OK gang,
I was starting to reply to Terry A about a time and place to share her faith story and decided that I would make a thread. I'll share my story in more detail soon, but basicly I was one of those who was raised in the church and grew gradually into my faith and into accepting Christ as my savior and Lord. I hardly knew a time when I didn't believe in Jesus. then in my 30's, I had a major crisis of faith after I was a minister and wasn't even sure there was a God for awhile. I just had to take it on faith, but even then didn't really care. I could still say, do and teach the "right" things, but I was pretty empty and dead inside. My faith was gone for 5-6 years and then began returning almost as quickly as it disappeared. Only this time, I had a whole lot more questions than I ever did as a child. this experience made me really appreciate people who struggle with faith issues in a way I never did before. Quite frankly there are still parts of my faith that are a little fuzzy (particularly around explanations of the resurrection). I share about that later.

So folks, why not share a little about how you found Jesus?
Peace, Journey

We love because God first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God, " yet hates his brother (sister), he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother (sister) whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:19-20

I too was raised in church. I was born again when I was 10. I have struggled with faith issues for most of my adult life. At one time I was the partner of a MCC clergy. Right now I don't go to church but am looking for a faith community

Well I grew up in a Christian home as well. I really didn't realize how much I took that for granted until I went to college and met lots of people who had not been raised in the family environment I had...

Anyway I grew up in the Methodist church and for those other Methodists out there I was confirmed when I was in 5th grade. I wasn't really sure why my parents were so intent on me going through confirmation class, but everybody else my age was so I went along with it.

I was 12 when I accepted Christ. I was at a youth camp in North Carolina and we had been there all week w/ a bunch of other churches. The last night some man got up and spoke (about what I have no clue) but I remember him asking if anybody wanted to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior to come up front and someone would talk with us and pray with us. Well I sat there in my chair for the longest time thinking if someone else from my church would go then so would I. Then I heard a voice in my head (which I now realize was God) telling me that it didn't matter what anybody else did..it mattered what I did. The next thing I knew I found myself walking up to the front of the auditorium. Now the voice I heard wasn't this booming voice. It was actually a very gentle and calm and quiet voice.

As far as my understanding goes, I pretty much understood the basics then. I still had a lot of questions and it actually seems that the older I get and the more I experience, the more questions I have. Go figure..lol

I'm looking forward to reading other people's stories about how they found Jesus. Thanks for starting this thread Journey!

Cristi

Whether you get the answer you prayed for, or the answer you dread, God's grace is the same.

-- Unknown

I was taught 'sort of' about God as a young Catholic. Although the only thing I really remember about Catechism (sp?) was a bunch of stories about Saints and learning how to 'count down' the mass so I was ready to bolt out the door the moment the last 'amen' was said. We never really studied the Bible.

From that point my life fell apart as my parents divorced and all hell broke loose in my home. Many desperate and painful years later I find myself sent to my Father's (there was no love loss between us...) by a judge. Very painful and lonely time. We moved to Orcas island off of the coast of WA my senior year (that was one LITTLE school!).

My Dad had a policy that when you were 18 you were out of the house come heck or high water! So as my 18th birthday approached I was desperate for answers. Where was I going to go? What would I do? How could I live?? Anyway I got into a huge fight with my step mom and ran away.

The only 'little' problem was that I didn't have anywhere to run! So I headed up the mountain that was behind our house. I knew all the trails up there backwards and forwards because I hiked them all the time (it was my place of refuge and escape). It was getting dark and rain was starting to fall so I was desperately looking for shelter. Problem was there was no shelter on that mountain outside of trees. So that's what I was doing - running up the trail looking for some trees that were close enough together to sleep under.

I came around a bend in the trail and saw a large wooden log cabin. It was missing a portion of its roof and some of its walls were missing planks but nothing major. Well I was pretty freaked out because I didn't know where I was. There was no cabin on that mountain so I knew that somehow I must have gone clear over the mountain and was on a portion of the trail I had never been on before!

Anyway.. it was shelter and excellent shelter at that. So I headed up the stairs to the loft and got out my sleeping bag, flashlight and my Bible. I thought upstairs was better than downstairs in case an animal came. The rain was pounding down but the roof was solid and I felt quite at peace there. That night I sought God like I never had before. I knew my life was a mess and about to get a whole lot messier that next morning! (my dad would be pissed!)

Anyway I didn't know how to really study the Bible (I had never done it on my own) so I just started opening it up and reading wherever I landed. I seem to be 'stuck' in Psalms so I read many of them. From there I went to Proverbs and then Ecclesiastes. It was there that I finally understood what God, through Solomon, was telling me. That Solomon, in all his glorious might, strength, knowledge and wisdom. Was a bloomin' mess until he gave up trying to do everything himself and turned these over to God. It was only then that Solomon became the wise Solomon that we see in Proverbs.

I realized that if Solomon couldn't do it on his own then I certainly couldn't. Plus my life was certified mess as it was (and about to get a whole lot messier!). In addition I had some major decisions to make in my life that night and needed God in the worst way. It was that night that I turned everything over to God. It wasn't easy. Turning over all the 'little' things wasn't too hard. But when it came time to turn over my eternal soul to Him... well .. that was downright scary.

My life changed dramatically after that night. I was never one for organized religion and the like so I studied the Bible pretty much on my own. Plus with my studies, training and work I didn't have time to become a real active member with some Church. But that didn't stop me from drawing very, very close to God. I needed Him for everything just to survive at first.

Needing Him and drawing so very close to Him over the years sure did help though when I dealt with the issue of being gay. That was the one 'crises' in my faith walk. How could a gay person possibly be a Christian? Wasn't that an oxymoron? That was by far the most difficult thing for me to work through. It was also a blessing at this point in time that I WASN'T dependent upon a particular denomination, teacher or preacher. Otherwise my journey would have been far worse! It was pretty much just God and me working through the issues. It still didn't make it easy but at least I didn't have too many other opinions clouding my judgment. That was a blessing.

1 Cor 13:13 (NLT)
"and the greatest of these is love."

Ctry,
Hope you find a new faith community that you like

Sweet Spirit,
I know what you mean. the more you know, theless it feels like you know and the more questions you have. Me too.

Elaine,
Wow! Amazing story. To think you found faith in Ecclesiates while reading by flashlight in the loft of a log cabin on a stormy night. I think that is the first time I've heard that particular book being the one that was the kicker. I think that goes to show that every part of the Bible is inspired. I like Ecclesiastes, but never figured it for a salvation book. Most of the time you hear about the gospels. God just knew you needed him and was going to use whatever was there to be used. Your story is encouraging.

OK folks, we are off to a good start on this thread. Let's keep it going. All of you have a story.
Journey

We love because God first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God, " yet hates his brother (sister), he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother (sister) whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:19-20

Giving our testimonies, eh? Well, can't say that I've been walking in The Way as long as you gals. I spent a good many heathen years before falling down on my knees.

I was raised by wonderful, loving, caring parents who just didn't happen to be practicing Christians. They were believers, intellectually at least, but did not see the value of church and fellowship. What saved me was my mother. She found the Truth about 20 years ago following the death of her father. And after five years or so of trying to share it with me in my original rockhead state, it kinda sunk in. Well, not quite that easily.

In my early twenties, I was consumed with girls and romance. Not that I was all that successful once I had them. My too many relationships lasted anywhere from 3 months to a year. Kid in a candy shop kinda thing. Then when I was 26 I fell in love for the first time. I was absolutely head over heels. To make a long story short, after almost two years the relationship started going south. I was devastated. Beyond anything I had ever experienced. Got so depressed that at one point I literally could not get out of bed. My body felt like it weighed 1,000 pounds. I managed to reach the phone from the bed and called my mother. I told her what was going on (she'd known about my lifestyle since I was 17 - also told me it was a phase I would grow out of - still waiting to see if this is true). Anyway, she prayed with me over the phone and I gave my life to Christ then and there. And then a miracle happened that no one else witnessed but me. Within a couple of minutes of hanging up the phone with my mom, I felt the physical oppression/burden in my body lift up and go away. I had a sense of peace that I had NEVER known and knew all things would be okay no matter what happened. And I have never been that low again since.

I wish I could say that from that critical point on, my life was a journey towards Him and His plan. But I have been a foxhole Christian more than once. Still, even when I have slipped away for a spell, I always seem to come back with a little more Godly steel in my spine.

quote:

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Still, even when I have slipped away for a spell, I always seem to come back with a little more Godly steel in my spine.

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-- Boy I LOVE the way you put that! Hey - we've all been there! I can't think of a single Christian that hasn't had spells of doubt, wandering away, running away or whatever... God is faithful (even though we aren't always)

p.s. ... I also love the way you have described the sensation of God's love/presence/spirit sweeping into a persons spirit and changing us in that split second. The Bible says He removes our old heart (spirit) and gives us a new heart. One that is written and filled with Him (and God = Agape).

1 Cor 13:13 (NLT)
"and the greatest of these is love."

My story is a little different. I was raised in a nominally Christian home, but we didn't attend church regularly. Mother chose churches based on what was fashionable, the church the "right people" attended. Needless to say I never really got it, and I had little faith because I had little example.
As a young adult I was an atheist. It was the 60's, and didn't know any Christians. Christians were seen as the enemy of our having a good time. And I had lots of good times.
But God had a plan for me. I had always been interested in stories of the Holocaust, and read any I could get my hands on. When I was about 30, I read "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom. She got through hell because she was strengthened by her faith. So I made the first sincere prayer of my life: "Please, God, may I believe in you, too." And of course God was right there waiting for me. I was filled with love and peace and the most marvelous sense of connection. God said, kindly, "gotcha." I went out and bought a Bible.
Despite some times when my faith was shaken, I have remained with God since then. I hope I have matured a little in faith.
I hope to hear some more stories from the rest of you. God bless you all.
Ingrid

Ingrid thanks for sharing! I do love your story I had to chuckle about the "lots of good times" part and especially the "gotcha"! Lol! God DOES have a sense of humor no?

1 Cor 13:13 (NLT)
"and the greatest of these is love."

Ingrid,
Your story brings back good memories for me. At one point in my life, I got to spend a little time around Corie ten Boom and her companion/nurse. Both were amazing people. Her book and story moved me as well to a deeper understanding of the faith I already had.
Journey

We love because God first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God, " yet hates his brother (sister), he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother (sister) whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:19-20

Well now - I have never done this before so excuse me if it all goes pear shaped.

As with so many of you, I grew up in the Church - we went to church as a family, kids went ot sunday school and later to youth but it really didn't mean a lot - just doing what you have to do and the fun comes later.

Then, when I was about 14, the gym teacher at school [I am SURE she was gay but she was a total, total Christian so i wasn't scared of her!!!] introduced me to a group that she had set up in her flat and every Sunday - in the morning I went to church and in the afternoon i went to Heaven! The music [very inmportant to me - how can mournful music fill the soul with joy?]was out of this world - the messages too. We all had to take our turn in giving a reading of what mattered to us - and nerves and all, we did it.
Then one day Billy Graham came to town and i was SAVED SAVED SAVED and it felt sooo good - I lived my life as I knew He would want and all was rosy.............. until I hit 18 and then it was all downhill and i pushed it all to one side to have a different kind of fun.
This "fun" involved me getting myself involved in a whole range of things that i am pretty ashamed of - married a great guy, but he was an agnostic [ at least he wasn't an atheist - could have been worse]- this mess carried on for many many years and then God took charge again............. I got cancer!
Well, all out of the blue, I got a breast lump, went under the anaesthetic and came out minus one and a half breasts.i had been warned of the possibility but - it wont happen to me!
So then I had to live with this and what did I do? I thanked God for his goodness to such a sinner - what had I done to deserve to live when other people, far more deserving, died - some of them i met having the therapy were so GOOD and I was so BAD.All my friends were saying "why her God" and i was saying"why not me?"
5 years to the day almost I got another primary [in the ovary] and the whole circus was on again - but this time i had good company - God and Kimmie!We [the 3 of us] got through the chemo and I worked throughout so that life stayed as normal as possible.
Anyway, i was back and i am His and will not stray again.
As to being a Lesbian - well He knows what is in my heart and that I love Him - so I am prepared to be judged on that and if I'm wrong - so be it.
Over to the rest of you now !!!!

Seems like many of us grew up in church and I am no exception. My great grandfather was a Presbyterian minister so I brought up in a Presbyterian Church (go figure). Church was something you do on Sundays. We said grace before meals and bedtime prayers as a child. Once my brother decided grace was rhetoric, we stopped that. When I was in junior high school, I stopped going to Sunday School or worship services and worked in the Church nursery. By the time I was in high school, I decided I would give the youth group a try. We got new leaders who were very active in YoungLife and believed in a personal relationship with Jesus. When I was 16, I accepted Christ as my savior. I was the only "Born-again" Christian in my family and they all thought I was going through a phase. I was very involved with YoungLife, church etc all through my college years. The only problem was, when I became legal to drink, that became quite an important part of my life. I became quite a partier. Heck, I really didn't need a party, just alcohol. I still don't know how I made it through those years of college. Well, an odd thing happened. 5 years to the date of my salvation, I ended up at the same place, with many of the same people. I knew then something had changed in my relationship with Jesus. I knew it was NOT Him so it had to be me. So I made a decision at that point that I had to decide which way I was going to go. It was becoming TOO difficult to be drunk on Saturday night and go to church on Sunday morning. It was TOO hard to remember WHICH group of people I was with (my drinking buddies or my Christian friends). I chose God. I stumbled around a lot with breaking the addiction, but with the Lord's help, I succeeded. After that, I became involved with very conservative churches and organizations. Really never had to deal with the idea of being a gay Christian because I never allowed myself to think that way. Now, MANY years later, I have learned more and more about the true message of the Gospel and of Christ's love for us. I am so thankful for this board because it has helped me so much to reconcile my faith and my sexuality.

These are really good stories. Helps us all to realize just how much we're alike. So many struggles and so many blessings. Keep posting, people!

Groucho,

Early Happy Birthday to you. May God Bless you with many more.
Have a wonderful B-day in company of your loved ones.

Great that you had overcome the addiction with the Lord's help.

Take care ... Doth

Thank you Doth!

God is good and faithful.

Christ found me. LOL As a child attending Sunday school I was drawn by the stories of the Bible. When Mom had Billy Graham on TV I was watching too. It became a desire of mine to be able to attend a service some day because I wanted to go forward and accept Jesus Christ as my Savior. I’ve never thought of my experience with Christ to be one of those stories that movies are made of but I know and can see the hand of God in my life. By the time I was about 16 the president of the American Tract society moved across the street from us. One day he gave Dad tickets to the Billy Graham crusades that would take place in our area. Neither parent was church minded but Mom always had the crusades on TV and I liked watching them as a child. It was a dream of mine to go forward when Billy made the call. The three of us went and when the call came I went forward with Mom and Dad following me just so I didn’t get lost. LOL

It wasn’t until my early 20’s when I met some people at work that I was brought to a congregation that enjoyed really sifting through the Bible and finding out what it all means. Funny in a way because it was Mom who pushed me after high school to finds a “real” job. I circled the building a few times before I went in to fill out an application. I’ve been at that church for some time now.

There have been times when I’ve slacked off with the things of God but I have found what the Hebrews writer said is true, God is faithful.

I don’t think it is any accident that I came upon this web site and I am grateful for the opportunity to share the love and fellowship of Jesus Christ with all of you.

John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

[This message was edited by DebBeReal on February 27, 2004 at 12:38 AM.]

[This message was edited by DebBeReal on February 27, 2004 at 12:38 AM.]

DebBeReal,
Thanks for sharing your story. You always cause me to think when yo post about your faith and about your beliefs. I'm glad you take the time to share.
Your faith sounds so important to you.
Peace and prayers, Journey

We love because God first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God, " yet hates his brother (sister), he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother (sister) whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:19-20

quote:

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Originally posted by journey:
DebBeReal,
Thanks for sharing your story. You always cause me to think when yo post about your faith and about your beliefs. I'm glad you take the time to share.
Your faith sounds so important to you.
Peace and prayers, Journey

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There's a reason why the faith I have received is so important to me...
Psa 119:50 "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life."

In the end we have nothing else.

John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Spent the first half of my life searching for God. Praying at night that he would speak to me and always crying when nothing happened. The trouble is, I think, that I didn't give God a chance to answer. I became a Christian when I was sixteen, but then drifted away from Church until I had my own children. On my first visit back to church after many years, I couldn't stop crying and knew I had found my spiritual home. Still struggling with the concept of being able to know God personally, I prayed for revelation again. One day, I was sitting quietly on my own and thought to myself "I wish it was possible to know Jesus now, instead of waiting until we go to Heaven". At that moment I heard a voice speak my name. The voice was not in my head but appeared to come from just beside me. It was the most beautiful, amazing voice that I have ever heard. The way that my name was said spoke volumes. The intonation suggested that "didn't I know that it was possible to get to know Jesus NOW" but it was not a forceful voice but gentle and reassuring. I was so excited and willing to share the excitement with anyone that was willing to listen. However I have met much scepticism from some of my Church members. I have considered the thought that I might have a Schizphrenic trait (auditory halluciantions), but seeing as I have never had an experience like that before or since, have discounted that. If it was God using my imagination to give me a message of comfort, or if it was God's voice outside of me is not really an issue for me now. I feel that this experience was a turning point in my life. I'm still a bit of a drifter and tend to try and hide things from God that I think he will be displeased about - but He always holds on to me and lets me know that it's best to travel along with Him. I am so grateful that He never lets me go and am gradually learning to trust Him with my future.

Ajay

Good post Ajay!!! Samuel the Prophet heard the voice of the Lord three times as a child! I have been spoken to audibly a few times in my life! Why should it be hard to believe that God still speaks to us today, sometimes out loud just to Bless or warn us? He is Worthy to be Trusted no matter your outer circumstances!!! He is calling you to Sharpen your Focus and Seek Him out and to Strengthen your Relationship with Him!

ROSE