Welcome to the second installment in our series Encountering God’s Grace, where we share profound and transformative testimonies of salvation. Each narrative featured in this series is a testament to the incredible power and mercy of God. These personal accounts are more than just stories; they are real-life journeys that shine a light on the miracle of God’s mercy and grace.
In this installment we share testimonies from a mother and daughter, Darlene Rivers and Abby Smith. Darlene has been a member of Peachtree Baptist Church her entire life and though as you’ll see God saved her “off the pew” and drew her to Himself in a miraculous way. Her daughter Abby was saved as a small child, but both testimonies highlight the incredible beauty of redemption.
Hello I’m Abby Smith, and I’d love to share what the Lord has done for me. The Lord Jesus forgave me of my sins and changed my life when I was 6 years old. I’m sure most wouldn’t consider a 6 year old worthy of hell, but I knew I was. I knew the wrong things I had done deserved punishment. I felt the Lord drawing me, and through the preaching of the Word and the guidance of my parents I accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation. I prayed with my parents and then they left me to confess my sins to the Lord on my own. I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and He filled me with a peace I have never felt but through Him. I knew my sins had been washed away and He placed a song in my heart. I began to sing immediately “He lives, He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way! He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart!” I went to find my family, singing this song, and my mom immediately noticed a change. She asked me if the Lord had saved me, and I knew right then that He lived in my heart and would forever! I thank the Lord for his gift of salvation and his love that has guided me and kept me my whole life.
Mark 10:14 “…Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.”
Hello, I’m Darlene Rivers, I have always cringed when asked about my testimony of saving grace because it’s not pretty…but birth is usually anything but pretty. Sin is ugly and mine was deeply rooted with no apparent reason except my own foolishness and pride.
I was happily reared in a Christian home by parents who devotedly loved the Lord and their children. They displayed their consistent sacrificial faith by serving the Lord wherever there was a need. They both worked hard so that my brother and I could go to Christian school and be constantly surrounded by God’s Word at school, home and at church because the Bible says “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
My memory has always been poor, but I vividly remember the night the Lord started a work in my heart. As a 6 year old child I knew that Christ had willingly suffered and died to pay the penalty for MY sin. That night the stars were brighter & I was in awe that the Creator God knew and loved ME!
As I aged, however, the ‘ugly’ started to vividly show itself. I was the ‘deacon’s kid‘ that many talk about. My rebellion knew very few limits. My life didn’t look like what the Bible would classify as saved…but rather it more resembled lost and ungodly. Was I truly converted? If so, how could I continue to live this way? If I died, was I ready to stand before God? These questions plagued me.
Around the age of 16 the Lord had allowed me to follow my own desires until I hit the bottom. Just like the Prodigal son in Luke 15, I ‘came to myself.’ I knew of the goodness and blessing of the Lord at the Father’s house, but I was living in the pigsty of sin. If I continued down that path I would completely ruin my life, and possibly ‘gamble’ a childhood profession that resulted in a temporary life change. When I cried out in desperation the Lord reminded me of His love for me and how He had paid the penalty for my sin. By faith I trusted Him for my salvation- I could only agree with God that His way leads to life, peace and joy. My way had led me down a dark and painful path.
My sinful habits began to shed that day. My desires turned to Christ and His way rather than my own. I am far from perfect…but I have been CHANGED!
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” 2 Cor 5:17
The lifestyle of careless rebellion was replaced with a desire to please the One Who loves me…& a strong conviction of sin when I failed! To this day, when I look in the mirror of God’s Word His goodness still highlights areas in my life that I need to align with His opinion. I know all too deeply mine cannot be trusted.
The ‘ugly’ still rears its head from time to time, but the grace of God & His transforming, forgiving power is beauty. And, anything beautiful in my life is Jesus.
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