Sister Cynthia
I grew up in a very small town, population of 206. We always laughed and said the census was probably taken during the summer when tourists came to fish, ski, and boat on Trinity Lake.
I was taught to say my prayers at night, praying to God, that if I died before I wake my soul belonged to Him to take.
As I grew older, my summer highlight was when the Baptists came to our small community to teach VBS (Vacation Bible School). l learned Jesus was our Savior and the song "Jesus Loves Me". The pastor offered us Bibles and my parents bought three, one for me and my two sisters.
My household was not a church-going family. Yet, I was brought up in a home where Mom and Dad loved each other even through life's ups and downs.
In my teen years I would pick up my Bible and read in the gospels, but I couldn't understand what the Word of God was saying. How could I without any concrete spiritual teachings to draw from?
One day I specifically remember speaking out loud asking God, "God, who are you and what is your name? Do I call you God? Lord? Jesus?" There was a desire within me to know this Savior that loved me!
It was not until I was married and living on the east coast that I found myself hating myself for who I was and what I was doing. Was life just eating, drinking, and going to work? There had to be more to life than just existing. I cried out to God in repentance, "I don't want to live this way anymore." I felt a definite change in my heart, my mind, and hope for the future. My life was going to be living for Him.
Coming to God was a process that took me from state to state as God was leading me into all truth.
From repentance (turning from my ways and self-will to God) to opening my heart to His teachings, He put godly people in my life to bring me to the truth.
In Nevada God put us in contact with a landlady that asked me, "When is your second birthday?" Of course I answered, "I don't understand what you mean about a second birthday."
She went on to explain that in the Book of Acts, Second Chapter, when the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Day of Pentecost, those that believed were filled with God's Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance. I said, "I’ve never even heard of the Holy Ghost. But, if that is what the Word of God says, then I believe it!"
When we moved to Idaho I prayed that a family of the same faith as I would move into the house across the street. Now, I did not know what faith I was, but God was leading my life and I was following and trusting in Him!
The family that moved into the house across the street were a One God, Apostolic, Pentecostal family! From them we connected with the pastor in Boise, Idaho, who preached the salvation message of Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." And in verse 39 it says, "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
I was 22 years old when I was baptized in Jesus’ name, obeying Acts 2:38, I came out of the water feeling so clean from my sins and shame that I did not want to put anything in my system to dirty that feeling!
It was some time later in Redding, California (our home state) that I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost just like they did in the Book of Acts!
God has blessed me throughout the years with godly pastors and a church family wherever we lived. My home church now is in Anderson, California, at Church On the Rock.
I thank God for bringing me out of spiritual darkness into His marvelous light. For leading and guiding me into all truth, and setting me free from myself to worship God in spirit and in truth.
God is real and He can save and change your life when you seek Him with all your heart.
