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All alone (except the Holy Spirit), through a late night prayer for my dad about 8 years ago...praying that he would go to heaven one day...realized I wasn't headed there. I had been going to church faithfully for about 6 months. I did not (presalvation, of course) believe EVERYTHING in the Word. I thought it was a collection of good stories that taught good morals. I actually thought that "no intelligent person could ever possibly believe everything it says in that book." (I actually said that to my Bible study teacher once...pretty arrogant and blind, huh?) I loved God and "knew" who he was. When I realized that one day He would say "Depart from me, I never knew you" - I gave it all to Him. I stopped being "religious" and started a friendship with my savior. I trusted Jesus for all He has done and is going to do. Repented before him of all that I had done to grieve him (long list). There was a peace that is unexplainable. Nothing "magic" just "real". Side note: I was specifically praying for my dad NOT to go to Hell. Sounds odd but different than wanting them to be in heaven. I am a pretty visual person and I could "see" my dad being tormented/tortured in hell. Knowing the suffering he has endured on earth (Vietnam, losing his dad, other stuff) seemed pretty bad that he would have to suffer twice. But the type of suffering that I saw him endure in hell, was of NO comparison. That's when it hit me "Oh my gosh, I'M going to hell!" I am anxious to hear everyone else's. |
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Norm |
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April 10, 2007 at 7:42pm |
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| Thanks for your story. I didn't want to start. I was 8 years old when God blind-sided me with His awesome love. I wasn't looking for him. I was just a little boy who had not done a bunch of bad stuff...loved baseball and riding my bike. A Christian school teacher did her job. She told us (class) about God, His Story, and My Story. The Holy Spirit did His job and convicted me of my sin and convinced me of my need for Him. An awesome love story! My teacher would daily give us an "invitation" opportunity. There was no pressure, I just felt the inside nudge from the Holy Spirit. I accepted Christ in God's timing, and began praying for my Dad's salvation. I prayed for nine years and he accepted Christ. (sidenote: at the time of salvation we weren't going to church as a family...we weren't anti-God, but we weren't for Him either) Praise God!....Who's next? |
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| | Grew up in a very good Presbyterian church, but somehow never caught on fire. Although I responded to at least 3 altar calls by the age of 14, nothing took hold. I strayed far from God through college, and it wasn't until 2 years after marrying my wife that God began a slow change in me. Then after 8 yrs of doing a few things right and a lot of things wrong, I went to grad school, and spent a year in the desert, both physically and spiritually. When I returned to civilization, I had a thirst for God like never before. Now I walk with him like my life depends on it -- and it does!! ~mike |
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Norm |
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April 11, 2007 at 10:31am |
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| Awesome. I love to hear the stories. Same God, different story, same result. |
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I was raised all my life in church and one day it just hit me that I have to ask Jesus into my heart. So I went to my mom and told her that I wanted to have Jesus in my heart and she took me into her bedroom and we prayed for Jesus to come on in!!!! |
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Norm |
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April 29, 2007 at 6:50pm |
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| God is awesome! Thanks for sharing Big_Poppa and Mitzi. |
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Sue |
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April 29, 2007 at 7:57pm |
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| I was in a bar one night drunk out of my mind and I saw an old friend of mine, who I went to high school with. She preceeded to make fun of a mutual friend of ours, because she became "one of those Jesus freaks, and that's all she ever talks about." Well, I was more curious than anything about what had "happened" to my friend, so I called her up to ask. I just came right out and asked her "I heard you became a Christian?" And she then shared the gospel with me and I asked her if I could come to church with her. I was really lost and my friend seemed to have a peace I never saw in her nor myself. The rest is history. |
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This is probably the first time I'll be typing these words.. but I'm glad to share in my story for God's glory. :) I was in an abusive relationship in college, and was too weak and fearful in my heart to break it off. And I didn't know how either. One afternoon after class I literally felt God touching my hand through the sunlight. He said "I am with you. You can do all things through me." After the tears washed my face, I got up and knew exactly what I had to do. I packed my things, transferred to ucla for a semester, did all my studies from home. When I came back the following winter, Jesus had healed my heart and enabled me to move forward with literally a clean break, a healthy outlook, and wonderful studies. It was completely amazing and perfectly orchestrated by God. I'll never forget His healing touch that afternoon... |
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Val |
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May 01, 2007 at 5:31am |
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| I grew up going to church every Sunday, but when we got home from church...that was it! No talk of Jesus, or anything to do with having a relationship with him. In my young mind, church was nothing but an annoyance of having to wake up early on Sunday mornings, and put on a dress! Then, in my young teen years, I started rebelling against going to church-LOUDLY, making the whole experience stressful for all... Eventually, we stopped going to church. My teens years were very difficult. While I was always outgoing and looked as if my life was all about "fun" (I even managed to fool myself), I was, in fact, lonely and depressed, and made all the wrong decisions, trying to find peace and comfort of any kind. In my mid-twenties, I was invited to a Christmas Eve service. Not having anything better to do at the moment, I decided to go. It was the church I had grown up in. I sat through that midnight, candle-lit service crying... I had no idea why. I kept thinking to myself "What is wrong with you?! Stop crying!!! This is crazy!". I left there and went back to my usual life...but I just couldn't shake what happened to me that night. So the following Sunday, I found myself driving back to that church by myself. The whole way there, I kept thinking "What are you doing? Are you Nuts!?". Well, that was start of it all! I went back every Sunday! The Lord showed me quickly that it was HIM I was looking for all those years! Praise God! My life did a 180. I moved back home with my parents, went back to college, studying religion. I read my bible every moment I could...I wanted to learn as much as I could about what was happening to me! I shared my story with anyone who would listen! (Oh, to have that fire back) I soon was helping with the youth group in that same church and eventually was hired on as their Dir. of Youth Ministries. Shortly after that Christmas Eve Service, after smoking for over 10 years, I prayed for the Lord to help me quit...I never smoked again. He took away my desire completely...I couldn't have done it otherwise! The glory is HIS completely! I left the life I had lived for over 10 years... I left EVERTHING in it! I was called a "Jesus Freak" by many who knew me, and didn't understand my transformation, a name which I wore proudly! I was SAVED! I am SAVED! Thank you Jesus! "I once was blind, but now I see!" On a side note, my parents, too, have come to know and love Christ, and are now both actively involved in that same childhood church!!! |
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Norm |
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May 01, 2007 at 7:07am |
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| Awesome. I am hearing how God uses people to invite us or re-invite us back, and also how God just flat-out grabs us by the hand. God is so good. Love ya Jesus. |
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