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Saturday, September 13, 2008

Following Jesus Christ

Tomorrow is a huge day for me... I will be getting baptized... This is something that I have really been thinking about for a long time now. About two years ago I was given the book "The Purpose Driven Life", it is the book that takes you so many days to read because you can only read a chapter a day. I was given this at a very difficult time of my life. I was fighting anxiety and depression, that was making me crazy and putting a real strain on my marriage, I had a lot of issues. My youngest sister Katie loaned me the book, she thought it might help. I was desperate, so I read.. John was working the night shift so I would read a chapter every night before bed. My sister Steph would come over at night and we would discuss it and sometimes I would even read it out loud to her... Remember this is all before we lost Todd... I remember reading that you needed to find a church home and family, I thought at the time, I didn't need church to believe in God, (I still believe that) God is with you no matter what!!! but at the time I thought I would never be a member of a church I was just to busy... Finally I finished the book but nothing really changed, I mean I may have thought of God more often but I still seemed to be so darn depressed... Then Todd was killed, I like everyone else starts questioning God.. For the very first time in my life instead of running from God when I had problems, I decided to run to him. Not full force or over night but God is what got me through it... I started remembering more and more about what the book had said and I started seeing things way more clearer than ever before. I had so much hurt from miscarriages, daily life struggles and relationships I did not know how to handle them, finally one day in my bathroom, I just cried and asked God to help me, to hear me and to guide me. This may sound strange to some and I am not trying to preach but for the first time I felt relieved. After this everything else just seemed to fall into place, better relationships, feeling happier, and finding a church home. Every time I attend church I feel as if the pastor is talking directly to me.. Now tomorrow I am going to be baptized, but what makes this even more special? I am doing it with my husband and Lea. We have all chosen to follow Jesus Christ how wonderful is that??!!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen girl!! :-D
We both have been through some pretty trying times over the past year or so. I too still believe you do not need to attend church to be strong in your faith. However, I've definately felt strong spiritually since attending. Thank YOU for sharing your church family with us! What a great day for us both to remember as another moment in our friendship!!
Love ya!!
~Lea

Kristin said...

I am so happy for all of you. I had no idea you were doing this. What a great act of faith.

I too believe that God is around, listens, cares, ect...even if you do not go to church. But, I also believe that taking the extra "moment" to go to church is giving Him back time that He deserves as well. A little acknowledgement for the good in your life. It is amaxing how once you are there, it is like you were meant to be there...the message just makes sense.

Congrats (if that is the right word:)!) to all three of you.

Unknown said...

Hey i havent visited your blog in a while but it seems as if you are going through a really important time in your life right now. God has a way of always being there as long as you believe so take it all in and enjoy this new chapter in your life :)

jennie said...

Shelly, I am so happy for you to find this peace! Its out there for all of us, isn't it? While I do have my own opinions on attending church, I know that there are wonderful places to go and I am glad you all found one that "fits". Thank you for sharing this special time in your life! It is wonderful!

Lisa said...

I am so happy for you Shelly. I was baptized as a child and can only imagine what an amazing and uplifting experience it must have been to be baptized as an adult. And even more wonderful to experience it with John and Lea.
Luv ya!~L

Jodi said...

Oh, Shelly, this is great. Kristin told me you were baptized. I got chills as I read your post. You go, girl!