It Takes Time
"I have believed in God for as long as I can remember."
Religion. In the search for the God of the universe many, many people are drawn in to a religious life experience, full of rules, regulations and, sometimes, disappointments. Our God offers freedom, love, hope, grace, mercy and acceptance into His eternal kingdom—freely, and without religious duty on our part. This makes it all His gift… all His doing. Diane continued her pursuit of the Creator, well past the religious experience and straight into the arms of the Savior. Diane learned truths from God’s Holy Word, which freed her from the religious duties of her upbringing. She learned how to be in a loving relationship with God and how this relationship guaranteed her eternal life—a life forever with God—a life secure and planned from the beginning of time!
“God desires that we surrender our problems to Him and not carry the burden alone. He can sustain us through anything, all we have to do is ask. This revelation in Diane opened her heart from a life of religious service to a call to be involved in the body of Christ, serving from a desire to do so rather than a duty to do so, and confident that the future is in God’s hands.
Our all-knowing God had placed Diane in John's life in His perfect timing. This timing would seem to be “perfect” from the human perspective in that two loving hearts found each other and became one; to be joined in marriage for love and companionship for life. But God’s plan was far greater.
In 1998 John’s 7 year old son Justin passed away. He was in the first grade. The pain of this loss overcame John and he questioned why God would take his son. John wanted nothing to do with church or religion. “Diane began to go to Grace Church, and kept asking me to join her. I wasn’t interested. She kept going; kept asking me, but got the same answer, ‘NO!’”
Our loving and comforting God did not give up on His child, John. He gently drew John to Himself, slowly embracing him with His unconditional love. He drew John to himself through Diane’s patient love and to His family at Grace Church. He spoke to John through the pastors, staff, and this family of Grace. John writes, “A few messages from Dan and other pastors opened my eyes and ears about God. They explained why God allows things to happen, for good or bad.”
Now John continues to grow closer to the God that comforts him… not in a “religious” way, but in relationship with Him. John and Diane are faithful Children's Ministry servants here at Grace. Their son Casey is an amazing guitar player who often plays for the Chosen Generation youth group at Grace. A family of growing servants—in the family of Grace church—in the body of Christ.
Our son Justin was taken to Heaven when he was in the 1st grade. God has put me in this 1st grade class and kept me here to teach the Word for Justin."
