Thursday, April 16, 2009

A little confusion...

It's come to my attention that there may be a little confusion about my "banner"...so I want to take a moment to clarify, if you don't mind! I do not want to be guilty of misleading anyone, even unintentionally...

Just to recap, here is what it says:

"My name is Gigi and I am a Christian...proud and unapologetic. I was a lifelong Catholic - up until a few years ago when the priest sexual abuse scandal hit a bit too close to home. And rocked my very foundation of beliefs. But by the GRACE of my Lord Jesus Christ, I am finding my way back. This is my journey...I would love it if you would share it with me. Sit with me for awhile, won't you...in the Throne Room of the Lord."

I would just like to state, for the record, that I am no longer Catholic. My Sweet Hubby and I left the Catholic church after what happened to our family. For a few years, we did not attend any church whatsoever. I was angry...at the church and yes, at God Himself, for what had happened. It took me quite a while (and the intervention of an earthly "angel") to put what had happened into perspective and begin to heal. And God was so patient...loving me all the while.

The one thing my Sweet Hubby and I knew was that we needed to find a new church home...and we did. We truly believed that we were led there and we were welcomed with open arms and hearts. They became our extended "family" and have been such a blessing from the Lord - walking this path with us of faith renewal, illness, death and the process of grieving.

My Sweet Hubby and I recommitted our lives to the Lord and were baptized last August. This time by full immersion rather than just a sprinkling! What a joy to make that decision as adults and what a blessing to share that beautiful decision with my Sweet Hubby...I'll never forget that day as long as I live...

So, there you have it. I hope that clears up any ambiguity that might have existed! Thank you for bearing with me!

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." 1 Corinthians 14:33




7 comments:

Dawn said...

I am so thankful that you found the Lord in such a personal and lifesaving way. I am sorry that your family suffered in the way I am interpreting your words. But God is a redeeming God!

Jody said...

God is so good to draw us to Himself. Thinking of you today, Gigi

Tamela's Place said...

Hello gigi,

My husband was also raised catholic and some of the sexual scandal hit to close for him as well. When leaving the catholic church his family had a real hard time with it but they weren't told about the sexual part.

According to most in his family he was baptized catholic and he will always be catholic and as far as they were concern if he left the catholic church well he was bound for hell.

He explained to them the Word of God and that there comes a time of personal accountablility which is termed the age of accountablility when you make your own faith decision, explaining to them that faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God and from there of course comes salvation and your relationship with Christ, and it's not about works or being baptized as a child that you make heaven your home it's all about relationship with Christ Jesus.

I am happy to say that my husbands witness to the family brought quite a few of them to salvation in Christ Jesus including his Grandmother whom he was very close to who died a few years ago.

It has been a battle for my husband though to break free of trying to earn brownie points from the Lord by doing good works it was sooo ingrained in him as a child and from the age 7 to the age 10 he lived in a catholic orphanage and was schooled there of course. He has come a long ways and he is a beautiful work in progress like sooo many of us.

God is still working on us all, He is the potter and we are the clay. I have seen God take a heart of stone and turn it into a heart of gentle love and compassion and rescue loved ones out of the grips of the enemy this is truly amazing to me! i am sooo thankful for God's Grace, mercy and everlasting love!

I really don't know why i shared all of that but anyways there it is! Have a nice weekend gigi and God bless you!

Tamela :)

Anonymous said...

I am glad the Lord came and reached out His hand toward you and your husband.

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Thanks for sharing your story, Gigi. We all need Jesus and we all have a testimony of where we were when we found Him and where He's led us since then.

Happy weekend! :o)

Love and hugs,

Diane

Jess said...

I was with you ,but now I'm really with you! lol

Full-dunking!!! Some people here still get baptized in big ditches and rivers ..o yeah...they are nut..but yep, that's Arkansas for you! LOL

Have a great weekend
Love, jess

Unknown said...

Hi! THank you so much for your comment, I wish I was around more - but just as I decided I wanted to recommit, my computer died. SO that's why I'm not around more. But I think of you often - in my thoughts and my prayers! God bless you!