How God Saved Me and What Difference It Made

On Sunday, May 28, 2023, I officially became a member at The Church at West Creek.  They asked that I share with them my testimony of how God saved me, which I wrote out as the Pastor suggested, and I'd like to share it with my blog readers as well.  Three of us joined the same day.  We were asked to step out of the members' meeting and the Pastor shared some about us.  When we came back in everyone applauded and I never felt so welcome in my life!  Below is the testimony I shared that day:

I grew up attending the Brooklyn Christian & Missionary Alliance church regularly since I was about 2 years old until March of 2000 when my husband and I switched to Parma Heights Baptist.  When I was about 7 years old, on an Easter Sunday in Sunday School, the lesson was on “Who Killed Jesus?”.  I realized I killed Jesus; because of my sin  (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:8-9), he died and rose from the dead (Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9 & 10; I Corinthians 15:3-4), taking the punishment I deserved so I could be in heaven with God someday  (John 3:16, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 6:23, I Peter 3:18).  That day, I experienced God’s amazing love for me, a shy little girl, and that all he wanted from me was my love and to live my life for Him.  So, I prayed silently during that class and asked Jesus to forgive me and come into my heart and save me.  I trusted Jesus Christ to be my personal Savior that day and became a follower of Jesus (John 1:12, Romans 10:13, I John 1:9, I John 5:11-13, Revelation 3:20).  I did it again before I went to bed that night just to make sure.  Right away I had a purpose in life--to please Jesus and live for Him (Matthew 7:21; II Corinthians 5:15, 17, 18; Galatians 2:20)!  

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My Happy Valentine's Day

Of course Manny had to get in the picture too!

I had a very happy Valentine's Day this year.  To most people, it probably doesn't seem like much but I love simple things.  I love chocolate covered cherries and that's what my husband got for me.  It's not about spending a lot of money, it's about understanding what I like and part of that is not wasting money.  We stocked up on some goodies, the big chocolate chip cookie (he is a "cookie monster") and a blueberry cake that cost only $4.00 at Giant Eagle.  We got each other a Valentine card and that started our day.  I liked the one I got from my husband because it made me laugh and had a cat and dog on the front.  My husband was very pleased with his too because although it was small (and cheap--free is good), I made little hearts on the inside with a reason for each one why I love him.

Then we had a really fun Sunday School class based on Daniel 1 when Daniel and his friends were taken into captivity in Babylon and put into a 3-yr. training program to work in the palace for the king.  Their names were changed to Babylonian names and they obeyed God by making a bargain with the guard to get to eat water and vegetables instead of the wine and food from the King's table.  We told the kids what all their names meant and then gave them new names for the day along with the meaning of those names (used www.meaning-of-names.com for this).  They enjoyed that (except for one girl who really didn't like her new name.)  Then for our review game, we let them choose between pick-up-stix and Bash.  To my surprise, the girls picked Bash and the boys chose pick up stix.   Of course we gave the kids some heart-shaped frosted brownies for a Valentine treat at the end. 

My husband asked if I'd like to go out to eat somewhere special but I like having pizza for my Sunday lunch and stuck with that.  To our surprise, our friend at our pizza place (Casamel's) gave us a box of blueberry cordials!  I didn't even know they existed but they are good too.  The cherry ones are still my favorite though.


In the afternoon we enjoyed watching the Republican debate together, a couple Hallmark movies (Everything Valentine and don't know the name of the other about attorney going to Wyoming), some Bruins hockey and reading.  Of course, we had extra time with our pets and Manny came and laid on me while I read GLASS SWORD by Victoria Aveyard and while I watched TV.  My husband finished Book 2 of the Harry Potter series, THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS by J. K. Rowling.

We had a wonderful, relaxing day together and just enjoyed each other's company with no stress.  I sure hope we have many more happy years together. 

I would say I am very low maintenance.  What about you?  

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My Loving Husband Surprises Me Again!

My husband surprised me this morning with a new shirt.  The first I saw it was when we went on our early morning walk together with our dog.  This one really made me feel good!

Isn't he sweet?


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Wordless Wednesday--A Look of Love

Best Friends

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Sunday Sharing: Friendship and Loving Others

This week as I was reading through I, II and II John as well as preparing for my Sunday School lesson on being a true friend, reading about David and Jonathan's example of good friends (I Kings 18-20), it seemed I was bombarded with the fact that if we say we love God, we will also love others.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:  for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. --I John 4:20-21 (KJV)

Finally, I reviewed the memory passage for this unit which is filled with commands as to how to treat people found in Romans 12:9-14, 21 which says:

Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:15-20 contain even more ways to relate with others that I read as well, but I guess the ones writing the material thought the above passage was long enough to try to get kids to memorize.  

 Jesus says in John 15:14 that "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."  (KJV)

Finally, I came across these two verses from Jude 1:2, 21 this week:

I pray that God will greatly bless you with kindness, peace and love!  And keep in step with God's love, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to show how kind He is by giving you eternal life. (contemporary English version)

I had a great feast last week on the word and feel as though I will be immersed in God's Word for the upcoming months.  I learn so much when I teach others!   Looking forward not only teaching Sunday School again, but also a Beth Moore study on "A Heart Like David's" and reading another Karol Ladd book, A Woman's Passionate Pursuit of God.



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Spiritual Maturity is Measured by How We Treat Others

One of the email devotionals I get from Joel and Victoria Osteen talked a bit about our quote of the week from I Corinthians 13:13 which I thought was so good that I want to share it with you. Here it is:

Spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how long you’ve been a Christian, how much you know, or how often you go to church. Spiritual maturity is measured by the way you treat other people. It’s measured by the love you allow to operate through you. First Corinthians 13 tells us about the characteristics of love. One characteristic is that it is not rude. That means, when we are walking in love, we treat other people with courtesy and respect. Are you courteous to other people? Are you kind to the person at the checkout counter that may be moving too slowly for you? Are you gentle when you are driving down the highway and someone cuts you off? Are you patient with your family and coworkers? These are all ways we show love.

Scripture (I Cor. 13:4-8) also tells us that love is patient. It is kind. It does not envy; it is not proud. It is not rude. Love is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love never fails. Notice that these characteristics don’t have anything to do with feelings. That’s because love is a choice. You can choose to walk in love toward people even when you don’t feel like it. Today, make the choice to do what is right. Choose today to show kindness and be courteous to others. Look for ways to cultivate the greatest thing in your life — love! As you do, you’ll move forward into the life of blessing God has in store for you!

[emphasis added]

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so that I can show love to others. Teach me to be patient and kind and treat others the way You always treat me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

I hope you will make the choice to love others and let the love of Jesus flow through you.  If you would like to get daily inspirations in your email from Joel and Victoria Osteen, you can sign up

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HUGS!

 Here is a cute little poem I'd like to share with you (since I have nothing better to post). 

HUGS!

It's wondrous what a hug can do--a hug can cheer you when you're blue.

A hug can say, "I love you so," OR "I sure hate to see you go."

A hug is, "Welcome back again,"

and "Great to see you!  Where've you been?"

A hug can soothe a small child's pain and bring a rainbow after rain.

The hug--there's no doubt about it--We scarcely could survive without it!

A hug delights and warms and charms.  It must be why God gave us arms.

Hugs are great for fathers and mothers, sweet for sisters, swell for brothers.

And chances are your favorite aunts love them more than potted plants.

Kittens crave them.  Puppies love them.

A hug can break a language barrier, and make your travel so much merrier.

No need to fret about your store of 'em.

The more you give, the more there's more of 'em.

So stretch those arms without delay and give someone a hug today!!!

                   --author unknown

Hope you can find someone or a pet to hug!

(50 cents per legitimate comment during April goes to Paralyzed Veterans of America.)

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Happy Valentine's Day--Show You Care

For years neither of us had a sweetheart to share Valentine's Day with so when we finally found each other, Valentine's Day was a pretty big deal for us.  Gerard had lots of gifts planned for me and really nice cards.  I tried to find a good cards for him too but always felt it was more about the guy getting candy or something for the woman than it was about the woman getting something for her man.

Now, 15 years later, we still enjoy celebrating our love on Valentine's Day.  I'll bring out our hearts that sing "I Got You Babe," we'll buy a special treat of some sort and maybe go out to eat, spending the day together.  We still exchange cards and Gerard will buy me something.  This year though, we didn't take off work.  We got a cherry pie and Gerard has a gift for me and we exchanged cards.

bedroom closet with Gerard's clothes

My "gift" to Gerard is to let him have the bedroom closet.  One of the great things about our house is all the closet space we have.  Originally, we both shared the bedroom closet but most of Gerard's clothes were hung in the upstairs closets and basement closets.  He recently mentioned that he would like to have the bedroom closet which I thought was a reasonable request.  I had some blazers, dresses, and sweaters in it and all he had was some shirts.

Front closet with Karen's coats

Moved from Bedroom closet to computer room closet

Being the good wife that I am, I cheerfully moved my things around so he could have the bedroom closet.  Our front closet in the vestibule was pretty much empty so I moved my coats and jackets from the computer room closet to that one.  This made room for my dresses and blazers to be hung in the computer room closet which is right next to our bedroom and wallah!  My wonderful husband can have the bedroom closet with one exception:  my robes are still in there which he said was okay.

This is what a good marriage is all about--being kind to each other and listening and meeting the other's needs.  The gifts are all well and good and who doesn't like presents now and then, but the ever day love we share is what love is all about.  Happy Valentine's Day, honey!  LOVE YOU!  Which speaks of love louder to you--actions or gifts?

(50 cents per legitimate comment goes to Caroline's Kids Pet Rescue for February in honor of cat appreciation month!) Share this:

Corinthians 13 Christmas

CORINTHIANS 13 CHRISTMAS

If I decorate my house perfectly with colorful bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I'm just another cook.

If I drop change into the salvation army bucket, but do not show love, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and glittering snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing Christmas carols, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the ones we hold dear. Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

 I can't take credit for writing this, one of my friends, Dawn, posted it on Facebook and shared it with us at the Women of Wonder (W.O.W.) meeting.  I just thought it was very good and wanted to share it with you.

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Will You Participate In Operation Christmas Child--A Way To Show Kids Love

It's time to pack a shoe box to send to a child in a third world country through Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child!


We have done this for quite a few years. We went to WalMart today but I just wasn't in the mood to start buying things for my box today. I couldn't think of what to get for an older boy or girl that could fit in a shoebox. I'll have to go again when I'm in a better mood. I was bummed out because I couldn't find our AAA batteries we just bought this morning. Gerard put away the groceries and didn't see them. I know I put them in the small white bag with the AA batteries and a dog bone but couldn't find them anywhere. (Gerard found them under the bread pudding container on the counter when he went to eat. I felt better then.)

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The Time I Feared For Gerard’s Safety (Writer’s Workshop)

It was a cold, snowy day. Gerard had his Camaro which was no good in the snow. He gets home from work before I do, but somehow I got home before him, maybe I had the day off. That I don’t remember. I do remember how anxious I was to see him pull into the driveway. I don’t even remember what month it was. All I remember is how I kept praying that God would keep him safe and help him get home soon while pacing back and forth.

Bad thoughts kept going through my head like I prayed for his safety at work and he broke his ankle anyway. What if he’s in an accident? What would I do without him now? I hated these thoughts so replaced them with songs of praise to God instead.

I opened the front blinds so I could see farther down the street and stood by the window watching for him. Winter storms can be extremely nerve wrecking. Every time I saw headlights coming down the street my heart would jump in my chest hoping it was him. Then the car kept on going by and I’d pray some more. Finally, a car came and turned into our driveway. I was ecstatic and so relieved to see my husband that I thanked God for getting him home safely and met him at the front door, welcoming him home.  

One of the best things I look forward to when we retire is not having to go anywhere in bad weather.

This is in response to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop prompt: A time you feared for the safety of a loved one.

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I'm Alive And Well--Praise The Lord!

UPDATED 9/3/09: I was reminded today that there is still a chance I'll need chemo after all--boo! They need to inspect the lymph nodes more closely, and there are two more tests to do. I meet with the surgeon again next Wednesday and I think at that time he'll have all the results in. Please continue to pray for complete healing and I really hope I don't need Chemo yet. I thought I should move the update to the top for those who already read this so they would see it.

My Major Concern: My lumpectomy was Tuesday and although I had a few concerns, on the whole I basically trusted that God had healed me and would bring me through--He did! Just in case something went wrong though, I made a list of "Things To Do, People to Call" for Gerard with phone numbers and instructions for things I do such as banking online, blogging, fixing the TV when it goofs up, how to record and play back TV shows and where our important papers are along with a note that he was a wonderful husband and he should feel free to remarry if he finds someone else. My biggest worry was that if something went wrong and I didn't wake up, he would be a total wreck with no clue what to do. This may or may not be true, but I wanted to be a help to him just in case. By doing this, it gave me more peace of mind. I am a list maker, can't help it! After recently reading "The Last Lecture" I too wanted to be a realistic optimist.

For me, about an hour and a half of my wait was sleeping. I had no pain and woke up about a 45 minutes after the surgery ended. The cancer appeared not to reach the lymph nodes so I probably won't need Chemo and lymphodemia (very limited use of arm and need it wrapped for life) most likely will not happen which was my other concern.

The day was actually easier on me than it was on him I think. It's always hard when you feel so helpless when you want to do something to help but can't. Waiting is extremely hard, but especially for Gerard who doesn't have much patience. That's why I thought I'd let him give his summary of the day:

Gerard's Synopsis: The day started as usual except Karen couldn't eat breakfast--her favorite meal of the day or even drink anything. She gets really growly when she gets hungry so I wasn't sure how that would work. I took Abby for a walk, took a shower, ate breakfast and took Abby for a long walk to the park while Karen had her quiet time and commented on some blogs, then off to the hospital we went.

Our first stop was to pay $15 to the surgeon's office for completing the FMLA forms Karen needed to submit to work. Can you believe they even charge for filling out papers? Then on we went to the main hospital at 10:00 A.M. They took Karen off to change into the hospital wear and I was in the waiting room with a TV which had a stupid game show on. This was annoying to me; I like news. I spent the day pretty much in constant prayer. I got to see Karen for a little while, but then I was sent back to the waiting room while she went at 11:00 for "mapping." She says that was the painful part.

She got out of there at noon and we were reunited. Surgery was moved back to 2:00 from 1:30 because they said it would take the mapping dye a couple hours to get down to the area. I was so nervous and hated to see Karen with that IV in her and just laying helplessly waiting. The IV was to keep her hydrated, give her vitamins since she couldn't eat and insert the anesthetic through it. I wished it was me instead going through this.

Pastor Zerby from our church came in and that helped a lot. He had a real calming effect on me and it made the time go faster. Two o'clock came and went, then 3:00 came and went and a nurse or volunteer called to find out what the hold up was. She told us an emergency came up and that's why he was delayed. This did not comfort me any. I started praying for that person to pull through. She let us watch TV at least in the waiting area which helped some so we saw some of the U.S. Open. Finally close to 4:00 it was her turn for surgery. I so wanted to take her home with me.
She insisted this would be a good time for me to go home and walk Abby so I did and then back to the waiting room again. The doctor came in around 5:30 and said everything went well. Thank you, Jesus! Then I had to wait for her to wake up which was around 6:30. Then I had to wait until she was up to going home. I brought her home around 7:30 or so and she went right to bed. I took Abby for another short walk. I did finish reading "Public Enemies" by Bryan Borrough while I had all that time to wait.

Then I watched the end of the Red Sox game. They won, but of course not easily--more stress for my day! It was a long day, but all ended well so glad Karen is home and well now! Hope we never have to go through that again!

We are praising the Lord! He answered our prayers and those of many of you, co-workers and church friends. Karen was anointed by the deacons of our church last Sunday for healing as instructed in James 5. It sure is helpful to know God in times like this!

I took the picture above of Karen sleeping in until 8:15 the day after her surgery with our two cats on the bed with her. (Abby was in the room too part of the time but stayed on the floor.) She loves when the cats come on the bed with her!

When You Fall In Love, What Side of Brain Do You Use?

Take this little quiz to find out. Here are my results and I feel they hit the nail on the head.

You Are Left Brained in Love

When it comes to love, you try to be as rational as possible. Your head doesn't lead you astray. You believe that love should never be blind, and you're not the type to get swept away easily. You are a cool customer when you fall for someone. You are able to look at things directly. You believe the honesty is key to a good relationship. You also try to be dependable and trustworthy.

Are You Right Brained or Left Brained in Love? click here to take the quiz

and share your results in the comments.

Love (Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore)

Love is a very popular topic these days but the Greek have three different words for love that the English word for love can encompass. The Greek words are: Eros meaning the sexual, physical attraction kind of love; Philo meaning brotherly love and Agape meaning sacrificial, unconditional love that is the kind God has for us.

Song of Solomon beautifully describes the Eros type of love. This is the kind every marriage should have. I love my husband's touch.

God is the one who initiated love. I John 4:19 says We love Him because He first loved us. I first discovered this verse as I was reading the Bible one day as a child and thought wow! That's exactly right! That is why I love Jesus because I thought then, as I still do by the way, how amazing and wonderfully that Jesus would die for me! That just makes me want to please Him and live for Him all the days of my life.

When we are filled with the Spirit, the first fruit (or proof) is that we are able to love others with agape love! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can not only forgive others who hurt us or those we love, but can actually love them! This is a divine agape love that is described in I Corinthians 13:4-8 as follows:

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

If we say you love God, then we must love others (with agape love). See I John 4:19-21:

19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Who have you shown love to today? Jesus said others will know we are his disciples if we have love one for another. Let's be sure to not focus on ourselves, but show a genuine interest in others and let God's love shine through our lives to others.

True Love

Gerard was not feeling well last Tuesday evening and got a sore throat. We went to bed and he kept moaning, groaning and bouncing and neither of us could sleep. He said he needed some throat lozengers. So, at 12:30 a.m. I got out of bed, got dressed and drove up to the Giant Eagle nearby which is open 24 hours. I was back in half an hour with Kleenex, Halls lozengers and orange juice. Finally, we got some sleep! I was happy when he announced he was not going to work on Wednesday. I didn't even have to try convincing him to stay home. It was a cold, rainy day and he took it easy and was feeling much better by the weekend.

Love is action. Love is a choice, not just a feeling. It is sacrificial. It is thinking about the other person and putting their needs above your own. I'm sure he would have done the same for me if the situation were reversed.