Testimony of our great Gods work in the life of Ted Hansen

I was raised in a church going home. My parents were Lutheran. My grandfather a Lutheran minister. We were at church every Sunday. Both my parents were active in many areas. I was raised well and yet faith and the morality we were taught were not well connected. It was more about religion and being a Lutheran as opposed to relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

At around 12 or 13 while attending a Stockade/Brigade I learned about needing to accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior. I accepted Him then but, did not grow because of very little follow-up.

Fast forward to 1982 Deb & I started attending a Bible preaching church. Deb was saved (that’s another amazing testimony) & that is when I started growing in the Lord. I found out that the “liturgy” that was read and the words that were repeated week after week at the Lutheran church were actually scripture. So the Lord had allowed me to memorize much of His word. I just had to learn the “addresses”. We grew much there and solidified our faith. We were both very involved. However, I found that often I was doing a lot of good things but with the wrong motives. The Lord through the years has taught me to serve out of love and not obligation or for accolades.

Over the years the Lord has allowed circumstances in our lives that have taught us to depend more on Him more & more. At 36 my heart stopped several times in one evening. In the Drs words I “died” several times. It was then I confirmed “no fear in death”. Between the many times being zapped back I had and took opportunities to let the staff know that if they didn’t bring me back I was going to a much better place. The Lord graciously allowed me to live and watch my children grow and now I am watching my grandchildren grow.

Over 28 years as a correction officer brought its’ share of lumps, injuries and a few surgeries. I also went through months of testing for exposure to HIV. Again God brought us through that trial with His great Grace. Knowing He is in control gives us amazing peace and joy. However, more importantly this career also brought many opportunities for Christ, witnessing to both staff and inmates alike.

The past few years He has grown us through circumstances that once again prove that He is in control. He proves Himself daily in that He gives us the “strength for today & bright hope for tomorrow” We pray daily for the salvation of loved ones. We have prayed “whatever it takes” to save our son. After receiving news of an incurable, untreatable, fatal disease my wife (as only a mother) could stated “maybe this is what it is going to take”. Within that that same year our youngest daughter went through a divorce. After walking with and serving the Lord for several years we heard her tell us that “she wanted nothing to do with the Jesus Christ she had learned about the past two years”. So again we pray. As these circumstances and others drive us to our knees He remains faithful. Most believers can recite Romans 8:28, however it’s the next verse that speaks to us the most. It tells us that God (through the “all things” in verse 28) wants to conform us to the image of His Son. In other words He is building us to be more like Jesus. Praise His name.

Through these times of physical and spiritual storms our God proves Himself faithful. We continue to marvel in how “but God” works out in our lives. He has drawn us to this local body and allowed us to serve and fellowship. We find that as we spread the seeds of the fruit of His Spirit He allows the bounty to return beyond belief. We are sipping from the saucer because the cup (of blessings) is overflowing.

Praise God for His Grace and Mercy. Praise Jesus for His death, burial & resurrection. Praise Him for His imminent return. Praise you Holy Spirit for living within the heart of believers. Thank you Lord it’s all you. Thank you I don’t need to understand, just believe and receive.

John 3:16-18

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