Crafted by God....and gratefully received by Trish, and joyfully shared...

The year was 2000 – and I, believe it or not, was an almost brand-new Christian. I had accepted Jesus as my personal Savior – and finally had seen myself as I really was without Him – a rather shocking revelation, since I had had “religion” as part of my life since childhood.

So I was late to join the family – but on, so grateful to be a part of it! I wandered about for a while, as the minister who had brought me to that first meeting with Jesus had moved on, and I no longer had a support system to help my efforts to live my new life.

Then, in April of that year, I felt led to go back to a church I had once gone to – years before – but one that my then-husband did not care for. Now....here I was, divorced, alone, and badly needing some good people around me. It took me weeks to gather up the courage to go to church – I know that sounds odd, but at the time, most everything in my life had changed – and I was a bit at sea.

I was welcomed so warmly at this church when I finally did go – and felt that I was home! The pastor there met me right where I was – and introduced me to the Bible. He did not think it odd that I had never read it before, but he wasted no time in introducing me to it – with suggestions on what to read, and emailing me questions and points to think about what I read. I was enthralled! This was a book that I had always been discouraged to read - 'I wouldn't understand it' – but what a lie that was! I did understand! It was pretty clear! I was thrilled – I just couldn't get enough!

I also attended a “small group” - we met every week for Bible study and prayer – it was like a little church inside the church – where we could get to know one another better, and learn together, pray together, and grow in the Lord together. God was at work on me!

In June of that year...the thought entered my mind that I really ought to quit smoking. I hastily pushed that thought away – I couldn't give that up! I was really addicted – to the tune of nearly three packs a day. The health concerns were not enough to make me quit – the cost didn't even make me think twice – even though it meant less food on my table. But – I set my priorities – and that was one of them. The thought would not stay buried where I had shoved it – it kept popping into my mind. I finally spoke to my pastor about that – and he laughed and said “that's a easy one for God”. Excuse me? Easy? I struggled with it, I prayed about it....and then finally made the decision. I picked a day – quitting day – and decided to tell my small group about it. I cannot tell you how scared I was about this. My faith was really, really small! I wasn't sure God could do this! I know now that that is why God picked that particular thing to show me He was real – this was the one thing that I could not do on my own. I was also afraid to tell anyone of this decision because it would be so very obvious if I failed. I hadn't yet learned that “I” wasn't the One who would do it!

I went to the meeting – had a cigarette – it was 6:30 pm on June 22, 2000. The time is indelibly stamped on my memory. I gathered up all my courage to tell my group what I planned to do – and their response was overwhelming encouragement! They gathered around me, gently laying their hands on me, and they prayed! I felt cared for – I felt – what was this? Peace? Yes....peace. When the praying was done, one of the men in the group told everyone that he normally didn't 'make predictions' – but that he felt I wasn't actually going to wait til my 'quitting day' to stop smoking – he thought that God had already accomplished it!
I was astonished! They were so sure! Their confidence seeped into me too....and the rest of the group meeting went on as usual.

When I left, I didn't immediately light up a cigarette – this was odd. Usually it was the first order of business – after a meeting where one didn't smoke! I remember thinking – 'well, I'll just wait til I can't stand it any more, before I have one'. Not that night. The next day – I got up, went to work....and didn't have any cigarettes. I kept waiting for that 'gotta have one' feeling to come over me – and waiting – and waiting. That afternoon, I went home from work, took the rest of the carton (yes, I had to buy them by the carton!) and took it out to the dumpster – in it went! My thinking was ( I still wasn't ready to really believe what had already happened) that if I had to get up and go to the store, I probably wouldn't – when that 'gotta have one' feeling hit. I was glad that they were gone – but I never even thought about going to the store.

Two weeks later, I got up in front of church – an incredible thing for me – the backgroundy person that I was – and told the entire congregation what God Had Done! After decades of a two – then almost three pack a day habit – God took it away overnight! I am still in awe of what He did for me. That was the first time I really realized that God cares about the details – He cares about every little thing in my life. And He picked the one thing in my life to show that to me so I would be sure to get it!

Eight years later, I'm still smoke-free – still amazed that I never had an urge to have one after that night – still in awe of What God Did! He came to me right where I was, and showed me He was real! I WAS a new creature in Him, and He was showing me how to live my new life!