My story...

We sat on a pontoon with some good friends. The sun was setting over the water and boaters surrounded us, all enjoying life on the water. Someone had made homemade brownies with an amazing raspberry sauce...life was good.

"Hey Jen, share your testimony!" our pastor friend said as the eight or so other people looked at me anxiously. Our friend had always said to us, "Be ready always to share your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life." Well, here was a time for me...

I began to share about my sinful life as a college student. Parties, drinking, boys. I continued with the lifestyle after college...parties with football players, life in the fast lane, money, alcohol....SIN.

Until the day it all came to a halt.

The man I was with was arrested and placed in jail on some pretty stiff charges.
My life came crumbling down.
      The facade was broken.
            The pieces were crumbling.

I had no where to turn...but... thankfully a great friend told me to call my parents.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

This was the greatest gift they gave me....they came.
They helped.
They pointed me to the one who provides UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

JESUS.

Matthew 7:7

 "Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened."

Several days later I was on a bathroom floor.

    Deflated.
          Beaten.
             Humiliated.
                  My life was not worth living.

I had failed so miserably.
          Failed my family.
          Failed in relationships.
          Failed myself.

Why go on?

The bottle of pills rested in my hand, but the verse went through my head:

Matthew 7:7

"Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened."

And I accepted Him. I accepted His word for what it was. For the first time in my life, I truly believed that He died for ME. That He alone could wipe away my sin. That He alone was my ticket to heaven. Not myself. Not my parent's religion. Not my good works, although at that point in my life they were minimal. He alone!

And life changed....He brought a new man into my life. A good man. A loving man. He opened my heart to those around me. He diminished the cravings for alcohol and sin. He wiped my heart clean and eventually, although the temporal consequences took time, He cleaned up my life!

Today...

I praise Him.

I thank Him.

I glorify Him.

Some looked at me with a blank stare that night on the boat. Some teared up and wept over the life of one sinner saved by the grace of God. But all, all on the pontoon, heard the story. And I pray that those who didn't understand, sought out guidance. I pray that those who didn't get it, went to God's word that night to seek and ask and knock.

And today, my sisters, I pray that if you do not know...if you have never been on your knees, asking for God to enter your heart, that today...today you make it the day. His arms are open. His love is wide. His forgiveness is never-ending. And His life for you....wow...His life for you is something your mind can not even comprehend.

ASK.

SEEK.

KNOCK!!!!!!!

Jen