Post by groupw on Aug 23, 2004 15:14:13 GMT -5
Last night I posted a question to CT asking if we could have a home for giving our testimonies in order to get to understand each other better. I also have been getting the feeling that there are a number of unsaved people who at the very least monitor these boards who might need to see that we as Christians are no better, holier or different than any other man or woman.
As a result of that message the "Testimonies " board was born. I hope that through the posts on this board, we can inspire each other in our walks with God, and maybe help to open the hearts, eyes and ears of those who have not yet accepted Jesus as their Lord and savior. What better way to start than introducing myself?
My name is Andy. I am 31 years old, married with one son who will be 1 yr. old in two weeks. My father was raised a Catholic, and my mother an Episcopal. As a result, they decided that it would be best for their children to choose their own faith, and not have us baptized at birth. As a child, it was a little confusing having no religion, but by the time I was 12 yrs. old, I had decided to join the Episcopal church and was baptized there. I became an acolyte (alter boy), and really got involved, or so I thought.
One Sunday morning, prior to communion, I started to realize that although I had memorized all the prayers, I never listened to what it was I was praying for. That day I meditated on the Nicene Creed, and prayer life changed forever. I felt like every prayer I had ever recited before that day had been empty, and I had to make things right with God. At every service after that I made a point to concentrate deeply on every word of every prayer, and honestly cared about it's contents. I was feeling great about my new found spirituality. As weeks passed, I began to notice that nearly the entire congregation recited these prayers strictly from memory, and I began to doubt whether anybody knew what they were praying for at all. I had lost faith in the Episcopal church, and refused to go. I decided that I didn't need anybody to have a personal relationship with God, and would be better off without them anyway.
Luckily for me, my friend Debbie was saved, and we had long talks about salvation. She told me that simply believing that:
1) Jesus was the son of God, and
2) His death on the cross was payment for my sin, I would gain access to heaven.
I told her she was crazy. I knew that everybody in my Episcopal church believed those things, but very few actually honored God in prayer or deed. I also knew too many BAD people who attended church, thus they must believe those things to be true. I knew in my heart that there was more to it than a statement of faith.
Fast forward 10 years...Debbie and I were now boyfriend and girlfriend for eight years, and I wanted to marry her. She had been my mentor for all those years, even through our break up. She had watched me change and grow so much to that point, but we still didn't see eye to eye on the issue of salvation. I still felt you had to earn it, and she did not.
Debbie had moved out and had been on her own for 4 years already, but hadn't been able to find a church like the non denominational one she had grown up in. She wouldn't marry me until we found one, so the hunt began. The more we searched, the more my faith in organized religion deteriorated. Time after time, all I could see was the hypocrisy of the different church's rules.
After a lot of prayer by my then girlfriend, we found a church that was teaching, and practicing from the Bible. The messages spoke to me, the worship was moving, and most of all, I could see the members really striving to live like Jesus. I didn't believe that it was possible, but there I saw a sincere desire to worship God. Within a couple of months, I began to see how foolish I was thinking my actions could give me access into heaven. Ephesians 2: 8 & 9 says "8For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast" My self taught, self invented faith was exposed, and then finally at age 27, I understood God's love for me. I was / am completely unworthy of His grace and mercy, and yet He chose to save me.
Since then my desire to serve Him, and my fellow brothers and sisters has grown. I went from a "Christian" who had little faith in God's church, to singing on the worship team. Debbie and I married in July of 2001, and my only regret is that I didn't listen to her sooner. Being married has been the best part of my life, and I know that it's because God is at the center of our marriage.
I have TONS of anecdotes which illustrate the Lord's work in my life, but I would like to keep this somewhat short so I will share with you my most recent leap of faith. This year I started my own business. I used to work for one of my best friends in landscaping, and paving. It was the best job I could have ever hoped for. I had benefits, retirement account, unmatched job security, and a good income. Although I had all these things that most people who dropped out of college can only hope for, the Lord made it clear that I would have to leave my security, and my friend in order to please Him. This year, I have not made much money, but the Lord does provide and we've been able to make ends meet. If you could just keep myself and my family in your prayers, we would greatly appreciate it.
Andy
P.S. Please feel free to contact me at any time. Although I feel somewhat young in my walk with the Lord, I have learned that the more I am put in a position to help, the more I learn of Him.
As a result of that message the "Testimonies " board was born. I hope that through the posts on this board, we can inspire each other in our walks with God, and maybe help to open the hearts, eyes and ears of those who have not yet accepted Jesus as their Lord and savior. What better way to start than introducing myself?
My name is Andy. I am 31 years old, married with one son who will be 1 yr. old in two weeks. My father was raised a Catholic, and my mother an Episcopal. As a result, they decided that it would be best for their children to choose their own faith, and not have us baptized at birth. As a child, it was a little confusing having no religion, but by the time I was 12 yrs. old, I had decided to join the Episcopal church and was baptized there. I became an acolyte (alter boy), and really got involved, or so I thought.
One Sunday morning, prior to communion, I started to realize that although I had memorized all the prayers, I never listened to what it was I was praying for. That day I meditated on the Nicene Creed, and prayer life changed forever. I felt like every prayer I had ever recited before that day had been empty, and I had to make things right with God. At every service after that I made a point to concentrate deeply on every word of every prayer, and honestly cared about it's contents. I was feeling great about my new found spirituality. As weeks passed, I began to notice that nearly the entire congregation recited these prayers strictly from memory, and I began to doubt whether anybody knew what they were praying for at all. I had lost faith in the Episcopal church, and refused to go. I decided that I didn't need anybody to have a personal relationship with God, and would be better off without them anyway.
Luckily for me, my friend Debbie was saved, and we had long talks about salvation. She told me that simply believing that:
1) Jesus was the son of God, and
2) His death on the cross was payment for my sin, I would gain access to heaven.
I told her she was crazy. I knew that everybody in my Episcopal church believed those things, but very few actually honored God in prayer or deed. I also knew too many BAD people who attended church, thus they must believe those things to be true. I knew in my heart that there was more to it than a statement of faith.
Fast forward 10 years...Debbie and I were now boyfriend and girlfriend for eight years, and I wanted to marry her. She had been my mentor for all those years, even through our break up. She had watched me change and grow so much to that point, but we still didn't see eye to eye on the issue of salvation. I still felt you had to earn it, and she did not.
Debbie had moved out and had been on her own for 4 years already, but hadn't been able to find a church like the non denominational one she had grown up in. She wouldn't marry me until we found one, so the hunt began. The more we searched, the more my faith in organized religion deteriorated. Time after time, all I could see was the hypocrisy of the different church's rules.
After a lot of prayer by my then girlfriend, we found a church that was teaching, and practicing from the Bible. The messages spoke to me, the worship was moving, and most of all, I could see the members really striving to live like Jesus. I didn't believe that it was possible, but there I saw a sincere desire to worship God. Within a couple of months, I began to see how foolish I was thinking my actions could give me access into heaven. Ephesians 2: 8 & 9 says "8For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast" My self taught, self invented faith was exposed, and then finally at age 27, I understood God's love for me. I was / am completely unworthy of His grace and mercy, and yet He chose to save me.
Since then my desire to serve Him, and my fellow brothers and sisters has grown. I went from a "Christian" who had little faith in God's church, to singing on the worship team. Debbie and I married in July of 2001, and my only regret is that I didn't listen to her sooner. Being married has been the best part of my life, and I know that it's because God is at the center of our marriage.
I have TONS of anecdotes which illustrate the Lord's work in my life, but I would like to keep this somewhat short so I will share with you my most recent leap of faith. This year I started my own business. I used to work for one of my best friends in landscaping, and paving. It was the best job I could have ever hoped for. I had benefits, retirement account, unmatched job security, and a good income. Although I had all these things that most people who dropped out of college can only hope for, the Lord made it clear that I would have to leave my security, and my friend in order to please Him. This year, I have not made much money, but the Lord does provide and we've been able to make ends meet. If you could just keep myself and my family in your prayers, we would greatly appreciate it.
Andy
P.S. Please feel free to contact me at any time. Although I feel somewhat young in my walk with the Lord, I have learned that the more I am put in a position to help, the more I learn of Him.