Sunday Spark~ featuring~ Angela Ramsey

Greetings DIVA's...Happy Sunday!! Hope you find this testimony inspiring and uplifting to get you through the week!!! 

Dying to you old self

 I first began serving the Lord at about age 10, I was save at a Pentecostal church in Chicago ILL. I never had any idea what I was doing, but I knew if I got baptized that my mother would be happy.  When I was baptized at the church, I thought I would be changed forever, and that would make my life complete. I was super wrong, because I never had proper instruction on what baptisms meant. Throughout my teenage years I slowly dwindled away from the church. I was in the wilderness for about nine years before I would return to a church setting.  At age 27, I was a raging Alcoholic, recreational drug user, manipulator, thief and participated in fornication to the highest level. I was so lost, I didn’t know where my life was going and I was so depressed by the things I had down in my past. I thought the Father’s light would never shine on me.

When I first entered church in 2007, I had difficulty trying to letting go of my old life and giving my all to Jesus. I was use to going to the bar Saturday night, and up early for church. I would enter church hung-over and barely caught the word. I had a believable appearance that I was saved and sanctified, I would say “amen, and hallelujah” for everything the preacher said. And, as soon as church was out I was outside with a cigarette, thinking where is my life going. This cycle of behavior went on for about two more years. During this time, God was pulling on me to follow Him with my whole heart, not partially. I would hear fellow church friends say “you have to die to your old life, to receive the life God has for you.” I would listen and not understand what they meant.

In 2009, I joined my church that I attend now; when I first came to In the Light Ministries Philadelphia, I was so broken. . I had yet another man leave me and I thought my life was over. The depression and anxiety were so thick in my soul; I would rather go to the bar, fornicate, and smoke cigarettes Saturday night then face God.  I started to notice when I was drunk I started to feel guilty about my behavior. I  never felt that before because I didn’t care what God thought of me. I started seeing people getting saved, having amazing breakthroughs from situations that were horrific. One day at the altar, I felt His presence like never before, and it was a loving embrace that I yearned for. As I sat on my knees, I realized that Jesus give His life for a sinner like me. All the stuff I had been doing was leading me into His arms. I realized a month later this Holy interaction would change me forever. I had to let go the chains of bondage that were on holding me down. In that month the old Angela Ramsey died, and the woman of Christ was born.

A lot of times we think if we do things our way then it will make things better, if only I could control this person or that situation is we think. God only wants us to make Him first, and allow his loving grace and mercy to wash us anew in His love. It really comes down to do you love God and trust Him with your life. Once you grasp this concept you will become the Woman/Man of God that He intended u to be.

Angela Ramsey, MS,MFT is a children's ministry leader for In the Light Ministries Philadelphia. She is currently a Family Systems Specialist for a Elementary School Youth Based Services Program in the Camden Public School System. To contact for family and Christian counseling services please email her at ramseya79@gmail.com