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God at Work

Growing up I always had faith in God and never really questioned His existence. Often people ask me when I became a Christian, my response is always "I have been a Christian since the day I was born." Many people believe that you need to ask God into your heart but I believe that God is always in your heart you just have to feel Him. Unless you ask God to leave, He is always with you. There has not been a day in my life where I have questioned God's existence in my life. He has always been a huge part of my life.

I am not a religious person but I am strong in my faith and in my Christian beliefs. When people ask me what religion I am, I say I am Christian but I am a member of a Lutheran Church; in reality I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. To me it doesn't matter if your Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc., what matters is if your a Christian. Your religion is secondary to your firm belief in God, our savior Jesus Christ.

Having a child with a life threatening illness just reaffirms my faith in God; my strength as a Christian. Sure many people in my situation would question God, maybe even hate God for giving the disease/illness to their loved one. But God did not give Ashley biliary atresia any more than I gave Ashley biliary atresia. God does not want Ashley to die but God also does not want Ashley to suffer either. There have been so many times since Ashley's birth that I have seen God work in our lives. Even during the times that I thought God wanted Ashley back home with him, I still rejoiced in His love for me; for her.

Having a daughter that has a life threatening liver disease where a cause has yet to be found and a cure is far beyond reach is why God is so important in my life. There have been many times I have asked how people without that faith, people that don't feel God in their hearts; how those people survive in times like this. I can't even imagine how I could have survived without God during Ashley's diagnosis, surgeries and other life-in-the-balance moments. Prayer brings me peace, knowing God is there for me even when I am weak provides me with hope.

There are so many examples of how God has worked in my life, especially in Ashley's life from her birth, her baptism, her Dad's baptism and commitment to Christ, her first breath of life to her near death experiences. Examples of how faith can overcome obstacles. Tomorrow I will share with you Examples of Faith in my Life.

Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. (Colossians 3:15a)

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