Lutheran as an infant, confirmed in the Lutheran church as a teenager and even went to a Lutheran college in Minnesota. But I never chose church myself. I went and participated because it was
Last year when I hit rock bottom and was severely depressed, having multiple panic attacks each day, I sort of "stumbled upon" God again. In a bookstore. With a Joyce Meyer book. I had no idea she was a Christian author but her new book had just been released that day, You Can Begin Again, and that sounded like a real fine idea to me.
I devoured that book. I went back later that week to buy another one. I could not get enough. Before the week was out I had half a dozen books, downloaded podcasts from Joyce, Joel Osteen, Henry Cloud and had the Bible app installed on all my devices. I was hungry for the Word. Within a few weeks, I was starting to have hope again. Hope that my situation would change and that things would improve and I could move forward with my life. Nothing had changed in my situation, but I was no longer alone...in fact, I never was. But now I had gotten into such a close relationship with God that I felt a power and a strength that I had never in my life experienced before.
I was fortunate to be led to Gold Creek by several different people in my life. It took me awhile to decide that church was a decent place to be. I mean, all my life, I had watched these "so called Christians" do not very Christ-like things and if that was what being a Christian was all about then by all means, count me out!! I gave Gold Creek a chance. I found that the founding pastor, Dan Kellogg, delivered the Word in such a way that it really resonated with me and spoke life into my life. It felt like "home" very quickly. I felt welcome, not judged and just accepted...the single mom with her 3 crazy kiddos. And...they have espresso! Sold!
I jumped right in and started volunteering. I have since taken on the church's social media and Pastor Dan's social media as well for his blog and upcoming endeavors. It was the perfect position and community for me. I decided that I wanted to make my own decision to be baptized and give my life to Christ through baptism. I've just turned 40 and this is a very significant time in my life with things really changing and moving forward and I can feel with every fiber of my being that God wants to use me and my story to help others and to lead others to Him.I took the plunge! I'm diving in. I'm ready for whatever God wants to use me for. I am truly excited for the journey and for the Light Always Wins ministry to take off!
1 John 1:5
The LIGHT shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.
