Marines either become drunks or become “religious.” I did both as it was not long before I found myself in the same condition I desired to leave when I joined the Marines, and I was going downhill fast as I began losing any respect that I had earned from my earlier Marine Corps days.

About 12 months into my 15 month Okinawa tour, I found myself praying and literally crying to God on my night watches because of fear of what would happen to me if I died. God answered my cries and sent my brother David 1 month prior to me coming home. Before he came, I tried to talk him out of it but he came anyway. During the week he was with me, he continued to share the love of God with me. He stated the way to have the peace I had been praying for was to trust in what Jesus had done for me: He paid the penalty for my disobedience and I just needed to receive it for myself as it says in Romans 6:23, for the payment of disobedience is hell, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

I knew the seriousness of this decision. I felt that I could not stop my disobedience and, as a result, God would strike me with a lightning bolt if I continued in it. David explained that God loved me and that He would help me in this area. Being convinced of God’s love and help, I prayed and confessed my disobedience, thanked God for His forgiveness in Christ, and asked Him to take control of my life.

After praying, I immediately had a peace with God that I had never experienced before due to the forgiveness I received for issues that I had been carrying with me for some time. I immediately stopped my coarse language and had no desire to drink and carouse, and I had an intense desire to read the Bible and talk to everyone about the decision I made.

Now, some 30 (+) yrs later, I have testimony upon testimony of God’s faithfulness in both the good and the bad times of life. This has done nothing but to convince me further of the security of the eternal life I have in Christ because I John 5:11, 12 says: And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. Amen.

As a teen, I had a sense that God was drawing me to Himself but it took until I was 29 to have my eyes opened. I was attending a Christian Women’s Bible Coffee, studying the book of 1 John. It was a real eye opener! I came to the realization that I was a sinner and needed a Savior. “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9

It was during a radio program (Insight for Living by Chuck Swindoll) that I knelt down at home and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to come into my life. This was the fall of 1977. There was no immediate, drastic change but I then had such a hunger for God’s Word. I read the whole Bible through because I was afraid that Jesus would come back and I wouldn’t have finished His Book.

Shortly after this time, my husband Ken also prayed to receive Christ. (That’s a whole story in itself!) We came to a point of frustration with the ritualistic church we were attending along with both sets of our parents. We loved our parents but knew that it was time we found a good Bible teaching church.  “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt 10:37) This verse was shared with us, and we knew we had to obey the Lord and not try to just please our parents.

We looked in the phone book and found the Visalia Evangelical Free Church and we soon became members and were baptized in the fall of ’80. Shortly after, Ken had a job transfer to Southern California and we attended The Fullerton EV Free Church with Chuck Swindoll as our pastor. It was a great time of growth for me as I served in the church as a helper in the Kindergarten class and attended BSF for 3 years. I became a Discussion Leader for BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) and also became a Deaconess at EV Free Fullerton.

In spring of 1986 Ken’s job brought us back to Visalia and Visalia EV Free. I was involved with the Ladies Bible Study and also became a Deaconess and served a number of terms. I later attended BSF again and was involved as the Assistant Teaching Leader to women inmates at Avenal State Prison. After 2 years the women were moved up north and that ministry ended.

Mostly I have been involved with women through Bible studies, mentoring and one-on-one discipleship. My heart is for women to grow in their love and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and to use their gifts to serve Him. My life verse is Colossians 1:10 “Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in your knowledge of God.” That is always my prayer for each one in my family and anyone I minister to.

I am currently the Sunday School Director at Visalia EV Free Church (last 4 years). I use my administrative gifts and the gift of encouragement/admonishment to help the teachers and organize the VBS each summer. I also do whatever projects or activities come up to help out the staff.  I love my work with these godly people, and they help me stay fresh with my relationship with the Lord.

Many try to blame someone or something else for the reason their family is falling apart, rather than taking a good hard look at their own hearts and evaluate the bad choices they have made.  The Bible is clear that the reason society is so messed up and our families are messed up – is because our own hearts are sinful at the core.  You don’t have to teach a child to lie or be selfish, it comes naturally.  We feel guilty because we are guilty before a Holy God and our consciences remind us of that fact daily.  Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.”  Do we turn from that which we know in our hearts is wrong and turn to God to restore our family to what it was designed to be, or do we continue in the same sinful behavior that has and will ultimately destroy us?  A person once said, “If you keep doing what you are doing, you will only keep getting what you get.”  That is so true.  Unless there is a will to change, our situations will remain the same.  Acts 3:19 says, “Repent, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, and that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

I believe that is the solution to a fractured family, to confess our sin to God and turn from that sin and willfully follow God’s design for the family – for husbands and wives – for children.  Then and only then will we find great joy and contentment when we are living in obedience to our Creator who designed the family in the first place.  May God grant you peace in your home as you seek Him.