Testimony of Sister Pat Andersen

I was born in Chicago, and raised by my mother who was separated from my father  when I was 3 or 4 years old.  I was baptized Presbyterian shortly after my birth.  I have always believed in God and Jesus as far back as I can remember.  My mother did not go to church, but read to me, my brother and my sister from the Bible and from a book about the Bible "The Greatest Story Ever Told".  When we were old enough to read and Mom's eyesight got bad we would read to her from the Bible.  I grew up, married, had two kids and divorced, still with a strong belief in God and Jesus.  Then I read a book called "Chariots of the Gods" and began to doubt my faith. Although I still believed, there was that shadow of doubt.  After my divorce I went to school to become an LPN.  I had seen many times where God was with me and had intervened in my life, but it did not stop the doubt I had after reading that book.  Then one day our floor in the hospital had a difficult patient who was always complaining and was very uncooperative.  I talked with the patient who complained that the TV in the hospital should be free as patients had nothing to do but lay in bed all day.  Since I was always broke, I was raising 2 kids by myself, I counted out my money and found I had enough to take my kids to the show that night, and enough to get back to work my next scheduled day to pick up my check and just enough to rent the TV for one day for the patient.  So, I told the TV person to turn on the TV for the patient for one day and just tell the patient it was already paid for.   I was off for three days.  The TV cost $1.35 to rent.  I took my kids to the show.  I was watching my money very carefully as I was down to my last couple of dollars.  As I was leaving the show I found $10.00.  Immediately I remembered the story in the Bible about casting the bread on the water and it shall be returned 10 fold.  At that point I knew God was talking to me.  I accepted Jesus as my savior and never doubted again.  And I have tried to live my life accordingly.  When I got back to work I was called into the Head nurse's office.  I thought I was really in trouble.  The head nurse and supervisor asked if I had paid for the patient's TV.  I defensively said yes, but that the reason the patient was so angry was that he was lonely and had nothing to do.  I did not know that the patient had reported to the supervisor and head nurse that someone had turned on the TV and he was sure it was me because I was the only one who took the time to talk to him.  I was told that because of what I did that the hospital had developed a new policy that any patient who was unable to get out of bed and had no money to pay for the TV would get it free and the head nurse would be checking on patients to make sure this was carried out.

I not only seen God's work to teach me a lesson and strengthening my faith, but He also showed me how what I do affects others.  We may not always see how what we do affects others as I did in the case but the efforts are there none-the-less.

Throughout the years I believed in God and accepted Jesus as my savior but really did not know what that meant until I moved to TN and started going to The New Testament Independent Missionary Baptist Church.  I learned what being saved was and being born again was, and although at the time I did not call it being born again, that's what it was in the lobby of that theater where I found that $10.00.

I believe God talks to us all the time and we don't always have the ears to hear.  But just open your eyes and look around.  You can hear Him too.

If I look back, I can see the steps God took to bring me here to TN, to this little church were I feel so safe and so close to God and the Godhead.  Praise God for being with me all my life, for giving Jesus Christ to save me and for bringing me to this point in my life.  No, I have not been the perfect Christian.  I have had my ups and downs in life but He has been with me in my bad times as well as my good times.  All I can say is how can you praise enough someone who has done so much for you, especially when you did not deserve it?  And there is not one among us that can honestly say he deserves it.

Have you ever stopped to listen to God?  I have.  Try to look back in your life, pick a situation and see where God was.  I have noticed that even when I have chosen to go the way of man and tried to make a wrong choice, God stepped in and did not let it happen.  I am not talking about small things, but most major things in my life!

Why don't you accept Jesus Christ and accept Him as your savior today.  Pray to God to guide you in life.  He is there for you.  God has chosen His people before their birth and before the world was even made, but He wants you to come to Him and give your life to Him as this honors Him.  Again I want to Praise God.