The above picture depicts who I was far away from Christ.
Nahum 1: (An oracle concerning Nineveh. the book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.)
God's wrath Against Nineveh
The Love is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will be no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; and bloom of Lebanon withers. The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness. What do you plot against the Lord? He will make a complete end; trouble will not rise up a second time. For they are like entangled thorns, like drunkards as the drink; they are consumed like stubble fully dried. From you came one who plotted evil against the Lord, a worthless counselor. Thus says the Lord Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds apart. The Lord has given commandment about you: No more shall your name be perpetuated; from the house of your gods i will cut off the carved image and the metal image. i will make your grave, for you are vile.
Jonah 3:4-5: Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he Called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
Jonah 3:10, When God saw what they did, How they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
In this story, It only took one man, Jonah, To obey Christ and reach out to Nineveh. Of course he ran from God in the beginning, but did eventually make the journey to Nineveh saying to them, " Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" These 8 words had such an impact on this city, that the whole population of Nineveh turned and repented. Because of this, God had mercy on them showing compassion.
I guess it all started when I turned 16, I was offered my first job being a cashier at Krogers. Entering the work force I was introduced to this other world, so full of excitement and new things I had never done before. I started getting all this attention from boys and other girls and I was overwhelmed. People actually thought I was attractive and fun... They wanted to be my friend!!! (Keep in mind that I had been home schooled for my high school years and only knew people from church. And I was not really popular there) For the first time in a LONG time I felt accepted and wanted, but the pier pressure was something new. It wasn't long until I had my first, then second boyfriend. The first didn't last that long, but the second is a different story. Said boyfriend was my first "love", he introduced me to this whole new way of living. I started to become really distant from my parents. I became really disrespectful and started to rebel majorly. Lying became my language and manipulation my strong point.
I started hiding things from my parents and hurting them with words and my actions. It wasn't long until I gave into Wordily things. My life was spiraling in a downward motion and my parents started noticing. At the time, I thought I was having the BEST time of my life. I couldn't understand why my parents were all up in my business and tightening the "leash". But I didn't like it one bit. I became more adamant in everything I did, Which got me kicked out at the ripe age of 17. I went on the live with said boyfriend and his parents for the next year of my life. Said boyfriend and I had a small group of consistent friends that we hung out with almost daily. On the weekends we would all gather at my boyfriend's uncles apartment for hang time. His uncle was a 30+ year old single man, I'm sure you can see the trouble or danger there, but I didn't then. He let us do anything we wanted, and there wasn't any discipline or constructive criticism.It wasn't long until everyday seemed like a big party and I saw nothing wrong with that.
after awhile I ended things with the boyfriend and I had moved back in with my parents. I was still infected by the world that I again, could no longer stay with my parents. About this time I had met my husband.
I started my first job working as a bartender/waitress at a bar downtown. Nothing good ever came from working at a night bar, surrounded by men and edgy dressed woman. I remember going to the rodeo one year with some people I worked with. I started the day off very wrong and then headed down to meet everyone that was going. I made a bunch of bad decisions and then hopped in my car to drive home. The last thing I remembered before seeing the bright flashing red and blue lights behind me trying to get onto the freeway going the WRONG WAY!!!! Thankfully no other car was coming my way and I'm not sure how I noticed I was heading the wrong way on the free way, but I somehow managed to turn around and got on the track going home. I remember exiting multiple times thinking it was my exit, but it never was. When the cop's finally pulled me over, They let me know that I had been driving on all four lanes of the highway and the exit I had taken was taking me to a very dangerous neighborhood. I'm very thankful the cop's pulled me over, it definitely saved my life and that of others. I went to jail that night.
I sat in jail for 48 hours before getting bailed out, and Not a single minute did I enjoy it. But even that did stop my drive to have a good time.
I continued living life going down the wrong path and not one turn I made was a good one. My life was definitely a huge mess but I didn't look at it that way. About a month after Ike I found out I was about 8 weeks pregnant. Completely terrified and unsure what I was going to do, I made an appointment with the doctor to find out if I was in fact pregnant. As soon as I saw this little peanut with a pumping motion right in the middle did my heart finally change.
My Daughter was my saving grace, and I think God for her every chance I get. I remember my sister calling me one day and telling me that my story had been one of the biggest turn around stories she had ever witnessed. She said it was almost like God gave me a child because he though that would be a harder trial than a couple years in Jail.. And I think she was right. I'm not perfect, and I will continue to make mistakes but I will never turn my head from God and walk the wrong way down the street again.
This is my testimony and its not much different from the story of Nineveh. There isn't a single person that God wont take back. There isn't a single thing you can possibly do wrong that can't be forgiven by Jesus Christ. You have to realize your on the wrong path and have a heart change asking Christ to come into your life and save you. Through Man this is impossible, but through Christ anything is possible.
Precious Father I life up our sins to you and ask for grace and compassion. I think you for forgiving my evil ways and continuing to forgive my failures. I know that I'll always fall short of the person I'm supposed to be Lord, But I praise your name for being a compassionate God. One that is slow to anger and understanding. I pray for those who are struggling right now Lord, I life them up to you... please forgive them, for they know not what they do. Continue to pour our your blessings on this blog and your flocks of nations. I pray that more people will step up to your name and Shepard your flock. We lift you up father and praise you daily. We love you and in your holy name, Amen.
Journey Together, Love Jesus, Bring hope to the world
God Bless you.
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