Prior to my adoption, at the tender age of thirteen, the only affiliation with religion I experienced was with my great grandmother and great grandfather, at their home during the summer months. She met with a group of ladies in a private home each week, on Saturday morning. Each woman shared her testimony and everyone sang songs, from a single songbook, without any accompaniment. I'm not sure of the affiliation but I strongly suspect they were either Seventh-day Baptist or Seventh-day Adventist. I can remember that each woman dearly loved the Lord and 'lived' her faith. My great grandmother and great grandfather grouped together each evening to read the King James Bible and pray. I can remember their prayers were simple but to the point. They always prayed, as if the Lord were there sitting with them. I've carried their simple faith with me all my life. After adoption, I became a member of the Christian Reformed Church and worshiped with my foster parents. At the age of 17, I made confession of faith and became an active member in the church. As strange as it may seem, I lingered in my faith, for a number of years after being mustered out of the U.S. Army. It wasn't until after my divorce many years later that I seriously re-dedicated my life to Christ. I spent a number of years seriously searching for the truth of God's Word going from one denomination to another and ten years ago finally settled in the Seventh day Adventist Christian Church because I believed Saturday was the Sabbath. I haven't wavered from that belief. Also about ten years ago, I contracted leukemia and that changed my life; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. My walk with Jesus is the closest it's ever been yet I feel, in my heart, I must continue to grow in my faith and my walk with Christ must improve. There is yet much I wish to learn. I long to become like one of Jesus' disciples doing what they've done being full of the Holy Spirit. My God and Savior Jesus Christ has walked with me and blessed me repeatedly, in these past ten plus years. There's no question, in my mind, that without God's blessing, I wouldn't be hear today. He has healed me and allowed me to remain in remission throughout these past ten plus years. Those years weren't without numerous physical challenges because of my weakened immune system but clearly God has walked with me and blessed me through it all. I owe Him my life!
Ma