The way that God brought me into Remnant was not through my weight, but because of the love that I had for my sister-in-law. I was told by others that this was not a good place. If I had been not so into myself, I would have looked to see that she was smiling, her marriage was being restored, she was losing weight... it was all right there. So I asked someone to get me information off the Internet about Remnant. I have always wanted to search the truth out for myself and know the truth. I took all the negative things that they had written and I took it to the one place that I knew was truth, the Bible. I could look up in the scriptures and read the whole chapter and find out that what they had said about Remnant was false. It made me more curious, a church that read the whole scripture and explained the truth. This was awesome. A place where people actually put God first and smiled while they where doing it - unbelievable! I asked my sister-in-law a lot more questions. I wanted to know the truth. She asked if I would like to go to a service the next day. I did go and I was blown away. When I walked through that door, people said ''Hello'', they where happy to be there, they were happy to worship the God of the Universe, they were smiling, when they were singing to God, they were still smiling, and no one looked at their watch during the service. Children sat quietly and paid attention to what was being said. After that service, I knew I had heard truth, there was not a "oh yeah that was a good sermon" like everyone would say in the church I was in before. You heard truth poured out that you could hold onto. You could walk through your life with your head up, looking to God and knowing that there was a true way to Him. We had been attending our former church for 4 1/2 years before we had become members. The day that we became members, people came up to us to say "congratulations, how long have you been coming to our church" - I was shocked. I let them know that it had been 4 1/2 years, I played on their softball team (my husbands company had sponsored them), I was a counselor for there girls' program (their children had been to our home), I had helped with the food drives, and had even taken their food - from their hands - for that food drive. Yet they did not know me - I was very out spoken back then. The changes in my life since that first Remnant service that I attended was immediate. I found out that arguing does not go to heaven. So there was instant peace in my house; and this is from a woman who always had to have the last say. I was now quiet. I listened and I read my Bible. For the first time in my life I had direction that made sense. A mom that was constantly yelling at her children and making their lives miserable was now talking to those beautiful children and learning how to give them boundaries that were in God's boundaries. A wife that always wanted to make herself happy now wanting to know how to make her husband happy.
I went to church services for about four weeks. What I heard in the church that I left was not lining up with what the Bible was saying. They were leaving out the most important parts: Love God first, others next, do the will of the Father, follow the example of Jesus Christ, and obey God's will. I left that church and I took our children with me. Was it hard? No, doing what is right is only hard if the focus is on you. My marriage just kept getting better. My anger that I had kept for 40 years I no longer needed. I laid down the rage that I had turned on everyone - even road rage where I would get out of my car in the middle of a intersection and tell people how to drive. I thought I was quite righteous. I never swore so that made what I was doing alright. I hated for anyone to pass me on the road and I would find away to some how get back at them. All of it gone - I no longer have that kind of rage for anyone. I pray for them, asking God to keep them safe. My son and I would hit and kick each other trying to hurt each other. We kept it hidden from the world. He and I loved each other because the world said we were supposed too. Now we love each other because we get to. He gets up in the morning and hugs me and tells me he loves me. He will ask me, "Mom what can I do for you?" I will ask him something and he is polite and respectful. He used to get in fights at school because of his anger. I know where he got that from - I taught him. He used to be over 40 lbs heavier. He would take food and eat it in his bedroom and hide it. I know where he got that from - me. The example that I had shown my children from the life that I was living before Remnant was full of ugly, disgusting sin.
I changed so much in that first month of going to Remnant Fellowship. I heard about Weigh Down and asked if I could get into a class. Just by the changes in my life and looking to God I had lost about ten pounds before I joined my first class. I have lost a total of 50lbs. What I have lost mostly was in my heart that was confused, hurting, full of rage, hate, loneliness, and putting myself before everyone. I had a horrible marriage relationship - which has been fully restored and is totally amazing (21 years now). The whole time not knowing and always wondering what was the purpose behind life. I understand it now. My whole family has come to love God whole heartedly. My husband and I love each other more everyday. I used to love it when he would go away for deer hunting or fishing trips. I miss him terribly now when he goes. My children are teenagers and they are loving and respectful. Their teachers cannot say enough good things about them. My son's employer tells us that he is a true hard worker. My children cannot understand when they see other kids their age not wanting to be with their parents. Our daughter used to be called the "drama queen" because it was all about her and she would cry with all the worrying. That is all gone. She will now take it to God and leave it. She used to be a bully at school. I was constantly getting called into the office. This tiny, skinny, petite little girl took "nothing from nobody." This wonderful young girl of God takes it all now and hands it over to God and lets it go. She was "student of the month" in September, something that she thought she would never get because she knew that she was not nice before Remnant. One of her teachers said that if we ever decide we didn't want her anymore, he would love to have her for a daughter. She is a student that helps her teachers, says good morning to them, is respectful and thanks them for their help in teaching her. Both of our children set an example of what a respectful, obedient teenager looks like - all glory to God! They are friends with other students that are not accepted by the world's standards. They love on them not because anyone said they had to, but because they love everyone. There are so many changes in our family...I could go on and on. This family lost over 130lbs. all together. The weight loss was not the only thing...we lost poor health, greed, rage, worry, depression, anger, jealousy, lust for food, money, things of the world, and being lovers of ourselves. What we gained: The love for God first, a beautiful marriage, well behaved and dearly loved children, relationships with our family members, a true family of believers, our health, and the love of learning the truth and living it out every day. I used to cry out and ask God what is the purpose for life and He answered my prayer. This would not have been possible if I had not heard the truth that Remnant was teaching and the truth that the Weigh Down classes share with so many people. I know that I would not have changed. I had not changed for the better in the years before I heard this, only the worst. Everyday I wake up and I first thank God and I ask him if I can do His will. I ask Him to show me the way and He does through this wonderful Leadership that only tells me truth. Gwen Shamblin only wants to do the will of God and teaches us the truth and the true way to eternal life. I love the people that have shared the truth with me because they loved God first.
Topics: Changed Children, Healing from Depression, Anger, Overweight