Patty Raisor: Pure in Heart! That is what I can say about Patty. Which means she loves God and through that love she gives. Gives in many ways to her neighbors in America and to her neighbors across the seas. She feels BIG, big for joys and big for sorrows. A person will never fails to feel loved when they are with her. I have been blessed by her presence in my life.
There is no such thing as a boring story with God. I use to think my testimony was boring – I grew up in a Christian home, was in church all my life, had every opportunity to know God, did all the “Christian things,” but realized in High School that I had a religion and not a relationship. It was at a youth camp that I realized I was working to obtain and keep my salvation – it was all about me and what I did. Once I could see the ugliness of my sin – my attitudes, actions, thoughts, words – I realized I needed to be rescued from myself. It was at that camp I asked Jesus to be in charge of my life, to save me from myself, to forgive me of my past and be my forever friend.
What is not boring about my story is that God had been pursuing me all my life – He gave me my family, He gave me a Christian upbringing, He protected me from myself and He has continued to hold me tight.
My salvation was secure, but I had not truly made Him Lord over my life which was evident during my college days. I went my own way and lived a life that made me look like the world around me. I rarely went to church, I never read the Bible, I prayed when I needed something and I was surrounded by non Christian friends. My life definitely was not boring – but it was also not fulfilling. I was running from God thinking I was in charge of my life. 
Things began to change when I met my future husband. We had so much in common – we were both Christians, we had very similar home life and interests and he too had been running from God. We both had the desire to make our marriage God centered which meant getting serious about our relationship with Him. It was then I committed to making Him Lord of my life.
I began attending Bible studies where I discovered for myself the truth about God, His character, the way He operated and what He desired for my life. I began to grow in my relationship with Jesus as I applied what I was learning. God began preparing me to serve Him in my home, the church and in para-church organizations. Each ministry He placed me in was a training ground for the next assignment He had for me. My husband and I loved serving God together and He gave us many opportunities which ultimately prepared us for His call to China. For 2 years we taught English to college students with the main goal of sharing God’s love and showing Jesus to our students.
Why is my story not boring? Because God’s grace is never boring. He plucked me out of my self-centered life, He cleaned me up, He held tightly to me when I went my own way, He hand picked my spouse and has kept us together, He trained me for parenting and ministry outside of the home, He enables me to serve Him and He loves me unconditionally. What a miracle!!
Patty
Lord, Yes what a miracle. The miracle of Your Son. The miracle of the love that You show us. I’m grateful for Patti and I pray for the paths that cross her, that they will be blessed by the gifts You have given her. Amen!
Rhonda Gould Coaching & Consulting 