For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and self control. - 2 Timothy 1:7

My Story

Tonight, I would like to end our Virtual Backyard Bible Club with a portion of my personal testimony of how God saw me through a very turbulent time in my life.  Thank you so much for visiting my blog. 

Jesus is My Savior

As hard as life is, I could not imagine going through it without Jesus.  When I was a young child, I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and save me from eternal death.  I realized He was the only way to Heaven and I believe that fact by faith not by sight.

As an adult of 41 years, I look back and see the absolute miracles he has performed in my heart.  I believe God is a miracle worker in the physical since, but I also believe He is a miracle worker of the human heart.  He has surely changed mine through the years.  He changed my heart from broken to healed, from bitter to peace, from unforgiving to forgiving. 

When my husband and I married, we went through that first blissful year of newly married love.  Not many ups or downs.  Then, we started to show our selfish side.  We started to bicker and fight.  It became habit or routine for each try to get our own way. 

A few years later, we decided we would like to add children to our family, and it took about four months to conceive.   However, our baby died after 11 weeks during the pregnancy.  As a result of my heart ache I was incredibly focused on my pain, never really seeing my husband’s pain.  Within 6 weeks of our loss, our marriage was truly falling apart.  Over a sequence of events, God took two people who were focused on themselves and caused us to see each other and to see our own selfishness.  We both asked God to forgive us and we forgave each other.

That same year, we tried for another baby.  All went well and we had a daughter.  She was healthy, and she is thriving to this day.

Fast forward 10 ½ months and guess what?  Surprise, we are having another baby.  Completely not in my plan and selfishness ran rampant for 9 months on my part.  But our baby girl was born healthy and I was pleased not to be pregnant.

During the first 6 weeks of our third child’s life, we were hanging tough doing the baby and toddler thing.  We were changing diapers and trying to stay sane. However, we noticed our newborn was changing.  She cried a lot so I thought colic.  She went in for a checkup and there were no alarms.  But one morning she woke up with a fever and vomiting.  The pediatrician told us to go to Texas Children’s Hospital.  Shortly after the initial exam, the Doctor asked me why was her belly distended?   I said I hadn’t noticed because all babies had pot bellies (young mom with very little experience).  So they did blood work, and when the results came in, everyone went into high gear.  Her blood count was completely opposite of normal.  They tested for many things and we ended up in the NICU, then we ended up in Intensive Care, and finally in an isolation room.  Initially, they told us she had Neuroblastoma, and the doctors began chemo.  But sadly to say, after just one day, we could tell this was not going to help her.  The physical signs were so obvious that she was at the end of her life.  After seeking God through much prayer, we had the hospital turn off life support.  On October 27, 2001 our youngest child passed from this life straight into Heaven.  We were given the final diagnosis a month later and it was actually a rare form of leukemia.

I knew the only way I was going to thrive through the grief of losing my child was going to be through the healing power of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I had already grieved the loss of a child my way and learned doing life my way doesn’t work.  I knew for my marriage to survive the loss of another child, I needed God’s help. 

During the time of grieving, rather than turning my pain inward, I turned to God.  I cried out to Him, and He heard my sincere need for Him to heal my broken heart. 

Also, my husband and I needed God to help our marriage stay intact, because this type of devastation can destroy a family.  We experienced that possibility after losing our first baby. 

To make a very long story short, God gets the credit for saving the life of the Mills family and keeping our marriage together.  We thrive today because of Him. 

I believe that God knew our pain because He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Savior of the world.  But in order for humanity to be saved from their sins, there had to be a sacrifice and that sacrifice was his son Jesus.  Jesus died as a way for me and all of mankind to be reconciled to God rather than separated from God.

God does not wish anyone to die an eternal death so He made a way for us to have a thriving life now while on earth and for eternity.  The life I am writing to you about on earth is a life of self-less-ness.  The life I am talking about for eternity is a life lived free from the bondage of sin.

Please consider what the Bible says in John 14 verse 6 when Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Also, please consider what the Bible says in John 14 verse 27, when Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. “

And finally, please consider what Jesus said in the book of John verses 10-11, “the thief comes to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. “

Thank you for listening to a part of my life’s story. 

Praying to receive Christ as your Savior and Lord

You can have eternal life with God by:

A - Admit (tell God) that you have sinned and you are sorry.

B - Believe that Jesus died for your sin and came alive again.

C - Choose Jesus as your Savior.

You can pray using your own words or you can follow the example given here:

God, I know I have sinned and I'm sorry.  I believe Jesus died for my sin and came alive again.  Please forgive my sin and help me live to please you. Amen

I prayed to receive Christ, now what do I do?

After becoming a Christian, your new life in Christ begins.  You may be wondering what to do next?

Just as you grow physically, God wants us to grow spiritually.  You can begin with the other side of your gospel glove.

 

You can grow in your new relationship with Jesus Christ by praying, reading the bible, and obeying what the Bible teaches.

 

2 Peter 3:18 says to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity."

 

 

Carnival Night

Join us for the end of the week Carnival Night, Friday June 21, 6:30-8:30.

Fun Fun Fun!!!

Church Information

In case you would like to pop in for a visit, here are the service times.

Phone # 281-812-8688

Memory Verse Review:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and self control.

2 Timothy 1:7

Day 2 Story Time:  Dare to Speak Up

Paraphrased from Acts 9:20-30

Paul Spoke Boldly

After Paul began to follow Christ, he stayed in Damascus.  Immediately he began to talk about Jesus in the synagogues.  He told the people, “Jesus is the Son of God.”  All the people who heard him speak so boldly were amazed.  They asked, “Isn’t this the same man who was arresting and hurting believers in Jerusalem?  Didn’t he come here to take back those who believe in Jesus as prisoners?”

Paul continued boldly telling the people about Jesus the Messiah.  The Jews became confused and angry at Paul’s message.  They planned to kill Paul.  The city of Damascus had a wall around it and the Jews knew there were only a few gates out of the city.  They began to watch the gates in case he tried to leave through one of them.

When Paul found out about their plan, he and other believers made a plan to get Paul out of Damascus safely.  They knew they could not go through the city gates because the Jews were watching them.  So, at night, his disciples lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.

After escaping the Jews in Damascus, Paul returned to the city of Jerusalem.  He wanted to meet the disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem, but they were all afraid of him because he had persecuted them before.  They did not believe he was a follower of Christ.  One disciple, named Barnabas, took Paul and brought him before the apostles.  Barnabas spoke boldly to the apostles and told them the story of Paul being stopped by the Lord on the road and becoming a follower of Christ.  He told the apostles how Paul had changed and had spoken in Jesus’ name in Jerusalem.  He spoke to some of the Jews there.  This group tried to kill Paul, too!  The other believers helped Paul escape by taking him to Caesarea and then to the city of Tarsus.

ABC's for Becoming a Christian

A stands for Admit to God that you are a sinner. Repent, that is turn away from your sin.

• Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God"
• Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out"

B stands for Believe that Jesus is God's Son and accept God's gift of forgiveness from sin.

• Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so no one may boast.

C stands for Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

• Romans 10:9 "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Important Definitions:

• Sin - choosing my ways instead of God's way.  Sin separates people from God
• Repent - turn from doing wrong and determine to do right.

Free Stuff

Today's loot for sharing this blog spot with a friend.

 

This Week's Memory Verse

2 Timothy 1:7

"God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a self-control."

Day 1 Story Time: Dare to Change

Today's Story is paraphrased from Acts 9:1-18

Paul Obeyed

Paul was a Jew.  He threatened and hurt the people who believed in Jesus.  Paul went to the high priest and asked for letters to take to Damascus.  The high priest gave Paul letters that would let him bring men and women who believed in Jesus to Jerusalem as prisoners.  Paul began his journey to Damascus with several other men.

When they were near Damascus, a light from heaven flashed all around them.  Paul fell to the ground.  He heard a voice say, “Paul, Paul, why are you persecuting me?”  Paul answered, “Who are you Lord?” The voice answered, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  Get up and go into Damascus.  You will be told what you must do.”

The men with Paul did not say a word.  They heard the voice but did not understand what was happening because they did not see anyone speaking. 

Paul stood up and could not see anything.  He was blinded.  The men who were with him led him by the hand into Damascus.  He could not see for three days and he did not eat or drink.

A disciple of Jesus named Annanias lived in Damascus.  The Lord came to him in a vision and said, “Ananias!”

Ananias said, Here I am, Lord!”  The Lord continued, “Get up and go to the street called Straight where a man named Judas lives.  Ask for a man named Paul from Tarsus.  He is there praying.  In a vision he has seen you come to him and place your hands on him so he may see again.” 

Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people how this man harms the people in Jerusalem who believe in Jesus.  He has the authority from the high priest to arrest people in Damascus who call on your name.”

But the Lord said to Ananias, “I have chosen this man to take My name to the Gentiles, kings and the people of Isreal.  Go to Him!”

Ananias obeyed God and went to the house of Judas.  He placed his hand on Paul and said, “Brother Paul, the Lord Jesus, who came to you on the road you were traveling has sent me so you may have your sight back and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

All at once, something like scales fell from Paul’s eyes and he could see again!  He got up and was baptized and began to follow the Lord.


 

Here is your loot for the day.  You get a fresh new pencil.  A bracelet that says Wrapped in His love.  And a book mark with the Colossal Coaster World theme on the front.

Gospel Glove

This is a picture of your Gospel Glove.  The green colored thumb represents the sadness of the human heart.  The heart is sad inside because of the emptiness it feels all the time, some times, or most of the time since it is separated from God through sin. 

The yellow colored finger represents Gods love for mankind.  John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, He gave his only son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."  Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  John 10:10

The middle finger is the color black to represent the sin we commit in our life.  Sin separates us from God.  Romans 3:23 says "for all have sinned and fallenshort of the glory of God".  Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The color red on the next finger represents the blood Jesus Christ shed for the sin that separates us from God.  1 Corinthians 15:3,4 say, "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day."

And finally, the last finger is the color white to represent a new person after believing by faith that Christ died for your sins and you are saved from a life of broken heartedness and an eternity of broken heartedness through the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross just for you.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."