Let Me Introduce Myself

My name is Rebecca Balko - I'm a 48yo wife to an unbelievably loving husband, step mom of two beautiful daughters and have worked in the field of Addiction Treatment for the past 25 years. I am originally from Birmingham, Alabama, (actually the suburb of Homewood), where I was raised with my older sister, by my parents - all of whom I love immensely...and I love Jesus. 

I've known myself to be referenced by others on occasion as a "religious" person, and I don't believe that those who did, meant anything negative by it. That being said, I've never really been a fan of that particular saying. I think this is due to having been raised in the south and in my growing up, it was used more as a terminology to describe very rigid and rule based (usually rude) people...that used God to cloak their nastiness in. Due to this, I really don't care for the word. I am not a Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran or Episcopalian. I'm not a Catholic, Church of Christ or Presbyterian. I'm not an Assembly of God, nor am I an Pentecostal. I have nothing against anyone who is a member of any of the aforementioned - but for me, I found my comfort at a non-denominational church. 

I came to initially know Jesus around the age of five, where I met Him in a dream, (something I will share at a later date). In my teen years and early 20's I drifted and fell into drug addiction, alcoholism, anorexia, clinical depression and self injury. The road back to Him actually did not occur in the church, but with a loving a supportive family and a developing relationship over a period of about 14 years. Eventually I came back out of a desire to have fellowship with other believers, which has been a good thing. 

In my journey it was pretty bumpy, but not for the reasons you might think - with the previously mentioned issues I was dealing with. Rather the challenges I struggled with most, were with the lies in my head that constantly challenged my standing with God and my sincerity about loving Him. I don't think that I am so terminally unique that I'm alone in any of these struggles, and especially the lies that can cause self separation from the Jesus who gave everything so that these feeling would never need to happen.

I'm very excited to do this blog in conjunction with my other blog (Fit-N-FabulousByFifty). It is my hope to perhaps meet others along the way to get to know. I am going to close with my favorite scripture; 

(John 3:16-17) 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

I will write more on this scripture later, but will say that though the first half of it is most commonly known - seen on signs at sporting events, painted on athletes, etc...But for me the second half is the one that REALLY got me! As having had a fearful idea of God as a young person as if He were a giant thumb in the sky just waiting to "rub me out"...upon reading this, I realized that this thinking was not correct. I had come to know this through experience, but when I read the words I was reassured that the God who created everything, desired to be in communion with me - not to wipe me out. I would come to know a love beyond anything I've ever known...His Incomprehensible Love.