God has always been present in my life even when things were not going well. I believe it started when my mother was pregnant with me. She planned to put me up for adoption but after I was born decided to marry my father and keep me. I had a grandmother who I know was doing a lot of praying. God was a part of keeping me with my parents.
When I was a teenager I was very involved in church and leadership in youth group. I often preached as a youth and had many God moments that I enjoyed sharing with others. It was at this young age that I developed my passion for the church and saw it as a gift from God. God is the one who put that burning passion in me and keeps the fire going.
I married my husband Jon Disburg. Both of us were Christians and actively involved in the church. Early in our marriage we had a number of miscarriages and we had two babies who died. Even in the midst of these struggles I knew that God was there. When I was angry at God and turned away from the church - I knew that God was there because we had people from the church calling us and encouraging us and reminding us that God loved us and so did they.
We were blessed with two beautiful children, finally. I began to wrestle with God and not knowing what I was supposed to be doing. Finally I was able to answer the call to the ordained ministry, went to seminary and was ordained. Even though it was not easy to leave my girls three days a week to attend seminary I knew that God was there looking out for all of us. God came to us in the form of family and friends who helped out and encouraged us.
When I think about people that do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, I am saddened to realize that they do not know a relationship that sustains, uplifts, empowers, encourages and never waivers. God and Christ come to us in the form of other human beings. To realize God's presence in others not only is encouraging but helps me to love all human beings.
Facing joy is wonderful with Christ at my side. Surviving through hardships would be impossible without God's ever present encouragement and love.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST THE WORLD CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT?
That's one of the questions I'm left with from our time in Homer
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