“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

I have always loved to journal and I have considered a blog many times but I haven’t actually decided to dive into the world of blogging until now.As I am growing in my role as Christian, a woman, a wife and a home schooling mother I am continually learning.Everyday I feel that I am currently entering into the largest learning curve of my life.I feel it’s time to have a place to journal what I am learning.I desire to testify and share what the Lord is doing in my life in order that I may edify and encourage others in their walk.

I accepted Christ as my Savior in 1992.There were quite a few of those years that I was backslidden and away from the Lord.About 10 years ago I recommitted my life to Christ.Over the years the Lord has slowly and patiently been changing me into a new creation, transforming me by His Word, renewing my mind, conforming me to His image, His will, and changing my heart’s desire to His.During these years the Lord has used circumstances of life to draw me near to Him. In 2004 our son was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy.Then in 2005 our daughter was diagnosed with a rare chromosome abnormality which affects her growth as well as development.

In January 2005 my husband and I surrender our lives to the Lord.I realize that surrender is not a one time event but there was a specific point in our walk when we finally realized we desired to give Him our all.Since that moment the Lord has opened our eyes to His Word in a whole new way.We have truly seen and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and we strive to be obedient to His Word.

As I surrender to Him and seek His Kingdom I am being called to make many changes in my life. I am learning to be more conscious of what we eat that we may be good stewards of our bodies.I see that the Lord desires us to be sanctified in spirit, soul, and body (I Thess. 5:23).The Lord has called us to home school our children and to teach them a Biblical worldview.More recently the Lord has been calling me to new levels of obedience in regards to my role as a woman and a wife including changing to a more modest form of dress.

This is a life long journey of transformation.The point where I am in my journey is only because of Him and His grace and not because of anything I have done.It’s simply because I desire to know Him.I understand God is the source of all wisdom and that I still have much to learn.Each of my convictions and experiences written here are personal and deep matters of the heart.I understand that each Christian has a unique path to walk and that the Lord gives us each light for our path in His timing as we are ready to receive.In writing this blog I do not desire to cast judgment on the place where anyone is in their current walk with the Lord or to impose my convictions on others.I am not about legalism but about true transformation of the heart through the Word of God and a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior.May you be encouraged…

So, here is the beginning of:“That Was Then…This is Now…”

Then I was blind, but now I see…

Then I was a hopelessly lost sinner bound for hell…

Now I am redeemed by the grace of God, by His blood, and I am forever grateful.

Then I had no clue how to read my Bible or pray…

Now I hunger for His Word daily and desire to pray without ceasing.

Then I was afraid to surrender for fear of what the Lord might ask of me…

Now I realize that it’s better to fear the Lord and fully put my trust in Him.

Then I taught public and private school and never thought that I would ever home school…

Now I have been called to teach my children at home a Biblical worldview.

Then I wore what I pleased and what I thought pleased others…

Now I desire to wear what is pleasing to the Lord.

Then I thought beauty was about the outward adorning…

Now I am learning that outward beauty fades but of more value is the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.

Ephesians 4:20-24

“But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Philippians 3:7-14

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Wendy