Is God Enough for Such a Time as This: A Journey From the Darkness of Homosexuality Into the Light of God's Truth

By Margaret Craig

Like most people, I wanted a happy and peaceful life. Having a soul mate and being loved would make it all complete. In the sixties, I found myself in a homosexual lifestyle. I was happy; I was loved and loved back. Along with my partner, I filled my life with things we enjoyed, like softball, bowling, camping, and being outdoors. These things all brought a degree of happiness, but there was no peace within. I became confused. During my childhood, I attended Sunday school, and the public school where I went began each day with the Lord's Prayer. Next to our elementary school lived missionaries who invited kids to come to their house during recess to hear Bible stories about Jesus. I felt a sense of belonging and safety being in their home. With that, I had a knowledge of who God is and an introduction to this book called the Bible. There was no denying the existence of God, and I tried desperately to align my lifestyle with His Word. I was happy, but my heart was unsettled. There was no inner peace, so my journey to finding that peace began. Enter God and His love, grace, mercy, and faithfulness. He began to show me very clearly that the only truth that mattered was His truth. When I surrendered and acknowledged that truth is when I found peace that passes all understanding.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644926468

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Is God Enough for Such a Time as This

A Journey From the Darkness of Homosexuality Into the Light of God's Truth

Margaret Craig

Copyright © 2019 by Margaret Craig

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

The Tribute

Andrae Crouch

To God the Father

Jesus Christ His Son

The Holy Spirit

How can I say thanks

For all the things you have done for me.

Things so underserved

Yet you gave to prove your love for me

And the voices of a million angels

Could not express my gratitude

All that I am and ever hope to be

I owe it all to Thee.

Just let me live my life

Let it be pleasing Lord, to Thee

Should I gain any praise

Let it go to Calvary.

With His blood He has saved me

With His power He has raised me

To God be the glory

For the things He has done.

To God be the glory

To God be the glory

To God be the glory

For the things He has done.

With His blood He has saved me

With His power He has raised me

To God be the glory

For the things He has done.

Acknowledgments

I stand amazed as I look back and consider the people God has placed in my life to bring me where I am today.

I must begin with Jesse Sandberg. Thank you for your consistent love for me. Your encouragement, prompting, and wisdom have been very instrumental in getting this book written. I also need to thank Lois Stewart-Ferguson for the countless hours spent transferring my handwritten work onto the computer and basically being beside me from day one. We make a great team!

Thanks for my editor, Kimberly Barker, who has done a tremendous job, with much patience, in making sense of all I have written. Then to my friends who have stood beside me in prayer, always there with a listening ear and an encouraging word—Sandy, Ed and Sue, Barb, SOLOS, and my coworkers at the Flower Barn, to whom I am forever grateful. Thanks to all of you, and know I love and appreciate you deeply.

Introduction

For years, I have struggled with the idea of writing a book. It is an overwhelming task. Besides, who would even read it? Each time it was brought to mind, I would quickly dismiss the idea and move on to loving God and seeking His will for my life. I was quite sure writing a book was not part of His will—or so I thought. After all, I was very happy, free, content, and at total peace with God. I had a new life in Christ Jesus. Pleasing God and being obedient to Him and His Word are the deepest desires of my heart. Psalm 40:8 says, I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. In Isaiah 43:7, the Word of God tells us we were created for His glory.

Just how is it we glorify the creator of the universe? To me, it means to strive each day to love and obey Him with every breath and step I take; surrendering my will and seeking His to bring Him pleasure; to be salt and light to the world as Jesus commanded in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–16). We are also instructed to do as unto the Lord in all we do (Col. 3:23).

This past winter, a friend and her family spent Christmas in Florida while I remained in Michigan caring for their dog. When they left, we had very mild temperatures and not a snowflake in sight. Anyone who lives in Michigan knows the weather can and will change quickly. Sure enough, before they returned, temperatures dropped to near zero degrees with six to eight inches of fresh snow. I took their dog home before they arrived so he was there to greet them. The other thing greeting them was all that snow piled on their long driveway. Certain they didn’t have boots with them, I decided to shovel a small path so they wouldn’t get their feet wet. After the path was done, I decided to do just a little bit more.

I remember praying for their safe return and singing as I pushed the snow from side to side. Fortunately, it was very cold, so the snow was light and fluffy. It was perfect for shoveling but not so good for making snowmen. Before I knew it, I was finished! I remember smiling as I looked at the completely cleared driveway, and with joy in my heart, I said, Thank you, Lord. I began the task with my friends in mind. Ultimately, it was for my Lord and His glory. What better way to communicate the love we hold in our hearts for God and His created people.

It’s easy for me when obedience and serving means visiting someone in the hospital, mowing a neighbor’s lawn, or taking homemade soup to a friend who is sick. Making cookies for a neighbor or surprising a friend on their birthday are all fun things, and I know they please my King. But obedience becomes much more difficult when we are called to speak the truth in love, stand firm, and confront a wrong.

As I sought God’s will and direction in my life, He began to open doors. It was with much prayer, and great hesitation I might add, that I walked through those doors. I was given many opportunities to share my testimony at churches, women’s conferences, and in Sunday school classes.

My heart still breaks for the many who, through tears and hopelessness, shared their concern for a son, daughter, friend, or loved one caught in the mysterious lifestyle of homosexuality. I can still see the pain and grief in their eyes as they would cling to me and whisper, Thank you for telling the truth and for giving me hope that God can forgive and transform anyone’s life, even that of the homosexual.

First Timothy 4:10 tells us, For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. We need not look far to see what happens to a people and their nation when God is not enough. Abortion is no longer frowned upon, same-sex marriage is now the law of the land, and now non-gender is being seriously considered in many areas. How on earth did we get here? We have gone from a responsible, God-fearing people to a people of entitlement and rights. It’s all about me and what I want. The trouble is this has carried over to God and His Word. No longer do we hold it as authoritative and true.

The almighty, sovereign God has given us His divine Word—His instruction and love letter to His children.

It is with conviction, tears, and great compassion that I write this book, stating what I know to be true based on the Word of God and His transforming work in my life.

Chapter 1

Many Roads to Happiness

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

—Genesis 1:1

The older we get, the more the things that once seemed so important become less important. What didn’t seem to matter before is now at the top of the list. I recently did a survey with friends asking the question: what is it that makes you happy? What is the American dream? Of course, the children wanted to become astronauts, hit a home run in the World Series with bases loaded, or become firefighter so they could ride the big red truck and blow the siren. Teens wanted to be left alone or maybe even become the next Elvis. People in their twenties, thirties, and even forties seemed to believe success was a career or a big home with a four-car garage and a Cadillac, truck, boat, and snowmobile to fill them.

My older friends seemed to think success is property up north for the summer and a condo in Florida to escape the brutal winters Michigan can deliver. I love it when my Christian brothers and sisters respond with the statement of obeying God. They believe, as I do, that obeying and pleasing God is the answer to a happy life. The term peace and love came up often, and I would add one more thing to that: truth. If you can find these things somewhere in your life, you are on the right road.

It’s a jungle out there! That is exactly the view I had of my life at this point in time as I walked in the park with my dog, Tolo. I began to wonder where and how it was that I got on this mysterious path I seemed to be on. I was now thirty-six years old with a secure job. I had a home and enjoyed good health. I was not married, but I was living with someone who loved me very much. I’ve been living with this person for over six years and knew I was loved and enjoyed coming home to someone. So why is it that I was not on top of the world or, as some would put it, had the tiger by the tail? What is it that kept the quiet peace from me? Could it possibly be because the person I