I didn't realize how little respect I had for myself before. In the way I dressed, in the way I allowed people (mainly men) to talk to me and even in the conversations I would get involved in. After I finally found the love I've been looking for my whole life, in Jesus Christ, I realized how much that's all I've ever wanted. My self esteem was next to zilch. It's crazy how much I've changed in so many ways. It's pretty darn awesome!! Have I ever mentioned before that I have found peace, lol. Yeah, I know I have several times. I don't think I ever really knew what peace felt like till I actually found it and felt it. There's only one way to find a peace like that.
So now that you've heard a few of the changes in my life, I'd like to share how those changes have affected my daughter. My daughter is 15, she's gone to church very other weekend with her dad for over 10 years and she would go with me, when I went. She rarely paid attention (if ever), fiddled around on her phone when she could get away with it, only went because she had too. Maybe you remember, but back in October when I started going to a Wednesday group/study at church I told her I wanted her to go to youth group as well. She didn't want to go, but she agreed to at least try it, for me. The first night there she loved it. She's gone every week since, she's attended other activities with youth group other then Wednesday evenings, including a weekend trip to Miracle Camp in Michigan. She's done all this because she wants too!! She loves her youth group family. Last week on the way home she tells me that she's loving her new friendships.
I've been taking a ministry class during the 9am service and then going to worship service at 11am. The first week my daughter sat in the Connections room and read while I was in class. Two weeks later she tells me she's going to go to both services, that she'll sit with her friends during the first one. Wow, okay. So she did and then she sat with me during the 2nd service. When Pastor Mike started with his message I turned to Genesis, where we had been the previous week. My daughter says, "No mom, we're here," and she turns my Bible to Exodus chapter 12. Sure enough just a few minutes later that's where Pastor Mike tells us to turn. She was paying attention in the first service and even sitting with friends!! I was floored!! This past weekend we watched, "The Bible." Many of the Bible stories were ones that we had just talked about in church the last few weeks. She KNEW them!! I was so excited!! I kept my Bible on my lap so during the commercials I could read a little more of the story and talk about it.
To shorten this story...my daughter is now a follower of Christ. I won't tell you how lame I was on helping her with the prayer, but hey, I'm learning just as much as she is. I'm so happy for her and love, love that she is loving the Lord. The girl that would slump in church, hated standing and singing, would fiddle around on her phone,...that girl is now paying attention, loves to stand and sing, actually raises her hands at times while singing, shows me in the Bible where we're at and wants to go twice a day just to see her friend get baptized. :)
Thank you God for answered prayers! My prayer now is that my son will find the love in God that his sister and I have found.
Till ya hear from me again...Be great and always Be YOUtiful !! :)
'Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.' - Romans 12:2
