Category Archives: Christian Life

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A Story of Brokenness to Triumph

Personal Narrative

The Norma Brumbaugh Story: Installment 1

Written back in 2007:  I have only shared this writing once and that was with my Pastor. I wrote this lengthy narrative while contemplating whether to go public with my personal story for my church family. I wrote more than I would say when I did speak, but I decided to go the whole nine yards in the writing of my story.

I intend to share parts of my story here and there on my blog. I’ve not decided  exactly how much I will share with my readers. For the most part, it will be offered in its original state. I am choosing to not edit this writing (and that’s hard not to do!).

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This is my story.  It is not a flashy or wild story though it has been eventful and not particularly average.  I am not much of a heroine.  I have never been overly brave or stout-hearted.  Actually, I have always been self-conscious and timid.  Although I have various strengths, they have been inhibited by my lack of self-confidence and self-esteem.

Some of what I will share with you is a reflection of the internal pounding on my self-worth, which happened as I failed to come to terms with what was destroying me.  However, even in this there were parts of me which could not be destroyed such as my faith in God and my tender gentle heart.

If I had known the hill I would have to climb to get to where I am now, I’m not sure what I would have done.  Yet God in His grace has sustained me through the journey and now here I am in front of you ready to praise Him for the opportunity.  That is why this is all so surprising.  Who would have known?  One reason that may contribute to why the outcome has been as such is that God knew my qualities and my heart. He knew where this story would end up.  And He knew His purpose could be fulfilled through my obedience and surrender.

All of my life I have been one to contemplate what I see and hear while also noticing behaviors and trends of human interactions.  One of the gifts God has given me is an ability to perceive and then evaluate what I observe.  Maybe that is why He chose to use me for the touch of His hand.  What I do know is this; He has been with me through the dark times of fear and rejection.

What amazes me as I begin this process of the telling of it, is that the delivery of the message transcends any discomfort I will experience.   The message is not my message at all, for it is not my own. I am just one person that God has prepared so that He may bring some hope and promise to the wounded, lost, and discouraged lambs in His flock.

Five years ago I offered a vow to God that I am now keeping as I tell you my story.   I made the vow during a pivotal juncture in my life.  At the time I had lost the only security I had in my life even though it wasn’t much to begin with.  I was discouraged, empty-handed.  For years I had put much self-effort into two areas of my life that in the end came up short, didn’t deliver the goods.  I was done, completely spent.  Decidedly, I knew that the rest of my days would be lived for God.

God could do what He wanted to do with me. He could teach me whatever He wanted to teach me.  I was open.   I sought Him and asked for healing and renewal.  I promised to use anything that I learned in the process for Him and His glory so that what I would learn could help other co-sufferers in the family of Christian believers.  I meant that prayer.

In my heart I believe the time is ripe for me to begin opening the secrets of my life to others who are in need of the words I will share. To say it is easy for me to do this would be incorrect.  To say I like sharing my personal story would not be true as well.  But what is true in this situation, is that God has revealed Himself to me in enough ways that I no longer just talk about who He is and what He offers, instead I actually have come close enough to Him to where He has become my closest and dearest friend.

God is my Abba, my Father.  He is my Dayspring.  He is my purpose.  He is my healer.  He is my reason.  It is my belief that the hard experiences I have absorbed were allowed for this very moment.  Nothing is wasted if we allow God to use it for His glory.  He reaches down to the vilest of offenders and isn’t appalled, but rather, is direct and speaks words of truth and love.  “My grace is sufficient for you,” He says to each one.  My response is, “I’m forever grateful for the cross,” as the song says it so well.

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Please leave a comment if you enjoyed this post. I would love to know what part you identify with in the reading of it. God bless you. Norma

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Why Jesus Christ is Not a Passing Fancy

Christ is the Answer

Christ is Good Medicine for the Soul

There are so many parts to Christianity, it’s almost mind boggling. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Today I spent an hour writing in longhand an idea that’s been swirling in my head for a week now. I worked on it yesterday too. It’s called “Christian Light.” In it I seek to describe three areas of a Christian’s life, Christian Light being one of them. But it is incomplete. It seems impossible to capture it all. The thing is, there is always more to know, and more to write, and details to share, and stories to talk about.

Christianity is a fascinating subject.

The more you know about Christ and His place in history, the part He played and continues to play and the difference it makes, the more curious and exciting it gets. Christ is the biggest influencer EVER. He influences many of us every single day because we trust in Him, follow Him, and believe in Him. We also talk to Him on a frequent basis.

Christianity is real to its followers.

People want to keep religion out of the workplace. That’s understandable. Some people want to keep religion out of the marketplace, especially the marketplace of ideas. That’s not so understandable. Look at it this way, if you have the best news ever, you would want to share it. If you have a cure for cancer, you’d make it available. Christians have a cure for the soul, and they want to make it available to those in the dark about it. Sensitive Christians want to share it, not force it.

Christianity is good medicine for the soul.

Christ is the essence of Christianity. His godliness combined with His humanity truly was a winning and revolutionary combination. God in the flesh could understand the person trapped in their human body. God in the Spirit could understand the need in the human being for spiritual transformation. He spoke to both areas in His miracles and sermons, His lifestyle, and His worship of His Father.

Christ understands the human condition.

In Christ, humanity could see the embodiment of a loving, merciful, gentle, strong, compassionate, wise, truth-speaking, spiritual, unworldly (God) man. That is why Jesus could not be cornered by their words and could not be confused by their questions. Jesus is the bread of life. Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus was and is a miracle worker. Christ continues to be all of those things.

Christ is amazing.

Jesus Christ is the solution to the world’s biggest problem. He offers healing for the soul. He offers forgiveness for the world’s sins. Jesus offers new life and a new identity to all who believe in Him. Christ reaches out to us, and we reach out to Him. He says, trust in Me, believe in Me, give it all to Me, I love you and forgive you, I will set you free. Walk free in Me. Believe on me and you will be saved. The Lord Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again that He might give you eternal life.

You can trust in Jesus today.

For further study, read in the bible, John 3 and I Corinthians 15.

What does Christ mean to you?