Monday, December 18, 2017 For by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 I came to Christ through an experience that was powerful and produced deep conviction. For most of my adult life, my heart was hardened. I lived as a single mother, working full-time in a demanding professional job. I relied only on myself to raise a young boy, keep a household, and provide for our little family. Outwardly, I was confident and strong but I was alone in my pain and kept everyone, including God, locked out of my heart. I felt like a failure and unworthy of anyone’s love due to my past sinful mistakes. But God had other plans for me. He sent me a wonderful man who I am so proud to now call my husband. But the journey was not easy and in October 2016, I fell to my knees, powerless, helpless and lost – and cried out to Christ to intervene in my life. Like many people, I had been raised going to church and believed in God, but I didn’t have a relationship with Him. Through many years, I suffered internally but my method of facing this broken world wasn’t working. At the apex of my pain, God brought me to Him and revealed His fatherly love to me. Today, I rejoice and am so grateful to have a personal relationship with Him that continues to grow. It took me quite some time to truly understand and believe that my sins have been forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ, and although I will continue to falter, he is forgiving and faithful and deeply loves me. Heavenly Father, I ask you to continue to work in my life so that through my service, I may demonstrate to others the beauty and magnificence of your love. Amen. Anne E. Laird

Stephanie Kurzban, 3rd Grade