I was actually saved and baptized when I was 9 years old. I grew up in the Baptist church, sent there by my parents. But, after I was "saved" ... I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I wanted to do *something*, but there was nothing. I felt there was more to it than just accepting Jesus into my heart and telling God I was sorry. I felt lost and alone. By the time I was a teenager, I had become involved with a "Oneness" Pentecostal church and I felt I would break under the legalism. I became very bitter and at the age of 16, I left the church. I would still pray and I believed in God, but I did what I wanted to do. I felt guilt about it, but I figured God made me the way I was and He would understand. I would say I was sorry and He would forgive me. Basically ... I made God my dad and not my Lord.
I lived my life as I wanted for years and years. Then I saw The Passion of the Christ. The Lord used that movie to start the process of bringing me back to Him. It opened my eyes to what our Savior had went through for us and softened my hard heart. Then I found the Are You A Good Person? test online and it changed my life. Seriously.
I always said that, that I was a good person and that's what counted. Yeah, I wasn't always honest and I did stuff I shouldn't do, but I didn't go around killing people, or hurting children ... or anything like that. That test made me realize that I wasn't a good person, except by my own standards and that I was telling myself lies. The "god" I confessed to believe in was not the God of the Bible. I repented and truly became a Christian. I listened to Hell's Best Kept Secret and True & False Conversion and realized that for years I had been a false convert. It was then that I really started to read my Bible and seek after God.
As many of my readers know, I was married at that time to a man that I later found out was molesting my children. He was abusive to me on a few occassions, but I never thought he would do anything to my kids. He was/is a porn addict and he allowed that addiction to ruin his life. All I can do is praise God for the work He had already started in my life, because once I found out what my husband was doing, it was God that brought me and my children through it. Had it not been for my Lord, I don't know how I would have handled that situation.
Needless to say, I divorced him and he went to trial for what he had done. He was found guilty and is in prison. During the year that led up to the trial, I met a wonderful man in my church and we married. Not only does he love me, but he loves my girls. We now have a daughter together. God totally restored to me what the enemy had taken from me. Plus, I got four step-children in the deal ... two of which are boys. :)
So where am I now? My husband and I are both involved in a ministry called W.A.R! (We Are Ready!). It is a support group for people who are struggling or have overcame life controlling problems like drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling, etc. We have outreaches where we go into neighborhoods that are infested with drugs, bootleggers, drug dealers and prostitution and we give away clothing and food ... but better yet, we hand out tracts and pray with people. I am currently enrolled in the School of Biblical Evangelism to help in that endeavor.
I completed Ambassador's Academy in August of 2009. During that all too brief, but wonderful experience ... I came to love stop-light preaching and hope to pursue that in the future doing open-air preaching in my area as well as participating in Project Ezra.
With God ... all things are possible. :)
So, now ... I have to ask you a question. Are you a good person? Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything, regardless of its value? Have you ever used God's name as a cuss word? Have you ever looked at another person to lust after them? If you have, then you are a lying, thieving, blaspheming, adulterer at heart and you will face God on the day of Judgment. Will you be guilty or innocent?
The Bible warns that if you are guilty you will end up in Hell. But that is not God's will. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ ... fully God and fully man ... to suffer and die on the cross for you. You broke God's Law, but Jesus paid your penalty. That means He can legally dismiss your case. He can commute your death sentence: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Then He rose from the dead and He defeated death. Please, repent (that means turn from your sin) and pour out your heart to God today and trust in Jesus Christ alone. God will grant you the gift of everlasting life. Then read your Bible daily and obey it.
