Amazing Grace - my transformation

before I accepted Christ I was addicted, hopeless, angry, & empty.

I grew up w/ a alcohol & drug addicted mom & a stepdad that was abusive. My teenage years were filled w/ unhealthy relationships which left me feeling used & hopeless. As a result I tried to commit suicide @ the age of 16. I wasn't supposed to live , let alone have normal functioning organs or have children. Through prayer the Lord healed me completely. Shortly after that I gave my life to Christ. Unfortunately, I turned back to my old life, friends & lifestyle. I ended up having an abortion @ 17 which caused years of regret, pain, & drowning my sorrows w/ partying.

after more years of flipping back & forth between God & partying, the Lord spoke to my now saved mother & said to tell me that if I didn't turn back to Him, I would repeat the same things my mom went through. At that moment the Lord seemed closer to me than ever & knowing my moms story it was enough to scare me. I recommitted my life to Him & never went back to that old lifestyle.

Now my life is COMPLETELY different!! I have peace, hope, joy, fulfillment, & most of all - TRANSFORMATION. I've been a stay @ home mom to 3 ,& homeschooled them , been married almost 20 yrs., been a committed Christ follower for 14 yrs., leading small groups, youth groups, & childrens ministries. I am so thankful for Christ's redeeming love & His grace that covers me. I am also grateful that our children are the 1st generation in my family to have a Christ centered home, parents who are still married & the chains of addiction are broken .

through the years we've experienced financial hardships, health problems w/ our children & my husband. Even though times have been very hard, Christ continues to prove Himself trustworthy. He always comforts us & meets our needs. In 2006, our family almost died in a car accident on the E way going 75mph. , our baby was close to death, & we could've killed someone else as well. He brought us all through & met our needs afterwards. Although if it had gone the other way, we know for sure we would be in heaven w/ Him.

I trust in the Lord with all that is within me. He loved me first, before I loved Him for sure. He is continually working on me but gives me grace & mercy everyday. I know 1 day I will go & be with Him.