My husband, Rick, was in the Air Force when we got married. We lived in California on Edwards Air Force Base for about three and a half years. We were 19 years old and didn’t have many material possessions but had each other and had fun just the same. Our first son, Mike, was born a year after we married. Mike brought us much joy and grew both of us up quickly. After our time in California we came back to this area again and settled in Troy. My brother, Walt, was going to Hudson Valley Community College at that time and lived with us for about a year. One day he came home and announced that he had become a born again Christian and was attending Pineview Community Church. We thought that he had joined a cult. During the 70’s there was much focus on communes and cults in the movies on television, so we were not very open to Walt witnessing to us. I do remember one scripture that Walt shared, “You must be born again to see the Kingdom of God,” which at the time I did not understand. Meanwhile Walt graduated from Hudson Valley and went on to Medical School. We had our second son, Jim, born in 1974, which completed our family. Our family brought happiness and kept us very busy. I still noticed that there was a void in my heart that I could not explain.
One Christmas time when we were visiting my father in Amsterdam, where I grew up, Rick, my husband, got saved. And I totally did not understand. I noticed a change in Rick. He was reading his bible and watching the 700 Club on tv. Months later friends of ours from Wisconsin came to visit. They used to live across the street from us when we lived in California. Shortly after they got there we found out that they were both born again too. I thought to myself, “Oh no three born again Christians in one house for a week.” They did not pressure me or anything, but I saw something different in them when they spoke with each other. They appeared to know God and I knew that I did not.
As soon as they left to go home, I started asking Rick questions like, “What does it mean to be born again and why do you think that you’re born again and I’m not.” Rick explained to me the best he knew how at the time. I told him,” I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that He rose from the dead. And I believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I also believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” Rom. 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” But I still didn’t ask Him to come into my life at that point.
The following week we went to our friend’s home for 4th of July weekend. On Sunday I went with my friend, Cathy, to her church. They had a missionary priest as a guest speaker. The only thing that I remember from his message was when he said, “You have to accept Jesus into your heart.” I asked Jesus to come into my heart that very day and knew immediately that God was with me. My life has never been the same since. He gave me new eyes to see, a new heart and a new mind. The date of my conversion was July 5th, 1981. I praise the Lord every day for the salvation that He has given me. He has become my hope, my joy and my reason for living. He’s helped me through every trial, every pain and every circumstance in life and I know that He will always be with me for all eternity.
This is a poem that I wrote shortly after I got saved.
My Lord
I always thought I knew my Lord.
I always thought I knew His Word.
I always knew Him to be kind,
But I only knew Him in my mind.
Then one day He came into my heart.
That’s when my new life began to start.
He opened my eyes and let me see.
And also made a Christian out of me.
Now I want to grow so much.
And the hand of Jesus Christ I clutch.
He guides me always in every way,
And teaches me always every day.
My first goal in life is to serve My Lord now.
And I trust Him to always show me how.
My only reward that I want is love
From My Glorious God from up above.
