God never makes a mistake

When I talked with Romaine, I knew I was going to write about her but I didn’t know I was going to write about her journey from Buddha to Jesus.

Mind you, Romaine and I had not talked for about two years. We might have texted a couple times during the two years. When I published my blog I texted the link to her and told her that God wanted me to write about her and that we’ll be talking soon.

Romaine and I finally talked on Wednesday, Oct 11, 2017 for over two hours. We started talking about prayer and she was telling me that she writes prayers for people. So I said to her that God told me to write about her salvation but maybe He wants me to write about what she is doing with prayer. Here I go second guessing God! As we continued talking she mentioned that when she was a Buddhist… I cut her off and said, “Romaine, I totally forgot that you were a Buddhist, this is why God wants me to write about your salvation!” The more she talked, the more it became clear that God wanted her journey from Buddha to Jesus to be shared. I kept saying to myself, “God never makes a mistake.” So hold on tight, here we go…

A little background about Romaine…

But first let me give you a little background. I met Romaine at work over 10 years ago. She was this petite, no-nonsense, well-dressed from head to toe, in the baddest business suits and shoes ever, and the cutest short hairstyle. But you know what, she didn’t only look great and carry herself with the utmost professionalism, she was smart as a whip. During our tenure, our interactions were mostly work related, she was the Data Center Manager of a 24/7 operation and she was always busy, literally running around. Every so often we’d chit chat. I remember one day she came into my office and I said to her that I noticed a change in her, that’s when she shared with me that she got saved and was a Christian. I was so happy for her and we praised God.

Romaine’s journey from Buddha to Jesus!

Let’s get right into Romaine’s story about her journey from Buddha to Jesus. In her own words…

I became a Buddhist

I remember going to church as a child and when I was in the Junior Choir. But I was never forced to go. I never actually read the Bible but my memory was always, “the 10 Commandments and “The Serenity Prayer.” As a teenager growing up, my friends went to church and I would join them and most were Baptist or Catholic. Church is what everyone did on Sunday. I even remember watching it on television back in the day.  When I became an adult I stopped going to church. Growing up I would hear and witness some things for myself but there was lack of interest. I became a Buddhist while living in Illinois (in 1981) and practiced Buddhism for about seven years. I was doing it for peace. I’d get up early to go to the temple to meditate and I got peace of mind. I truly didn’t realize that when you are a Buddhist you give up God.

I said to myself, this car is about to hit me

In 1984, around 5:00 a.m., I was on my way to the temple. I was only five minutes away from getting there but I never made it because I had a head on car accident. I was on the opposite side of the street and the car was on the far left side of the street. The speed limit was 25 miles an hour. I could see the car coming over the lines in the road and moving pass other cars and I said to myself, this car is about to hit me. In the meantime, I looked to my right and there was a semi-truck coming and it was about an inch from hitting me. So I have the truck on my right side and car coming across the line at the same time.

I cried out, “Oh my God, please save me, I’m about to die!

I cried out, “Oh my God, please save me, I’m about to die! Yes, I cried out to God because I knew that Buddha could not save me. Buddha could not do anything for me. The truck missed me by about a half an inch just before the car hit me. I didn’t die! Oh yes, I got a taste of who God was! I wound up with a whip lash and wore a brace for about 8 weeks. Back in those days, drunk drivers were not yet recognized and he got a ticket for his plates expiring as he was driving a company car coming home from an after party in which he waited until he was a little sober before getting on the road but you could smell the alcohol. After all that, I still didn’t take the calling to come to Jesus until 2003 when He spoke to me. I know it was Him.

Romaine accepted Jesus 19 years later

Whoa! Romaine’s story from Buddha to Jesus is amazing. She could have died and would have had an eternal death. Instead God spared her life so she could have an eternal life. But although God spared her life, she didn’t accept His calling until 19 years later. Can you believe that? And what’s truly amazing is that God patiently waited on her for 19 years. What an awesome God! You see, God does not force Himself on anyone because we have free will. Yet He never gives up on us. While we are making up our minds, He is still loving us. He patiently waits for us to come to Him. And guess what? He receives us with open arms. God is love! God is good and merciful! “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

Romaine shared that the lesson she learned from Buddhism was to get up early before sunrise to meditate. She still gets up early but now she worships a different master, God Almighty, the one who saved her life… She shared that not once but several times while living in Illinois and most importantly saved her life eternally. Alleluia! “No on can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other…” Matthew 6:24 NLT

Romaine writes prayers

Romaine is a member of God’s Luv International Ministries and serves as an Elder. When she first joined the church in 2003, she received a Bible and that’s when she started reading the Bible; and she was taught to pray for Peace of Jerusalem, disabled, elderly, homeless, our President, his family, saints everywhere, etc., before praying for herself. She said, “The first time I wrote a prayer it came from the “Lord’s Prayer” because when you don’t know what to pray about, you pray the Lord’s Prayer.” Romaine gets up around 3:00 a.m. to pray. God gives her a scripture to read and reveals it to her and she writes it down. Then she writes a prayer and sends it out to the church members.

Romaine also recalled that at a women’s conference, the speaker asked the group to pick a psalm any psalm and when they picked it out, she said, now write a prayer from it, take one or two verses that sticks out. From thereon Romaine started using psalms to write prayers. When people come to her for prayers, she writes down the prayers, gives it to them and keeps a copy. Her first book of prayers was written for her sister Candice.

Romaine loves and is devoted to doing God’s work and sharing His Word. To God be the glory! God is using her in a very special way.

Romaine’s journey from Buddha to Jesus was truly inspiring and encouraging. What’s you’re journey?

Only One Way to God… Jesus

Romaine’s journey from Buddha to Jesus began when she was faced death and she called on God because she knew Buddha could not save her. But calling on God is not enough, you have to accept His Son Jesus.

There is only one way to God and to heaven, His name is Jesus. The name above all names. If you have not received Jesus as your Lord and Savior or if you are not sure that you are saved, I encourage you to do this right now. The next second is not promised. Don’t wait! It’s really simple… All you have to do is accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, believe in your heart that on the third day God raised Him from the dead, and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. 

Then say this prayer…

Our Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus I call on You according to Acts 2:21 (NIV): “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” I confess my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. God our Father, I ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life according to Romans 10:9-10 (NLT): “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” I do that now! With my mouth I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. Lord, hear my prayer. Amen

From Deb’s  to yours…

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