When I was younger, I was self-centered; just interested in enjoying life. I had a wild - tough nature. Basically, if it felt good…I did it. I thought I had total control of my life. I smoked, drank, and got involved in other careless activities through the time I was a young adult. I had been in and out of church most of my life but didn’t feel any presence of God or security about my future. As a young adult, several painful and frightening experiences helped me see what I was doing to myself - wasting my life. Facing this reality, I started trying to get myself going in the right direction. The part of me that showed on the outside - got better…gradually.

Happy marriage, church attendance, good job . . . even with all of these, I was sinking, … afraid of going to hell and able to do nothing about it. Years of struggling passed – with no solution - with me trying harder all the time. Bored one Sunday in church, I was reading along in the New Testament (Ephesians 2), and it finally became clear that it was not that I wasn’t trying hard enough … it was that I couldn’t try hard enough. The answer was God’s grace - something He did; not something I could do. I prayed a simple prayer of acceptance thanking God for his grace in the form of His Son Jesus Christ. That was when God saved me.

After all those years of wondering if I would ever earn or be worthy of eternal life, and the peace that goes with it, all I had to do was accept it by faith. From that time forward, I began working to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. Since becoming a Christian, life hasn’t been perfect or even easy. I am still an imperfect person. I have troubles just like anyone else. But I am different; more sensitive and caring- really concerned about other people. I have found that spiritual peace and security I was looking for. I know that I am not struggling alone. Life continues to be a journey, but Christ is with me as I make my way.