“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing: it is a gift from God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
I grew up in a Christian home, loved the Lord, worshiped every Sunday, tried to be a good person, tried to keep the rules, and believed that good works would get me into heaven. Growing up, I did not read the Bible much, it was not stressed in all of my parochial schooling. When I graduated from a Christian Hospital School of Nursing, I believed I was prepared with knowledge to care for a family when I would marry.
I did marry soon after, and my husband and I have four wonderful children. Our fourth child had open heart surgery at age 4, then for 2 years had seizures frequently. Specialists, not know the cause, had him on several medications; yet they persisted, in fact got worse. My nursing knowledge could not help him.
One night, in March of 1996, I knelt at his bed, after a massive seizure, crying out to the Lord to help. It was then that I surrendered my life to the Lord, asked for forgiveness of my sins, my pride, and asked Jesus to be my Savior. My “working my way to heaven days” were over; only by His grace am I saved!
Such peace flooded my heart! I felt led by the Spirit to get another opinion concerning our son’s care. We miraculously got an appointment soon afterward at a major university medical center where he was diagnosed and treated, seizure free!! I praise God, the divine Healer!
Our family began attending an evangelical church where we heard the Word of God preached. I love His Word and I love memorizing it, and that is thanks to Janet’s book, that I received as a gift from Moody Publishing, and read it last year, while we were vacationing at Hilton Head, SC. This was to be my ocean retreat with the Lord, and did He ever bless me! I walked the beach for hours memorizing Psalm 1. It was a Sunday, and we were attending the church we call home when at Hilton Head, and the pastor said they were going to have ocean baptisms that evening. My heart jumped, my excitement was overwhelming. Only the Lord knew of my deep desire; year after year, I would voice to the Lord, to be baptized in His ocean. Praise God, at 6pm on September 22, 2013, I walked deep in water, covered by His grace, rising from water with tears of joy, and praise on my lips!
My Saturday Bible study, last December, used Janet’s book to begin our journey in Scripture memory. We memorized Luke 2:1-20, for Christmas, then passages from Philippians as we studied the Letter. I memorized Isaiah 53 during Lent and now am starting on the Olivet Discourse, Mark 13.
Since surrendering my life to Him, the Lord has led me on three mission trips to Africa and one to China, and presently leading me as an online missionary with Global Media Outreach.
We serve an awesome God!
Beautiful story. I love how God also healed her son. I am praying God will heal mine on this side of heaven from type 1 diabetes. So far He has not but He has certainly spoken to my spirit a couple of times when I am asking Him to or for help with it of some kind. Once I was on my knees crying lots of tears for my son. When I got up off my knees, opened my Beth Moore Bible study and read that days featured verse, it was Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said,
“Don’t cry.”
The verse was about a mother crying over her son too. I was still crying when I read it so tear drops were all over the page.
Oh, Sheila, my heart goes out to you, and I will continue to pray daily for you and your son. Prayer is so very powerful. Thank you for sharing your verse. He knows what we need at each precise moment.
God bless you, Maureen
Praise The Lord! Loved reading your testimony Maureen and miraculous healing of your son! Thanks so much for sharing, glorifying The Lord!
To God be all the glory!!
Thank you for responding, Chris.
God bless you and family.
Maureen
Thank you for sharing your story, Maureen. Praise the Lord, for His work of grace and healing! Thank you for sharing how the Lord heard your prayers about your son and your desire to be baptized in the ocean–He is so kind! He hears our prayers and takes note of our tears. I love the Scripture, Psalm 126:5, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.”
Hi Maureen. I love how God showed you that works will not purchase salvation. He will go to great lengths to show us that, even if it means getting our attention with our most precious things. I am so glad you responded as you did and humbled yourself before our King. When we do that and he knows he has our willing hearts, he will do amazing things in and through us. I am thrilled to hear about your scripture memory, mission trips, healing of your child and ocean baptism! There is no telling what he is going to accomplish through you and your fully submitted willing heart in this lifetime. Press on!
thanks Richie for your words of encouragement. We are so blessed to have a community of believers who cheer each other on, to press on, in our work for the Lord.
Blessings, Maureen
Thank you for your comment, Shari. When we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He fills us with such joy that we just want to share with everyone the peace He gives even in our life storms.
My verse for this year is John 15:11
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Blessings, Maureen
Maureen, thank you for sharing your story with our community. Reading it reminded me of Jesus’ parable of the 4 soils. Your life demonstrates that you are the good soil. You heard the Word, accepted it and now you are bearing fruit. His Word is powerful. It changes people.