Joan Jackson's Testimony

I loved hearing Ashley's testimony yesterday. It is exciting to see how God provides when we make ourselves available to serve.

My story is very different. I went to IU to have fun and try to get a degree without taking a foreign language. I accomplished both of these goals and also met "prince charming". He didn't ride up to the sorority house on a white charger, but I decided a red mustang was close enough. Tom and I were married and had a daughter, a son, a good job, and a cute house. I had gone to church all my life and believed in God and Jesus, but I was 29 years old before I heard that God cared about my individual life. I couldn't believe the contentment I felt letting him be in charge of my life instead of me. The changes were slow in the beginning, but the more I took God at his word, and confessed my selfish actions, words and thoughts, the more He changed me and my heart attitudes.

I was a "stay at home" mom. I took care of the house and garden and children. We were active in our church and para church groups. I led women's Bible Studies and did some speaking at retreats. When I met business associates of Tom's and they would ask me what I did, it sounded pretty boring I guess.

Our son, Mike's, senior year in high school I was in an accident and had damage to my 1st and 2nd vertebrae and shattered the bones in the right side of my face. That began a long recuperation and a life of chronic pain.

But.......God still had things to do in my life. I continued to serve in leadership roles in our church. God led me to begin a business as a General Contractor building custom homes. I've had the opportunity to fulfill a dream that my family didn't share with me, to see the Grand Canyon. In fact I hiked to the bottom with some girlfriends and spend the night at the Phantom Ranch and hiked back out the next day.

I've also had the opportunity to go to the Ukraine four times on mission trips and to have Ukrainian friends stay in my home when they are in the United States.

I wanted to share some of my story with you, to encourage you. I think that some of you may listen to Ashley's story and think, "It's too late for me to do anything. I'm locked into responsibilities and life. She's young and has so many choices."

When you let God have your life, it will be an adventure. He has things in store for you that you might not imagine in your wildest dreams. When you give your days and your life to Christ, He will make it count. He does have a purpose for you, that only you can fulfill. As long as we draw breath, we should say, "What's the next step, Lord?"

Sometimes I want to draw back and just coast, but that doesn't take much faith. He wants to take you places where, unless He shows up it will be certain failure. He wants to show you that His grace is sufficient to give you strength in every situation. He will enable you to do His will. He promises!