I never knew true peace and joy until I surrendered my life to Christ, when He mercifully opened my heart to receive His wonderful love and saving grace.
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God...
~Ephesians 2:8
When growing up, I was a deeply lonely teen who never felt good enough. I was coerced into entering a pageant when I was 20, and to my great shock won first runner-up. I would never have dreamed of entering another competition if eager pageant professionals had not continued to encourage and cajole me into entering more pageants.
I was crowned Miss America 1983 and went on to host a series of daily news and entertainment shows for the next three decades.
I have many awards, trophies, keys to cities, old shows, and pictures with famous people shut away in a box. Last time I looked I think they are starting to mold down in my damp basement!
When I was booked to host a TV show in the Bahamas, my manager convinced me to buy a very expensive Rolex watch. She said it would look very good on me. Back then I had many people giving me bad advice.
After the video shoot, I flew to Atlantic City to open for Bobby Vinton at Harrah's Broadway-by-the-Sea Theatre. While opening for Bobby, someone came into my hotel room and stole my new $5,000 watch.
As I looked into the empty Rolex box a scripture went through my mind: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
I was a very new immature Christian and did not understand the importance of reading the Word of God and joining a good Bible believing fellowship, but that day I knew that the Lord was trying to send me a message loud and clear!
It was not until I understood the importance of daily fellowship with the Lord and renewing my mind in the Word of God, that I began to mature as a follower of Christ. I am still growing!
John Newton's song Amazing Grace sums up my Journey and hope thus far:
Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come,
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
Food For Thought:
Riches, fame, and power are perilous possessions. The pursuit of them often causes significant injury to our souls. They lead us into countless temptations, captivate our thoughts and affections, bind heavy burdens on our hearts, and make the way to heaven difficult.
Some of my favorite scriptures:
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count
everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know Him and the power of his resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 8:7-11
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
Current Projects:
Producing digital Christian classic online resources:
https://www.facebook.com/honorchrist/ and https://www.pinterest.com/CarryTheLight
https://www.facebook.com/FindingNewPurpose
