As I approach my 50^th birthday, (yikes!) I think of how God has been very mindful of my needs and desires throughout my life. Even though I didn’t become a Christian until I was almost 19, I remember times as a little girl, talking to God, thinking about the Lord, and even felt His presence with me.

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 40:17, which reads, “Though I am poor and needy the Lord takes thought of me.” It has always been a wonderful comfort to me that the Lord thought of me whenever I have felt poor and needy, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

Before I became a Christian, I attended Towson State and was a sophomore in college. One morning I collapsed getting ready for school. I was taken to the hospital where I underwent many tests because I had had a seizure. After that incident, for the next six to eight months, I convalesced at home. I was in and out of hospitals and doctor’s offices. I had two more seizures at home during that time. I was diagnosed with epilepsy and prescribed medication. I had to drop out of school, and basically, really didn’t know if I was ever going to get better. It was a very frightening time in my life. The left side of my body would tremble and jerk at various times as I tried to walk across the room. It was very scary not having control of my body. During that summer of resting, my vision started to deteriorate as well. I had to go to the Wilmer Eye Clinic at Hopkins. Everyday when I woke up, my surroundings were darkening. I couldn’t see. It was as if during my illness, my entire nervous system had been affected; between the seizures, the uncontrollable muscle spasms, and vision impairment.

I look at this time in my life as God working His deliverance in me. Through all the tests I underwent, the doctors found no physical reasons for my symptoms. I had no tumors, cancer, etc.

I began to read the Bible while I was at home. I read a children’s Bible, Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible, for hours everyday. That summer, I also prayed the sinner’s prayer. I did not know what the future held, but I turned my life over to Jesus. I am very grateful for this time in my life, because it is then that I truly became a Christian. I am a strong willed person and I guess God had to take some things away from me for a while, so that I would realize my need for Him. I am so glad that He knew what I needed – HIM.

Gradually, I did get better! By November of the same year, I started working at McDonald’s part-time, where I met my first boyfriend. The next year, the Lord led me back to school at Towson State. It took several years, but I earned a degree in Elementary education. As I worked my first full time job as a recreation director for Baltimore County Recreation and Parks, I started a long dating relationship with my to-be husband, Butch. He was spirit-filled, but I was not, which made for lively discussions about God and the Bible. I too, eventually, became baptized in the Holy Spirit, which helped my walk with the Lord a lot, not to mention my relationship with Butch!

Of all the blessings the Lord has given me, Butch is the greatest. Bold and outspoken, he has helped me to become less timid as a Christian. I have benefited greatly from being married to such a godly man. (I often wonder why the Lord has blessed me so.)

We helped start the church at New Exodus Fellowship back in 1986. We have both been blessed and challenged by all the people that have walked through the church doors. It has been a growing experience for our family.

We have three children and live in a lovely home in Parkton, which the Lord has led us to recently. The children attend very fine public schools of which we are very grateful, after having lived in the city. God has been very good to us as a family.

I am praying for the salvation of my father and sister. My mom accepted Christ before dying after an extended illness in 1995. My sister has come to live with us in the last several years, and is investigating Christ. She attends N.E.F. each week since she moved in with us. My dad may soon come to live with us too, because he needs long-term medical care, due to an accident. I see God’s hand in both their lives, and I know he cares for them.

In all these ways, and so many more, I am thankful He thinks of me. Praise the Lord!!