April 3rd, 1997. I was 4l years old. The day I was born again…………
By then I’d had most if not all of what the world covets these days; property, possessions, marriage, money,satisfying relationships, motherhood,career, business, social status,education, rich experiences…. but I was still totally empty, restless deep down, something important, perhaps even crucial, was missing. Have you ever felt like that before? Of course I don’t feel that way now, with my Savior Jesus Christ as my life, but did then, lived in it moment by moment, day by day. Pretty much unending. The only place I ever felt any kind of peace, even as a young child, was outside in the woods, in the garden, watching a lightning storm across the lake, or under a night sky. Now I can look back and understand why. His creation testified of Him.
Even before I hit my teens I started to fall into the occult, witchcraft/wicca, environmentalism, animal rights activism, ‘past life regression’, mysticism, astrology of course, channeling, angels (read demons) new age ( I lived by Chopra/ MacLean/ Williamson et al’s every word for years), wolves and crows were my totems, …. everything to ‘enlighten’ me, help me ‘walk in the light’. I even tried what I thought was Christianity, and then pretty much every false religion out there. Once I was married and in my early twenties my house began to fill with books, crystals, stone goddesses and other idols, tarot cards, animal guide cards, candles, sage sticks, incense,’sacred’ carvings,prayer sticks, icons, on and on..No true peace here, move onto another. I’d sit out on the side porch trying to ‘manifest my own reality by visualization’…….nothing. Still a huge hole somewhere inside. For many years I went on like this, had my son in 1990 (so blessed!), but still in the same deep satanic darkness spiritually.
To this very moment I grieve every time I remember the day I bought a massive textbook on world religions, thinking I must be able to find something in there I had missed. Buddhism been there, Shamanism been there, Hinduism been there…on and on….Then I came to Christianity, and said the same thing, been there, nothing in it for me. I cannot begin to tell you how that very moment is still so crystal clear to me, and how I weep when I think of how much I grieved my precious Lord when I thought that. Or when I did any of the evil, idolatrous, ungodly, sinful things I did. Thoughts, words, deeds…..
One day shortly after that He started to graciously, and very very rapidly, snatch almost everything that was materially and socially precious to me away, too far away to be recovered……………………BUT …………………….that’s when the wonderful, glorious, life saving adventure began for me. I know now that it was His plan from before the beginning of time….too glorious for me to get my head around. Praise you Lord forever.
Of course, that’s not how it seemed to me then, wonderful or glorious. Money became a consuming issue in all aspects of my life. None of the self help, self manifestation, ‘prayer and worship’, card reading, etc.methods I was familiar with worked. What was I doing wrong? There’s somebody or something out there that I haven’t connected with yet, I just knew it. One more visualization, one more card reading, one more, one more, one more whatever…….
Finally in 1996 I remember literally falling to my knees outside and asking “Where are you?” Had no idea who I was talking to (and frankly where I was at in my marriage at that time I just assumed I was calling out for a new man to manifest in my life ) but of course looking back on it now I can tell you without a doubt that the Lord heard my cry and lead me Home.
For the next 10 months or so He placed many people and events in my path, as He surely did for you as He led you Home. So I’ll just quickly talk about two events; one on the journey and then the actual day of my salvation.
His name was Bruce. Seemed like a really nice guy. I met him online on a cockatiel chat page looking for answers to questions on raising my new feathered friend. Polite, intelligent, helpful. When the site was quiet late at night we started talking about our lives, he’d ask me questions, I’d talk talk talk as is my bent when given the opportunity:) We developed a friendship and one day he started asking questions about the new age, witchcraft, etc. And there was his blessed opening to talk to me about Jesus Christ. Often. He was the first person who had ever challenged me on my spirituality, and because I trusted him I listened. And started to think about his deep and total commitment to the Lord. What was it that would make him so secure, sure, at peace? When his challenges started to strike me deeper I left the site and didn’t return. Will thank him one day in glory for planting that oh so precious seed.
There were other providential events, people, etc. along the way, but I’ll fast forward to April 3,1997. The day my new life in Christ began, and will never end…..
Usual day, money issues. Headed into town to the bank machine, robbing Peter to pay Paul hopefully, waiting for a deposit that wasn’t due for three days, but thought I’d take a look. All this new age stuff wasn’t manifesting what I needed, but oh well. So I pulled into the parking lot, said a quick ‘prayer’ in the car to ‘whoever’, and for a split second talking with Bruce online had come into my thoughts. Fleeting, but there. Went to the ATM, no good,not enough help until the end of the week, I guess. Was trying to withdraw $100 to pay a bill that should be paid that day but it will have to wait.
On my way back to the car Bruce came into my mind again, so I did a quick “ok, if you’re there God, I need $100” (!?! What kind of prayer is that, Linda, to a holy God!?! How much He loves us that He wouldn’t just turn His back and not return, ever, ever )…….But no word of a lie, I get to the car and laying on the ground outside the driver side door is a wallet…thick. Don’t know how long I stood there holding it, but I would never take someone else’s money like that, and I just knew there was something more to this story. A test? No problem, see if there’s a phone number and call it. There was, I did, and the first thing this frantic woman said when I told her I found her wallet was “praise the Lord”… Oh…. Hmm…. So we met a couple of hours later, I handed her the wallet, she said it was her mortgage payment and was so thankful. I was glad to have done that; losing a wallet is traumatic. So we said goodbye and I headed back to my car.I hadn’t walked more than 10 or 15 steps before I heard her call me to wait. So I did. “Here honey, the Lord told me to give this to you.” Yes of course it was exactly $100. Five twenty dollar bills. I can still see them in my mind. I wouldn’t take them at first, but she reminded me it’s “from the Lord, you must take the money , He said it is for you”.
I took it all and cried..thanked her ..and started walking away again….”Oh! And we’re having a Bible study tonight at a friend’s, would you come? I will pick you up…….Please come.”………
Praise God for His obedient children…and for His precious, saving grace. All to His Glory. Amen. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Nice you telling how your quest for God went. But the end of your article does let us wonder if you really have found the Only True God and did not make His only begotten son to your god. Be careful to keep the two biblical figures out of each other and not mixing with each other: One is the eternal Most High Spirit, and the other is a man of flesh and blood who gave his life for all, the sent one from God, Jeshua (Jesus Christ) who is now sitting at the right hand of his heavenly Father to be a mediator between God and man.
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I am a child of, and worship the One True God. The eternal triune God, Who is Father,Son & Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is our mediator yes, but also our Lord God and coming King. May the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to that truth. Blessings in Christ.
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We live and work by the doctrines of the Bible which contradict the human doctrine of Trinity. We do hope and pray you might one day find that Biblical Truth.
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you will be blessed by this Biblical truth, and He will use it to His glory:The Forgotten Trinity by James White
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Thank you for sharing your story. That takes courage and obedience to the Lord. I am excited to see how Jesus is specifically using His children who have come out of the occult. God bless. ❤
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God bless you too dear sister 🙂 And thank you so much for taking the time to read it. He truly is an awesome God and Savior. To Him be all the glory. Have a wonderfully blessed Lord’s Day.
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Thanks. 🙂 Have a blessed day as well sister!
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Amazing testimony! God’s grace was so evident and specific to your needs as you walked the path into his redemptive arms.
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thankyou dear brother….you said that beautifully, it blessed me. He is so good and to God be all the glory.
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What a wonderful testimony! Thank you for sharing! That encouraged me faith. 🙂
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So glad you were encouraged. He is such an awesome God! May He richly bless you for reading it and commenting so graciously 🙂
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Praise be to God for yet another miracle of salvation! It thrills me to read stories of how God is still God doing what only God can do! Isn’t He amazing? I mean,who but God could do such things?
Have a blessed day!
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Indeed who but our Almighty, merciful, saving God? He amazes me still every day. So wonderful of you to stop by, read it and leave such a blessed comment. Thankyou dear brother. May He richly bless you today and always. Until we see Him face to face…your sister in Christ, Linda
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Reblogged this on sistersreachout and commented:
I want you, dear readers, to hear Linda’s amazing story of how she sought for God and found Him. It is my prayer that many of you who don’t already know God will save yourself a lot of time and trouble by learning from her own hard lessons. God is faithful and He promises to reveal Himself if you are seeking after Him. God bless you all as you read Linda’s testimony. 🙂 Debbie
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Wonderful testimony of our Fathers faithfulness. Surely, He longs to see us all saved so none may perish. God bless you for sharing. 🙂
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And God bless you Tabitha for taking the time to read it and comment. I am grateful…may you have a blessed evening my dear sister.And yes, He is ever faithful 🙂
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Hi Linda. I wonder if you would mind me re-blogging your testimony. I have several followers who are ‘seekers’ still and I think they would benefit greatly from hearing your salvation story. Debbie here. 🙂
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I’m so so sorry Debbie, about your name 😦 But of course, that would be wonderful, the reblogging. Will pray that the Holy Spirit will use it to the glory of God. 🙂
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Awesome! Thank you so much. No problem about the name. It can be a little confusing as I use tabitha for my website address, but my real name on the About page. …. God bless you richly, sister. 🙂
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Permission never needed dear sister, but thanks for asking. May He richly bless you also Debbie. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Linda. I hope it speaks to hungry hearts. 🙂
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Me too, dearest sister. Read your intro to it, was beautiful. Will pray God will be glorified. 🙂
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Praise be to God! I loved your testimony, and thank the Lord for those who plant seeds.. even if they remain in the ground for a while 🙂
I have heard that people who have come out of paganism, actually have a stronger sense of spotting false religions..
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Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on it, Mary Ann. I know my initial contact with a new church after being saved was with a way out there charismatic one, and my spirit was very agitated . I tried to go a few times, but it didn’t get better.Not totally sure why…..p.s. not trying to offend anyone, that was just my experience. Blessings to you
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Jesus truly saves. God bless you for your words.
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Yes He does. And God bless you also Pastor for taking the time to read my post and leave your gracious comment.
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Amazing testimony!
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Thankyou Pete……I was glad to finally put it all into words. Praying that perhaps it will be a seed for another….I give Him all the glory… He is my forever Lord and coming King. God bless you for stopping by to read it and I appreciate your comment.
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Always welcome 🙂
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What a powerful testimony! So amazing how God works, isn’t it? And so timely. Praying God uses your story to reach others who are searching.
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Thankyou so much, that’s my prayer as well. He is awesome isn’t He….to Him be all the glory. May you have a blessed day.
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What a wonderful Testimony Linda, I’m crying now, for that was a miracle, which changed your life, as it was also my case too. I so glad God gave me a friend like you, I thank you for praying for me my friend. May you and your near and dear ones be always protected by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Amen
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Thankyou for that encouragement. I am so glad that He sent you into my life also dear one. He is truly a God of the miraculous 🙂 All to His glory.
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All glory and honor is his forever and ever amen.
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Yes, Amen.
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