JUDY'S STORY

I was brought up in the Roman Catholic Church, and that is where I had my understanding of God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. This was settled without a doubt, unfortunately, forgiveness of sin wasn't.

I lived in constant condemnation, never feeling good about myself.

I came from a very dysfunctional family, we were always fighting and we were full of anger and unforgiveness. I didn't feel any love.

When I was seventeen, my mom left home and said I was the reason she was leaving. I believed her. She had a boyfriend, and I felt so bad for my father who was always drinking and just wanted his wife back.

When I graduated from high school I got married, thinking that my mom would come back to my dad if I were gone. She did move back, even though she kept that boyfriend until the day she died.

I was married for nine years and had three children. I tried to be a good mom and wife, but I was so unhappy with myself and the church just brough more condemnation by telling me I was a sinner because I practiced birth control.

I began going out to bars with my girlfriends after work. This opened the door to self destruction. I remember saying, "Well, if I'm going to hell anyway, I might as well enjoy myself!"

I got into drugs and started having affairs with other men, and soon left my husband and two of my children. I took the three year old with me.

I became a topless dancer, but took lots of drugs so I could live with myself, and to cover the conviction I felt from the Holy Spirit when I was straight.

I was a mess, and even to the point where I was about to be admitted to a mental hospital. The weekend before I was to go, I was taken to Calvary Chapel in California. It was 1973, and the beginning of the 'Jesus Movement'. There was a big revival in a tent and the Holy Spirit was present.

For the first time in my life I heard the gospel that Jesus loved and died for ME and would forgive my sins and wash me clean. Oh, how I wanted that!

I went to church every night that week, and by that weekend, I went forward and gave my life to Jesus. I felt a big black cloud lift and I was truly set free.

A month later I was baptized in the ocean and shortly afterwards, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I knew God had forgiven me for leaving my family, but I did suffer the consequences of those sins, and my eyes were opened to the suffering I had caused others.

After the Lord came into my heart, I began work as a nurses aid in the hospital, and experienced so many answers to prayer. I was totally on fire for the Lord.

In 1979 I married again and had two more children. I believed this time life would be different, and in many ways it was. There are still valleys in my life as there are in everyones', but with God as my guide, He walks through them with me, and then He brings me back up to the hilltops, and I can say, "It is well with my soul." Thank You Jesus!