I have had it in my heart to start this blog for a long time. My journey of Faith is the most important thing in my life. It takes precedence over everything. This seems to be hard for some people to understand and so I want to share my journey.
I have been a Christian my whole life, but it hasn't always been my main focus. For most of my life I went to Church and I attended church events, but I never really understood. I never really lived my life for God. That all changed about 9 years ago.
I grew up Catholic. For most of my life that is all I ever knew. I never understood any other denomination. I just assumed everyone believed the same things that I did. And then I moved to the South.
I was open minded at that point. I was curious. For two months one of my favorite ladies invited me to her son's church to hear him preach. As open minded as I was, I was very resistant. Eventually I gave in. I am forever thankful that I did.
I walked in to this tiny tiny church and was welcomed with open arms. The service was unlike anything I had attended. It was a far cry from the Catholic Mass. It was a strange feeling, but it opened my heart. It allowed me to listen to the sermon. They spoke to me. The church was 30 minutes away, but I will drive as far as it takes when I need to. I became friends with the Pastor and several of the members. It was the first time that I started to attend regular Bible studies. I was so HUNGRY for the Word.
Events occurred and soon my Pastor friend left that church. I was devastated. I didn't want to look for another church again. For a couple of months I visited churches of my friends. None of them felt right for me. I didn't feel like the Pastor spoke to me. I had been passing a church every single day on my way to work and had wanted to check it out. I immediately felt like I was home when I visited for the first time.
So now I had the right place for me to worship, but I was in need of more. Happily we started a Bible Study at work once a week. When we first started there were just a few of us. It was my favorite lunch hour of the week. I learned so much. We spent an entire year studying the book of John. I also learned so much about what other people believed. There is a reason why some people refuse to discuss Religion. It can get pretty heated.
Growing up Catholic I just assumed everyone got Baptized as a baby. I had no idea that other denominations didn't do that. I also didn't understand the "Born Again" feeling. I think there was a little bit of jealousy on that. Some people have such powerful stories about when they heard from God and decided to dedicate their lives to Him. That had never happened to me. It made me sad.
When I left the South and moved back to the Northeast I was so upset about leaving this group. I made sure that I still called in every week for Bible Study. It was hard not to be there, but it was so wonderful. Especially seeing how much it grew. They ran out of chairs.
The girl that came back from the South was very different. Her focus was now her relationship with God. Before she moved there she never spoke of religion in the office or in social settings. But, that all changed. She hung her favorite Bible verses on her desk wall at work. She made sure everyone knew that attending church and her Bible study took precedence. She was openly living a Christian life.
It has been the most amazing journey, but it is not without struggles. There are still things I don't understand, but I put my faith in God.
June 1st of this year I was baptized again. The first time someone made the decision for me. This time it was my decision to declare my life is for God.
So what led me to start this blog? When you find something you love don't you want to share it? Think about that amazing deal you got on that new TV. Well nurturing my relationship with God is soooooo much better than any good deal on a TV. Why wouldn't I want to share?
God has plans for me. I don't always know what they are, nor do I understand why until much later and it's always a Blessing.
God Bless,
Jennie
*****
For I know the plans I have for you
declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to
give you hope and a future."
-Jeremiah 29:11
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