Karen Norman
Year Born:
1983
Occupation:
at home mom
Location:
Manteno, IL
(originally from Seattle, WA)
Personal Vehicles:
1980 Austin Mini
1983
Occupation:
at home mom
Location:
Manteno, IL
(originally from Seattle, WA)
Personal Vehicles:
1980 Austin Mini
In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. Rom 11:5-6 NASB
Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:5-7 NASB
It took me 21 years to come to Christ and realize that I was on the wrong path, until then I had absolutely no idea. I grew up Catholic and never questioned one thing about it-I was right "they" were wrong and that was that. It was shortly after I graduated high school that things changed. My life seemed to go in a downward spiral of bad decisions. It was during this time that I stopped going to church. I wasn't getting what I needed out of going to mass so I stopped attending, thinking I needed to just find a new Catholic church and not realizing that what I needed to find was a savior.
Looking back it has obviously been the hand of God in my life that has led me to where I am today. I am not surprised I went back to church becuase I have always loved God but it was truly God's revelation in my life that opened my eyes to understand that a simple love or belief in God is not enough. He requires so little of us and yet sometimes it seems like so much. What work do have to do to become righteous in his eyes? Nothing. Our faith is what saves us. That's all. It is a free gift and we can do nothing to earn it-just accept it.
Looking back it has obviously been the hand of God in my life that has led me to where I am today. I am not surprised I went back to church becuase I have always loved God but it was truly God's revelation in my life that opened my eyes to understand that a simple love or belief in God is not enough. He requires so little of us and yet sometimes it seems like so much. What work do have to do to become righteous in his eyes? Nothing. Our faith is what saves us. That's all. It is a free gift and we can do nothing to earn it-just accept it.
I encourage you to read your Bible and ask questions. I sure didn't know where to start when I first wanted to read a Bible (I didn't even own one when I was 21). I was so overwhelmed that I almost decided to give up. But I didn't, I started with the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and just kept working through the New Testament. Still overwhelmed? Read chapter 4 in the book of Romans. Read it again and again and again until you can just breath in God's love and His desire to GIVE you His gift.
God is faithful to those who are faithful and He wants to give you the best gift you are ever going to get. Salvation. He loves you, no doubt about that. And now it is up to you to make the decision, one has to be made-to love Him back or turn away from Him. Choose Him, it is completely worth it.