Inspiration of The Heart

I want to share with you a bit about myself and where the Lord has brought his grace & mercy over my life. There is not a time I can not look back & see the Lord's mercy over me. Even through the tough times. At the tough time's I could not see it, but now I am so thankful for his Love & grace.

I sit here & think how much to share of my life with you...

I live in South Carolina, USA. I was born in New York. What brought me to S.C. was the death of my mother. She was killed in a car accident. I remember her very well being only 6 years old at the time I feel very blessed with the memories of her.

My (adopted)dad brought my brother(2 @ the time) & me to SC, because that's where he was born & raised. So this is home for me. We lived with my papa, Grandma, & Uncle. They took care of us with my dad going out of town during the week. He was not in my life a lot. My grandparents raised me up in church, but I found it hard going to church on Sunday

but Monday - Saturday Faith wasn't lived out in my home at the time. There was abuse I dealt with & the Lord had to do a lot of healing in my life.

I have learned to forgive those who abused me, which wasn't easy. As I know we all understand a lot we do is by the Spirit in us, because our flesh wants to be angry & bitter of hurts done to us. The Lord showed me to forgive, isn't to say what they did was OK but its to bring personal healing. I had to overcome low self esteem & a lot of other issues. I still feel the scars, but I see them now to help & comfort those that deal, dealt or will deal with abuse.

I was saved at the age of 12, but rebelled hard in my teen age years. I let unforgivness, bitterness & rebellion take over. It wasn't til my 20's that I rededicated my life to Jesus. I was married in 1991 we had a son. The Lord had to do a lot of healing & miracles in my family, because my husband with me both dealt with abuse & really didn't know how to have a good marriage from what we was raised in. The Lord has brought blessings in our marriage now. Shane, my husband, was saved in 1999. Which was a prayer of mine (& others) for many years. Thank you Lord for answered prayers.

In November of 1994 I gave my life to Jesus. I asked him to save me so when I die I would go to Heaven. I cried myself to sleep that night, but in the morning I knew something was different. I started reading my Bible & realized it's not about being good enough to go to Heaven, but it's about believing Jesus dieing on the cross & lives again that's what gets us to Heaven. I was raised you had to do good things to go to Heaven, so to see the grace of God was such a burden lifted. To see grace doesn't give me an excuse to sin because I am under grace it makes me want to live for our Lord even more. Salvation is free, but it cost our Lord Jesus his life & that was a high price to pay & He was so willing to pay it for his love for us. Seeing the Love of our God has brought freedom in my life where at one time I saw a God who was up there as a judge. I have come to see him now as my loving Father who can love perfectly where people can fail, hurt & fall short. As we all fall short at one point in our life as for me is many, but I learn & move on. All that I am now is by God's Grace. He has guided me to be a teacher of children & adult in our church family. I have taught kids for a long time since 1995. Now the adult class I didn't start teaching til 2001. The Lord showed me where I am weak he gives strength. He's not worry about us being qualified just that we are willing to obey in faith His call for our lives to bring Glory to His Kingdom. I have had

many wood shed experiences (spiritual correction) to keep me in line with his will. I thank him for his patience & keep me on his path. I will close with these with lines seeing there is not enough boards or post to put up of our Lord's goodness! All I can say is I am so blessed to be able to share this with you & to know we are part of the same family, "The Family of God" which is a honor & wonderful thing! Before I do go I will share on how the Lord got me on-line. Itwasn't til 2002 when we got our computer. I did not get on it for awhile hearing about all the things bad about being on-line, but I felt a need to get on-line. I have meet a lot of wonderful Christian Brothers & Sisters

(*Smiles* I thank the Lord I meet you).

I have meet those on-line not good, but pray the Lord will have mercy on them. As far as this NewsLetter if I can place how long I been sending it it's been about a year. I am blessed to be able to make these email & send them out. I pray the Lord will comfort & encourage you in every way.

God bless you!~Monica