I was born into a Christian home and always knew the story of Jesus - how he came to earth as a baby, had an earthly ministry, died on the cross, and was risen from the dead. I also knew of Heaven and Hell, but in my early years, my life was mainly just an effort to do good to please my parents. In my mind and heart, there wasn’t a connection between knowing Jesus Christ and my life as a child.
When I was five years old, I began to understand that it wasn’t enough to be good or to please my parents. It wasn’t enough to know the story of Jesus and what He did. I needed to have that relationship with Him. I needed to ask Him to forgive me for my sin and come into my life. I had seen friends around me pray to receive Christ into their lives and I wanted that, too. At church one Sunday night, I told my mom that I wanted to invite Christ into my life. She went with me to the altar and helped me pray to do just that.
For most of my years after receiving Christ, I lived a pretty good - although not perfect - life. I had Christian friends, I attended church, and I really strived to do the right thing. When I was 25, I began to go through a divorce, followed by the death of my life-long best friend. I began to turn to other people and things to comfort me during those times and strayed from the Lord. A couple years later, I realized that the only comfort I needed was in the Savior I’d known since I was a child. He forgave, restored and healed me. Although I still fail Him many times, I don’t know what my life would be like or if I’d even be here today if I hadn’t made Jesus my Lord those many years ago.
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I grew up in a good home and was taught right from wrong but never went to church. I tried to be good and treat others right. Although I had a good childhood it felt like something was missing. When I grew up I thought marriage or children would fill that void but it didn’t. It was while going through a divorce with 2 small children, that my child’s 5-K teacher invited me to church so I went. The sermon that day was meant just for me.
One night my son’s Sunday School teachers came to visit and asked if I knew for certain that I was going to heaven. I thought I was because I was trying to be good. They told me that the Bible says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. They explained how “Christ died for my sin according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:” (1 Cor. 15:3-4) It was amazing to hear that Jesus took the punishment for my sin and that being good would not get me into heaven. I needed forgiveness. They talked about giving Jesus control of my life. I had run my own life up to that point and made a mess of it so letting God take control sounded like a better plan. I asked Jesus to forgive me for my sin and to take over the “steering wheel” of my life.
Since that night God has changed my life in so many ways. I’ve gone from never being in church to being there all that I can. I want to serve Him and be with other believers. He has given me a desire to get to know Him and read the Bible. He has given me assurance that even though I’m going to have troubles in this life He is with me and will help me. He has taught me so much through His Word. It is my relationship with God through Jesus that has filled the empty place in my life.
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I grew up in a rural area of Middle Tennessee. My parents took us to church every Sunday, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. We went to a small country church of about 50 members. My mother was the pianist. My sister and I would sing duets in church as young children. I began to also play the piano for our church. I thought I was a good person. I was obedient to my parents, made good grades, and was active in church. When I was about 12 years old, I began to hear God speaking to me that I was lost and needed to know His Son Jesus and have a relationship with Him. I realized that it wasn’t enough just to have Christian parents and go to church.
During a revival I was playing the piano. Each night as the evangelist gave the invitation, I would feel the Holy Spirit urging me to go to the alter and give my heart to Jesus. I was reluctant to stop playing the invitational song and walk down in front of everyone. The last day of the revival was on Sunday morning. After the service was over and everyone was leaving, the evangelist looked at me and said, “Young lady you need to know Jesus.” He and I went to the alter and I prayed for Jesus to forgive me of my sins. I believed He died for me and rose again so I might have eternal life. People began to come back into the church to pray and rejoice with us.
After that day, my life was changed. He has directed my path though school, getting married, raising my children, and now helping my precious grandchildren. He has shown His love and care for me many times as I have faced challenges in my life.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
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As a boy I attended church on a regular basis. For many years I thought everyone was going to heaven unless they committed a serious sin such as murder. Before I asked Jesus into my life I controlled my life from the smallest decisions to the biggest decisions.
At the age of 27 I was working for a local manufacturing company which required me to work in excess of 70 hours per week. I decided to change jobs. I decided to work for a company in the investment industry. I knew the job was straight commission but I had convinced myself that I could make it. In October 1987 the stock market crashed. I immediately was broken, humbled and devastated. At this time a Pastor shared with me that we were all sinners and needed a personal relationship with Jesus. I finally realized I needed to turn the small and big decisons over to Jesus. One of the first things I did after making this decision was to call a very close friend and to openly share the decision I had just made. The second thing I began to do was to read the entire bible for the first time. I never heard whistles or bells going off but almost immediately I had a unexplained sense of peace that things were going to be ok.
Since October 1987 I’ve had the opportunity to share what Jesus has done for me on numerous occasions. The exciting thing about sharing my faith is that I realize I’m simply a vessel (spokesperson) for Jesus. I’m an introvert by nature but when it comes to sharing my story I have found that Jesus uses what we perceive as a weakness in order to bring himself honor and glory. I would never had imagined that I would be teaching a Bible Fellowship class much less 15 years in a row. Since 1987 I have faced a number of different trials; children in the hospital, sons near fatal car wreck, job loss and most recently my wife of 23 years has been diagnosed with cancer. The difference today and life before October 1987 is that regardless what happens Jesus is still in control and I could not be happier with the decision I made in 1987. I can honestly say as a family we look at life’s challenges as bumps in the road and an awesome opportunity to see what the Lord is going to do through that situation.
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Before I met the Lord, I believed in God but truly believed everyone went to Heaven. Although growing up with a casual church attendance record, I cannot remember anyone introducing me to a personal relationship with this God I had heard about. While my life cannot be characterized as any incredible 180 degree experience, I can say that I believe my casual Christian growing-up experience is not atypical. My heart was somewhat unsettled. I believed in God. I attended church from time to time. I was a pretty good guy in school. What was wrong?
After leaving home for college, I found that many of the props in my life had been stripped away. The unsettled feeling I had as a youth could no longer be covered up with the day to day distractions of teenage life. I found myself hundreds of miles from home forced to life out of my comfort zone. I will never forget my second semester. An aunt of mine, who had only recently been saved herself, led me to the Lord one night on the telephone. I had had a rough time. I was pretty down. She just gently and lovingly said that I needed Christ to forgive me and indwell me with His spirit. From that moment forward, though I did not understand it, something had changed.
Amazingly, I immediately found that my circle of friends began to change. I was drawn to a strong bible fellowship on campus. There, I learned some praise and worship music, had solid biblical teaching, and most of all, made some Christian friends who helped me along the way. That experience has never left me. So often I look back with thanks at just how amazing the Lord’s grace is for me. Left to my own devices, I would have surely given up many times in so many areas of my life. However, I truly believe that it is the shed blood of Christ that allows the Holy Spirit to indwell me, renewing my mind, changing my heart, each and every day, to serve Him according to His purpose.
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