For those who just happened to notice this posting. Here is one of my testimony. It's long. The Shorten Version post.... on my Public Conversion Day Anniversary 2007. I did add more since my AUGUST 28, 2007 entry...
What I have written was from am email...I was sharing this with some of my friends. Also there are future blogs within this blog. Some other blogs I have already posted.
From where I came from up to the Day of my salvation.... This was my Public Announcement of salvation on 09/17/93 and a little of 2007.
I made a private surrendering to Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior in 1983. I can say that I have been walking with the LORD longer than I have stated.Words in shades: Made into Blogs...
Somehow I just kept typing and I flowed with the words that kept coming. I added some more detail from my email and made some corrections.
My Conversion: Made Public
My Background:
I was born to Baptist parents who were saved. I was my parents' 19th child, their 4th daughter, and their youngest child. I did not grow up in church.
I only went to church about ten times before I got saved. Those church attendance were for more funerals than weddings. My parents raised me the best way that they could. They owned their own home and had their family business. Both of my parents are in the presence of the LORD.
During My Youth Years: How Shy Was I?
When I was growing up, I was teased a lot. I got mad quick. Yeah, I was a hot head. I keep it in. As long as I can recall, I had trouble hearing. I did not talk a lot outside the household. I can recall only going to "church" at least one time during my youth.
My first remembrance of going to Sunday School, was where one of my sister in law taught. My sister in law ask me to read out loud. Some of the other kids laughed at my speaking. I could not pronounce the words in the King James Bible.
Yes, that was my last Sunday School attendance. I did not like being there. Let alone being laugh at by not speaking words correctly. [This reminds me of the time in KG when I was ask a question about What would Sally do when Dick took her hair ribbon? I said she would beat him up. Some of the other kids laughed at my answer. I felt bad.]
During My Teen Years:
I might have went to "church" about 2 to 3 times as a teenager. I remember the first revival I went to. It was weird. At the end of the service the Reverend of the church ask a question. I can't recall how he said it. It went something like is. Is there anyone who wants to come to the Lord?
There was one teen age boy who answered the call. He came crying and they sit him in a chair. Two older men laid their hands on him. It was like this teenager had done something "very bad and was in trouble". I never saw anybody cry in church like that before.
I thought to myself, I don't want to come to the Lord like "that' . This brought more of a distant for me to keep going to church. I recall when I went to "a tent setting church". [That's what I called it then]. That did not leave a good impression on me. I wanted to leave as quick as I could. I lose interest in the 'Church Life."
During My Middle Teens to 20's: How Was I Drawn To God?
In the mid to late 1970's, some of my brothers and sisters would always watch "Religious" shows on TV that told stories in the Bible. It was during Easter and Christmas time. There was one show that I watched ever year during Easter.
There was a scene where the actor playing Jesus. This Jesus actor would look into the camera. With the camera focused on this Jesus' baby blue eyes , he, the actor Jesus said something like this...I will be with you even to the end of the world.
When that moment happened, I noticed something in me change for the very first time in my entire life. It was as though that it was JESUS Himself who spoke those words directly to me. There was an impact that came from that moment in my life. I even remember where I was when this happened. I was in the basement of the house that I grew up in.
It was after that happened I started to read the Bible. It was not a King James Version. It was a Bible that I could relate to. At that time is was The Revised English Bible. I recall that I would hide and reading my Bible. I did not want no one to know that I was reading it.
Then eventually I began to turn from things I believed were not right. I was not into drugs...no drinking liquor...nor into the party life. I was drawn to the soaps. I was amazed by UFO's stories. I love hearing stories of the unexplain mysteries. Stories of things out of the Bible made my wonder more. I believe that there that there was a God. I learned this and got influence from my family.
My mother had a saying that she would always say. "The Lord does not like ugly. I don't mean a ugly face, I mean a ugly mind, a ugly heart or a ugly soul." That felt like a sermon to me. My father had a voice to where what he said to me, I would believe. Well, there was somethings he said I believe that he was joking.
Yeah, I believe that there was a God. I heard about Jesus. I did not want nobody in my family know that I read that Bible. I was afraid that they would want me to go to church. I DID NOT like to go to their churches. I had FEAR about being there. I felt very uncomfortable in church.
My Dad use to tease me when I got the Bible out. I thought that it was a bad thing that I was doing..I was realized that he was joking. That was another reason why I would hide reading the Bible. [Our Family history was in the front of the Bible. That's why I was getting into it.]
When I was in my 20's, I talked to God a lot. At times, I heard "a calm voice" in response to some of what I was going through in my life. This made me quest for more about that voice. More about who's voice that was. I was interested in "the voice". I didn't know how to approach what I was searching for. But I keep searching through the unexplain T.V. stories that I would listen to.
In 1989 My Father Died.
About 11 days before his death, I heard my Dad talking out loud. I realized he was talking to someone. But who? He told this person that he was dying. My Dad was calm about it and had no fear in his tone of voice. I thought that my Dad was talking in his sleep. So I tried to wake him up.
As I was in the process of walking up to by my Dad's bed side, he opened his eyes. He looked over my shoulder and said some these words. "Look at all my people". He had the most joyful expression on his face. By that time, I was in total tears and sobbing. I know what he meant.
In my early 20's I would watch TV shows that dealt with death and the after life. What I heard my Dad was saying.... match up with what I heard from the shows. I believe that my Dad had seen in the spirit world. My Dad also, ask my if I saw birds flying above his head. I did not see anything. He said that he did. I believed him.
From that moment on I begin to speak to God in times of need.
Memories of My Father
I ask God if my Dad was dying, prepare us for his death. There had been a number of times when our Dad was at the point of death. He had been sick for about 11 years. There were times in the hospital that the doctors where amazed how he lived so long. [ He was on oxygen.]
In 1989, It took me a while to get the courage to go back to the hospital. It was on a Friday that my Dad was going to be taken to another place to recover. When I got to his room, he asked me with a joyful voice if he was going HOME! I said just to another place.
We made it to that place. This was the very first time that I rode in an ambulance. My Dad didn't like this place. He had trouble breathing and was uncomfortable. At one time two nurses came into his room.... my Dad did something that I never seen him do.
My Dad got so angry. He yelled at the nurses... GET OUT OF HERE!!! Yeah, I took off too. I went over by the window and started to cry. My Dad called for me to sit down in the chair next to his bed.
He did something that he never done before. He ask me for my hand. He took both of his hands one on top and the other under my hand. He had his eyes closed.... so I put my hand down and was crying. After this, he told me to call "Lu", my mother and tell her not worry.
It was about the 3PM hour that when this happened. Then 12 hours later my Dad passed on. Before I heard the news. I knew that I knew. Something strange happened to me that morning.
I saw a ball of light come from my closet and I said OH, MY GOD!!.....When I got the news a little bit after 3AM. I felt something leave me. I felt released from what I saw in my father's suffering.
I knew where my father was. I remember going outside that Oct 7th morning. I looked up into the dark sky. Looking at toward the Heavens. It was one of our nephew's birthday that day. He turned 2. Yeah, we had a birthday party for Marcus.[We were help raising Marcus...his mother died 35 days after his birth. I was praying back during that time in my life as well.]
Ever since my father's death, I had become closer to finding out things. I begin on a quest to find out some things. I have been searching for my family history. I begin ever a deeper search for some things about the Bible.
In 1990, I thought that I could never celebrate Father's Day because I did not have a father. But a revelation that I have a Heavenly Father hit me. I began to read the Bible more and more and discovered radio "religious" talk show.
By 1992, 1993: More Things Came:
I was baby sitting my siblings kids a lot. I had little time to do things. I helped out with my mother and brothers. I did not know what I was going to do with my life. I was in a time of not knowing what to do but wanting to do some other things.
There would be people coming to our doors witnessing about Jesus. At times I did not want to talk to them. But I begin to listen to some of them. I tried to be nice.
I even receive letters from psychics and fortune tellers, telling me that my 30th birthday was a mark of something special in my life. I would response to their letters. I was telling them that my spiritual guidance comes from the Holy Spirit. At that time they sent long letters with a return stamp envelope for reply.
My thinking was on God and was I driven to Him. I spoke things that made me think about what I was saying after someone ask me something. For example: A Jehovah witness ask....Who was the Greatest person to walk the Earth? I answered Jesus. But after they left... I thought to myself that Jesus is still here in Spirit.
During the Summer of 1993.
I was searching for my family history. I came across a lady who's Great-grand father owned my Great grand father, Isaac Blakey,who was an African. At one point on my journey I believed that one day, I would came across one of family slaveholder's ancestry.
Other searchers help me out for that day that came to past. The lady lived the in KC area...I told her but she did not believe me at first. I did mail her the proof that she need to see. She was so happy, she called me to thank me.
My Great-grand father, Isaac fought in the Civil War. MS Union Army. This lady's Great grand father Y. C. Blakey testify that he knew my Isaac. Isaac had a good reputation as a slave. They even lived not to far from each other after the War in MO. I believe that both my Isaac and Y.C. are in heaven.
July of 1993.
I was listening to the weather report...I heard that there would be a series of rain coming our way. I said out loud with a voice of concern. That sounds like a flood! My nephew, Dwayne was over and he over heard me. He said that I think too much. But you know what? The rain came and so did the flood.
I watch the news like glue.. What was happening around us...flooding. The day before the FLOOD hit. I got chance to look at the MO river. It was very high. Water flowing fast....The flood came...Our city made headline news.
July and Aug of 1993.
We survived the before and aftermath of the flood. Yeah, I prayed...God who is going to help us when the flood comes? We did get the help from surrounding cities and States.
I continued to watch prophecy and TBN. On 13th Sept of 1993, I recall that the Israel Peace Plan was about to be signed. I had chill bumps...I said that it is not time yet for this to happen.
Sept 12, 1993
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2nd Sunday In September This was a recent blog: Sept 12, 2007.
I have been in the habit of Celebrating the 2nd Sunday of September each year. It's the day that I began to come to church. It's been 14 years. I am still in rhythm of going to church. When it comes time for me to miss church, every time when I have missed, I felt like I backslid.
My unofficial beginning of being a part of church
started on Sunday, Sept 12, 1993. It took me a while to except the invitation but I made myself go to church. I was invited to go to a Baptist Church where my brother and his wife were members. My sister in law was speaking on that Sunday morning. I agreed to go...
Here is my short testimony of my unsaved life going to church. I used words as how I thought back in the days. Please don't be offended by how I express my story.
We arrived early to church. Why we went early, I did not know. We had to wait for the service to start. I was wearing my red and black dress. Back in those days I did not like to dress up. Let alone being early for church.
As the service was about to start, we were ask to get out a hymnbook and turn to songs that we were going to sing. By the time I got to the page were the song that we were suppose to sing, I could not catch up with the words. I did not know where we were at.
I forgot how many songs that were sung. I called them humms. I could not hear the words to the songs. The words sounded blurry to me.
Finally it was time for the message. The Reverend of the church introduced my sister in law. She entitled her sermon "Stretching Your Spiritual Muscles." It was an illustrated sermon. She was using stretchable wrestling men as an example. How to stretch ourselves in what we do. It was a FAITH message.
I made it through the total of 45 minutes service. I mean from beginning to the end. It seem very long to me. I thought that it would never end. I did not know how I made it through the service. But I did. I was well ready to leave.
But at the end of the service... the Reverend of the church ask if anyone wanted to come to the LORD. There was no response. I thought to myself that I was already saved. The Reverend ask everyone to come up front and we prayed. Then we said the Lord's Prayer. When it was time to go, I rode home with my sister, Freda.
There was a huge banner in the church up front. It read: JESUS IS ALIVE... Freda ask my a question... Is Jesus alive in that church? I SAID NO! I felt like Jesus was died. In most of the churches that I have been to it appears that way to me. Funerals had more LIFE than the actual Sunday services.
Freda invited me to come to her church, Word of Life Church on Friday Night. She told me to think about it. I thought about it. Actually I prayed about it.
Freda told me that Pastor Brian Zahnd had a radio program... I decided to tune in on all that week. I needed to have an idea of what I was getting myself into....
I tuned into Words of Life on September 13, 1993. My first impression about what pastor sounded like on the radio was...he talked LOUD! Boy he was LOUD...I forgot what he was talking about. He just left me with the impression of LOUDNESS in his voice.
I remember one of my brothers asking me if I was going to join church during this week. This was after the Baptist Church I visited. Something within me said NO THAT CHURCH!
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By Thursday September 16, 1993. I had made up my mind to come to Word of Life Church. I was wearing my black dress pants with a purple blouse and red jacket. It was cold in church. I kept my jacket on.
We got there about 7:40 PM. As I walked in I notice that the music was very loud. It was alive and not dead. It was not like the other churches where I have been. It did not seem like a church setting. We found a place to set. It was not too close.
I received my welcome from Pastor Brian. I even raised my hand to show that I was a first time visitor on the 17th of Sept '93. To me Pastor Brian did not look like a pastor. But he did preach LOUD.
I made it through pastor's message... "The Iron Did Swim". The service was much much longer than I thought. We had our 3 year old niece with us. She was getting restless. She kept asking me is it time to go.
By that time it was about 9:35 PM...Pastor was coming home for a landed....At that time pastor was starting his altar call, my niece was playing in the chair next to me.
And a thought came to me. It was a message I heard on Insight for Living. It was about on holding things loosely. So I forgot all about my niece, so that I could hear what pastor was saying.
I heard pastor say, don't raise your hand to man but, to God. As pastor continued on with his message, I found myself agreeing with him. My mind was racing or something I can't explain. I was crying out to God. By this time I was calming myself down. After I got myself together, I heard a calm voice say "raise your hand".
My first reaction was to open my eyes to see where that voice came from. Something told me to keep my eyes closed. So when I did, I felt a very warm sensation pour into my heart. It felt so good that I looked down at my heart with my eyes closed. Wow! It felt GOOD. [I will have a recap of what this experience ahead in yellow.]
After getting over this....then that calm voice said again...."raise your hand". Without thinking, I agree and did as I was commanded. During the time the warm sensation came, I only heard "the voice". I did not hear pastor say to come up to the altar. It was not until I heard the clapping, I awaken to the noise and opened my eyes out of darkness into the light.
I was shaking like a leaf. I did not know why. It was like I was in fear. I got a hold of myself. One of the ushers kindly escorted me up to the altar. I was the last ones to get there. Right behind me was my three year old niece. [She had a purpose in being there. I did not want to put her in the nursery.]
At that instant, I begin to cry but some how, my three year old niece come into my view. So I held my cry back. She got my mind off what I heard. I was more worried about what she would do up at the altar than my need for a Savior. Other things cross my mind to what have I gotten myself into as well.
I repeated after what Pastor Brian led us into praying. I meant very word with all of my heart. What happened during the altar call that give me comfort... was my three year old niece. She took my hand and held it as I was saying the "sinner's prayer".
After we were done up at the altar, I followed the man with the Bible. I had some worry on my mind that other would be mad because of what I just did. I got saved. [I could not even fill out the information card that was ask of me. I took it home and filled it out and mailed it back to the church.]
I did feel different that night. We ate at Wendy's. I had a bacon cheese burger, french fries and a sprite. We even ate inside Wendy's. It was getting late. We took Chantelle home. I told her mother who was my sister, Mary that I got saved. I made it home. Then I got ready for bed.
Before going to sleep, I thanked God for the day. I felt very different that night. As I fell asleep I saw a garden come into my vision. In this garden, there were many shades of green. It was greenery like I have ever seen before. It was so very beautiful. I just kept looking at it as long as I could until I fell asleep. [During this time in my life, I have not been dreaming for a very long time... just sleeping.]
The next day I told my mother that I was saved. She said I should have been saved 10 years ago. I thought.... Was I too late getting in here? I believe that my life was change when I met Jesus. My mind had changed. I knew that it was time for me to start going to church. But WHO'S? and Where???
I had 3 churches to choose from. Two of them where Baptist Churches; New Hope and Saint Francis. I could have joined WOLC two days after my conversion. But I HAD TO PRAY ABOUT THIS ONE. In the meanwhile. I continued to come to WOLC. Both on Fridays and Sundays.
It took a month to actually join a church. I was thinking more to the church where I met Jesus. But I had a thought of what would me mother think. Why didn't I join her church. But I prayed and what came to my spirit was to join the church were I felt comfortable.
I believe that I was led toward the church where I felt comfortable. It was on 17th Oct 1993. I was set to joint WOLC at high noon. One thing that I remember about joining Word of Life Church, my knees were shaking when the invitation to join the church was open. I made my way up the the platform. We gathered in a circle and introduce ourselves. We prayed I and I become a member of WOLC.
I have been learning a lot about the things of God and how to live since I began being apart of church, through fellowship with the people of God and reading my Bible. I continue to grow in the Lord. I am wanting to know about Jesus and the kingdom of God.
God has giving me some understanding about some things on my quest for Him. I have met a lot of friends a long the journey. I am excited to be a part of God's church.
