Growing up in an alcoholic abusive home I was often plagued with a sense of worthlessness and futility. Being molested at the age of five years old only contributed to my lack of self-esteem. In 1976, at the age of almost sixteen my life drastically changed. My oldest brother Jimmy was tragically killed in a car accident. Three days later my mother shot my dad then herself. It was then I learned about God’s grace and how sufficient He truly is. It was at this point in my life that I became totally dependent on Jesus Christ to help me walk through what appeared to be an unending storm.
I am always a little leery of sharing this part of my testimony. I guess because there are those brothers and sisters who tend to judge others falsely. But remember friends..you don't have a testimony until you have a TEST! I married a few years later in 1978 and the years of abuse continued for 19 years. When my spouse started carrying a gun and threatening me, I literally fled for my life. A few days later he moved out of state and I let him go. I suppose that is why today I am an advocate for abused women and children. God brought good out of bad several years later when "He restored all the years the locust had eaten" (Joel 2:2) and sent me Gaetan whom I married in 2002. Gaetan told me then that his job was to help me serve God in any way he could. God knew I needed help and what a wonderful helpmate he has been!
If you need help from domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.
Today, I am a reflection of God's unending love and compassion as He has taken all the bad things of my life and used them for His good. I have been humbled and blessed with the gift of traveling coast to coast and overseas to minister in music as well as teach conferences and spread the gospel at every opportunity. Together, with my beloved husband Gaetan, God has given us a passion for the lost and a desire to serve Him unconditionally. Through this passion we have found unending joy and numerous blessings.
As a Songwriter/Worship Minister, God has guided me and taught me how to lead his people into His courts with High Praise! As an Award Winning Author, Teacher and Conference Speaker, I have been blessed with the opportunity to speak life into dead situations. God has gifted me with the ability to teach life applicable lessons with humor and grace. I praise God for His faithfulness to me. My only desire is to do what He asks me to do. Knowing I am so undeserving of such a love, I marvel at the fact the He calls me friend!
"You are My friends if you do what I command you."
(John 15:14) NASB
