TESTIMONY

Before introducing myself, I want to share my Best Friend, Jesus, with the reader. Whenever you have the opportunity to read one of my books, you will quickly find that my main character is usually on a quest of faith. That faith is based on my firm belief in Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. I‘ve held this belief since I was just a child.

I thank my mother, father and grandparents for nurturing in me the desire to be a Christian. My parents ensured that all eight of their children, of whom I was the classic middle child, attended church services regularly. We not only attended the Divine Service on Sunday morning, we stayed for Sunday school, afterwards, while the elder family members enjoyed coffee and cake without the children. Once we neared the age of decision-making, we also attended weekly catechism classes to teach us the Calvinistic doctrines on which our church was based. In the summer, we went to Daily Vacation Bible School until we were old enough to either assist with teaching a class or work a summer job to earn money for school clothes and supplies.

However, it wasn’t the externals of church attendance and rituals that made the difference in my life. It was the daily mealtime prayers and the Bible reading at dinnertime. It was hearing Mom sing along with the Christian Radio Station while working in the kitchen and enjoying family celebrations of various religious holidays, even when there was more month left than money. Mom and Dad did all they could to raise us right. They sacrificed to send the five oldest children to church school until the cost became prohibitive, and they were forced to make the difficult decision moving us to public schools. Early on I realized that even if my parents weren’t perfect, they did the best they could with the tools they had, and I admired them for that. I wanted to be good for them; I wanted to do the right things, thus my desire to follow Jesus.

I don’t know when I first came to believe in Jesus; I just know that I invited Him to be Lord of my life at the tender age of 10 years old. I wanted to be a ‘good’ girl and believed that Jesus would help me be good. I had no understanding of a personal relationship with Jesus and did not learn about the importance of that until well into adulthood. I was baptized into that relationship in 1981 in England and immersed myself into my church family. They were my support and encouragement and taught me how to grow in knowledge and understanding of my faith. I also learned that I could depend on Jesus, not to make me good, but to lead me only if I willingly gave up control.

As my constant Companion, Jesus held my hand through the roughest patches of my marriage, lifted me up when the despair of depression and sorrow nearly carried me into the abyss, and walked beside me when I was lonely and isolated. I’d like to encourage you to search the scriptures and discover Him for yourself. However, to aid in your discovery process, I would like to share my favorite verses in Bible study format:

  • Romans 3:23
  • Romans 7:14, 18
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:23
  • Romans 3:10-19
  • Romans 7:15
  • Matthew 1:21
  • Matthew 1:23
  • John 1:14
  • John 1:12, 13
  • Epphesians 1:17, 18
  • Colosians 1:27
  • Romans 8:14
  • John 16:13, 14
  • John 3:16

If you do not own a Bible, I would gladly provide one.
Just contact me at info@jeannebrooks.com

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