This past week I gave my testimony in Leaders Council at Community Bible Study. God has done AMAZING things right before my eyes and I wanted to share with anyone that may need a glimpse of what God can accomplish in anyone's messy life.....
~3
Minute Testimony~
Billie
Jo Marker
My
vocabulary has always included God. I
was blessed to grow up in a home where my family lived by God's Word. It wasn't always pretty and was dysfunctional
through many seasons, but always grounded on God's principles which produced an
ever-present faith.
I recall
learning Bible story after Bible story which created an inquisitive mind full
of questions that needed explanations.
My Sunday School teachers were faithful to increase my understanding and
build my foundation on Jesus. I made my
way through school gaining courage and boldness in my faith each year; carrying
the label of "Jesus Freak" with me as I chose to write papers on God
and live differently than most of my friends.
No swearing, no school dances, no unbelieving boyfriends, no pop music,
no monetary extras, no popularity. While
my girlfriends were writing "Dear Diary", I was journaling "Dear
Lord" and pouring my heart and prayers onto paper and up to God. He was my Rock, my Savior, my strength, and
my guide as I grew. By high school my
heart for Jesus and others must have been evident, because my graduating year I
received the Senior Superlative of "Most Caring". I pray this "Jesus Girl" is
remembered for my love for God that I shared with others.
Life
quickly blew by with youth group, jobs, dating, internships, college, and of
course falling in love and marrying Willie.
He shared my love for God and we built our home on the Lord as we
followed His will and lived by His Word.
Times were tough and we survived many transitions, but God's
fingerprints were everywhere and His Hand of protection always on us. He was faithful, even when we were not.
Two
children later, we found ourselves operating in the comfortable
"Auto-Pilot" mode. Routines
and a certain degree of laziness pushed
church attendance and God into "an emergency only"
status. If we wanted to sleep in on
Sundays, so be it. We'd make it next
week, as long as we could find our Bible Sunday morning. Life was comfortable.
The
unexpected death of Willie's father began a shattering domino effect of crisis'
that spiraled our family into deep heartache and tragedy before we finally landed
softly in God's loving arms. God tripped
our "Auto-Pilot" mode into "Survival" mode and we quickly
learned the stark contrast between the world's darkness and the Lord's
Light. Childhood abuse confronted,
family betrayal, lies, endangered children, lawsuits, false testimonies against
us, estrangements, and evil of many degrees, became our reality by no
consequences of our own. We needed a
life line back to God and quickly!
I clearly
remember one morning crying out to God, "I can't breathe, I'm lost, and
I'm drowning." He spoke in my heart
and prompted me to call a friend who had talked about a CBS Bible study she
attended. I knew I needed to get plugged
back in to God's Word because my battles were bigger than I could fight, but
not bigger than my God. God quickly
connected the dots and I began to soak up His Word through CBS; no longer
drowning in life's injustices, but floating by God's grace and protection. I participated very little that first year in
CBS, because by soaking up and not speaking up, God began a healing process in
my soul that changed my life and changed my heart. The God I had known since a child, rescued
this "Jesus Girl" and drew me back to His side.
True to
His Word and Sovereignty, God intervened
and rescued our family out of the evil pit that fought to consume us. He made us a brand new creation by doing away
with all things old and providing all things new. A new home, a new community, a new job, a new
church family, new friends, new ministry opportunities, a new foundation on
which to raise our children, new hearts inclined towards Him, a new love for our Jesus, and a renewed Hope for
our broken souls.
When asked
to share my testimony, I think how boring it would be because I had no dramatic
past or conversion since I've known God since a little girl. But as a lifelong believer, God took what man
meant for evil and turned it into something VERY dramatic and life-changing.
From ashes to beauty we were restored. From "Auto-Pilot" to "Jesus
Take the Wheel" we surrendered.
This girl's testimony now has it's drama! I can't help but chuckle at the sense of
humor God has.
This
"Jesus Girl" grew up knowing Jesus, but now I get to spend the rest
of my life loving my Jesus--my Rescuer, and serving Him with all of my heart as
He leads me, stretches my faith, and chisels me into the woman He designed me
to be. Jesus stole my heart and longs to
steal your heart too!
"Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth, and
the life.
No one comes to the Father
except through me." " ~John
14:6
God is just waiting to make you His "Jesus
Girl" in your
beautiful story......Your Story for His Glory!
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