I was born and quickly baptised as a catholic. I was told the bible stories, learned about the crucifixion of Christ, told about all of the rituals. I never knew or felt God's presence in any of it. As soon as I was given a choice by my parents, bye bye church. I was a pretty good teenager, no partying no drinking, no smoking, no sexual activity(besides with myself). As I entered my 20's I started doing all that, drinking became a real issue for me. I was also in trouble over my driving habits( I like to speed) I ended up with 54 tickets by the age of 23. I ended up arrested over it. Lost my licence as you can well imagine. About this time I was very depressed, in debt, no real friends, drinking too much, no girlfriend, etc. A friend from work started asking me to come to church. I told him no way was that happening. Then he changed his approach, he asked me to go mountain biking. That was go for sure. When we got out on the trail for a while we stopped as a group at a picnic table, the group leader began to pray and before I knew it I was asking Jesus into my life.
Things got different from there, I started going to church several times a week, I started taking Bible classes, I got rid of all my non Christian music cd's, I started working for a Christian company owned by some church members. But as much as things changed on the outside and as much as I wanted to change no real difference was in my heart.
At this point I decided to move from Maine to Colorado to go back to school, it wasn't long after I arrived in Colorado I stopped going to any sort of church I started drinking and smoking more then ever before that. I forgot about God and well pretty much went back to the atheist line of thinking. I would only cry out to God when I didn't want to live anymore. Then I would be fine for a little while again. At one point I found myself married to a Bulgarian woman for money. Then I moved to Oregon in the middle of a divorce with her.
I was at the lowest point of my life, depressed, overweight, diagnosed with diabetes, no interest in any real relationships. Well that all changed when a cute young lady came to work with me. She was different, she liked me for who I really was, she could see right through all the bullshit, she was a fiery debater and told me exactly what she was about. She invited me to church and being the typical man i said sure. I was very interested in her... church not so much.
Well the Lord had other ideas, I got into her church and it felt welcoming, like home, the presence of God was heavy in the place. Well one guy introduced himself and asked what he could pray for with me. I told about the fact i wasn't sure how long I was going to live, and the diabetes issues. Well he prayed with me, I asked Jesus back into my life, and I was healed that moment. No more medication, my blood sugars stabilized( and have been for over 3 years now) Even the doctor said keep doing whatever it is you are doing.
At this point the young lady who had asked me to church gave me a book. Dave Roberson's the Walk of Power, Walk in the Spirit. It was a book about praying in tongues. I thought at that moment, this chic is crazy... but I really like her so I will give it a read. I read it, I prayed the prayer in the back about the Holy Spirit.... and nothing. I thought about for a while and a few days later I decided, well I really like her and she may be crazy but I am going to reread this book. After reading this time I asked as sincerely as I could for the Lord to fill me with the Hoy Spirit, and this time bam. It fell on me and I started praying in tongues for hours. I got a download of many things the Lord wanted to do through me.
Now several years later I can tell you that was the key to changing my life. I am now married to that young lady, attend that church several times a week, am happy to call them family. I have changed dramatically, no more struggle with alcohol, or any sort of sexual immorality, am the spiritual head of my home.
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