Sharon's Story "My life was an absolute mess before the Lord found me. Physically, financially, emotionally, spiritually--I was bankrupt." Before the Lord Jesus saved me in 2001, my life was an absolute mess, and that's not just a manner of speaking either. Physically, financially, emotionally, spiritually-I was bankrupt. My physical and financial situations affected each other, and both pulled on me emotionally. I hadn't been able to hold down a regular job for many years due to a number of physical and mental setbacks. I suffered with bad knees (both of them were fully replaced in one year's time), back problems, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative joint disease, among other things. I woke up one morning to find myself partially paralyzed, and ten days later I went blind in one eye. The symptoms were diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis. Little did I know it would be 4 months before I'd walk again. Emotionally, I was deeply depressed over all this. I was diagnosed with severe depression, which all by itself was severely depressing. I became addicted to Vicodin, one of the many ingredients in my daily cocktail of medicines. To top it all off, I was sharing an apartment with an old boyfriend. When he brought another woman in to live with him, I was devastated. I thought that there was still hope for us and that we still loved each other! I wondered how he could he do this to me. Spiritually, I was totally lost. I was involved with the Catholic church in my 20's, but I hadn't been a part of church for decades. Even back then, I couldn't say that I had a real, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Now in my 50's, I realized that everything was spinning out of control. I was so distraught and devastated emotionally that I started looking for a church to go to for comfort and prayer. I believed in God in a general sense, but I couldn't understand how God could allow all these terrible things to be happening to me. The church where I now attend, Buena Park Bible Church, was directly across the street from my apartment, but I was turned off by the name "Bible Church." I assumed it was for Bible thumpers, and I didn't want to be a part of that. Instead, I went to another neighborhood church. Unfortunately, no one showed up for the scheduled service-not even the pastor. After 20 minutes of waiting, I turned out the lights and ceiling fans (which I had turned on) and left. I guess that was a test of my desire to find the Lord, because I ended up visiting BPBC the next week. The first BPBC service I went to was a midweek prayer meeting. I walked in wearing white leather pants, and a jeweled short sweater. My face and hair were all made up like I was going on a date. Little did I know I was meeting the Lord for the first time. I met Pastor Scott immediately. I couldn't believe his kindness and interest in my plight. He wasn't "pushy" at all, as I had previously feared. People started showing up for worship and started introducing themselves to me. I wasn't used to open confession and public, spoken prayer, but I confessed and prayed. There I sat crying, telling the congregation about my life story of sex, drugs, drinking, physical abuse, mental illness and severe depression. Here I was crying my eyes out to the Lord in front of everyone. I was so grief stricken. After the service was over, people came and comforted me. I had this feeling of unconditional love from everyone. This kept me coming back, and I felt certain that the Lord led me there. After attending a few times, someone counseled with me how I could experience the salvation from sin that God offers. I repented of my sins and cried out to Jesus Christ to deliver me from them and from the eternal punishment that I deserved. I felt this new sense of confidence in my relationship with God that I had never known before. It was like being born a second time. Everything felt so new. Six weeks later I was baptized during a Sunday morning service, and I shared my testimony with the whole congregation. That was one of the highlights of my life. Of course, a lot of my problems continued. I was still distraught over my living situation and emotionally torn in many different directions. I needed a new place to live, and to do that I needed more income. The small amount I received from disability just wasn't enough. The church started praying and praying and praying for God to provide for me a job, a new home, and more growth in the Lord. I counseled with Pastor Scott several times a week for a few months about how to respond to all the situations I was in. Slowly but surely, things began to change. And I was changing, too. A part-time job opened up-a position that had the flexibility I needed to accommodate my infirmities. Initially it was just a substitute position, but after several months it became permanent. I couldn't believe how God was providing. I certainly wasn't getting rich, but it paid enough to get me by. The church helped me move into my own studio apartment. I was overwhelmed with thanks, love and joy! What a faithful Lord He is. When my boss informed me that my job required I have a car, I was devastated. I hadn't driven in years, and there was no way I could afford a car. But people at the church put there heads together and helped me get something to putt around in-another amazing turn of events! The Lord was busy doing other things for me, too. The doctors tell me that there is no longer any trace of my M.S.. I didn't experience healing in a miraculous moment, but I don't doubt that God's hand was in it. I don't want you to think that my life is a bed of roses. I still struggle with many things. My finances are really tight, my health is still up and down, and I still struggle with my emotions. But I have a confidence in the Lord that I've never had before. God has proven Himself to be faithful over and over again. I still have a lot to learn, but God is a great Teacher. The fellowship of my brothers and sisters in the Lord is a big help, and the regular diet of in-depth Bible teaching at BPBC helps me grow in my understanding of God's will for my life. I am so thankful to God for His grace to me. Jesus Christ has made a world of difference in my life, and I know it's an eternal difference, too.