25 years ago today a beautiful young woman by the name of Terri Garrett invited a shy, broken hearted, messed-up-life woman like me (actually, it WAS me!) to hear a Bible Study teacher.

 The LAST thing that I thought I wanted in my life was to listen to someone talk about the Bible but I did want what I saw in this woman’s face. She glowed and I wanted some glow. She was happy and peaceful and I wanted some joy and peace. She was confidant in who she was and I wanted some confidence.

Terri had no business cards, no office, no ministry building. She had no published books, no facebook and no blog and no website.

She was just a woman who wanted to share Jesus.

She picked messed up me in her car on Saturday morning, 6/9/84, and took me to a one day ladies event being held at her church.

 The speaker was Beverly Abel and her topic was how God uses anger. 

As far as I knew, I was not angry, but I knew someone who was so I went to see if I could do something to FIX  her!

God captured my heart that day and as I listened to every word as the speaker told my life’s story and all of my secrets, (you know how it feels like that when we sit in front of good preaching). At the close of the day she extended an invitation to ask Jesus into our hearts.

I RAN to the alter to surrender my life to Christ.

On that amazing day, I watched and heard that 50 something teacher unfold the word of God tenderly and delicately like we unfold a blanket from around a newborn. She treasured every word and every detail to the point that I was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the next promise.

She had no business cards, no office, no ministry building. She had no published books, no facebook and no blog and no website.

There was a point in the day when she asked us to write down a prayer. She encouraged us to ask God for something BIG and to expect His answer. 

I had lots of BIG things to ask that day (That has not changed in 25 years!). 

I needed to have my marriage restored, my children protected, my entire world put back together. I am certain that I asked for those things but the thing that I KNOW I asked for was this:

“Someday Lord, I want to do what Beverly Abel is doing today. I want to teach your word and I want to partner with you to change women’s lives.” 

It was also on that day that God placed writing on my heart. I had never desired to write before but I left that day with the knowledge in my heart that one day, I would be a writer and a Bible teacher.

I am walking in my "someday".

What about you?

What has God called you to do?

Where has He asked you to go?

Who has He prompted you to tell about His Love? His Mercy? His Plan?

I thank God for Terri Garrett (wherever she is) and Beverly Abel as well as the many mentors who came along beside me after that day and ROCKED my World!!

³I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Phil 1:3-6 (NIV)

Happy 25th Birthday to me!! I LOVE being YOUNG!!!