I was brought up in the Lutheran church my whole life, always believing in God, going to Sunday school, but I really did not know and understand God until I met Rose, my first pastor. I was taught to know God for myself, have that personal relationship with him and to read the Bible. This was different than I had been taught in the past. I kept trying to go to my old church, but I saw people falling asleep in the pews and I knew I had to leave. I didn’t feel the excitement and the Spirit of God that I felt when I was around Rose . She taught me that with God’s help and the Holy Ghost our natures could be changed. She taught us to learn the Word, pray and fast. If we do that during the week, when we come together we should give to others what God showed us and we all would minister, not just our pastor. After Rose passed our assistant pastor Kale became our pastor. Learning about the Baptism of the Holy Ghost was a huge turning point in my life. It was not taught in my Lutheran church but I said “God if this gift is for me, I want it.”
2 months later in a small church I was visiting, I received it, spoke in tongues and it was so life changing, that my fellow stewardesses on my flight asked “what happened to you over the weekend”? It was outward as well as inward. That’s when God really started dealing with me on my nature: envy, jealousy, hatred, strife, etc., that I was supposed to have the fruits of the Spirit: Peace, joy, love, etc. I was taught to not lie, work hard, be kind and treat others as I wanted to be treated. I watched Rose in how she related and treated people and I was amazed. She was strict but that’s what I needed. Kale as the Shepherd amazed me as well. We all had changed and grown over the years but I saw Kale with love and concern over the sheep! Endless calls of counseling, never taking money or glory for himself but always giving. I thank God for my life, my growing in God, allowing God through the Holy Ghost to clean my thoughts and actions up.
I love all of my kids. Some chose to stay and go on in God, some love God and go to other churches and some chose to lead a different life altogether. Thank you Father for loving me, your mercy on me and forever being there for me.
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