Michelle’s Testimony

NOTE: This page was created May 1999 and last updated 7/17/10.

My name is Michelle. I am a child of God, a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, a wife to my husband, Steve, a mother to our son, Niko (13), our daughter, Mia (9), our son, Luke (7), and our son, Ian (5), and a keeper at home.

Jesus first saved me in February 1998. So far during my walk with the Lord, God has called me to mother, homeschool, and even share my testimony. When I was a college student, I used to think "Is this it? Is this what life is all about: you go to school, then you work, then you die?" Actually, I found out that yes all of that was true, but I didn't realize that when you "die" you would be set free. What I mean is that when I fully understood God's grace and love for me ( John 3:16), I was given a new life with Jesus.

God gave me the wisdom to understand that if a mother loves her child no matter what, she will know what it is like to be Jesus.

After the birth of my son, Niko, in August 1996, like many new mothers, I had to deal with the susceptibility of postpartum depression. Unaware of my past depression tendencies as a child and young adult, which I later realized through much soul searching, my depression did not fully surface until November 1997. A combination of postpartum depression and extended family stresses had pushed me over the edge. I had taken a turn for the worse.

My entire foundation had been rocked, and I began to question my faith. I couldn't believe that God would allow me to suffer so much; after all, I was a practicing Catholic and I went to mass/church every Sunday. As I grew further from God, I literally wanted to die. Life was too hard to bear. I couldn't understand how I could feel this way since I had a loving husband and beautiful son.

One day my husband and I were at a bookstore, where I felt drawn ("called") to this book entitled "What Every Child Needs." It was a parenting book that talked about God. I couldn't understand why I would be interested in this book since I was at the point of rejecting God. With my husband's encouragement, I bought the book. As I read the book, I slowly began to believe in God again.

By the end of January 1998, I was still weak in spirit. During a Super Bowl party, I talked to a family friend, a Christian woman, about my situation. I told her that something was wrong and that I felt weak. She looked at me and said that she was happy for me because God was knocking on my door. After hearing her words, I began to cry because I believed her or maybe I wanted so badly to believe her. Yet, I still didn't understand. I was so confused.

My depression worsened, and I was diagnosed with severe depression early February of 1998. My world had fallen apart. I felt like damaged goods. Then, early morning on Friday, February 27, 1998 something awesome happened to me. While reading a book called "What Every Mom Needs" in the middle of the night, I was on my knees with my head bowed down and I was crying. Although I didn't know what happened to me at that time, it was at that moment that Jesus first saved me and I was born again. Through God's Word and websites of fellow born again believers on the internet, God helped me understand what "born again" meant. I actually felt the power of the Holy Spirit fill me from head to toe. I had found my way back to God. "I once was lost but now am found!"

Looking back, I realized that my husband had been so supportive during this traumatic time. In fact, he loved me and accepted me during a time when I couldn't even love myself. By God's grace, He worked through my husband, who I felt was not as "religious" as me. I began to see what a hypocrite I was in terms of my faith in religion (I used to practice the Catholic religion), but now I no longer needed religion since I had been given a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. By being born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, I can now come to my Heavenly Father through His Son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

Today, I would like you to receive the most important gift that you have ever received. Click on the package below to open your gift.

Ephesians 2:8-9

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."