My testimony?

I was asked to give my testimony last night. That's not something that I tell often or really even think about often. I have to say it was exciting to hear myself give it. It was an awesome reminder of where the Lord has taken me. So here is my testimony:

When I was 7 I asked Jesus into my heart at a Vacation Bible School at my church. I believe it was as sincere a decision that a 7 year old could make. However, there was much that I did not understand. To me, being a Christian just meant to believe that God was real and to "be a good girl." I believed that for a long time. It wasn't until I was a senior in high school that God's word through scripture began (over the course of the next few years) to change me and change how I thought and felt about my Lord. Ephesians talks alot about being saved by grace...not works. That's when I realized that all of the "good stuff" I had done all these years did nothing for me. It did not make me any more or any less of a Christian. I realized that I could never do enough "good things" for God. But rather I needed to embrace this grace the Lord had given me so long ago....AND that I needed to make this faith my own...not my parent's and not what other's thought it should be. Those realizations have changed my life. And let me tell you God was real to me in a whole new way. Not just in a "he exists" way but in a "he is inside me 'operating' on me" way. Amazing.

We were also asked if we had a "life verse." The first verse that popped into our heads was John 10:10.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

This verse has changed our lives as well. This brought about the realization that spiritual warfare is very true and real, but also that this abundant life that God has in store for us can be very true and real if we choose to live that. This is when "making my faith my own" came into practice. We knew God was calling us to something bigger than ourselves, but here we were planning out our lives to save up lots of money and buy a house and stay where we were. But as hard as it was to realize this, we knew/know that God's plans are better....not just better...but best. The Message quotes John 10:10 as, "A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

So we moved. God told us to go away and to study His word and to minister somewhere. So we did. And I can testify to the fact that even though it wasn't and still isn't easy God has given us life that is "more and better life than we ever dreamed of." And that excites me. God has continuously provided for us through our obedience and given us everything we need. We are about to possibly embark on something that we are scared to death of. But I know because of what he as already done for me that he will provide again through obedience. I find strength in God's promise:

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by His own glory and goodness." -2 Peter 1:3