My Testimony

Hello, my name is Lezlie.  I'm the daughter of a redeemed alcoholic. 

I grew up in the country with very few friends.  I was lonely quite often. When my dad got sober, he started hauling my mom and me to church.  I had been a few times before that with a friend or grandparent, but it was all foreign to me.  They would read Bible passages and ask me questions, and I did not know what they were talking about or how to answer.  I was not interested in going at all when I started. 

Over time, the LORD melted my heart toward the people at church and toward Himself.  I understood that I was a sinner, that I needed a Savior if I wanted to go to Heaven, and that His Name is Jesus.  I wasn't all that resistant to those ideas; I just didn't want to give up my free time and TV watching addiction to spend it in a church listening to boring sermons.

I don't remember when that changed exactly.  God worked on my heart over time.  I just remember coming to the place where I really wanted a best friend who was accessible all the time and God could offer that to me.  My 1st 2 prayers were for Him to be my best friend and to make me a bold person who was not afraid all the time.  We've been working on our relationship and my fearfulness ever since.

As a child, I would hide behind my mother any time we were out around people.  I would not go ask for ketchup at McDonald's because I would have to talk to someone.  I would not run track or sing in the choir because someone might look at me.  I had very few friends and no one really close to me most of the time.

Today, I still struggle with boldness.  It is still a challenge talking with people I don't know, but I can do it without too much struggle most days.  I am singing on stage at church in our worship team.  It's hard to keep my thoughts on God and singing to an audience of One, but I keep trying.  And I have A LOT of great friends.

AND...He's not done with me yet!  He has been giving me 'new songs' to write words and music for.  He's been challenging me to share them in small ways.  Now I think He wants me to get brave enough to finish one to share at church.  It's hard work, but I love it.  I love how all the songs He and I have written speak out my life and heart intertwined with His and how deeply they minister to and teach me every time I sing them.  They are a great reminder of my progress: spiritual, social, musical.  And I think all Christians are on a journey that encourages others when shared.

I am blessed to be a daughter of the King of Kings, a sister to the Lord of Lords, and a companion to the Holy Spirit.  I am blessed that He laid down His life so I could be set free.  Set free from hell.  Set free from sin.  Set free from spiritual strongholds, like fear.

Jesus is my life, my Lord, and my best friend.  I love Him more than I will ever be able to express in words, spoken or sung.