Michele's Testimony

Before I received eternal life I was alive but dead inside.

Growing up in my Parent's home I wanted for nothing, but yet was UNHAPPY. My Mother lived in Europe during WWII, and the majority of her large family was killed. My mom had a lot of buildup anger, lots of tears, (especially every Friday night Sabbath, lighting candles praying and remembering the dead). My Dad was my protector in our home. He served in the US Army and met my Mother overseas. I Left home to get married and have children, but felt EMPTY INSIDE. Years later my dad died suddenly. I became DISTRAUGHT, so tried to commit suicide in my car running in the garage, but something stopped me and turned off the engine. After seeking professional help, and year's later still in DESPAIR, eventually got a divorce. Our two daughters' wanted to live with their father and they did. Was so unhappy, empty inside, I couldn’t help myself or my own children. On my own for the first time in my life at the age of 38, got on my hands and knees and cried out to God to HELP me.

Unaware at the time, God was answering my prayer putting my brokenness together over the years. With God’s guidance unknowingly, I started to see life/people differently becoming more confident within myself with each passing year. I had a spiritual experience that left me filled with God’s Love and Peace.

As God was drawing me closer to Him, I started to sense His presence in my heart. God was teaching me through people he put around me about the Bible. I awoke one spring morning and was filled with God’s Love, inner Peace and Hope, a total transformation! “I had received eternal life.”

Furthermore, God enabled me to let go of the past and forgive those who hurt us, and to rebuild important family relationships, e.g., with my two daughters. They both live nearby with their families, and we get together and spend family time as often as possible and spend holidays together. I was also blessed with a second marriage. Months before he died I was able to help him find the peace and joy that I had received. It is not easy to lose a loving, devoted spouse, but knowing God’s Love, especially in my grief, is what gets us through. God provided His strength when I was weak, and the ability to care for my husband’s needs with skills never knew I had.

Even in the storms of life GOD’S POWER within us gives the hope, peace, confidence and the healthy relationships in life, but even more important than that, all of these changes resulted simply for knowing that I have eternal life.