How I know that Jesus Christ is Real

My life seemed normal until a week prior to October 20, 2008.  For a about a week, I had been praying for God to use my life to bring others to Him. My husband of five years and I had grown apart. Many years of his unbelief, as well as, an addiction to prescription medication had severed my desire to bring him to Christ any longer.

            I honestly thought that God would answer my prayer by sending me on another mission trip. The last trip I had taken was to New York in 2003. I missed being a servant to Him. But instead, on this date, my husband overdosed on prescription medication and physically hurt me. Prior to this night, my husband had never raised a hand to me. When I called the Sheriff’s department to report the incident, my husband put on his Navy uniform, greeted the deputies and lied about what happened. Consequently, I was charged with a felony and restrained from my home, belongings and more importantly, my children. My life was changed from that moment on. I finally acknowledged that Jesus is with me through my trials and that I can trust Him.

            While hunched over in jail holding cell, Jesus spoke to me through another inmate. When she came in, she looked right at me and said in a slang drawl, “Girl, why you cryin,’ God’s with you,” and then started to sing old church hymns. I stopped crying and asked her for her name. She simply replied, “Its t.”

            God was also in the Jail Supervisor, who put her hand on my shoulder and very softly said, “You are going to get through this.”  Further, I was offered blankets and told to call my mother by the tower watchman, as though I was a guest. I was released from jail only after a few hours. The Jail Supervisor and I noticed during my release, that she had neglected to take my cross necklace from me.

            The compassion of strangers that I received while at my mother’s house for the duration of my restraining order, continued to remind me that I was not alone. The criminal attorney that I hired was well known by the judge and prosecuting attorney. He cut me a large break in his normal fees and got the charges dropped as quickly as possible. The doctor who examined my injuries treated me with compassion. Childhood friends from my home town went out of their way to show God’s mercy and even the grocery store clerk said something personal and encouraging that only God would have known to say.

            I discovered hope and help in Jesus during this incident. I also notice huge changes in me. I could no longer boast about how I didn’t even have parking tickets on record. Many years of arrogance and self-righteousness erased quickly. I no longer had to be the center of attention. I learned to surrender to God’s will and I became humble.

            Because of the violence, I did move out of our home to provide protection to my youngest child, but when I met with a divorce attorney, I had the overwhelming sense to not proceed. Consequently, I did not divorce my husband. Instead, I enrolled in school. As the Lord would have it, the program I entered was Seminary and the degree was a Masters Degree in Him.

            I started to pray for my husband again. Amazingly, my husband sought the help of a counselor and after six years of never wanting anything to do with God; he began to go to church.

            My husband has since, accepted Jesus into his life and has encouraged my recent baptism and graduation from seminary. He professes his faith daily to others and I have learned what it means to trust in God and to truly surrender. I also know that when we offer to bring others to Christ, God may answer in a way we never expected.

             I have walked hand in hand with Jesus for almost 5 years now. And, because I have found such hope and peace,  I continually share my story with everyone I meet. I watch in amazement each time a neighbor, friend and family member accepts Jesus into their heart.
             I know that God can work miracles, through us, if we let Him!!!  Today, I thank God for that trial. He changed my heart, my marriage and my life!

To read the complete Story, please go to:

http://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781613791936re

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My New Cross Necklace. Finally worn with heart.

Most times when I share the signs of God's favor in my life, others respond by saying, "Wow!" Today, God had me saying, "Wow!"

For Mother's day, my husband surprised me with an expensive and very beautiful cross necklace. At first, I graciously accepted his thoughtful gift. But before the day's end, I humbly approached my husband and shared my feelings. "It's just too expensive LeeRoy. You know me, I would rather spend the money on purchasing bibles for others." My husband remained quiet.

The next day, immediately after church, my husband drove to the mall to return the cross necklace. Then, he drove to the Family Christian store and purchased a gift card. After a few hours, he returned home with a solemn look on his face. "What's wrong honey?" I inquired. "It's just the woman in the store had only been working there, I think less than a week. It was her first return and she looked so disappointed." I hugged my husband and replied, "Don't worry honey, I will go to Zales and share my testimony with the woman. I'm sure once she sees how humble I am, she will understand 'why' I couldn't accept such an extravagant gift."

A week later, I drove to the mall with our youngest son. I had planned to purchase a new dress to wear to a wedding. However once there, I shared my intentions with my son. "I would like to share my testimony with the woman in the jewelry store." Then, we walked to the jewelry store. I was quickly greeted by a sales woman. "Have you been helped?" She asked. "Oh, I am just waiting to speak to the sales woman who sold a cross necklace to my husband last week." I responded. "Was there something wrong with it?" She asked. "Oh no." I replied. Then, I immediately began to share my testimony with the woman. After I finished, the woman said, "Ma'am, I am sorry but there is no one here that meets the description of the sales woman you are referring to." Stunned, I called my husband. "Honey, what was the name of the jewelry store where you bought the necklace? And, could you describe the sales woman who sold and later returned the necklace for you?" My husband provided the same description. Meanwhile, my son was talking in my other ear and adamantly saying, "It was this store Mom. We stood right over there." Then, he pointed across the glass counter to the other side of the store.

I was still trying to understand the situation, when the woman softly said, "God must have place it on your husband's heart to buy that necklace for you." Was the gift from God? I began to wonder. Perhaps that's why the woman who sold it to my husband looked so disappointed when he returned it the next day. I decided to purchase the necklace. Humbly, I placed it around my neck and left the jewelry store.

A few hours later, I glanced at my beautiful cross charm again. I began to speak to God in my heart. "Lord, I just don't feel worthy to wear this charm. For so many years, I wore it while leading others away from You. What if I lead others away again?" Suddenly, several doves flew directly over my head.

Only a few hours later, I found myself excitedly explaining all that had happened earlier to another stranger. As I told her how I had acquired the necklace, I looked once again at my new cross. This time, I noticed the heart that surrounded the cross. I heard myself say out loud, "Before, I simply wore a cross charm. Now, I wear a cross with a heart."  

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!

To read this author's personal testimony please go to: http://dlouyoung.blogspot.com/p/store.html