Salvation to Sin and Back Again
I was thinking today that everyone has a story, so I thought I would share some of mine. This is just a little more about where I came from and those who raised me up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I gave my heart to the Lord in a tent revival in Mesa Arizona when I was seven years old. I will never forget that moment; it is sketched in my memory as if it were happening right now. Huge black speakers lined a raised red covered platform at the front of the tent. People where gathered tight around the platform, crying out to God, asking His forgiveness, and welcoming Jesus into their hearts and lives. There where so many people the only place I could reach was on the far right in front of one of those speakers against the tent wall. Grandpa Smith sweetly sang, “The King is Coming, The King is coming I just heard the trumpet sounding, and now His face I see! The King is coming, The King is coming, Praise God, He’s coming for me.” I hit my knees and surrendered all. At seven years old, I knew I needed Jesus to straighten out the horrible life I had been given, I knew He loved me, Me! Someone no one else loved, Jesus loved, me! I walked with Jesus for three years before circumstances invaded and I walked away. I became a rebellious street child that had no hope and no faith. I was lost. Nevertheless, Jesus never gave up on me. He kept knocking, pursuing me, and loving me, even in the filth I was in. (I’m not going to go into detail here, I will later. In another post. Sometime in the future.)
Fast-forward 10 years. I married a wonderful man (not a believer~yet an avid reader.) He turned me on to a book called “Mr. God, this is Anna” by Fynn. This wonderful little girl painted a picture of a loving father, one who didn’t hurt but loved. She also showed me how society put God in a box that He doesn’t fit in…And my journey home began. I still had questions, I needed answers. I wanted to know beyond any doubt that God existed or didn’t. I began reading a popular book about mysticism. The author described God as my daddy. This intrigued me and scared me at the same time. My dad was very abusive so I had always thought a good dad would really love me without abusing me, but couldn't grasp how. I searched further.
Four years passed and I brought my two beautiful children to Parker to meet their Grandma and Grandpa. This is where we meet Pastor Don and his wife Shirley, they are so in love with God that it was weird to me, Pastor Don was a bit scary in fact. (Don’t worry~He is a brilliant loving man of God who showed me a Fathers love in an positive light years later) My mom and I both thought Pastor Don was crazy but were intrigued by the pure love we felt from Shirley. In fact, my mom told me of a time when she had witnessed a belligerent women verbally attack Shirley. Shirley's only reaction was to listen. I guess this woman was so hateful, my mom almost stepped in, but she was enraptured by the compassion and love she saw coming from Shirley. Shirley later told my mom that she wanted so bad to just hold that woman and comfort all the pain away.
My husband was reassigned to the pentagon so my babies and I joined him there. I was still stumbling in my search. I called my mom often and she told me she had rededicated her heart and was walking with God again. Yea okay, I barely listened, but some seeped in. When my marriage fell apart I returned to Parker (via Key West) and began going to Pastor Dons church with my Mom. God revealed Himself to me the moment I walked in the door of the small church that was actually Pastor Don and Shirley’s spare room. God’s anointing was so strong, I almost hit my knees. I knew that I knew that God was real and He really does love me.
Under Pastor Don and His Daughter Pastor Di, my children and I were taught God’s word. I learned how to search out God’s word and find His truths for myself. I learned that my loving heavenly Daddy really did accept me as is. He took me with all my ugly, my filth, my impure thoughts, and my "un-Christian" ways and began to do a work in me that He is still completing. I praise God, He never gave up on me and led me to where He could answer me. Years have passed, I moved my burgeoning family away from our beautiful home church in search of work. Even so, The upper Room is still my home Church and I still love to hear Pastor Don teach. Every chance I get I listen to Pastor Don, Pastor Shirley, Pastor Di, and Pastor Sue online at the Upper Room Revisited, you can too. If you visit them, I can tell you with certainty that You will never leave the way you came in Jesus Name (theupperroomrevisted 2011).
Thank you for reading my story. Will you share yours?
You are always in my thoughts and prayers,
Cyndi
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