Sandy's Testimony of TWO Birthdays - Spiritual Transformation

faith personal development Jun 13, 2022

MY TESTIMONY for my BIRTHDAY:, I’ve got 2 birthdays: 1. “Normal” birth, 2. “Spiritual” birth

Yep! Born 2X?!

When the END was the BEGINNING

In 1978, my brother, Keith, gave me a book to read. It was a small 5x8” book with the title: “END TIMES” by Chuck Smith.  It was a book that simply went through prophecies in the Bible and demonstrated its relevance to the current day in which I was living.  It was the beginning of seeing my faith differently.  What was dull and uneventful, began to find light and clarity - and power!  This is when the “END” was the “BEGINNING” of a new life for me.  This was the beginning of my spiritual transformation, and the process continues to today, and will continue...to eternity.

BEFORE the beginning of this Transformation

I grew up attending the WLA United Methodist Church, went to Sunday School from as far as I can remember, then continued until I was a young teen, then only attended occasionally and visited other churches, like the Baptist church when my twin friends: Laurie and Leslie Wan, took me with them to Youth night.  I still remember how much fun those youth nights were!  They knew how to create engaging events with games and other activities, while teaching us from the Bible.  These were definitely “memorable events”!  These positive experiences surely contributed to a favorable impression of Christianity.

However, I still didn’t “get it”.  

The church I grew up in, WLA United Methodist, was kind and taught us about God’s love for us, and mentioned the trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, but there wasn’t a point of transformation - there wasn’t a point of making a decision - it was like you were ok because everyone was ok.  And now that I think back on my experience there, they didn’t teach us how to read the Bible, and I’m not sure if any of the leadership there even knew how to read the Bible.  Reading material was pre-printed and we sang from a song book, a hymnal. 

On one Sunday, we had visitors teach our class - it was a man and woman.  They were the very first teachers who spoke about prophecy at that church and actually showed us the relevance of what was written in the Bible to our life here and now.  Although it wasn’t clear to me at that time - I believe this was the beginning of preparing me to receive the Truth that was coming to me - and ultimately lead me to being open and receptive when I first read the book “End Times” to pursue the Truth further.  

However, I still didn’t “get it”. 

When I was 20 years old,  I worked at the District Attorney’s office in Santa Barbara, Child Support Division no less (boy can I tell you stories!), I met Kathy.  Kathy was a seasoned officer in the department and I was just a young college girl whose job was making daily deliveries to the Santa Barbara Courthouse, and other office assistant type tasks. Somehow we had a conversation and I shared the “End Times” book with Kathy. Next thing I know, she found a Bible study and invited me to go with her (this was new to her too).  We met at the home of the Bible study leaders, they were a married couple with lots of children, and their whole family traveled on a bus and sang as their mission.  I don’t remember their names, but God knows.  This was the first time we were taught about the power of God’s Word, the Bible.  This couple had the Book memorized!  I wish I could do the same - but I’m not wired that way - I need notes and lots of repetition and refreshment, memos, sticky notes…

This couple worked with Kathy and I for months.  We kept going to their Bible studies in the evening, and saw each other at work during the day.  THEN, one evening they took us to their Men’s Christian Business meeting, and apparently, they came to a point of invitation, and both Kathy and I received Jesus’ free gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit entered in each of us and we started speaking in tongues! What?!   I know, weird, eh?  But that’s the truth, and that’s what happened over 40 years ago.

 

Lessons Learned

What I’ve learned in my spiritual transformational journey, is that like a growing plant, there are essential elements for health and fruitfulness. Growth takes intentional effort, and exercise.

Essentials for spiritual growth:

#1 Receive Jesus into your heart - truly receive Him, and begin building your relationship with Him. How? Start talking to him!  Begin opening up and just start reading the Bible. 

Tip: The Bible is spiritually discerned, so you’ll need the Holy Spirit to help you understand it.  He is in you, start asking questions, you’ll begin to KNOW and follow his lead.  Reach out to others who can help you.

#2 Prayer (your conversation with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit)

#3 The Holy Spirit is working within you, guiding you, giving you those love nudges

#4 RESPOND to the promptings. 

#5 PUT YOUR FAITH INTO ACTION.

Activity enables you to develop your spiritual muscle and strength.  Be intentional: review your values and goals, and use planning tools to achieve them.

#6 Reach Out to others.  Avoid isolation.  We are created for community,  the Body of Christ, for example.   Find other Believers that can encourage you and you can encourage them.  You’re part of the whole Body’s functionality, so connect, interact, and put love into action. 

#7 CELEBRATE!  God loves to see you laugh and enjoy life and share with others.

If you’re familiar with the DISC model of human behavior, you’ll know what I mean when I say that I have an “S” type personality, and my style is reserved and slower-paced - and that’s kinda how I’ve grown spiritually.  Slow and steady.  My faith roots are deep. I will not be shaken.  God is faithful and my trust is in Him completely. Selah! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!  

I’ve been blessed with the love of my life since the day Gino and I met in Santa Barbara at the youthful age of 21, blessed with two beautiful talented creative entrepreneurial daughters, wonderful son-in-law, and an amazing and entertaining grandson.   I’m the product of very loving supportive parents and a steadfast protective brother.  I love all our furry and feathery family members too! and we have had many of them.   I live fearlessly in the love of God, through Whom all blessings flow….  this world may pass away, but His love and Word lives on forever.

So, here I am, celebrating my BirthdayS, I've got two of them! and that’s the Truth!

 

A Lone Ranger Stranger

When I engaged in Bible studies and women's groups at church, I was encouraged and my faith strengthened. However, I was a business woman, a woman whose mind is constantly thinking about new ideas and new opportunities, and new creative developments - and I didn't find other women who understood this drive I had within me. 

Was something wrong with me? 

What's wrong with them? Why can't they understand the excitement of networking and creating a community with collaboration and intentional productivity?

Now that I'm "older" or may we say "seasoned", the Lord has been nudging me to share from what He has provided to me in my desert days, and share from the abundance He has blessed me with as I took baby steps forward in each opportunity for growth that I seized.

My Secret Project

As a solopreneur, MOM-preneur, entrepreneur, and business owner, I went through many years feeling spiritually dry, parched and thirsty for living water - but couldn't seem to find the time or resources or strength to get off the hamster wheel of urgencies and action items to meet due dates and obligations.  I fought being sucked into the pit of overwhelm.   It felt like a perpetual struggle to breathe. 

Do you ever feel like that?

One of the remedies I created for myself was a private facebook page, where I posted scriptures that brought me encouragement and strength.  I used this page to be a place I could drop in at any time and be reminded of God’s faithfulness.  I documented highpoints to come back to during the dips.  I posted His promises to me as His daughter and the scriptures that applied to the issues I faced as a business professional. I didn’t have any Christian sisters to relate to - so I used this avenue as a resource I could go to on the fly and be spiritually encouraged and refreshed. 

Last year, God brought me into a whole new world of Christian coaches and entrepreneurs: The Kingdom Builders Academy.  The founder, Tamara Lowe, is one of the world's most successful speakers and consultants to over 4,000,000 people in 75 countries, mentored by Billy Graham, she has also worked face-to-face with six United States Presidents and numerous heads of state including British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and with countless celebrities, athletes and newsmakers including Colin Powell, Joe Montana, George Foreman, Michael Phelps, Billy Graham, and Mother Teresa.

God has been working through Tamara to empower Christian leaders to become global influencers who shape the culture for Christ.

For the last year, I’ve been fully immersed in the Kingdom Builders program and a member of her Inner Circle.  I have received priceless training from the best spirit-filled Christian business coaches.  My network of Christian professionals has grown exponentially and continues to grow and grow. 

God has been equipping me to serve You.  

I have been creating a variety of life refreshing productivity-raising programs that integrates your FAITH with BUSINESS and encompasses ALL of You: 

  • Your Unique Personality
  • Your Renewed Mind
  • Your Body: Activity/Community
  • Your Growth: Personally and Professionally
  • Your Celebrations: Memorable Connections 

You will benefit through the programs as you

  • Discover the unique YOU that God designed with a forever purpose
  • Identify Your spiritual gifts and learn how to use them
  • Renew your Mind with Hope and God's promises 

Would such a transformational program interest you?

If so, please hop on a 1-on-1 Strategy Call with me to review where you are now, where you'd like to be in 5-10 years, and how you're going to get there!

Click Here to pick a date.

Prayers are Welcome!  I so appreciate you!

In His Love and Grace,

~ Sandy

 

Dear Sister in Christ, here's my prayer for you:

"I kneel before the Father, from whom every family  in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith.

And I pray that YOU, being rooted and established in LOVE, may have POWER, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for YOU, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power that is at work within us, that is,
His power that is at work within YOU!  

~ Amen!  

(from Ephesians 3:14-20, NIV)