Carole's Personal Testimony

I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to the testimonies that have been given in our church on Sunday mornings and I began to wonder… if I were asked… what would I say… would WHAT I have to say glorify the LORD? Webster's dictionary defines testimony as a public profession… affirmation, statement or declaration of a religious experience. In faith… I began writing…

I'm going to tell a story about a child in search of God… a child who prayed a lot, always believed, and continually searched until she found what she was looking for…

It's humbling to look back and review the incredible path God planned for my life and to once again realize that He has been with me EVERY step of the way. My life has been filled with educational opportunities… and I've continually struggled with sin because of pride and my need for recognition… but our God is an awesome God… He is merciful and His love truly endures forever! The records will show my name to be Carole Janette Acton/Mathison/Byrd/Dammel/Gellatly/Carpenter. Granted… it's longer than most and somewhat complicated by history… but it's ALL me! But records only tell a limited part of whom I was or am. What's most important is that I was, am and will always be… Carole… a beloved and chosen child of God… designed and created for His purpose and pleasure…

God began my life in the womb of my unmarried birthmother in late 1945. In July 1946… I was born in the midst of secrecy, embarrassment, denial, confusion and LOVE. I believe God's grace gave me a deep sense of faith and a desire for truth even before I knew what the words meant. My earliest years were spent living with my Great Aunt Louise and her husbands. I must have been an answer to prayer for her, although I don't remember hearing her talk about God. On June 10, 1954, my Grandparents gave me my first Bible… A King James Version containing strange pictures, odd words, and long sentences that were difficult for a 7 year old to understand. Unfortunately, Louise died of breast cancer just two weeks after I received my Bible. If there are angels on earth… my Great Aunt Louise was truly one of them. She gave me my first example of unconditional love.

After my Great Aunt's death, I went to live with my Grandparents. They owned and operated a 40-acre apple orchard in Central Washington. One of the families who worked for them invited me to their First Baptist Church Vacation Bible School. Since I was basically growing up as an only child with "older" parents, I was eager to get "out" and be with other kids and besides… the cookies and Kool-Aid were great incentives! I remember the first scripture I memorized was John 3:16… "For God so loved the world…" And I remember thinking… "WOW… I want to know that kind of love!" I still have a crayoned picture from those classes and little crosses I received for memorizing Bible verses. Sometimes I attended Sunday school with them, but after a while, they moved on and even though my religious education went into a dormant mode… God continued to work in my life… Something deep inside told me He was real and leading me…

I know my grandmother believed in God, but unfortunately she didn't share her thoughts. What she did was devote her life to family, friends, home and the plants and animals that flourished there. She truly had a heart of gold. Although we didn't share scripture or attend church together, Mama once again taught me about unconditional love.

As I grew older and entered my teen years, I grew more prideful and rebellious. I became an overachiever, but my satisfaction was empty. Alone… I would often cry to God for comfort and protection. At 15… I fell in love with a boy who attended the Episcopal Church. He was an acolyte and a member of the church youth group. My prayers had been answered! I had missed spending time with God. I longed to have a "connection" with Him again and thought my church attendance would make that happen. Life seemed good until school ended and I graduated. When my relationship with the boy fell apart… my relationship with God became dormant again… but God is patient and He waited for me…

I married my first husband at age 19. My grandmother chose the First Presbyterian Church for the ceremony. I remember it seemed strange to be married in a church I had never been in before… by a minister I didn't know. I remember thinking… "God… I'm angry and confused… I need you… Do you REALLY want me to do this?"… But I couldn't hear His answer…

My husband and I attended church every Sunday, but it felt routine and superficial to me. I remember thinking… "God…is this all there is… what am I missing?" But… God with His infinite wisdom and perfect timing… continued to "woo" me and after a while I began to finally hear the Holy Spirit. A few years later I became the mother of a beautiful baby boy. On Christmas Eve, 1967, in the United Congregational Church in Odessa, Washington… PRAISE GOD… my son and I were baptized together. It was a joyful celebration, but within a short while I began to feel once again… something was still missing…

In 1972 my first marriage ended in divorce and I began my second marriage. My new husband was the first love from my old high school days and I justified everything I did by saying ours was a match… originally "made in heaven" …and this time "things would be different." What I selfishly failed to see was that our foundation was being built on sand and that we had hurt many people along the way.

God continued working on me during our 21-year marriage. I took several self-improvement classes and began to realize that I REALLY wanted and NEEDED to work on my spiritual connection with God, but I still didn't see my relationship with Jesus as being important. I was "puffed" up with myself and believed if I wanted to talk to the 'Big Guy in the Sky'… I already had a direct line and didn't need intercession. In all honesty… I didn't know what that word even meant! I began attending the same Episcopal Church that I had gone to as a teenager. I took scripture classes, was confirmed in the church, sang in the choir and became a Lay Reader. God put on my heart a desire to work with the youth. I spent 2 years volunteering as an assistant to the youth pastor and attended youth conferences. It was during one of those conferences that I first experienced agape love. I began pushing the Christian envelope! In complete faith… I wrote a letter to the local newspaper stating that the greatest threat to Christianity was mans complacency, hypocrisy and lack of knowledge. Many of my friends were involved in the New Age movement, but in my case… God was kindling a fire in my heart for Christ… and I would never, ever be the same again…

In November 1994, I found myself in Israel where I became even more aware of the importance of my faith and commitment to God and His precious Son… my personal Savior Jesus. I was frustrated with my limited knowledge of scripture and vowed to learn more so that God would be glorified! I was given the opportunity to be baptized again in the Jordan River. My heart pounded wildly with fear of embarrassment… but as I put on a white robe and entered the water I was filled with God's peace. I realized, as the fish nibbled and tickled my toes… that I was truly in a Holy place and that God in all His majesty, glory and humor was right there with me…

In May 1995 Jerry and I were married in a beautiful little Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, Russia, and once again… I had to be baptized before the priest would marry us. I have often though about how blessed I am! Granted… I was an adult before I was baptized the first time, but now PRAISE GOD… I'm able to say I've been baptized 3 WONDERFUL times… in 3 DIFFERENT churches… in 3 DIFFERENT parts of the world… and ALL in the name of our LORD! In Moscow, I enjoyed attending an International Women's Bible Study and in that fellowship, I was reminded…in Christ we are all the same. I became eager to learn more about God's plan for my life…

A few years later I found myself back in the states. Two of my greatest life accomplishments have been reading and studying the Book of Romans and Matthew in Bible Study Fellowship. It's been an absolute delight sharing stories from the Bible with my grandchildren. Jesus told us to feed His lambs… and that's what I intend to do… ALL to HIS glory! Nothing quite equals PRAISING GOD and the JOY of singing 'Jesus Loves Me'… 'Good Morning God', or 'I Am A Christian' with a little one!

Last October I took a class entitled Passages. In this class we talked about living life to it's fullest as well as being prepared for our earthly death. While some found this assignment difficult… I found it fascinating and fun. With the direction of the Holy Spirit… I wrote my personal instructions for living, epitaph and obituary. With Praise, Thanksgiving and giving all Glory to God… this is what I wrote…

Carole loved life and living in the moment. She believed in TRUTH and making the best of every given situation… even when she found "poop" on the rug!

She was enthusiastic about her walk with God… living daily in faith and praise for her multitude of blessings… her knees were callused from kneeling so much!

She was a heart beacon to those who knew her… shining in the light of God's glory; in fact, sometimes she shined so brightly that sunglasses were needed!

She loved the "wonder" of it all and the fun of "discovery." She eagerly approached God's plan for the day with the delight and excitement of a little child… beginning each new morning singing, "Good Morning God… this is your day… I am your child… show me your way… "

Carole loved animals, rainbows, flowers, "touch" and dancing. She loved children and possibility... people and dreams. She loved her husband deeply and she realized the valuable gift of unconditional love that HE gave her… and… she knew that this was sometimes QUITE challenging! She also knew that he was always up for a good challenge!

She honored her ancestry, and played a lot with her inheritance of "attitude!"

She enjoyed adventure, and she traveled to many foreign lands, believing home was where her heart was. She loved the beach, flying kites and building sandcastles. She left "heartprints" as well as footprints wherever she went.

Her most precious memories were moments shared with God and family. She embraced the idea of reaching the "golden gates" and hearing, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Can't you just see her now… with a big smile… saying YESSSSS!! So with great joy and celebration we now lift her up to God… knowing that someday we'll be with her again… in heaven… and that's definitely something to celebrate!

God continues His work in me… but the difference now is that I read and study scripture with joy and excitement… I begin each morning thanking God in prayer and saying, "LORD I COMMIT THIS DAY TO YOU… USE ME TO BRING ABOUT YOUR PERFECT WILL…" My life is now totally centered on my relationship with Christ. In EVERY circumstance I find myself talking with Him and desiring to do His will. My ultimate goal is to get out of my own way and TRUST Him completely! I know I don't deserve God's precious love… but I am eternally grateful for it. In John 14:5 Thomas said, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life…"

I pray I continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! THIS child of God joyfully closes her testimony with HALLELUJAH… THANK YOU FATHER for showing me the way!