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When I walked into the service on Easter Sunday morning 2001 I had already experienced the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Just two weeks earlier I had been hospitalized, in a coma, while the doctors told my family I would not live. My sister, who is a member of DSC, and her friend went to the hospital where they anointed me with oil and prayed for me. My body responded immediately to the power of prayer. The following day, when I was fully awake, I told my sister that my family and I would be in church with her for Easter. As we all experienced the service that day, my husband and I sensed that God was doing something special. Then when Pastor Brad gave the altar call, we watched as our daughter went forward to receive Jesus as her personal Savior. We knew right then that Desert Springs Church was the place where God wanted our family to be. We had just come to the end of a long and difficult journey. Several years earlier, while living in a different state, my husband and I sustained injuries that made it impossible for either of us to work for a period of time. As a result, we lost our home and everything we’d owned. I had grown so angry and depressed over the situation. I describe that time in my life as, “living in a long, dark, tunnel of depression.” My husband and I decided to move back to Chandler to be closer to family. It was important to us to be connected to a local church and once we knew DSC was where God wanted us, I began to seek Him about where I could serve. I just remember thinking, “God has done so much for me; I want to give something back.” When I got involved I not only was giving of myself but I was blessed by being a part of the team. God just stripped away layer after layer of problems in my life. I have learned that serving God is a lifestyle, and serving in the house of God is the best place to be. I’ve also taken to heart that there is power in my words – life and death kind of power. It’s my responsibility to choose life, to speak life. I recognize that there are still more victories to be won. But I know that Jesus Christ is the source of light at the end of every tunnel, that God is with me each step of the way and that I now belong to a spiritual family. Word count – 434 |