AS STATED EARLIER, I GAVE MY LIFE TO  JESUS AT THE AGE OF 8.  MY FAMILY WORSHIPED IN A SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH THAT HAD A GIRL'S GROUP CALLED GA'S (GIRLS AXILLARY). STARTING AT AGE 5 I BEGAN TO LEARN SCRIPTURE IN A CHRISTIAN KINDER-GARDEN PROGRAM AND ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE YEARLY VBS(VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL).

THE FIRST VERSE I REMEMBER WAS " COME TO ME WITH CHILD LIKE FAITH."  THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I'VE USUALLY LOOKED AT GOD, MY HEAVENLY FATHER, "THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD."

THE SECOND VERSE I LEARNED TO SITE IN FRONT OF THE CONGREGATION FOR MY CARNATION CEREMONY WAS JOHN 3:16, "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH AND HAVE EVER LASTING LIFE."

BUT MY THIRD VERSE BECAME MY FAVORITE WHICH I OFTEN REFER TO AS MY"IN THE TRENCH" VERSE. JEREMIAH 29:11-12,"FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU DECLARES THE LORD, PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU. PLANS TO GIVE YOU A HOPE AND A FUTURE. THEN YOU WILL CALL UPON ME AND COME AND PRAY TO ME, AND I WILL LISTEN TOYOU.

I HAVE FOUND THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS MEDICINE TO MY SOUL AND IT HAS HEALING POWER FOR MY LIFE, IF I FEED ON IT.  HIS WORD RENEWS MY MIND TO THINK RIGHT AND TALK RIGHT AND TO MAKE RIGHT CHOICES; AND IF YOU GIVE UP, THERE IS NOT MUCH GOD CAN DO. NEVER GIVE UP. WITH GOD YOU CAN FIND PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM.GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS WORD AND HIS WORD IS TRUTH.