The Women's Connection
Title: MY TESTIMONY - PART II
by Cynthia Kelleher
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Partner Profile |
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• Name:
Cynthia Kelleher
• State: Maryland
• Favorite Food:
chocolate
• Favorite Color:
Red
• Hobbies:
Web building,
internet, my cats
• Favorite Verse:
Phillipians 4:13
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After I rededicated my life to the Lord, I just couldn't get enough of the
Word. I would spend much time reading my Bible and digesting what was therein.
I really enjoyed spending time with Him this way. Through His word, He
was able to really get across to me how much He loved me. And one verse
in particular was really foundational in my new Christian walk.
Isaiah
43:18-19. "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of
old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall
you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in
the desert (v. 20 b) to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people
have I formed for myself; they shall declare My praise." V. 25 "I even
I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; I will not remember
your sins."
In that early time I needed a new assurance that I was forgiven and could
really be free from that past. I had to come to a personal revelation,
which means "revealed knowledge" that God had truly forgiven me and He loved
me. God was revealing that to me personally from His word. So early on
there were always words from the Lord that had very special meaning to me.
During this time I started going back to church, the same church I left
10 years ago. Some of the same attitudes were still there, but I was grown
now, so it wasn't as bad. And my parents and sister were there too. Of
course at this point I wanted nothing to do with men of any kind. And for
a long time I believed that I would stay single the rest of my life. And
after what I had been through, I was ok with that. But God started working
on me little by little, and over the course of two years, He showed me that
it was not in His plan for me to be alone. But even still I was afraid
of things just being the same as before, even if someone was a Christian.
But God would always remind me of the verse He gave me. Behold I will do
a new thing. That it wouldn't be the same as everything else in my life.
And little by little I began to believe that if God chose the man for me,
it would be all right. See because I had always chosen for myself, so it
was always all wrong.
So I continued to go to church, and just grow and develop in Him. I was on
my own, working, going to church. I sang in the choir, and participated
in various things, but as time went on I knew that something was missing
in my life. I didn't want to be alone anymore, but yet I didn't want to
take a chance on love again. My parents were glad that I was not afraid
of relationships anymore and that I was believing and trusting God to bring
the right relationship and the right person into my life.
In the meantime my little sister, the one that I had had so much trouble
loving when I was eight years old, was grown now too, and had taken a job
in Maryland. She moved away from our hometown in Michigan, and started
a new life in Maryland. She met and married her husband. She and her new
husband came home to visit in January 1999. They brought along one of their
work associates with them. I was on vacation that week, so the four of
us spent time together, seeing the sights and just having a good time.
I wasn't outwardly impressed with this friend, but on the inside my spirit
knew that he was the "one". So we started talking on the phone and getting
to know one another better. My family also knew he was the one. I had
the approval of my family, and especially my parents. At this point in
my life after having dated so many of the "wrong" men, it was very important
to me to have my parents approval before I made a decision about a relationship
again. So my parents met the man I would marry not as my fiancée, but as my sister's friend.
During the course of time my sister was living in Maryland, she felt disconnected
from the family, so about that time I began to entertain the idea of moving
out there to be near her. She and I had talked about it at length, and
both agreed that it would be good for both of us. Living closer to my future
husband sounded real good too. So we were in the very preliminary planning
stages when something very tragic happened that has affected all our lives
'til this day. Our father died unexpectedly in March 1999. It was a very
hard emotional blow for us all. But one of the last things he said to me
that I will never forget was "you can trust your inward witness". I think
it was his way of letting me know that I was going to have to learn to trust
my own inward witness, because he was not going to be here to consult anymore.
I am saying all this to say that I am thankful to God for allowing my father
to meet my future husband and to give his approval.
My sister had originally looked for a two-bedroom apartment, but the complex
she lived in only had a three-bedroom available for the time we needed it.
So now, with more reason than ever, in May 1999, I packed up all my belongings,
and moved to Maryland. But it was a little different than we originally
planned, because now there was my mother, recently widowed and her belongings
as well. God knows the beginning from the end, and made provision for us
all.
So I'm here in Maryland now, and married to that man, and it was
the second greatest decision I've made in my life so far. The first greatest
was when I rededicated my life to Christ. God has continued to enrich my
life with His goodness, mercy and favor and I expect to continue to have
only good things to testify to from now on.
VIEW PAST ARTICLES
I'm 34 years old, and have been raised in a Christian home.
I'm thankful to God for that and for praying parents & grandparents, I know
if it were not for them I would be dead. My father passed away in March
1999 unexpectedly, and that has had a great impact on our family. I was
married this year in June and my husband is literally a Godsend and I thank
God for him too. I feel very strongly about stopping domestic violence
and also guiding young people. I also have a heart for the homeless and
starving. I have been brought up under the teaching ministries of Kenneth
Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, and Joyce Meyer just to name a few and have also
been under the influence of the prophetic ministry of Kim Clement. I would
very much like to have an internet outreach and see people set free from
fear, rejection and come to know Jesus as their personal savior.
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