[bentnotbroken]

There have been a lot of posts lately about not wanting to be a Christian, so I was wondering for those of you who have chosen God as your Lord and Savior, what helped you make that choice.

I grew up in a Missionary Baptist church. But I was made to go and participate. I never understood how people could be in church on Sunday and do everything and anything under the sun Monday-Saturday. When I went to college, I worked Sundays, so I was relived to have a "valid" excuse to give my parents for not attending regularly. When Mr. Messy and I decided to marry, we had to go through counseling with our pastors(different denominations) and we started to attend regularly. After the birth of our first, attendance fell off again.

So many things started to happen. Stress of new parents, moves 3 times in 3 years(gov. employee) depression and the illness and death of family members,especially my dad. I got angry. I was so mad at God, I refused to acknowledge his existance and I refused to teach my children. We went to church on special occasions, Easter, Christmas, that sort of thing. But I didn't pray, study or even listen during the sermons.(I usually did my grocery list)

Then the depression got so bad. Health problems started to take there toll, and the marriage getting worse. I wanted to die and end it all. Planned it too. Wrote letters, got the papers in order, told Mr. Messy about the kids likes/dislikes, schedules, medicines, Dr's names and numbers. Then I found out he had been cheating with a woman in our community. So I prepared to die that day. And I heard God as clear as if he were standing next to me. I was instructed to go down stairs and look in a specific place(a place I never looked because it so nasty-his office) and look for passwords. They were right there! I opened up all his accounts, e-mails and journals. There was all the evidence that the man I had put in front of me and God was a no good butt nugget who was hiding money and screwing someone else's wife all while telling me he was a better Christian.

God told me to give my life to him(even though I was baptised when I was younger, I had no idea why)and he would make my life better than I could have ever imagined. I did and he did. No matter what happens now, good,bad or ugly. I have his joy and peace. The Holy Spirit has changed the anger(believe me, that is enough all by itself) and allowed me to forgive for stuff that I has held onto for so long. Even forgiving the two of them(some days I have to remind myself and forgive them again), but my children have seen the change, and have decided they want to feel the same way.

I'm not stupid enough to think they won't go through tough times or that they may even leave the church like I did. But just like I did, they will come back...

So I was curious about your experiences.

[quankanne]

no huge awakening or come to Jesus experience, just a cradle Catholic with a mother who was a VERY strong faith model. Mostly, it's been an awareness that God is present ... that I am his and he is mine, no matter how badly I err/sin. Lately, though, I've been backsliding pretty dang bad but the relationship is still very strong, I just need to get my butt into gear and start attending Mass on a regular basis.

[bentnotbroken]

Originally Posted by quankanne

no huge awakening or come to Jesus experience, just a cradle Catholic with a mother who was a VERY strong faith model. Mostly, it's been an awareness that God is present ... that I am his and he is mine, no matter how badly I err/sin. Lately, though, I've been backsliding pretty dang bad but the relationship is still very strong, I just need to get my butt into gear and start attending Mass on a regular basis.

Don't we all go through periods of blacksliding. I feel like I am on a daily battle.

[Enema]

I had a big problem trying to work out why God didn't ever do anything in the world. Doesn't stop war, murder, rape, famine, drought etc... but now I think I finally get it.

God doesn't fix real problems because he's too busy helping Christians read someone else's Hotmail.

Thanks.

[bentnotbroken]

Originally Posted by Enema

I had a big problem trying to work out why God didn't ever do anything in the world. Doesn't stop war, murder, rape, famine, drought etc... but now I think I finally get it.

God doesn't fix real problems because he's too busy helping Christians read someone else's Hotmail.

Thanks.

Enema the question was for people who do believe. It was an oppertunity for "believers" to share their experience. I understand that you don't believe, but please don't mock. I showed you respect, I would greatly appreciate the same.

[Pyro]

Originally Posted by bentnotbroken

There have been a lot of posts lately about not wanting to be a Christian, so I was wondering for those of you who have chosen God as your Lord and Savior, what helped you make that choice.

So I was curious about your experiences.

I owe it to my mom. She started taking me with her to our bible studies class when I was five and throughout the years I learned alot about God and his teachings and it made me a believer.

I have been slacking as of late on attending.