I became a believer on December 17, 1993. A day that truly changed my life even though I couldn't have begun to understand just how much then. What is it that I believe? With all of my heart I believe in God that He is the Maker of heaven and earth, that He gave His only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that I could be forgiven of my sins! On the 3rd day Jesus rose from the dead! And I know that I will spend eternity with Him!
How did that change my life-well its a really long story-but Ill try to give you a very short version. My Mom was a drug addict. My Dad-just not a part of my life. (they divorced when I was a baby.) My childhood was pretty awful, I was verbally, physically and sexually abused and neglected. My Mom died when I was 10 years old she was only 29 leaving me and my little sister who was 3 years younger behind-we were placed in different homes! I despise drugs and how they ruin lives to this day! I was left to a depressed, alcoholic Grandmother who at least knew how to give me hugs and kisses. When I was 18-I was a mess, looking for love in all the wrong places-working in a bar-partying my life away after graduating high school. I felt like my life had no meaning or purpose. I had no peace. I got into a car accident and I got sent to a Christian(I didn't know what that was) Chiropractor, his wife was his secretary and they were so wonderful to me. After about 3 months of going to them for care-the Dr. asked me some questions. He started with "Do you go to church anywhere? I told him "no, maybe some day I'll go" Then he asked "Have you ever asked Jesus into your heart?" those words didn't make any sense to me-I said "I don't know what your talking about." He said then "If you died today, do you know where you would spend eternity?" I really thought if you died your life was just over-that was it! He and his wife got there Bible out and explained what I needed to do to change my eternal destination from hell to heaven using John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-10. I prayed a prayer making Jesus my Lord and Savior right there in the Dr.'s office. They gave me a Bible and I began reading it and talking to God. I decided to go to church and I liked it so I kept going back hungry for more of God in my life, I also started going to a college Bible study that the Dr. and his wife taught. The more I fell in love with God the more I began to change-I realized God had created me with a special purpose and plan for my life. Because of my new found zeal for God I was kicked out of the home I was staying in. I really had no place to go. So the Dr. and his wife invited me to come and stay with them-until I found a place of my own. It was so much fun being a part of a family. Home cooked meals-family movie night-Bible studies, prayer, just lots of family fun that I had never been a part of before. Weeks turned into months and somewhere along the way I started calling them mom and dad. The next Christmas with a home packed full of family. I had a very special gift under the tree. In my box was a letter from there attorney telling me that they believed God had placed our lives together and they had grown to love me as there daughter and even though I would marry someday and change my name for Christmas they wanted to adopt me and make me theirs forever!!! What a special gift from God to get a Daddy and Mommy when your 19 years old!! It was so hard to leave them (I did go home just about every weekend) and go off to a Bible college for a year-but I loved my time growing in Gods Word! I met my husband in my parents college Bible study when I was 23. Smiling shyly across the room for months before either of us had the nerve to speak to each other. He was in the Air force coming to Bible study with his cousin. We became friends then we dated and got married! That was almost 12 years ago. I have an amazing husband (with an amazing family-and they are mine too-now!!)who loves God and serves his country- he is my truly my hero! He is the best Dad, he makes our life together so much fun! He dances and plays Barbie’s with our daughter and he fishes, hunts, and wrestles with our sons (and daughter too!) We have 3 of the most adorable children in the whole world, I’m so grateful beyond words that God picked me to be there Mom- they will never know a minute of what I went through as a child. They will know every day that I love and treasure them! My family is my greatest treasure from God! We have been stationed here in Montana for 9 years now-and we love it here-God has surrounded us with His beauty! We attend Victory Church and we love our Pastors!! They are the best!! They both teach Gods word with such passion and love and that's the way it should be. I started a Bible study at the Juvenile Detention Center 8 years ago, I love these kids and believe that God loves them, and has a great plan for their life if they'll just choose it and most importantly choose Him!! And well- God is not finished with me yet!! But I love and serve an awesome God who heals broken hearts and lives!!I am a work in progress! But I love Him with all of my heart and it is my ambition to please Him in all that I do. When I finish my race and stand before Him I want Him to be proud!!
Sorry for such a long post I promise the rest will be shorter and more to the point! I just wanted you to get to know me and my journey with God just a little bit. You can see some of my family photos on my other blog http://www.jolenaadams.blogspot.com/
Blessing to you!!
Jolena Adams
