What is YOUR story?

[AliveAgain]

The stories of our lives differ a lot. Some are so swamped with stuff it is hard to understand how it can all fit in, and some are a lot lighter. But, the most important story is - how did you come to believe in Jesus?
My story is very "boring". I have none of that dramatic before and after. I have had my faith all my life. I have no memories without Jesus. For me, it has been a growing process instead of immediate change. We all grow, I know that, but you know what I mean. My Mom has told me I was asked if I wanted to believe when I was just a child, like maybe 4-5 years old or so. If my memory serves me right, I´d have to double check that part. I have no memory of it whatsoever, and I also know that there is no way such a young person knows what that all means. Despite that, I have always believed and it has always been absolutetly natural and obvious to me. Like breathing. I have never felt that it was odd in any way or felt any reason to question my reasons for living. I feel extremely blessed and lucky in this area and think that one of the reasons I have what I have is I have the most fantastic parents in the world. The only definite decision I know that I myself made concerning my faith and a way of showing I meant "business", was to get bapitzed. I was 14.
So. What is YOUR story??

[Roberta]

MY STORY IS MUCH THE SAME AS YOURS. I WAS RAISED IN A CHRISTIAN HOME AND WENT TO CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL UNTIL I GOT MARRIED AND THEN GORDON AND I ATTENDED AND GOT INVOLVED IN THE MEN'S CLUB AND THE WOMEN''S GROUP, TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL, SANG IN THE CHOIR. I ACCEPTED CHRIST WHEN I WAS 13 AND THERE WAS NO BIG EXCITING HAPPENING. SOMETIMES I WISH THERE HAD BEEN. MAYBE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER TO STAY ON THE PATH IF I HAD. WE RAISED OUR KIDS IN THE CHURCH AS WELL.

WHEN I AM DOWN AND OUT, SINCE I CAN'T GET TO CHURCH ANYMORE FOR VARIOUS REASONS, I JUST PUT ON A DP CD AND HIS VOICE TOUCHES MY VERY SOUL AND I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. I LISTEN TO 3 OR 4 EVERY DAY, AND ALWAYS ONE BEFORE I GO TO BED. IT MAKES ME FEEL SO PEACEFUL.

LOOKING FORWARD TO OTHER'S STORIES TOO. THIS THREAD IS A GREAT IDEA. THANKS.

[goodasitgets]

Great question!! I can't remember not hearing about Jesus either even though I have had a bad life. I did give my heart to Jesus when I was about 7 but have travelled a back and forth road ever since. Wish I had made other choices but what's done is done. I just hope the Lord will forgive my transgressions. I am a tenderhearted person and I know God looks at the heart so maybe that is enough.

[cindytreadway]

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[goodasitgets]

I grew up in church, my parents actually worked in the church music. When I was little, I got saved, then I got afraid I wasn't saved, so I must have prayed the salvation prayer about 50 times when I was young. I believed in Jesus from the earliest memories I have. I read my Bible as a child. A person who reminds me of me as a child is my granddaughter, who is doing the same thing, my son said. My belief and salvation has been the most important thing to me my whole life. I am 100 percent sure I would not be alive still if it wasn't for being saved and for my faith in Jesus. Thru EVERYTHING...person above me...because if you are a Christian you will go thru trials, and I don't mean little ones either. Life shaking ones, I think. I am glad to say my son is a Christian. There was really nothing more important to me than that. I pray for other family members that they too will be saved. Life is very difficult, and I think without faith life is completely impossible. There was a time in 1991 that I reprayed the prayer of salvation just because I was terrified of what was happening around me. I have no faith in myself, but I have all faith in Jesus that in the end I will be with Him forever in heaven.

Your post made me think. Thanks Cindy!! It's hard trying to live as God would have us but he never promised it would be easy I sang in church when I was young but as I said there has been family problems since day one when my Mama didn't want me. It has been with me all my life because even now though she claims to be a Christian, she still doesn't care. I have always loved her and tried to make things right between us but to no avail. Got a little off topic but could be why I faltered more than once.

[dpphan4eva]

Stories like this may not seem like much to you, but it means the world to me. I was like David, raised in a musical, Christian home, heard stories of Christ for a long time, but didn't really pay attention, but after a while, the concept of Hell began to scare me, having to face a never ending fire. I gave my life to the Lord at VBS at the age of 7, rededicated at 16, baptized in November.

[cindytreadway]

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[Maris]

I’m from Manila, Philippines. As a child I attended a Methodist church; I attended Sunday school regularly where I learned about the Lord Jesus. We are nine children in the family and we faced financial difficulties during my teen years. One day on my way to school, I heard a gospel song that spoke to my heart. Soon after that an uncle who became a born again Christian started conducting bible studies in our home. I felt that the Lord was calling me in the midst of the difficulties. I stopped schooling after high school…I did not know then if I’d ever go to college. Then one day I received a call from a granduncle inviting me to take a scholarship exam. I took 4 exams and several interviews during the year I was out of school. It was a long wait spent in prayers. Two weeks before classes opened the following year I learned that I had made it. I was sent to the Ateneo de Manila University on full scholarship grant with monthly stipend. It changed the course of my life. I received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior when I was in college (1982)…I was baptized later.

So there I was, a teenager facing a very bleak future…but the Lord changed that. I know that the invisible hand of the Lord was behind my scholarship. I was not my granduncle’s first choice. My older sister was the brilliant student but she was already attending college at the time and was disqualified. The Lord has blessed me. Amazing grace…amazing grace! I am forever grateful for that..

Isaiah 43:1-2: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you aflame."

The sweetest part of the Scriptures for me is this “I have called you by name; you are mine!”

[goodasitgets]

well, asgoodasitgets, sometimes you have to honestly make peace with the fact that your family member is never going to be who you want them to be...and realize there is NOTHING you can do about the behavior of someone else. nor is it your fault. you know? you have to let them go...even if its your mother, child, or in my case grandchild....but you have to realize its just not your fault or in your control to change them. when its a parent, it can really make it difficult on your relationship to God, though. you have to let them go so you'll be able to have some kind of peace in this world.

Sorry but I have to disagree. God doesn't give up on us, so I have no right to give up on them.

My alcoholic brother whom I have been praying for was at church this morning and is talking about going back

If God gave up on us we would all be lost. We have done nothing to deserve his Grace.