| "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;" Romans 1:16a | |
My Testimony : | |
I wasn't brought up in a 'religous' family, we never went to church and I don't remember us associating with many who did. I knew my grandparents were christians though - we went to church with them once when I was young. As far as I can remember it was really boring and filled with old people - not really my cup of tea.
I remember us having some sort of christian education thing on a Friday at primary school. We must have learnt about Jesus, sung songs and coloured in pictures but I can't remember that much - except once visiting a church at easter, and also, for some reason, a song we used to sing, 'there is a green hill far away'. For the most part my early years didn't have a lot to do with anything spiritual. I went to school, did my homework, hanged out with my mates and more or less just did all the regular stuff you do when you're growing up. Life went on. Primary school turned into intermediate and intermediate into high school. Things changed but they were still pretty much the same. At the beginning of high school I developed a particular attraction to a certain girl. I liked her very much and at the beginning of 5th form, after many a nervous moment, I plucked up the courage to call her and tell her so. I was gutted to find out she didn't feel the same way about me but this didn't change my feelings toward her. It wasn't until much later that anyone knew what I had done that day or how I really felt about her, for all throughout 5th form and for the first part of 6th form all this was between me and her. It was kind of funny really, I'd still call her, talk to her at school, I'd even been to visit her a few times, but all along I was, in a sense, brushing over the truth. She didn't feel the same way about me. I remember hearing bits and pieces about how so and so in our group of friends liked so and so but they were always too chicken to tell them how they felt and so the next day the situation was just the same - they could always hold on to a hope that the other person felt the same way about them, but for me that hope had disappeared. I'd often think about her, of what could of been, of why, of what to do and so on. I began to dispear - no-one knew how I really felt or what the situation really was but me and her. It began to really hurt deep inside and then, in the middle of 6th form the 'bubble burst'. If it wasn't for Annalie I don't know what I would have done. She seemed so calm and content with life, there was a warmth and inner peace about her that baffled me. In one of our early conversations I remember her asking me something like, 'Did you think I was a shallow person?'. I said 'yes', she said 'most people do'. I began to realise that there was another level to this girl. Annalie was someone who I could talk to. She was someone I could trust with my problems and feelings. She listened to me when I told her about what I was going through and how I felt. I told her how it just seemed as though no-one I knew could relate to my situation. In a caring way she began to tell me how in the tough times of her life she could always turn to God for help. So that's basically how it was. I became interested in finding out about God and what she believed in. Was christianity the truth? Was God really real? Was Satan really real? What about Jesus and sin and suffering and angels and so on. I had truckloads of questions for her. We'd often talk for hours, sometimes into the early hours of the morning. Later I started to question other christians I knew about their experiences and beliefs - I really wanted to find out whether this was the truth. Well, after 6 months of questioning and research I came to the point of great decision. At this point one of Annalie's wise sayings comes to mind - 'For most things in life seeing is believing, but with christianity believing is seeing'. On the 8th of December 1998 I decided to take that step of faith. It was on the morning of that day, in the quietness of my bedroom that I prayed a simple prayer giving my life to Jesus Christ. I was so excited that I ran all the way to Annalie's house to tell her! Since then my life has been radically changed. In Jesus I've found a hope. I've found freedom from guilt and sin and shame. I've found comfort and joy and peace in my life. I've been set free from the things that were once destroying me, the habits that separated me from God. I'm beginning to live a life for God and for others rather than for myself. Being a christian isn't always easy. You still have your ups and downs and make mistakes. I've fallen into sin time and time again and continue to fall but each time I get up, knowing that it's only through the precious blood of Jesus that I'm saved. The Bible says that God has a purpose for everyone's life. In my last waking moment I want to rest assured that I'm going to heaven, knowing that I've done my best to fulfil God's purpose for my life. | |
Why Jesus? : | |
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At some point in life everyone asks the question 'What am I doing on earth?' or 'What is the point of life?'. Until we are living in a relationship with God we will never find the true meaning and purpose of life. Other things may provide passing satisfaction but it does not last.
Jesus said 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me' John 14:6, and also, 'I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live' John 11:25. Friend, I'm not ashamed of telling you about what Jesus has done in my life because I know he's the truth - why would I make this up? Over the years countless millions have experienced the love and freedom a relationship with Jesus brings just as I have. Countless millions have also rejected God's free gift. If you would like to know how to receive Jesus Christ into your life, click here. | |
Find Out More : | |
Read God's word - the Bible : Grab a modern day translation and start with the book of Mark or John. Click to download the Old King James version of the bible (freeware, 1.7Mb).
Do an Alpha course : Alpha is a weekly course for those wanting to investigate the Christian faith. No question is considered too simple or hostile. Find out more--> Talk to Christians who are on fire for God. You will know them by their fruit [or works] (Matthew 7:20) - the life they live will be an expression of their faith. Contact me : If you have any questions, need a bible or would just like to talk to me, I would be glad to hear from you :0), you can contact me here. | More Testimonies :Links : |