I Made it!! by Minister Teraleen Campbell
The first quarter of 2013 has proven to be eventful to say the least. Within the past month, my beloved uncle had a heart attack and went home to be with the Lord. My beloved Pastor, Bishop Alfred Owens, Jr. also had a heart attack, but God spared his life. In fact, he celebrated his 67th birthday on Monday. Praise our God!
As I sat and pondered, I thought about the fact that the exact same thing happened to two men, however, there outcomes were quite different. Far be it from me to question how the Lord decides to conclude the earthly life of one, yet spare the other. I prefer to thank God that in his sovereignty. He has allowed me, most likely many of you, to escape, to overcome and/or survive some of the same things that have taken others out.
Many of us have suffered some of the same health challenges as others. We made it through; however they did not. Many people have lost jobs over the past few years. This circumstance has caused some to lose their homes in the aftermath, while others, although not in the best financial situation, remain in their place of residence. I know firsthand of friends who once sold or used drugs. For some, those behaviors led them to prison or an early death, while others gained powerful testimonies of how God can and will deliver from addiction.
Although I’m trying my best to reduce it, I personally lead a pretty stressful life. Stress at one point, began to manifest into OCD and skin issues. Over the past several years, I have made regular exercise part of my lifestyle in an effort to reduce some of that stress. What is most striking to me is the fact that even stress has caused many to lose their minds. It’s driven mothers to kill their children, roommates to take the lives of their housemates and some to literally go off the deep end. The pressures of life have contributed to increased underage drinking, and the rise of the use of drugs like PCP. Perhaps not as drastic, but while some have thrown in the towel, others have continued to press on after facing some of the same issues. Simply put, today my testimony is similar to that of Marvin Sapp, I’m so glad I made it! And if you like me have made it, rest assured that God still has a plan for your life.