From all the tears that built up in my eyes and poured down my face, I wasn’t sure that any of these images would be in focus! Today was an incredible day for my sweet nephew, Taylor, and for our family, too. Today he showed the world that he has committed his life to Christ Jesus! Today we watched God answer our prayers!!
Nathan, our pastor, read Taylor’s testimony. Taylor laid it all down! He poured out his heart. . .
“What’s up everyone? My name is Taylor Robbins and I’m going public with my belief in the one true God today. Although my story isn’t pretty, it’s proof that God can save you no matter what. So, I grew up in church and I’d been baptized before when I was younger but didn’t really understand what it meant and never really had a relationship with Him. I stopped believing because someone that I was close to and that was teaching me about him passed away abruptly and then when my great grandfather passed it felt like that was the nail in the casket for my relationship with God. But it’s crazy how he works and brings you back to Him. You see after I stopped believing I was living a life full of sex, drugs, and alcohol. Basically just partying all the time looking for something to fill the void in my heart. But thanks to my family who I feel like have been praying for me for a long time, I found my way back to the light. I got invited to church one day by my little cousin and I made just about every excuse not to go but I woke up the next morning and I couldn’t fall back asleep so I was like ok I’ll go for her. I went and it felt like God was speaking right threw Nathan straight to me! It was everything I needed to hear and I could feel Him tugging on my heart. After that I went to Roots (college ministry) twice and after the second time me and Dillon had a very long talk outside. I asked Jesus to come into my heart and be apart of my life again. So I just want to say thank you to my family for not giving up hope and helping me find my way back. I was lost and now I’m found.”
We have been prayer warriors for my nephew for many, many years. We have watched him live a life of sin and we have watched him lose his faith in Jesus. A few months ago, when Taylor showed up at our home with a pillow, a blanket, his book bag and his xbox, we had no idea what to expect. Except, I could hear God telling us we needed to let him stay with us. We had no plan. We had no idea how long he would sleep on our couch. We just knew this was the right thing. This is what God needed us to do for Taylor.
By the way, this wasn’t easy for me. I pushed back against God. Even though He made it so clear to me what we needed to do, I was having a hard time with accepting it. We are living in a very small rental home as a family of five with three dogs and two cats, on a very tight budget as we are trying to restore our new home (the Broken House). How in the world could be take on another person? GOD!! That is how! God put me at ease! He provided Taylor a job with our company and God provided His income too!!
God put Taylor back in our lives and has worked through our family! He has restored our hearts and his too and given us an even stronger faith and our relationship with our Father has never been stronger. Through our surrender to Him, He has worked miracles!!
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
- Psalm 23:1
I had so much anxiety right before church today. Anxiety about whether or not my nephew knew what he was committing to today in front of our family and church. Anxiety about how we will be able to afford to finish the restoration of our home. Anxiety about how much longer we will have before we get to move in. Will we make it in our home before Thanksgiving, before I host my Christmas mini sessions? How will we afford this and that????? I was just SO anxious this morning! And then, during service, God was speaking so clearly through Nathan! He said,
“If I’m in want, then the LORD is NOT my shepherd.”
As soon as he said those words, I felt all of the anxiety leave me! Satan was attacking me and God made me aware of it. And, because I was aware, I immediately prayed. . .
“Father, please forgive me for putting things before You. You are my Shepherd! I delight in You and find peace and fulfillment in Your love. Please don’t let me be shepherded by Your blessings but instead let me be shepherded by You, Jesus. Make me aware of what I am idolizing and teach me how to pray so that I can push Satan back to hell through You, Jesus! In your name, Amen.”
Who is your shepherd?
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk though the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:1-6
