My Testimony

 Good evening everyone. The sun is slowly going down for the day and Tuesday August 7th will soon be coming to an end. I mentioned yesterday that I would be writing my Testimony tonight in my blog. I try to stay true to what I say that I am going to do. Believe me, I have fallen short so many times from this goal. The first thing I want to say is this...I am not perfect nor will I ever claim to be. I make mistakes like anyone and I make them DAILY.  Over the years, I've learned a lot from the mistakes that I have made. I feel as though everything happens for a reason and those mistakes have led me to where I am today. 

 Through out my life I've been a pretty busy individual. I was always involved in sports & and showing cattle in the younger years. In the older years I went to college and played ball for a few years, graduated and came back to work at Rivercrest. This school, as most of you know, is my alma mater. The last 8 years I have been a teacher/coach and I truly love what I do. There are ups and downs with this profession, but that's just how it is in any profession you choose to be a part of. I  am currently starting my 9th year at Rivercrest and the start of this year has already been the best start of my life. Here's why.........

 During the course of my life I went to church on and off as a youngster. I never really understood a lot about everything that went on in church when I was little. Actually, I yawned a lot, chewed a lot of gum during church services. I asked questions, but never really caught on. As I got older I was in high school and me and some friends went to a youth rally at Mt. Pleasant Football stadium. There were people being "saved" and going down on the field during the youth rally. I thought it was all really cool, but I still hadn't had the feeling inside of me that I heard so many discuss that dealt with being saved and knowing God and His word. Years went on and I would often think about being baptized and wonder why I hadn't been. I went to different churches and was never truly happy at any of them. I knew in my heart the type church I felt would be perfect ( like a home ), but I just didn't know where to find this kind of church. So, for a long time I gave up going to churches all together. I would occasionally read in my bible but that was very very rare. A lot of times I would clam up if someone mentioned something about church. It was always an uncomfortable topic of discussion for me. I heard about people having this awesome feeling when they allowed God to come in their life and gave up trying to do everything on their "own". I thought to myself, how can you do that? I wondered what that feeling felt like. So a few times I would pray and tell myself I was turning over my life to God and going to allow him to control it. Was I really doing as I said I was ? NO! I just couldn't cut the ties of wanting to be in control of my life. Something in my head kept telling me that I would never feel the feeling that so many people said they had felt when they made this decision. Soo..... I quit worrying about it and then I began working at Rivercrest and a few years into my job I got invited to a country church called Cuthand United Methodist Church. I was a lil hesitate, simply because I was scared.... I wasn't sure if everyone would stare at me my first time to go to this church. I wasn't sure of a lot of things. Finally, I got up the courage to go. When I left the church after the first Sunday of attending it.... I was amazed! It was the church I had dreamed of, hoped for, longed to be able to attend. I went on and off for a year and then suddenly I got in a bad habit of no longer going. This habit can sneak up on you quickly if you allow it to. Even though I knew my weeks were so much better when I heard John preach on Sunday... I still for whatever reason fell into the bad habit of not going. I had a few people ask me to come back and I would continue to tell them. Oh, I will just been busy. Of course ... Excuse # 1. There are many excuses, but none amount to anything. Then, someone put a bug in my ear and it was like... you know... Erin, you need to start going back... So.. I did... I had truly been missing out for a while. Sundays quickly started becoming my fave day of the week. I looked fwd to them so very much. Then I began to think to myself. I had never been baptized. I didn't know why I hadn't other than it was something I just never had done. I prayed about the situation, but I wasn't even real sure how to pray about it.  Finally, I felt ready to take this step. I talked to John Purviance about it and the first part of December I got baptized. I remember what an awesome feeling that was. I felt incredible! Even as incredible as I felt I realized weeks later that I still didn't think I felt that strong connection I had been looking for. I prayed and I read in my Bible ( not all the time, but from time to time ) and I was attending church every Sunday. On the outside I appeared to really be rolling and on fire for the Lord. From time to time I felt on fire for Him and I felt that my life was exactly how it should be. That feeling back then doesn't even compare to the feeling I have TODAY. So, this summer I have had the opportunity to finally feel, what others have said they feel. One day John said in church that the " life application bible " was an awesome study bible. I wrote the title down so I could remember it and decided one day to go buy it. I began studying the book of Proverbs each day. As  I study I learn more and more and realize that Gods word is alive and well. I've realized recently that life can be so incredible every day when we allow God to be in control of our life. I finally let go and let God be in every part of what I do. There were many days before, where I wouldn't make time for God like I should. I wouldn't pray as often as I should or make the effort to ask Him for help and guidance. I still tried working alone in my life. Finally, the day came where I turned it ALL over to Him. I began using the end of my jogging every day to walk and pray. I look forward to this time more than anything else that I do. It's peaceful, humble & just an awesome experience. I started praying more and listening. Since I truly allowed God into my heart, I've had the most amazing experiences. I have learned to enjoy the most simple things that life has to offer. I have become a more patient individual and I've learned to be kind to everyone, no matter how badly they may have hurt me. With God in my life and for me, I feel I am on cloud 9. I feel sorry for those that have never nor will ever experience this feeling. It's a feeling I wish everyone would experience.  I must admit. At first I wasn't real sure I wanted to share all of this information, but i prayed about it and  decided that if this blog could help at least one person out then it would be well worth it. God has been sooo good to me. He has blessed me with an amazing life full of great family and friends that I love dearly. I know that every day isnt going to be all peachy and amazing. That would be living in a fairy tail if it were so. I do know that my attitude towards each day can be positive and it's important to keep in mind that set backs will occur, life will get in the way & I will struggle at different times. This is normal for anyone. Just knowing that I don't have to face anything alone makes it all sooo much easier to get through.  I am grateful & thankful for where my life is at and the opportunities that I have to help others. Every day I have a  goal that I try to accomplish.... some days I do better than others..... I try to help others and bring about positive energy in their lives. I try really hard to be a good influence and live life to the fullest. Do I fall short in all these areas? Absolutely!!! I fall short daily, but it doesn't mean I plan to give up. With God being my #1 priority in my life I can and will try very hard to do my best. I have bad days just like anyone does. I've just learned that things can always be worse, but I'm so blessed to have this close relationship to God like I have now. My eyes have been opened and I realize just exactly how awesome life can truly be. It doesn't matter how great things may seem on the outside. He knows your heart and your every thought. You may talk a good game, but what's really going on with you on the inside is what truly matters. I've been at some pretty low points in my life from time to time yet tried to remain as though I had it all together. Lets face it... life can be hard... That's why we have to have HELP!!!  My heart is happier NOW than ever... I'm far from perfect and I'll never claim to be good at much of anything, but I do know that God is awesome and if you don't truly KNOW Him then you are missing out.. Allow Him to help you in your daily walk. You will NEVER regret it!!!