{{item.title | uppercase}}

{{item.authdes}}

I was forty-one years old before I accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of my life. But prior to that, my life was characterized by anger, depression, and selfishness. I lived with anger towards myself and others. I made one bad choice after another. Searching for a love that could take away my anger and depression, I made poor decisions without thinking about the consequences. My personality reflected my anger and I had few friends.

Then I met Ed…he was the friendly one…I was just tolerated.

The Journey

Then one day in 1993, God began a process in me of which I was unaware. My husband and I were driving cross-country, moving from California, and for some reason I felt the need to read the Bible– something I had never done.

For 3000 miles, God was revealing to me what a sinner I was and that my anger was just as bad to God as if I had murdered someone. I said to Ed, my husband, “I’m doomed. There is no hope for me!”

Little did I know that this was God’s grace making me aware of my problem.

By the time I got to PA, I was so convicted of my sin over the last forty-one years, I didn’t know how I could ever be accepted by God. My heart was heavy and depression had set in.

However, once we arrived, my mother told me that she and my father were going to be singing in a cantata in a local church. She invited us to come and hear them. We had just arrived in PA two days earlier, and the last thing I wanted to do after the harrowing journey was go to church and face God! But I knew if we didn’t go, my mother would be mad at me. My mother and father were unbelievers at the time, yet God orchestrated them to sing in the cantata.

God’s grace again.

So, on December 19, 1993, my husband Ed and I went to hear the choir sing about God and His love and grace. All of a sudden I was being drawn into the story of Jesus and the reason for His coming to earth–to die in our place for our sins.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing!

Then the pastor talked about how we need to accept God’s gift of grace and forgiveness so we can cross over the line from death to eternal life. All we have to do is to believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and Savior. For anyone who does this, they will be saved! I turned to Ed and began to say “I want to do this” and at the same time Ed was saying to me “Let’s do this!” And together that night we crossed over the line and were given eternal life simply by accepting what Jesus did for us.

God’s Faithfulness

My husband lost his nine year battle with cancer twelve years ago. Because of the amazing grace of God, I know he is safe in heaven waiting for me. The journey of becoming a widow and learning how to do life alone is a story that every widow needs to hear to feel secure in the faithfulness of God. He has been incredible over these last twelve years! He literally took me from no income after my husband died to miraculously being able to pay all my bills and put money aside for when I am no longer able to work. When I became afraid about how I would take care of myself after Ed died, God showed me this verse in His Word…

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Isaiah 46:4

That is the story about God’s faithfulness to a widow.

Father in Heaven, thank You for Your faithfulness to widows. You made us and promise to carry us. Help us to see You in all of life’s journey. Amen