JEANNIE MARIE
(life story)
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JEANNIE MARIE | |
After spending a period of time looking for true love through a number of relationships, Jeannie Marie prayed that God might take away her loneliness. Jesus responded by bringing about changes in her married and spiritual life. Jeannie Marie was finally set free from loneliness, alcohol and drugs having found true love.
I came to know the Lord Jesus when I was about 19 years old. Before this I didn't know much about Jesus. I had seen the Jesus movie but didn't understand why He died on the cross. After graduating from High School, I met a guy who was a Christian and we began dating. We were messing around a lot and not following God's will in our relationship. I went to church with him and his parents and heard the preacher talking about Jesus calling us. He preached the gospel and I remember feeling drawn by the Spirit to go forward. I was afraid so I held back.
When I went home, I asked my mother why Jesus died on the cross. She told me that He died for our sins and how praying to Him could save me. I went to my room and asked Jesus into my heart and asked Him to forgive me for all my sins. I believed He died on the cross for me and was raised up to life again after three days. I remember feeling very light and joyful. I finally felt free of the guilt and shame of all my past sins. Shortly afterward I was baptised at my boyfriend's church.
Not too long after this, I started to slide back into my old lifestyle. I was unhappy. I began to look for Mr. Right constantly. I wouldn't listen to my Mother who advised me to wait for him to come to me. I went from man to man, dating several people and committing fornication. I was depressed and had no peace. I finally came to the end of myself when every person I was with just hurt me or I felt unfulfilled. This is when I broke down and prayed for the second time since my acceptance of Christ. I prayed; "Lord, I don't feel like going on anymore. I don't even care what happens to me right now. Please help me and send the one I need in my life. I am so lonely."
I didn't realize at the time that Jesus was the one I needed. I didn't realize the importance of reading His word regularly and getting to know Him better until I met my now husband. The Lord sent him my way about two weeks after my prayer that day. We were married about six months later. My husband was not following the Lord at that time and I quickly began to fall back with him. The Lord picked me up and dusted me off once again and showed me what was happening.
I then started praying for my husband and our marriage. I stopped doing all those things that where hurting my body (drugs and alcohol in particular). I started to see change in our marriage. My husband began reading the Bible and slowly but surely we started going to church and our lives were turned around completely. It has been a spiritual struggle to overcome those unseen things that have held us back for so long. Today we have two beautiful children and hopefully one more on the way soon. We are both doing biblical theological studies by correspondence. We are waiting on the Lord and trusting for all of our needs. When you see the Lord do awesome things in your life like He has with us, you know that you cannot boast about it. Only boast in what He has done!
God has been good to us.
Jeannie Marie