January 22, 2003
Brenda R- Honoring God, practicing forgiveness
My name is Brenda R. and I am 38 years old. I work full-time, but spend many hours a week volunteering for various organizations, including a farm, cat shelter, rescue group, the Atlanta Food Bank, my University, and, of course, my church (among others). One of the reasons I volunteer so much is because I feel very blessed in many ways and feel that I am honoring God by giving some of my time and talents.
I grew up in Pennsylvania and church (Methodist) was a major influence in my life all through high school. I remember reading a series of books (can’t remember name/author now), aimed at teenagers, while I was in middle school. They encouraged the reader to become a Christian.
Because of those books, when I was in my back yard one day, I said, “I’ll become a Christian if this stick makes it in the can.” I was holding a stick and aimed it at the can that we burned papers in - it was VERY far away. It went in (and I KNOW that God did it). That was my first “conversion” and it was an immature one, but still felt good!
In high school, I became involved in a Bible study that caused me to be judgmental of others who didn’t believe what I did. After a few tortured conversations, I realized then that being a Christian was something that people had to find out for themselves (albeit testimony of others helps a lot!), so I decided to live as a Christian, talk about it when appropriate, but not “push” it on others.
My real conversion came about seven years ago, when I lived for a few months with a Christian (she had offered me to room with her when I needed a place to live temporarily even though she barely knew me). She did not “preach” to me, but I started listening to a Christian radio station that she liked and watched her take time to read the Bible. She was a wonderful person. I started going to church more and found one that had Christian members who influenced me as well.
One weekend, it just “happened.” I knew on Monday morning that I was born-again (after several things happened that weekend, such as the sermon speaking directly to me). It was the best feeling of my life. After that day, I was a happier person. People knew there was something different about me because of a radiance - and, when they asked about it, I got to give my testimony to them. I know that I am a better person because I am a Christian.
This is really a simple testimony -- I almost didn’t submit it because it seems somewhat trivial. Over the last year, I’ve gone through a divorce, bankruptcy and will be losing my house, because of my ex-husband’s business debt (that I allowed in my name), but my faith has helped me remain strong and I do not harbor bad feelings toward my ex-husband. I thank God for His grace and teachings of forgiveness. I do not see the benefit in holding grudges - I think it just makes one a negative person and why should someone else have the power to make me negative!
Thank you for listening.
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