While I was growing up in Richland Center, Wisconsin, I did not appreciate the blessing of being raised in a Christian home. I was taken to an Apostolic Faith Sunday school and church from my earliest memories, and though I did enjoy the Christian music and fellowship, I thought Christianity was too strict for me. I remember trying to believe that Heaven and Hell were not real so I would not have to worry about eternity. I decided that when I grew up, I would move away from home and wouldn’t go to church or obey someone else’s rules.

Despite my resistance, God had planted something in my young heart that I could never get away from. Even after I went away to college, God was always talking to me, and I had a restlessness inside that I could not calm. As I walked to and from classes, He reminded me of Sunday school songs I had learned as a child, such as “Heavenly Sunlight” and “Jesus Loves Me.”

Peace for my restless heart

In 1978, after other vacation plans had fallen through, God made a way for me to go to the Midwest camp meeting in Murphysboro, Illinois. I had no intention of giving my heart to Him, so after every meeting, I immediately went back to my cabin to avoid the prayer time. However, several people, as well as the Lord, talked to me, and I could see that everyone was happy except me. Finally, I told God that if He would give me that happiness, I would give Christianity a try. I knelt, asked the Lord to forgive me, and gave everything I could think of to Him. He wonderfully saved me and replaced the restlessness and guilt in my heart with peace and joy.

A few months later in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I received a blessing that left me feeling so clean that I did not even want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to be alone with God. I realized later that this “blessing” was the experience of sanctification. Several months after that, at special meetings in Denver, Colorado, the Lord baptized me with the Holy Spirit. Again, the experience came as a surprise as I was not really seeking the baptism but simply to have more of God.

Life lessons

Time went by and I married Larry, a young Christian who had been raised in our church in Portland, Oregon. When our first child was born, we thought everything was “coming up roses” in our lives. However, when our daughter Monica was a little over a year old, we found out she had leukemia. Despite the devastating news, God was with us in a wonderful way during this time. Many prayers went up for our little girl, and we believed God could heal her. After a period of terrible sickness, she went into remission, but just when she was on the road to recovery, she took a turn for the worse, and the doctors said there was nothing more they could do.

God did not choose to heal Monica, but we were so thankful for the Comforter who wrapped us in His arms during those hours. God also blessed us with another baby girl just two months before Monica passed away. Only He could have known she would bring us the joy we needed. We were later blessed with two more daughters.

Comfort in pain is not the only lesson God has taught me in my years as a Christian. Before our youngest daughter was born, there was a time when I felt very confined in my life as a stay-at-home mom. Shopping became my escape from the house. Since my husband drove our only vehicle to work, I often carried our girls and all of their necessary paraphernalia on the city bus. My main interests were harmless household furnishings and gadgets, but I did not really have the extra money to spend even on sale items. Plus, I did not need any of it. I was miserable in my “desire to acquire” and never really satisfied. Finally, one day I told the Lord of my troubles, and He showed me the riches of the love of my family, health of my children, and all we owned. He also showed me opportunities to keep occupied in my own home and helped me to be content with what I had.

More recently, the Lord has been showing me how near He is every day, ready to supply whatever help is necessary. When I need just a little more strength to do a task, He is there to help. When I go to Him in prayer with a heavy burden, He lifts the load. In traffic, He has protected me from accidents more than once. He gives me sweet peace, and gladdens my heart with His creation. He constantly gives me a song in my heart. I’m thankful each day that I can get out of bed and work. These non-stop blessings are because He really is with me. I cherish His presence.

After being saved for nearly forty-seven years, He is still teaching me in His gentle way. I am so grateful that our loving Heavenly Father has been patient with me. Sometimes He prompts me to say an encouraging word to my neighbor, or points out a need that I could help with. At other times, it seems He is just behind my shoulder, coaching me on how to be more gracious or advising me about laying down my will. He shows me people in need of prayer, and I am trying to be faithful. By His grace, I am endeavoring to learn.

God answers prayer

In July of 2024, my husband came into the camp office where I was working and said he had just received a diagnosis of a fast-growing cancerous tumor on one of his kidneys. The doctors recommended taking out that kidney entirely and adding a port for dialysis for immediate use following the surgery. They felt that was necessary because of his already low kidney function.

This was difficult news to hear, and we knew we needed God’s help. Since this was during the Portland camp meeting, and there were many prayers going up, we added our request for his healing to the many other requests, and we know people were praying around the world.

His surgery was scheduled for six weeks after camp meeting. During that period of time, the surgeon who had recommended taking out the entire kidney left the practice, and a different doctor took over. He thought he could carefully remove only the tumor portion and leave the rest of the kidney to continue functioning. In his discussion following the procedure, he reported that the tumor was smaller than the scans had shown, and that it was not cancerous. Added to this, Larry’s kidney function increased enough that he did not need dialysis. God had heard our request, and He performed a miracle. Praise be to God!

Larry continues to work every day. Because of that, his health has been a topic of conversation among his co-workers, even for people in the company he has never met. He tells them all that many people prayed for him, and God answered prayer.

Blessing upon blessing

God has been so good to me. A life free from condemnation is the most beautiful way to live here on earth. God who feeds the sparrows gives me everything I need. To top off all of this, our eternal future in Heaven with the Lord is wonderful beyond our imagination. The blessings just continue to accumulate. With His help, I want to be faithful and continue until I reach Heaven’s shore.