VINEMONT, Ala. – Vinemont junior cheerleader/golfer Abby Lee credits God for the many blessings that He has brought into her life, and being raised in a Christian home and committing her life to Him several years ago helped her strengthen her relationship with the Lord even more.
“God means everything to me. The relationship I have with God means so much more than any other relationship. God guides me closer to Him every single day and shows me how to be a living example of Christ and how to help me minster to others. I’ve been raised in a Christian household and always knew that I needed a Savior for my sins. I came to know Him when I was very young, but I never fully committed my life to Him. A few years later, I committed myself to God and have been living for Him ever since. He has changed me for the better, not just for my life, but others around me. He changed me a lot. He changed my thought process, how to adapt to situations, and how to respond to others the way followers of God should.” Lee said.
Abby leans on a handful of Bible verses to help her get through the day, and she also listens to some great songs as well. They have helped her get closer to God every single day.
“I’ve loved Philippians 4:6 since I was nine, John 15:18, 1 Timothy 6:12, Romans 8:37-39, and 1 Corinthians 5:20-21 are my favorite Bible verses because of how it shows followers of Christ how to be. I love Firm Foundation, because it shows how we can stand on Him and know that we will not fail if we have faith that conquers. I also love Goodbye Yesterday, because it’s a good pump-up song, just praising the Lord. The other song I love is Christ Be Magnified. The bridge is so great. It says, ‘I won’t bow to idols. I’ll stand strong, and worship You, and if it puts me in the fire, I’ll rejoice, because you’re there too. I won’t be formed by feelings. I’ll hold fast to what is true. If the cross brings transformation, then I’ll be crucified with You, because death is just the doorway into resurrection life, and if I join You in your suffering, then I’ll join You when you rise, and when You return in glory with all the angels and the saints, my heart will still be singing, and my song will be the same.’ The bridge of that song really helped me act on whether or not I’m being an example of Christ and just letting Him take control and just worshipping Him.” Lee said.
Abby wants everyone of all ages to have a relationship with Him, and she wants to become that kind of role model for so many kids. Her church does a lot for the Vinemont community, and they all have grown closer to the Lord because of it.
“It’s important, because Jesus is coming back sooner than before, and everyone young and old needs to have a relationship with God, because He is going to return, and it will be amazing to be in His presence,” Lee said. “It’s important, because it helps the younger kids learn how God loves each and every one of us and helps them want to be a follower of Christ and how to be one. My church does a lot for the Vinemont Community. We have a church garden that we give vegetables to nearby trailer parks. We also host a lot of the community events, such as the fireworks show in Vinemont. Our church is really involved in the community and wants to fellowship with everyone in the community. Our youth also goes to a church camp called ‘Super Summer’ and it’s so amazing. It goes deep into different studies of the Bible and gives you a desire to want to know God more. ‘Super Summer’ digs deeper into the Gospel, and you are around so many other believers. You make lifelong friends from all around the state, and it is studying 24/7. It’s not really a free-time camp. It’s just studying and worshipping God with other believers. It makes you strive to know God more and more.”
The Godly role models that she has in her life has made such a big impact on her life, and God changed her and her family’s life in a big way during their time at Vinemont.
“My role models are my parents, Daniel and Melanie Lee, Laura Howard, my aunt, Jada Smothers, my uncle, Benjamin Smothers, and Joey Smithson. They mean the world to me. They’ve shown me how to be a better follower of Christ and how to walk in His ways. They’ve also shown me how to minister to others,” she said. “A life-changing event that has happened to me and my family was when we moved from house parenting at the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home to Vinemont owning nothing but our clothes and a car. Through all of this, God provided us with a home, jobs for my parents, and everything that we needed.”
Abby kept her advice short and sweet for those people who are new when it comes to having a relationship with God. She talked about her Godly rituals that she likes to do throughout the day, and she has taken away some important things during her walk with the Lord.
“Find a healthy church family that has expository preaching, stay in the Word, and abide in Christ,” she said. “I like to read my Bible and pray throughout the day. I’ve learned how to be a better follower of Christ, how to react to certain situations, and how to minister to others.”
