My name is Bridgette Pope

 I am a Jesus-loving wife, mom, grandmother, playwright, and teacher. Faith Fueled and Focused is a creative Christian blog that started in 2022. My goal is to share the Gospel and the love of Christ. I pray you will find words here to encourage you, lift your spirits, and build your faith as you find your purpose in Christ.

​

My Journey

I have not always been a Christian. I gave the pastor my hand at eight years old and was baptized on a Sunday soon after. I spent thirty-three years in one church. I attended every Sunday and twice during the week with my mother. She was the driving force behind my regular church attendance. However, I was still frequenting clubs, lying, gossiping, and tearing down God's people. I had no faith and no desire to help others. I placed my job and material things above all else. Since I have developed a personal relationship with the Lord, I have come to know that I was in the church during that time, but the church was not in me. My lifestyle had not changed, my faith had not increased, and my treatment of people had not gotten any better because I had not surrendered my life to God. I only opened the Bible to follow along with the church sermon, and I had not repented and asked God for forgiveness. Even though I was in the church, I had not invited God into my heart. The pastor of my home church and his family fell from grace, and it affected me greatly. I found that placing my faith in people led me to disappointment and heartbreak. I put so much focus on the people in the church. I did not know the joy that comes with having a personal relationship with Jesus. I began to despair and question my reason for living.

​

I realized I needed Jesus. I began to pray and ask God for clarity, purpose, and guidance toward a relationship with Him. My mother died in 2002. I could not understand why God would take my mother. She was such a good woman with a heart for God. Since she was the only reason I stayed after the calamity in the church, I never went back. I had lost my mother, and I had no church home. I sank further into despair. My father died the following year. The following year, I unexpectedly lost my job after fifteen years of service with the same employer. That job was everything to me. In fact, I considered leaving my husband to keep it. My mother-in-law invited me to the church she attended. Reluctantly, I attended with my family. It was there that I was reintroduced to Jesus, and my life changed. I invited the Lord into my heart; I asked for forgiveness for my sins. I asked the Lord to use me for his glory. He opened my eyes to the fact that as painful as it was, he had to remove some things from my life so I could see Him clearly. 

​

The biggest change I have noticed in my life is the change in my relationships with my family, my husband, and my children.  My husband and I have been married for 43 years. He is a godsend. I have also noticed the Holy Spirit's presence in my consciousness, which prompts me to refrain from ungodly behavior. As I look back on those times when I was out in the world, I think about how many times I almost lost my life. I thank God that he never left me. When I had enough of trying to do things my way and sought Him through prayer, He gave me exactly what I prayed for. I know my mother would be so proud of me today. I have found joy, and I know that even though I may not understand what I am going through all the time, I will always trust and have faith in God. 

​