Welcome to The Blessing Corner. We never get tired of hearing the testimonies of God’s many folded grace working in our many folded lives.
As we pondered Shannon’s life, we marvel at the mercy of God, drawing, convicting, wooing, and even spanking, to bring a sinner to himself. There are some precious principles that emerge from this life that was reclaimed by God. Consider just a few of them as an introduction to the reading of this testimony.
The doctrine of salvation is beautifully defined in her experience. Salvation is more than a reformation, or making a few changes. She had to have a pure heart, a new heart, and it seems God would not let her rest until that heart was purified by faith, through repentance. Praise the Lord.
Her conscience was working quite well, even before she received much light. The few times of going to a nominal church service, was enough to bring her under conviction, because of the working of the conscience. Oh the conscience, what a delicate instrument it is. It can be very tormenting at times, but, how precious is the pricking of the conscience. It is specially designed by our creator who made us in his image.
The value of one little child, even if it was a special child, is seen here also. I wonder how many times Shannon has pondered how different this story would have read, if she would have followed the doctor’s advice, and aborted the child. But now, she has a sweet little girl, who loves Jesus.
I am a young single mother that God has pulled from the black depths of sin into glorious union with Him. I had been involved in witchcraft and other things since I was thirteen. When I was fifteen years old, I ran away from home and lived “on the streets”. I did a lot of drugs, and other things I don’t even want to mention. Even then, the Lord had His hand over me.
One morning, I woke up, and decided, no more smoking, no more drinking, and no more drugs. That was the end of all those things! I now know it was God working in me, and changing my desires. Before much longer, I moved back home and tried to reconcile with my mother. That was a long hard road for both of us, but, praise the Lord, we’re the best of friends, a real mother-daughter team.
A few weeks later, we discovered I was pregnant. Can you imagine what this did to my dear mother? Here was her young daughter, sixteen years old, just come home, and now she is pregnant. It was over a month before we could be in the same room together. I think what helped to bring us close together again was when my doctor told me that my baby would be born with Downs Syndrome. As I look through my journals, I am surprised to remember (and even more surprised that I forgot) that this was when I gave myself completely to God.
All throughout my pregnancy, I determined, to give my baby the best start possible. I started with my health, and quit drinking soft drinks, tea, and quit eating junk food, and was very picky about what went into my body. (Now that reminds me of when Jesus taught that it isn’t what goes into your body, but what comes out of your heart that will defile you!), yet, I still didn’t feel “clean” and “pure” enough. Both consciously- and unconsciously, that became my desire. I denounced witchcraft and the other things I was involved in spiritually .I was determined to be perfectly “neutral”. I cut off from all my peers. I stopped watching television and became strict on what I allowed myself to read, fearing that these things could somehow influence my baby. Remember, I had never received any teaching on any of these subjects .My family very occasionally went to a church service at a Baptist, or Methodist church, and professed to be Christians, but to me there was nothing there. All these things I was doing out of my desire for purity, which I now know to have been God drawing me to Himself.
One day as I was putting away some things I had received for the baby, I was mourning over the news I had received, that the baby would be Downs. In my sadness, I reached over and put a tape into the stereo. I expected the kind of music I had been listening to, which while it was a wonderful improvement over what I had been listening to earlier, it still was not what I would feel free to listen to now (does anyone remember Janis Joplin?). Imagine my surprise when a gospel song poured forth about Jesus. The song was about the people he had healed and loved, as they were standing at the cross watching Him die. The song went on to say how He still loved them, and had mercy for them. The tape went on to a song about stepping onto the “ship of Zion” and leaving all our troubles and triumphs behind, and being safe with Jesus the captain.
How perfect is God’s planning and His timing! By the end of the song, I was on my knees, crying and begging the Lord to help me. He was showing me exactly where I was. After all my striving for purity, still, I was only fit for the pits of hell. I gave myself to Him, body, mind and soul, and begged Him, even thought I was so rotten, to have mercy on me, forgive me, and help me. He accepted. He put His loving arms around me, and overwhelmed me with the most amazing peace. I felt so relieved of burdens that I hadn’t even realized I was carrying, and I finally felt that purity I had been longing for! That day, I stopped worrying about my baby, and fully trusted God the way an infant trusts its mother: never dreaming of not trusting!
A few days later, I went to a doctors appointment, that I had made. They gently encouraged me to abort my baby, reminding me what life would be for both of us. After making it clear to them that that was not to be even mentioned again, they wanted to do more conclusive tests. Guess what!!! NO Down’s Syndrome evidence! Of course, there was still a possibility of having a DS baby, but it was a smaller chance, according to their tests. I truly did not care either way, it was in God’s hands, and He knew best!
I began reading the Bible, and OH!, what exciting treasures I found there! I still remember the first time I read Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given you”. What incredible joy filled me! And how sobering it was to read John Chapter 15 for the first time, and realize how serious it is! That was over 5 years ago, and many things have changed in my life, but God is still the same and always will be, and I’m so glad. I am still abiding in Him, and enjoying the privilege of serving Him.
Dear readers, how is it with you? Have you had a clear conversion? Do you know without a doubt, that you have passed from death unto life? That pure heart that Shannon was longing for was a heart that has been crucified with Christ, and born anew by the power of God. We all must have a clean and a pure heart. This is what salvation is. The song writer said it this way, “amazing grace, ‘tis heaven below to feel the blood applied”. Let us all examine ourselves as Paul admonishes us to do in II Corinthians.
Shannon is teaching her little girl, Rena Olivia, at home. To help support her family she takes in sewing. If anyone needs to have some sewing done you can call her at (336) 694-5341.
--The editors
