I find my own story rather ordinary, but it it well seasoned with the grace of God.
Once upon a time, I was a little girl who believed that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Now I'm a big girl who believes the same thing! My beliefs have been constant throughout my life, but the reasons for my faith, my depth of understanding, and my relationship with Christ have grown and matured throughout the years.
Chapter 1 - Childhood
"Meeting Jesus"
I was probably two or three years old when my parents first taught me about what Jesus had done for me. I accepted unquestioningly that Jesus had paid the price for my sins, and that by believing in Him, I would go to to heaven. That was pretty much my complete understanding at that point in my life. Pretty simple, but sufficient for the time.
I remember one day walking out to our garage to ask my dad, "How do I know for sure I'll go to heaven?" He shared with me again about Jesus, and he led me in a little prayer to ask Jesus to forgive my sins and to ask Him into my heart. I think I had done that once before, and once was enough, but that's my first memory of the start of my relationship with God.
Even as a young child, I knew I could talk to God about anything. One day when I was about five years old, I wasn't feeling very well, and I asked God to make my stomach feel better. Shortly after, and I had to use the bathroom, and then I felt better! God had answered my prayer! It's kind of a silly story, and I'm sure it would have worked itself out naturally, but to this day, I believe it was a little moment God gave me to show me that He hears me.
I loved to talk about Jesus to my neighborhood friends and on the playground at recess. I was genuinely concerned for their eternal destiny, and I wanted everyone to know what He had done for them. That passion that began so young has been with me ever since.
Chapter 2 - Adolescence
"Growing in Knowledge and Conviction"
As I grew into my teen years, my faith became stronger. I never really had rebellious phase or a crisis of faith, but I did begin to question why I believed what I did. I started to hear more about other religions like Buddhism, Islam, etc. How did I know I had the right God? Was it possible there was another god I was supposed to be worshiping?
I started reading all kinds of books and articles on the evidences for the validity of the Bible and the Christian faith, and I became very excited about how much historical and even scientific evidence there actually was to support my faith. This time really helped to solidify my beliefs and convictions.
When I asked my mom about how we knew our religion was the right one, her reply was something like this: "Other religions don't have Jesus, and without Jesus, there is no solution for our sin." She was right, and that satisfied my heart on the matter.
Chapter 3 - Young Adulthood
"Falling In Love with Jesus"
After high school, like many young adults, I began the search for what I was supposed to do with the rest of my life. I had no strong career ambitions, but I headed off to college and hoped it would all fall into place.
During this time, I really developed a hunger for God's Word and tried to read it as regularly as I could, but my class schedule didn't give me much time for this. I said to God one day, "If I ever have to drop a class, I really want to use that time to study the Bible." Well, due to some unusual circumstances that quarter, I did have to drop a class, so I decided to follow through on what I'd said.
I began to develop a more intimate relationship with God and a deeper realization and appreciation of what it means to belong to Him. I transitioned from knowing things about God, to really getting to know God.
He used so many people and circumstances in my life during this time to teach me and change me, and draw me closer to Him. Everything from a struggle with depression that he used to teach me to think of others as more important than myself, to pastors and friends who challenged me in other areas of my life.
Chapter 4 - Post College Adulthood
"Following Jesus"
After college, God placed in my heart a calling to teach English overseas in China for a year. His leading and provision for my time there allowed me to build relationships with the people I met and share the love of Jesus in a place where He isn't well known. This was a tough year for me, and I found that I didn't function well outside my home culture, but still I'm so glad I followed God's leading. He used this time in my life to open my eyes to things about myself, the greater body of Christ, and most importantly about Himself.
One of the many cool stories about how I saw God's hand clearly at work in my own life was toward the end of my year in China. Out of the blue I found myself with a desire to learn Spanish and go on a mission trip to a Latin American country. It was totally random, and I didn't quite understand where it was coming from. As I prayed and read God's Word, I developed a strong sense that someone would contact me soon about this. I don't typically have these "senses," and I thought maybe it was all in my head, so I could hardly believe it the next morning when I checked my email, and a acquaintance from my home church back in the states had sent me a message letting me know about an upcoming short-term mission trip to Nicaragua! He also referenced a sum of money that my church had wanted to donate to my China trip after God had already supplied my needs in full for the year, and suggested this might be an opportunity to use those funds. I was blown away at how God had worked that all out! I had never experienced anything quite like that, and it was so apparent that God's hand was all over it.
Chapter 5 - Adulthood to Present
"Walking Daily with Jesus"
I did end up going to Nicaragua shortly after I returned home from China, and there I learned to serve God in a more hands-on way. My previous mission experience was much more focused on telling people verbally about Jesus, but in Nicaragua we were there to serve the local church by helping them remodel their facilities that needed repairs. God used this trip to teach me that there are so many ways to serve Him, and one isn't better than another. This was the perfect transition that I needed as I settled back in to the states to do a "regular" job.
Since I wanted to be involved with my church during the week, I prayed that God would provide a job in a location close by our church facilities. I was so thankful that the job he provided was located directly across the street from our church! I didn't even know that when I had applied for it, but once again, God had heard me and shown me he could work it out.
Over a decade later, I'm still working at that same job that God had provided, but since then I have married a wonderful man, whom I met over 15 years ago. We were acquaintances for about seven years before we actually started dating! God has used him in my life to sharpen and refine not only my character, but also my knowledge of God. My husband challenges me to grow in the areas I'm weak, and he points me back to Jesus when I need to be reminded of Him. Our marriage has its struggles like most do, but it is apparent how God placed us together to balance each other out and to help strengthen each others specific weaknesses.
Much of my life now is very routine: going to work and taking care of my husband and home. Alarm clocks, and laundry, and cooking, and all that jazz! I'm just a regular person who loves an extraordinary God! Through life's rocky roads, twists, and turns, Jesus has been and continues to be a constant Rock in my life. He comforts me in my greatest hurts, and He is my greatest joy. I have found that even when I go through stretches of time where God seems distant (and there have been plenty of those times), I know that still He's there waiting for me and will never leave me.
What has Jesus done for my soul?
Thanks for reading my story! I couldn't possibly fit all of God's work throughout my life onto one page, but I hope to share in more depth through Jesus for Regular People about how I've seen His hand in my life, and I also hope that this site will be an encouragement to others in their faith as I share what I have learned along the way.
Once upon a time, I was a little girl who believed that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Now I'm a big girl who believes the same thing! My beliefs have been constant throughout my life, but the reasons for my faith, my depth of understanding, and my relationship with Christ have grown and matured throughout the years.
Chapter 1 - Childhood
"Meeting Jesus"
I was probably two or three years old when my parents first taught me about what Jesus had done for me. I accepted unquestioningly that Jesus had paid the price for my sins, and that by believing in Him, I would go to to heaven. That was pretty much my complete understanding at that point in my life. Pretty simple, but sufficient for the time.
I remember one day walking out to our garage to ask my dad, "How do I know for sure I'll go to heaven?" He shared with me again about Jesus, and he led me in a little prayer to ask Jesus to forgive my sins and to ask Him into my heart. I think I had done that once before, and once was enough, but that's my first memory of the start of my relationship with God.
Even as a young child, I knew I could talk to God about anything. One day when I was about five years old, I wasn't feeling very well, and I asked God to make my stomach feel better. Shortly after, and I had to use the bathroom, and then I felt better! God had answered my prayer! It's kind of a silly story, and I'm sure it would have worked itself out naturally, but to this day, I believe it was a little moment God gave me to show me that He hears me.
I loved to talk about Jesus to my neighborhood friends and on the playground at recess. I was genuinely concerned for their eternal destiny, and I wanted everyone to know what He had done for them. That passion that began so young has been with me ever since.
Chapter 2 - Adolescence
"Growing in Knowledge and Conviction"
As I grew into my teen years, my faith became stronger. I never really had rebellious phase or a crisis of faith, but I did begin to question why I believed what I did. I started to hear more about other religions like Buddhism, Islam, etc. How did I know I had the right God? Was it possible there was another god I was supposed to be worshiping?
I started reading all kinds of books and articles on the evidences for the validity of the Bible and the Christian faith, and I became very excited about how much historical and even scientific evidence there actually was to support my faith. This time really helped to solidify my beliefs and convictions.
When I asked my mom about how we knew our religion was the right one, her reply was something like this: "Other religions don't have Jesus, and without Jesus, there is no solution for our sin." She was right, and that satisfied my heart on the matter.
Chapter 3 - Young Adulthood
"Falling In Love with Jesus"
After high school, like many young adults, I began the search for what I was supposed to do with the rest of my life. I had no strong career ambitions, but I headed off to college and hoped it would all fall into place.
During this time, I really developed a hunger for God's Word and tried to read it as regularly as I could, but my class schedule didn't give me much time for this. I said to God one day, "If I ever have to drop a class, I really want to use that time to study the Bible." Well, due to some unusual circumstances that quarter, I did have to drop a class, so I decided to follow through on what I'd said.
I began to develop a more intimate relationship with God and a deeper realization and appreciation of what it means to belong to Him. I transitioned from knowing things about God, to really getting to know God.
He used so many people and circumstances in my life during this time to teach me and change me, and draw me closer to Him. Everything from a struggle with depression that he used to teach me to think of others as more important than myself, to pastors and friends who challenged me in other areas of my life.
Chapter 4 - Post College Adulthood
"Following Jesus"
After college, God placed in my heart a calling to teach English overseas in China for a year. His leading and provision for my time there allowed me to build relationships with the people I met and share the love of Jesus in a place where He isn't well known. This was a tough year for me, and I found that I didn't function well outside my home culture, but still I'm so glad I followed God's leading. He used this time in my life to open my eyes to things about myself, the greater body of Christ, and most importantly about Himself.
One of the many cool stories about how I saw God's hand clearly at work in my own life was toward the end of my year in China. Out of the blue I found myself with a desire to learn Spanish and go on a mission trip to a Latin American country. It was totally random, and I didn't quite understand where it was coming from. As I prayed and read God's Word, I developed a strong sense that someone would contact me soon about this. I don't typically have these "senses," and I thought maybe it was all in my head, so I could hardly believe it the next morning when I checked my email, and a acquaintance from my home church back in the states had sent me a message letting me know about an upcoming short-term mission trip to Nicaragua! He also referenced a sum of money that my church had wanted to donate to my China trip after God had already supplied my needs in full for the year, and suggested this might be an opportunity to use those funds. I was blown away at how God had worked that all out! I had never experienced anything quite like that, and it was so apparent that God's hand was all over it.
Chapter 5 - Adulthood to Present
"Walking Daily with Jesus"
I did end up going to Nicaragua shortly after I returned home from China, and there I learned to serve God in a more hands-on way. My previous mission experience was much more focused on telling people verbally about Jesus, but in Nicaragua we were there to serve the local church by helping them remodel their facilities that needed repairs. God used this trip to teach me that there are so many ways to serve Him, and one isn't better than another. This was the perfect transition that I needed as I settled back in to the states to do a "regular" job.
Since I wanted to be involved with my church during the week, I prayed that God would provide a job in a location close by our church facilities. I was so thankful that the job he provided was located directly across the street from our church! I didn't even know that when I had applied for it, but once again, God had heard me and shown me he could work it out.
Over a decade later, I'm still working at that same job that God had provided, but since then I have married a wonderful man, whom I met over 15 years ago. We were acquaintances for about seven years before we actually started dating! God has used him in my life to sharpen and refine not only my character, but also my knowledge of God. My husband challenges me to grow in the areas I'm weak, and he points me back to Jesus when I need to be reminded of Him. Our marriage has its struggles like most do, but it is apparent how God placed us together to balance each other out and to help strengthen each others specific weaknesses.
Much of my life now is very routine: going to work and taking care of my husband and home. Alarm clocks, and laundry, and cooking, and all that jazz! I'm just a regular person who loves an extraordinary God! Through life's rocky roads, twists, and turns, Jesus has been and continues to be a constant Rock in my life. He comforts me in my greatest hurts, and He is my greatest joy. I have found that even when I go through stretches of time where God seems distant (and there have been plenty of those times), I know that still He's there waiting for me and will never leave me.
What has Jesus done for my soul?
- He created my soul,
- Loved my soul,
- Lived, died, and rose again for my soul,
- Gave faith to my soul,
- Forgave my soul,
- Saved my soul from death and hell,
- Gave life to my soul,
- Gave purpose to my soul
Thanks for reading my story! I couldn't possibly fit all of God's work throughout my life onto one page, but I hope to share in more depth through Jesus for Regular People about how I've seen His hand in my life, and I also hope that this site will be an encouragement to others in their faith as I share what I have learned along the way.