My Testimony
I was saved in the summer of 1977 at the age of nine years old at the Valleyview Church of Christ In Christian Union in Columbus, OH. Soon after, I began singing with my mom and dad, then I began learning to play the piano and writing songs. By the age of 13 I was playing piano when we went out to sing in churches. I traveled with mom and dad until I was 19 years old. We made some wonderful friends and experienced some great mountaintops during those years. As time went on, nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. In May of 1988, my mom and dad ended their marriage of 26 years. I was 19 years old at the time. We had always had a loving home and had been such a close-knit family. I never thought something like this would ever happen to our Christian home... but I was so wrong. My dad soon re-married, and I went to live with my Grandparents. Let me just stop here for a moment and say that I owe more than I could ever repay to my Grandma and Grandpa Leeth. They were there for me when I had nothing else. I love them with all my heart. I'll never forget their unconditional love and kindness. During those two years I had fallen into a deep depression. Noone could understand what I was going through. I felt alone, betrayed, and as if my life was over. My foundation was gone. Although I would never have gone through with it, there were times when I wished I could die so I wouldn't have to feel the pain anymore. I was avoided and ignored by many people I had loved and thought so highly of all my life. The truth was, they never meant to hurt me, they just didn't know what to say or do.
I recall one day in 1990, I left work in Columbus and I honestly didn't have a home to go home to. Everything I owned was piled in the backseat of my old car. I drove to a nearby department store parking lot and sat there crying and praying for guidance.... I was so lost. So I went to a phone booth and called my aunt Faye that lived in the Columbus area, and she told me to come stay with them for a while. I stayed there for 2 or 3 months. One day I was in their house alone and the spirit came down so strong and flooded my heart thru and thru. I thought he was never going to stop the blessings, they just kept coming. He spoke to me that day and told me to leave Columbus and move back down to the Waverly area where I had lived most of my life. This wasn't easy for me to do, because I loved the place where I was working and the people there. Besides that, I'd have to find a new job and a place to live. But I followed his leading and moved, although I knew I'd probably be criticized for my decision. Within a few months I met the man I would marry, Tim Klinker. He was the most caring and gentle person I'd ever met and our hearts instantly found a home with one another. Within 3 months of meeting we were married.
I'd hate to think of where I would be if I hadn't obeyed God and moved when he told me to. This is only one instance of God's leading in my life, I don't have time to tell them all. I'll only say this... when God speaks, listen. When he says go... go. When he says stay... stay. Whatever it is he tells you to do, don't hesitate, because he knows what he's doing and there are blessings he wants to give to us far beyond what we can imagine. On the other side of that, there are also consequences to being disobedient to His will. Your disobedience will not only affect you, but countless others. God always knows what's best, and it's because he loves us so much that He wants the very best in our lives.
The longer I live, and the more I learn, the more I realize that I don't really know much at all. I have to depend on God for every breath and every step. Just when I think I'm at the end of a finish line... I find myself back at the beginning. But he is in charge, and he calls the shots. I'm learning that. I still have to deal with depression occasionally, and probably will fight it off and on for the rest of my life... but God is with me. He says that his grace is sufficient, and that His strength is made perfect in my weakness. No human being is perfect, and we all have our battles to fight. This is life, and God never promised it would be easy... he only promised he'd be with us thru it all.
I know I've dwelled on alot of heartaches in this testimony, but the truth is, life is full of heartaches and trials, and people need to know there is hope when they're facing tragedies and hardships. They need to know they're not alone in their suffering. And it's because of the trials and the heartaches that I'm able to testify to the fact that God is Sovereign. He is sufficient. He's our healer. God is life. He is full of love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. And he doesn't want us to focus so much on doing, but on being his child. He is much more interested in who we are than what we can ever do for Him. He wants a relationship with us... that's why he created us. He knows what we're capable of.... nothing. That is, nothing without Him.
It's my hope that you'll always find strength, hope, comfort, and peace in the times when you need them most. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus, and he'll always lead the way and give strength for tomorrow. He's never failed from the beginning, and he's not going to start now. If you don't know Him as your personal Savior today, just simply ask Him to come into your heart and forgive you of your sins. You don't have to kneel at an altar, or have someone else praying with you.... although that is good. You can pray anytime, anywhere. Just be sure to tell someone when you do! God is always there, and he's just one prayer away.
Trust in Him... he's the one thing in this world that never changes.
In His Love,
Angie
