Sunday, December 9, 2012

Forgiven

This is the first in a series of four posts I will be writing this week. I am taking part in, the Week Of Second Campaign promoting the new book...

Live Second:365 Ways To Make Jesus First by Doug Bender.

Your sins are forgiven. . . . Your faith has saved you; go in
peace.
—Luke 7:48, 50


Read the story in Luke 7:30-50

For fifty two years I listened to a lie from satan and lived my life how I wanted...just like the woman from the story in Luke...always thinking of myself as being in charge and being number one...doing whatever I chose to do. Raised in a Christian home...my dad an elder in the church and my mom a Sunday school teacher and women's leader...you would think I would have known better. The problem was...

the lie I listened to when I was a small child...nine I believe...which caused me to live by my own set of rules. In church every time the doors were open...but never believing that anything said was meant for me. I started smoking somewhere around ten and taking any kind of pills I could get my hands on by the time I was in 7th grade...often mixing amphetamines and barbiturates together because I needed to not feel all the pain of my life. Drinking started in high school. It was in those years that I would try to get others to join in on the "fun" I was having. Telling them how much they would like the feeling the drugs gave them. It was always a good time to be had yet...

I lived in fear because I knew if Jesus came back I would go to hell. Jesus didn't come back and I continued to live as if I were all that mattered. I was number one, living life that was always on a down hill spiral. At forty-nine I left my home town and moved to Idaho. My thought was...

If I leave and go someplace new maybe I can convince God that He wants me. Convince Him to somehow give me a second chance. I didn't know it then but this was all in God's plan for me. Things did begin to change. God begin to use people to speak into my life. People I didn't even know. God wanted me to know He loved me. He wanted to be number one...First in my life. God...

He is a life changer! He changed my life on August 10, 2007. Jesus came into my life. On that day...Jesus became my Savior. Jesus became First in my life. I always want to live second...

Praise the LORD! I am forgiven and...

I am second.




                                  



6 comments:

Brenda said...

Amen Chelle,
it's a wonderful life putting God first isn't it?

Anonymous said...

Wow Chelle, powerful post my friend. Looking forward to the next instalment. God bless sweet lady
Tracy

Kristin Bridgman said...

Yes, powerful! So glad you are sharing your testimony...I know God will honor you for it. Waiting for the next part.

bluecottonmemory said...

Thank you!Your story, your history, gives me hope as a mother, so much hope! Blessings to you for sharing your journey back to him!

Desiray Lewis said...

Thanks for sharing your story Chelle..I ask myself at times why on earth do we listen to the enemy? God has already spoken blessings on us....AMEN

Ken said...

Hi Chele,
Thank you for sharing your powerful testimony. I too lived for myself until I was in my 40's. I went through the drug and alcohol thing amoung others. Praise God for His salvation. Now as a believer and follower in Jesus, there is no way I would want to go back to my life before I came to faith in Him.
Blessings,
Ken