- Dec 15, 2021
- 1
- 4
- 48
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Calvary Chapel
- Marital Status
- Married
Hi everyone!
This is my first time to join a Christian forum.
I grew up in Philippines, in a Christian family and been active in church ministries since I was little. Just saying these for context, not that I am boasting about it, because I can only boast on God, really.
I moved to US for work in 2007 and was so much into my new work, and the new culture and being away from my family for the first time was a great challenge. I've always been sheltered, if you know the family culture in Philippines and you were in raised up in Christian family you will probably get what I mean by being sheltered. I didn't know any domestic work, as I was raised to be a career woman, and all my life in Philippines was spent with studies, ministry, and office work.
My job here in the US prevented me from being rooted in one church, as I kept traveling for work. And if there was a church that I get to stay for while, it was one of those mega churches that preaches, what I would consider prosperity gospel (as I understand now) but then I just sensed that it's a different kind of church as what I'm used to in Philippines. Not something I would really like to be part of, but enough for me to go to Sunday service to, so I could say to my family who are abroad that I go to church. But really my bible study has declined, and over time my prayer life has declined as well, due to wrong understanding of Bible. I didn't realized until this year that I've actually have rebelled against God during that time. I sought ungodly relationships with men - though God's grace has protected me sexually - until I met my now husband, whom I had premarital sex with. I have repented so I thought I was not really rebelling. But the lack of Bible study, the lack of prayer, is what has left me dead spiritually.
While in my rebellion, by God's mercy I was still blessed with a wonderful family. My husband and I got married in 2013 and we are blessed with a 7-year old and a 4-year old boys. My husband is a very good, kind, generous and responsible man and a great father. I am so very blessed to have him. He professes he's a Christian, otherwise I would have mistaken him to an atheist because of his indifference about God, about the Bible, about church, about faith in general.
After having kids we have decided that I stop working and be a stay-at-home mom. I enjoyed the time raising my kids myself and being a homemaker that eventually I decided to be a homeschooler and continue being a stay-at-home mom. I love everything about it, how I can make healthy food for my family, how I can be in control of what my children learns, especially in these days that the school system forces things to kids, teaching them things that are not biblical, teaching them that "goodness" and "truth" can be subjective.
All throughout our marriage I have been longing to belong to a church again, with a family of believers that I could grow with, as I was raised in a church environment. But my husband's heart was not in it and I didn't want to go to church by myself. I felt that we would grow more apart if I go without him.
Until this year (2021) when my kids were 6 and 3 - I decided to start teaching them the Bible. I wanted my children to grow up in the knowledge of God. If they can't grow up in a church setting, I thought, at least, I could teach them God's word at home. Teaching bible lessons to my children brought back my passion for God's word and learn more about it. I learned there was a church about 20 minutes drive from our house that has a School of Ministry, where they teach in depth study about God, the Bible, worldviews, etc. I have always the heart about God's truths and so I decided to finally just pursue again my intimacy with God, and will take my kids to church regardless if my husband goes with us or not. I took some of the fall courses. And after hearing the preaching from this church- which was biblical teaching - led me to change church. Learning from the School of Ministry courses has tremendously and completely brought me back to God.
I am humbled by God's love and forgiveness toward me. As Romans 5:20 says, "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." All glory to Him.
Thank you for reading this far. And if you will, I would like to ask for your prayers for my husband that God would open his spiritual perception and come into true relationship with God.
This is my first time to join a Christian forum.
I grew up in Philippines, in a Christian family and been active in church ministries since I was little. Just saying these for context, not that I am boasting about it, because I can only boast on God, really.
I moved to US for work in 2007 and was so much into my new work, and the new culture and being away from my family for the first time was a great challenge. I've always been sheltered, if you know the family culture in Philippines and you were in raised up in Christian family you will probably get what I mean by being sheltered. I didn't know any domestic work, as I was raised to be a career woman, and all my life in Philippines was spent with studies, ministry, and office work.
My job here in the US prevented me from being rooted in one church, as I kept traveling for work. And if there was a church that I get to stay for while, it was one of those mega churches that preaches, what I would consider prosperity gospel (as I understand now) but then I just sensed that it's a different kind of church as what I'm used to in Philippines. Not something I would really like to be part of, but enough for me to go to Sunday service to, so I could say to my family who are abroad that I go to church. But really my bible study has declined, and over time my prayer life has declined as well, due to wrong understanding of Bible. I didn't realized until this year that I've actually have rebelled against God during that time. I sought ungodly relationships with men - though God's grace has protected me sexually - until I met my now husband, whom I had premarital sex with. I have repented so I thought I was not really rebelling. But the lack of Bible study, the lack of prayer, is what has left me dead spiritually.
While in my rebellion, by God's mercy I was still blessed with a wonderful family. My husband and I got married in 2013 and we are blessed with a 7-year old and a 4-year old boys. My husband is a very good, kind, generous and responsible man and a great father. I am so very blessed to have him. He professes he's a Christian, otherwise I would have mistaken him to an atheist because of his indifference about God, about the Bible, about church, about faith in general.
After having kids we have decided that I stop working and be a stay-at-home mom. I enjoyed the time raising my kids myself and being a homemaker that eventually I decided to be a homeschooler and continue being a stay-at-home mom. I love everything about it, how I can make healthy food for my family, how I can be in control of what my children learns, especially in these days that the school system forces things to kids, teaching them things that are not biblical, teaching them that "goodness" and "truth" can be subjective.
All throughout our marriage I have been longing to belong to a church again, with a family of believers that I could grow with, as I was raised in a church environment. But my husband's heart was not in it and I didn't want to go to church by myself. I felt that we would grow more apart if I go without him.
Until this year (2021) when my kids were 6 and 3 - I decided to start teaching them the Bible. I wanted my children to grow up in the knowledge of God. If they can't grow up in a church setting, I thought, at least, I could teach them God's word at home. Teaching bible lessons to my children brought back my passion for God's word and learn more about it. I learned there was a church about 20 minutes drive from our house that has a School of Ministry, where they teach in depth study about God, the Bible, worldviews, etc. I have always the heart about God's truths and so I decided to finally just pursue again my intimacy with God, and will take my kids to church regardless if my husband goes with us or not. I took some of the fall courses. And after hearing the preaching from this church- which was biblical teaching - led me to change church. Learning from the School of Ministry courses has tremendously and completely brought me back to God.
I am humbled by God's love and forgiveness toward me. As Romans 5:20 says, "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." All glory to Him.
Thank you for reading this far. And if you will, I would like to ask for your prayers for my husband that God would open his spiritual perception and come into true relationship with God.
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