It occurs to me that I've never given my personal testimony on this blog.  While, the blessings are enumerated in blog entries, with much thankfulness of heart, it is my desire to tell the reader "how it all started."

Mom and Dad met "in the middle" one might say.  She was from South GA, he was from the mountains of NC.  Work compelled his family to Atlanta, life circumstances sent her to Atlanta.
So, a suburb of Atlanta is my point of origin.
I was in Atlanta, (except for a brief move at age 4 to Hayesville, NC  and  age 10 to Jacksonville, FL), about 11 years. Then a move to NE Ga for the next 40 years. Still, further north to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains,  just last year!  Whew, what a journey. Read the blog for my "back to the house of bread" entry.'

When I was 6, I went to the altar from the balcony of the church where we attended.  I do not remember making a profession or getting baptized but I do remember the baptismal robes.

• I did not get saved that day.

Then we were in NE Georgia.  A church led by a man of God with the power and Spirit of the Lord on Him and His preaching.  At 15, one Wednesday night, a substitute was preaching on the rich man in hell.  Without a doubt, my heart was pricked in conviction, again. I went to the altar, fully aware of my need and asked the Lord to send someone to "help me."  Obviously, He was the only one who could help me.  No one came.  I ended my plea.

•  I did not get saved that day.

Bear in mind that from birth to this point, there had been much turmoil in the home, a younger brother was in the picture in my 10th year and, a little sister in my 15th year.  Now, I'm the oldest and to this day, I still feel the weight of that position.
A few days before my 18th birthday, this is what happened;  Driving home one evening from a choir practice the last day of June 1982, I began to pray.  It was my habit to pray in the car - alone - all my heart.  In the intensity of that prayer, I made a heartfelt petition for my dad, who was clearly lost.  After all, his sins were easy to see.  My folks had been divorced two years at this point and his choices and their effects on our lives were getting worse instead of better.  Anyway, I began praying for him and his lost condition and clear as a bell the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "yes, he is lost but SO ARE YOU!"  I could not deny that truth.  I agreed, repented, confessed that truth and prayed, "Lord, I confess that is true and would you save me?"
The description at that moment of what had happened stays the same; A light was turned on in my dark soul and it was as if cool water rushed all over me.  I can also tell you, I have never doubted from that moment what took place.

•  I got saved that day!

An eternal transaction was effected and this heart has never been the same.  Have I always made the right choices? No.  Have I always followed in His will? No.  Have I ever regretted that moment? No!
Whether saint or sinner is reading this account, let me just say, "It's been a looooooooong journey, but I have been blessed!"
The only other notable events from that day on were two deaths that year, a dear Uncle and precious granddad.
Then 1987, and in 1998, the most precious event since getting saved and well, read the blog and you get the rest of the story!

P.S. Your testimony may be different but that's ok!  We had to come in the same way and will be going to the same place!