• Home
    • Easter Reading Schedule
    • Protocols
    • Ways to Give
  • Prayer Corner
    • Share a Request
    • Memorial Tribute >
      • Edna Kirby
      • Norman Hunter
      • Dennis Brommeland
      • Norris Thompson
      • Irv Wood
      • Ann Vander Kooi
      • Jack Demorest
      • Yde Vander Kooi
      • Ainsley Rose Wollf
      • Dick Mayer
      • David Rusnell
      • Bob McKay
      • Guy Deschatelets
      • Chloe Kroeger
      • Ida Barisoff
      • Gerard Zandee
      • Nick Dikur
  • About Valley
    • Annual Reports >
      • 2020 Annual Report
      • 2019 Annual Report
      • 2018 Annual Report
      • 2017 Annual Report
      • 2016 Annual Report
      • 2015 Annual Report
    • Who We Are
    • What We Believe
    • How We Are Governed >
      • Constitution & Bylaws
    • Where We Are Going
  • Ministries
    • Leadership Team >
      • Nomination Committee
      • Benevolent Ministry
    • Finance and Property >
      • 2020 Budget
      • Current Quarterly Report
      • Guidelines for Use of Building
    • Missions >
      • Missions Guidelines
      • Valley Missions Newsletter
    • Caring and Connecting
    • Christian Education >
      • Library
    • Worship >
      • Heritage House
  • What's Happening
    • Bulletin
    • Links
  • Photos
    • 30th Anniversary
    • Annual Celebration >
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
    • 25th Anniversary
    • Follow the Duck 2014
    • Follow the Crown 2013
    • Mexico 2013
    • "The Bridge"
    • 20th Anniversary
  • Messages
    • Archived Messages 2021
    • Archived Messages 2020
    • Archived Messages 2019
    • Archived Messages 2018
    • Archived Messages 2017
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Directory >
      • Membership List
      • How To Become A Member
      • Guidelines for Responsible Members
VALLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Journey Back Home by Joy Harman

7/2/2016

3 Comments

 
At the age of 40 I began my journey back to the Father. It was a long journey as I had left my relationship with Jesus about the age of twelve to pursue my goal of popularity and acceptance by my peers. Clothes, hair length, dancing, dates, shows, etc. beckoned me with an allure I couldn't resist. I slowly slipped away recognizing I just was too weak and selfish to die to self and live for Christ. I decided I would walk away from the church and just be a "good person."

Twenty-eight years later I came to the end of myself. I wasn't good, for no man is good. I felt desperate for my life was falling apart. I had reached the apex of my career, education degree and acting principal at my school but my marriage was falling apart, Divorce loomed on the horizon and that was something I just couldn't face. I was attending a self -help group that told us we should pray to the God of our understanding. I would cry out, "But God, I Don't understand you!' I had a friend who prayed me into the kingdom. No matter what excuse or protest I used she would counter with love and grace. When I told her I couldn't be a Christian because I couldn't even quit smoking she would just laugh and say, when we get to Heaven Jesus will just call out, “Smokers over here!”

Actually I felt like an Essau who had sold his birthright for a bowl of stew only I had rejected my salvation in the pursuit of pleasure. My guilt separated me from peace with God and I wondered if I could be forgiven for despising the precious gift of life. I had no excuse for I knew the truth and had rejected his love. The journey back took about a year of seeking, praying, reading and relearning the love and grace of God through friends who lived out their faith before me.

Finally on Easter morning at 2:00 a.m. in 1980 I surrendered myself to the Father. I was empty of self, no answers or solutions and I was right where God wanted so He could begin my restoration. “I can’t be a Christian but if you want me anyway I’m yours!” You’ve heard the expression Heaven came down and glory filled my soul…I experienced the awesome presence of Almighty God that changed me in an instant to a totally forgiven, rejuvenated child of the King.
 
I was loved, accepted and made new without any requirement put on me to change or do. I couldn’t be a Christian but by God’s Grace I was!

When I became aware of my surroundings again I looked across the room where Ken was reading a book, totally unaware of the earth-shaking happening that I had just experienced. I looked at my soon-to-be-divorced husband and with child-like honesty I asked God, “What do I do with that thing in my life?”
The answer came with startling clarity. The light was shining over Ken’s shoulder and the side in the light was all the things that I loved and had attracted me; I was to thank God for them. The side of him in the darkness, those things I hated and feared where none of my business…let God deal with it. Yes! I could do that. The simplicity of being thankful or conversely reminding myself it was none of my business, if I would obey God in this He would heal my marriage!

Thus I received my first promise from God which He faithfully carried out in response to my obedience of thanking him or giving the moment over to him. It’s been 36 years since that experience and our marriage is rich in love. We owe it all to Him who receives us in our weakness where His strength is made perfect. I discovered that my relationship was not a matter of keeping to the rules and regulations that man requires but was walking in obedience and in step with the King of Kings. That early Easter morning I knelt down by Ken and asked forgiveness for the times I had wounded him and assured him that all things were changing I just didn’t know how.  

3 Comments
Ruth Moran link
7/2/2016 11:40:46 pm

Thank you Joy, for your live in Christ, and sharing it with us.I can relate to much of your story...the darkness and the light
Ruth

Reply
Melba
7/6/2016 07:19:12 pm

Thank you for sharing your story Joy. God's grace is amazing!

Reply
Susan Sipe
7/7/2016 09:47:23 pm

Thank you Joy for bearing your story it has encouraged me tonight.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Ken Clarke has been the Pastor at Valley since 2007. He lives in the Oliver area 
    with his wife Janice ; they have three adult children, Lisa, Scott & Tiffany (Riley) and Andrea & Jason.

    Categories

    All
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church
    Creation
    Easter
    Finishing Well
    Leadership
    Mexico
    Most Viewed
    Nature Of God
    Our Stories
    Parenting
    Prayer
    Relationships
    Worship

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

4312 Black Sage Road Box 1235 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 250-498-4829 valleyccc@hotmail.com