"They overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." -Revelation 12:11

I remember as a child wishing to be alive when Jesus came back. My mother took me, along with my older brother and younger sister, to a Baptist Church in Cutler Ridge, Florida for many years after my parents were divorced. I don't remember when she stopped taking us, but I continued going to another Baptist Church in the area because of a bus ministry.

Although I was baptized at age 12, I was not truly "born again". No one taught me from the Word what it meant to follow Jesus. I stopped going to church not long after (and no one kept in touch with me or seemed to care).

When I reached my teens, I became an angry, bitter person. Angry at my parents for not being a normal family, bitter about losing my father to divorce. I experienced some of the deepest, most intense emotions at this time. I wanted someone to love me. Anyone.

Then started the years of immorality. Details are not necessary: drugs, sex, rock n' roll, rebellion, more bitterness and anger. I grew to hate authority and men. I did not trust anyone. Ten days before my 18th birthday I gave birth to my first child. I had married his father earlier in the year, but the marriage failed due to immaturity on both sides.

My years as a single mom were difficult, but fairly uneventful. I dated off and on, but didn't trust men. I worked hard, earned little, and escaped in literature and growing beautiful flowers and plants.

At age 24, I was working in an office building where two other Christian women were working. Because our two companies has business dealings, we talked often. They started asking me to go to evening church meetings, but I had no interest in such things. I really didn't like God very much and didn't want to hear any more about Him. He had failed me for years and years; why discuss it any further?

Finally, after over a year of asking, and much intercession on their part (I found out later they thought I would never get saved -- too hard a case), I attended three consecutive evening meetings where a man of God was preaching on Total Lordship. Finally, I heard something that made sense. If we are to follow Jesus, it must be with our whole beings. Jesus required total loyalty; this was called Lordship. Jesus does save. We just need to call on his name, confess our sin, and receive the gift. But that is only the beginning. We must then follow Him.

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. -Matthew 7:21

I knew that I wanted to know Jesus myself, to follow Him anywhere He asked me to go. I was born again July 14, 1984 and baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit on July 16, 1984. I was truly "born again" and was alive to the things of God. I knew I belonged to Him.

Do YOU know without a doubt that when you die, you will go to be with the Lord? Are you assured that your name is found in the Lamb's Book of Life? Does the Lord know you?

"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" - Matthew 7:22

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it." - Matthew 7:13

Do you consider yourself a good person? Do you help others? None of it is worth anything unless you are "born again" and belong to God. (John 3:7) You must take His yoke upon you and go His way. You must follow Him. (Matthew 11:28)

If you have questions about the way to salvation or how to grow in the Lord, please feel free to e-mail me. I will try to help. May you know the Lord, and may He know you!