Glenys Baker

Hello - my name is Glenys Baker.

I became a Christian in 1987 at the age of 39. This was a dramatic change around for me as I had had no belief in God at all. As soon as I became a believer a friend lent me three books - God's Smuggler, by Brother Andrew, Chasing the Dragon, by Jackie Pullinger, The Cross and the Switchblade, by David Wilkerson - and so I immediately encountered a God who speaks to His people and guides them, who heals, who performs miracles still and who longs to be actively involved in their lives.

It was therefore important for me to find a church which had that same understanding of God. I did, and attended there for about six years until I felt God was leading me to be involved in a church nearer to my home. I have been a member of Wootton Bassett Community Church for about 14 years. I value the support, the fellowship, and the encouragement that I receive, but what I especially value is the faithful teaching of the truth of the Gospel each week.

All my life I had believed that I was a disappointment and therefore when I became a Christian I believed that I was a disappointment to God. Earlier this year the Lord showed me that He really loves me and is not disappointed in me. That has really changed my relationship with Him.

Recently the Lord challenged me to lay down my self protection and allow Him to be my protector. That hasn't been easy for me as I've always lived according to "I have to look after myself because if I don't no one else will." However, I asked Him to help me with this and He is now showing Himself to be my protector in a very real way.

I also know that I behave differently at home - I no longer have to have the last word, or to be proved right, I no longer (well, less often anyway!) niggle or grumble over little things that might be irritating but arn't important. I have done nothing to change myself, God has done it. I used to believe that I had to earn love and approval by performing, behaving, working hard etc, and even after I became a Christian I still believed that I had to earn God's love and approval that way. I didn't really understand grace or God's unconditional love. Recently we had a series of sermons on God's grace and slowly I have been able to grasp the truth. This is bringing real freedom into my life.

At times I get overloaded with worries associated with the people I look after and I take on the responsibility and the burden, which I should let the Lord carry. This affects my health and I struggle to give the time that I need to prayer and to just be with Jesus. When I get through these times, I can always look back and know that I would have coped better, if I hadn't neglected my time with Him. I long to be like John Wesley, who said that he could no more worry, than he could curse or swear. However, the Lord does lead me and accompany me through these difficult times and I can reflect back on how I ever managed without Him. I can see how He has always been involved and cared for me, even though I didn't know it, but now I know that I wouldn't want to live without Jesus in my life.