My Conversion Story

This week, I have been thinking about the approaching Thanksgiving season. This is a time when most of us think more deeply about  what we are thankful for in our lives. Since I've been listing my gifts from God every week for the past 2 years(last Friday was my blogiversary), this is nothing new for me. So, I decided to reminisce about some things I have been the most thankful for over the years and also share one of the things I'm most grateful for....my salvation. A song I recently heard by Chris Tomlin especially brings this to my mind.

You could say my conversion story isn't anything earth-shattering or out of the ordinary. But to me, it was miraculous, because it would have been easy for me to coast on the coattails of my parent's beliefs. I grew up in a very conservative Christian home. During my younger years, our family attended the local Christian college church, which was Mennonite (It was not the Amish Mennonites, who live in surrounding areas of our little Midwestern town, but still a very conservative college and church). When I was in middle school, we switched churches...still going to a Mennonite, church, but even more conservative.(Many of the older women wore head coverings and dresses only.)

The summer between my freshman and sophomore year in high school, I worked 5 days a week, babysitting for my cousin's 2 small children. Every day, the children took an afternoon nap, which left time for me to have some free time to myself. At first, I actually would watch t.v., but the only thing on t.v. at that time of day were soap operas. I tried getting into watching them, but got bored pretty quickly. So I tried reading. One afternoon, I brought a Bible with me to read, more out of curiosity, than anything. I started reading and was drawn to read more. 

On one afternoon in particular, I really believe the Holy Spirit was working on my heart. As I sat at the dining room table, I bowed my head and said a prayer....asking the Lord to come into my heart. I made a commitment that day to do my best to commit all I did to Him alone. I was 15 at the time. A few months later, when I was 16, I was baptized at my church. Not to say I didn't falter many times after that. The year my hubby and I were engaged, I was making some unwise choices and recommitted my life to the Lord at a local revival service. 

One thing I have learned in my years as a believer is, once you ask God to be the Lord of your life, He doesn't let go of you! He has a way of showing you His presence in all you do and when you start to stray or make unwise decisions, the Holy Spirit is constantly there. working in your heart, to bring you back to living for Him again.

Life has had it's ups and down throughout my life, but I'm more sure of my salvation than I have ever been! 

God has been so very good and I am so thankful for His presence in my life! What is YOUR story?

10 random gifts I listed from my 1,000 Gifts list... 

62. Christmas lights – love to drive by houses with big light displays.
91. Really big snowflakes, lightly falling…as long as I can watch them through a window in a warm building.
152. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
171. Aging - Getting older is significantly superior to the alternative.
262. Insight and clarity -You know when you look back at something that has been bothering you and suddenly see it in a different light?
466. Each day I receive literally millions of love gifts from God. – Having daily food, shelter; When I snuggle into bed, hear a bird chirp, see a fluffy cloud.
692.  Memories – old photos, son’s school papers,family heirlooms.
760.  Drinking Orange Crush soda from a bottle.
787. Going to a graduation open house...being reminded how our kids grow up SO fast.
847. Freedom - "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
925.  Cool air after a rain storm.

Linking over to these blog hops:
Multitude on Mondays (A Holy Experience)
Heart Reflected Blog Hop
Sunday Stillness (He Cares For You)
Weekend Brew (My Freshly Brewed Life) 
 Soli Deo Gloria Party (Finding Heaven)
 Sharing His Beauty (Beauty In His Grip)
Titus2sdays (Time-Warp Wife)
UNITE (Rich Faith Rising)
Gratituesday (Heavenly Homemakers)
Winsome Wednesday(My Daily Walk in His Grace) 
 Word-Filled Wednesday (Woman to Woman)  
  Getting Your Gratitude On (Divas With A Purpose) 
Tell Me a True Story Blog Hop