Warts And All

Well where do I begin? I guess the best place to start would be right back in my early childhood. As children my sister and I were always sent along to children's meetings and Sunday school despite my parents not being Christians, I guess they just wanted a break on a Sunday afternoon. It was during this time that my sister Kerry, aged 7, at Sunday school realised she was a sinner and needed to be saved so she stayed behind a short while and with her teacher she was shown how she could be saved. When we got home that day Kerry was excited and eager to tell mum and dad about all she had learnt. Our parent's reaction however was not what she had expected or hoped for. Instead of them being happy for her they were upset and angry with the Church that they were telling children they were sinners but unfortunately that is a fact of life as it says in Romans chapter 3, verse 23 - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

Despite our parents reaction Kerry was not discouraged she just simply told mum, dad and myself that she would be praying for us. Faithful to her word she did and two years later she began to see the results of her faith and faithfulness in prayer as mum put her trust in the Lord. Then just 2 weeks later my dad got saved also. So that just left me.

At that time I was happy enough with my childhood and did not see why I should or needed to 'get saved'. I still went to the usual clubs and Sunday school and church. I thought I was too young to get saved. One night though coming home from a meeting with my family we were all talking about the service and what we had learnt and I was chatting away happily until my mum pointed out that unlike the rest of them I had not yet made that step of commitment in putting my trust in Jesus. I knew that I was a sinner and needed to ask Jesus to forgive me of my sin and to thank Him for taking the punishment I deserved on the cross. My mum explained that if Jesus was to return I would be left on my own and I wouldn't know when or where that would take place. So that night when we got home I knelt down and very simply asked God to forgive me. I was about 6 or 7 years old. As time went on I began to help out in my church with different clubs and organisations and went along to camps.

During my teens I began to struggle quite a bit with my faith always questioning what I was doing and why.Was there a purpose to it all? Satan used these doubts and difficulties I was having and I was convinced all I was doing was living out my parents' faith and how they wanted me to be. I left the church at that point and refused to have anything to do with it. It was a very dark and difficult time for me. I went through a lot of hardships and searching. I gradually eased my way back into the church.

At the end of 2002 I recommitted my life back to Go. I had got to a stage in my life that I was tired of running away from God, I had tried doing things the way I wanted but all I did was to keep messing things up. I knew that I had and could still have a better life where God would be in control. I got down before God and confessed everything I had done and I handed my life over to Him. I told God that I would be willing to do anything for Him.

Continued