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Monday, 17 November 2008 22:14 |
I believe in God because ...Because god is real, god makes a difference, god changes lives.
In 2002 I agreed to attend an alpha course. The only reason I believed I was attending was to support a friend who was helping to run the course. God though had other ideas.
Up to this time I had no experience of or desire for religion. The only good thing Jesus did for me was give me bank holidays so time of work. Church was a place for sad losers who needed to get a life. High hatted old ladies and grumpy old men reading from a dusty out of date book. The only time I would go to church was for a wedding or christening and this was simply to get to the booze up afterwards. I had no time or need for religion, I enjoyed my weekends drinking and gambling and I enjoyed not having the pressure of a serious job, simply bumbling about from one dead end short term job to another.
So I was not looking forward to alpha with any real expectations, frankly I thought it would be a giggle and would help my friend with her numbers game. God had other ideas. The people were the first surprise, here was a group of quite ordinary people, actually that’s wrong, they were quite extraordinary because they accepted me from the start warts and all. Very quickly I began to enjoy at least the fellowship of alpha if not taking in or understanding what it was all about. It all seems a bit surreal now but looking back it all happened in a sort of natural progression. By the time we hit the bible talk I had bought one; by the prayer talk I had started at least talking to god. (Alone well out of hear shot) but the big change came on the Holy Spirit day. As the day went on I began to feel as though I was ready to make a commitment to Christ, as two of the leaders prayed with me I was filled with the holy spirit. What an amazing feeling, I was filled to bursting with feelings of love, peace and happiness. More and more of God’s spirit poured into me until I just cried, not with sadness or fear but pure tears of joy. God had spoken, I was face to face with god and he said I love you and I want you. This was the day I became a Christian and my life changed completely.
Six years on I am a church warden at and play a large part in the ministry of Beverley Minster. But god has done so much more in my life. Six months after becoming a Christian I was helping on another alpha course. (I now take the lay lead in our churches courses) God introduced me to a woman who ran a care home. Inexplicably this lady asked me if I would go and work for her as a carer. Now five years on I work as a deputy manager helping to run a home for 40 residents all who have dementia. What an amazing ministry god has given me. Not only do I minister to the residents bus also to there families and the staff team.
God has also led me into the mission field where he has me working pro actively in both local and global mission. A place where I believe god wants us all to be. His message is clear, we must spread the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the world, but we must start on our own door steps. We must take God out into the streets of our villages, towns and cities. God makes all the difference, God changes lives. God is real. I am a Senior care officer and church warden at Beverley Minster |
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Monday, 17 November 2008 22:13 |
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I believe in God because ...My daughter Sarah died after a long battle with cancer, Sarah was 16 years of age...Sarah was not afraid of death as she was a wonderful christian. Sarah died peacfully knowing she was going home. That was four years ago, I was born again the night Sarah died. God has put is arms around me so many times, when I need comforting or the tears flow, I feel him there with me. I have wondeful relationship with God, he walks withme daily, I know Sarah is with him and that makes my grieving process so much easier. I am a ...early years professional< I support settings, families and and young children. I attended church weekly and attend PALS mid week. I love my familiy and my lovely dog, coco. I enjoy craft making and homemaking. |
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Monday, 17 November 2008 22:08 |
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I believe in God because ... years ago when my sister was a Christian and I wasn't, I remember having a conversation with her about her beliefs. We got talking about abortion and how I thought at the time that there were circumstances where it must be ok to get rid of a baby. She told me that because of her faith she would always keep the baby no matter what the situation. I quickly replied 'yeah, but what if you were raped and got pregnant by the rapist?' fully expecting her to say, 'well, yeah, obviously I'd have an abortion then' but she didn't. She looked at me and calmly said, 'I would keep the baby, work on forgiving the man and know that God can always bring something good and amazing and precious out of something bad.' We were teenagers at the time and it affected me deeply. Her conviction of the truth of her God and how I could see He impacted on her life and her decisions and her outlook were so powerful. I could see there was something quiet but steadfast about her that I just didn't have. It was like she had the key to something really big and profound and amazing that I just hadn't grasped yet. That conversation was half my life ago now and I'm sure my sister has all but forgotten it but I still find myself thinking about it and telling people about it from time to time...like I just have! I am a student nurse, a pastor's wife, a mother of 3 and I always giggle when I shouldn't! |
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Monday, 17 November 2008 22:07 |
I believe in God because he has saved my life by showing me hell!
When i was thirteen I was raped at knife point, and that started my downward spiral. Through the following years I battled with so many things, abbusive relationships, suicide attempts, eating disorders, drugs, soliciting, self harm, the list goes on. My mum and step-dad showed nothing but support and tried every way they could think of to help me. People started to give up on me, my friends and family thought I was beyond saving.
I had met two youth workers through my troubled years and they indirectly saved me, they told me about church. It interested me, I had so much anger and thought that this would be the perfect oppertunity to let all these 'so-called' christians just what THEIR GOD let people go through. I started going regulaly, and started talking to people about my past. I realised that maybe God had put these things in my life for a reason!- although I wasn't sure why.
Most things didnt change over night, but through the support of my church and God I managed to pull my life back on track. I got the confidence to apply for a job, which I got straight away! Then I met my husband... but my life had begun to slip again, I got back on the drugs, and i was giving up again, then i discovered I was pregnant, despite being told I would have problems trying to conceive, and being on the pill!! Only God knew that this was what I needed, I gave up everything that was bad for me straight away, and started praying everday again.
I am now a happy 20 year old mother and wife, and work full time. Although i dont go to church every week, i pray everyday. I am still not sure God has shown me why I went through what I did, but I know in my heart that my experience will help me or someone else one day!!!I am a wife, a mother to a wonderful 2 year old and work full time in a bank. |
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