Starting a Blog…

Two weekends ago, we went to an annual church retreat, which was an amazing experience like always.

One of the most special moments of the weekend was my baptism. I’m going to share my testimony so that you can know what Christ has done in me. Although it’s a lot easier to share it in person than in writing, I will attempt it.

Ten years ago, I was an orphan. I lived my life with two other siblings, one older and one younger. Our birth dad was arrested while he was at home with us and was taken to jail. We also witnessed him trying to commit suicide. Our birth mom was ALWAYS gone with other guys, drinking, doing drugs, and smoking. She would always come home drunk. We would have to feed and take care of ourselves on a daily basis. We were practically living on our own.

We were taken to the orphanage in the year 2000, when I was seven years old. The orphanage became our home for eleven months. Religion was not a part of what we were taught, and we never heard the name of Christ there. Then, in 2001, we were adopted into an American home. I was a “good” little girl as the world would say. I lived a good life, obeying my parents, serving, doing things that weren’t asked of me, but inside I was black. I was defiant in my heart. I didn’t show it on the outside, but I knew I was rebellious. One day I was reading my Bible after getting in trouble at my parents direction (to put my heart on the right path). I thought, “I need a Savior.” So I found Dad, and I prayed to God to take away my sins. However, a year went by and there was no difference in my life, and no fruit. My parents kept asking me to make sure I was really His. I would think about it for a little while and then decide, “I’m His”. As time went on, I realized that I wasn’t really Christ’s.

About two years ago, after getting into trouble again, I was reading my Bible. (Unfortunately, I wasn’t perfect enough that I only got into trouble every three years. :))  I realized that I hadn’t given everything to Jesus, just some things, and I didn’t let Him be my King. That day I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and gave ALL my life to Him. After I did that, I felt an indescribable joy. Since then, I’ve seen fruit. God has increased my desire for His word and joy in serving others for His glory.

There’s a phrase in a song called, “Blessings,” by Laura Story that says, “What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?”. I feel like this is my song because God used my life circumstances as an orphan to bring me to Him.

I decided to be baptized because Christ tells us to, and I wanted to show everyone that I am His, and He is mine.

HE’S MY KING!!!