In the comments below, we invite you to share your story about THE DAY YOU MET JESUS.
Your Story
The Day I Met Jesus
The Revealing Diaries of Five Women from the Gospels
In the comments below, we invite you to share your story about THE DAY YOU MET JESUS.
Fifteen years ago, if you’d have asked me if I was a Christian, I’d have told you of course I was. I believed in Jesus Christ. I believed in the Trinity. But I didn’t believe that was enough.
For most all of my life, I was raised in and practiced a religion. I STROVE for perfection. Forgiveness, salvation, grace, hope… none of these were a sure thing. I might have thought I had them one moment of one day (usually Sunday). But I knew that at any given moment, maybe the very next moment, I could blow it.
If you’d have asked me then if I knew where I would go after I died, I’d argue till we were both blue that neither you nor I could ever make such a bold claim.
But inside I was petrified I’d never make the cut.
I didn’t know it then, but looking back on it now, I realize the bondage I was in.
I don’t want to lift the lid too high on my garbage pail other than to say that when you live according to the laws of a church, you learn to and are expected by the authorities to, what I call, “strain gnats and swallow camels.” There were abuses. Of all kinds. ALL. : ( I swallowed and followed. I didn’t know that I didn’t have to. But there did finally come a day, when presented with yet another camel, I refused.
I went home shell-shocked by the response. It drove me to my knees in prayer and the bible for guidance. I read Galatians 5:1 for seemingly the first time in my Bible-possessing life, “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not become entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” And the light bulbs just flashed on. I devoured Galatians like it was the first real meal I’d had in my life. And that was the beginning for me: The end of the law and an open door to grace.
But I still didn’t truly know who Jesus was.
I have some very good, very patient Christian friends to thank for introducing me to him. For the first time, I came to understand that Jesus wasn’t someone afar off that I would meet and deal with sometime in the unforeseeable future. He was someone standing right beside me, ready to help me, comfort me, and take care of me now. A simple revelation of that truth, over an AOL Instant Message from a dear friend, reduced me to goose-bumps, tears, and overwhelming gratefulness. If I had to pick a moment in time when I felt officially introduced to my savior, that was it.
I searched for and found a new church a few months later. But it was alright. I knew I’d already been found. I’ve learned a lot in these last twelve years since I first met Jesus. I’m not quite so anxious anymore. Not quite so fearful. Not desperately striving. When I pray now, I’m not pleading into the void, begging for forgiveness continuously, wrought with shame, fear, and trembling, begging for my eternal life. I know Jesus is right beside me, that he loves me, he knows me completely, wants nothing more than to help me when I fall, and has assured me of my future with him. I know I can approach Him with confidence and blessed assurance. And that in itself is wonderful.
I’m not perfect. But he is. “He died for me, so he can give his life to me, so he can live his life through me”, as Major Ian Thomas has said.
And I can rest in that.
I can’t remember a time in my young life when I didn’t know about Jesus. I was blessed that my parents took me to church. I remember at a very, very young age (4?) looking out the window up at the moon and talking to God and asking Him to show Himself to me.
But as a young adult, I did try the ways of the world, and I strayed from the Lord’s sheltering wings for about a year. It was a year of horrible mistakes. And I knew without a doubt, that life with Jesus wasn’t only a better life, but a safer, more productive, blessed life.
I don’t know where I’d be today without Jesus. And I don’t really want to know. It’s not been an easy road, but it’s been one of grace and help. It’s not been a comfortable journey, but one of supernatural strength and encouragement from the Only One Who Matters.
Life with Jesus is an abundant life. It’s not a perfect life, but it’s a life that I wouldn’t trade for any kind of life without Him. It’s a life of peace, hope and grace. I can rest in His Wonderful Hands. There’s just nothing like knowing He is there for me. No. Matter. What.
Glory be to our Lord Jesus. I am so amazed to see an exact story like mine … it is a copy and paste… it’s now been 7 years. I am so happy. Jesus works still today!
The day I met Jesus was one night in my bedroom. I was reading against Romans 3-6, just having come back home from running away and dropping out of school, living in a drug-home and doing many wicked things. God began to speak to me through the words of the Bible that He loved me and even died for me. It hurt me to think that He could have done this and I said to God, “no” you cannot forgive me I have done too many terrible things. I deserve hell and punishment.
God’s love that night began to pour over me and overwhelmed me, I fell to my knees and prayed accepting that Jesus died for my sins. A great peace flooded over me and I have not been the same 17 years later. He dwells with me and has been my best friend, saviour and God. And what a wonderful thing it is to share Him with others in this broken world so full of sin.
I read this book within a day (which is not the norm for me). It is an amazing book and so insightful. It inspired me to write “my story” in tract form which is already at the printers. I am involved with a group in Dayton called Oasis which reaches out to some strip clubs located a short distance from Rennes’s and my home. I hope to share “my story” with these girls. I just ordered your book “The Day I Met Jesus” to give to the other girls in the Oasis team that go to the clubs. So, let’s just say God is truly using all your hard work in the publishing of this book. Thanks!
Julie Bowers
I enjoy reading stories and testimonies about how Jesus rescued his children, The Lord in his creative way rescued from one of the most trying times of my life, although I have had many many explosive situations in my life, In short I met Jesus after my mother passed away, prior to my mom leaving I dealt with so many deaths. At the age of 15 I gave birth to a baby girl, I was married at 17yrs old after graduating High School. I was pregnant with me second daughter had an incredible wedding that my mom so generously put together. I was married to my children’s father , on the day I gave birth to my second daughter my husband was murdered. I was left to be a widow 17 years old with two children. It was at this point I began singing professionally traveling and living in the fast lane of New York City. I was walking around traumatized and no one noticed. Every thing I did was to try to drown out the sadness I felt. I lived in Italy for six months singing and chasing my dream to be a singer. I was a back up singer for the late Lou Rawls. I traveled extensively while my mother helped to raise my children. There is not enough time or space to share the landmines of my life. but one cold winter day my friend came to take me to church. She said she had been praying for me for a long time and Jesus wants me. I said I know Jesus, My mother took me to church sometimes. She explained I needed a relationship. I agreed to go to church with her, my life changed that morning. I went up for prayer in the Bronx N.Y. at a Pentecostal church. As the Elder began praying for me I felt the power of God all over me. I remember hearing a sound like air , something like stinking a pin in a plastic pillow. I was suddenly on the floor speaking in a strange language I soon found out was praying in the spirit. Jesus had rescued me, I was filled with joy. From that day on , I learned the things and ways of the Lord. I learned how to minister when I was singing instead of performing. I fell in love with Jesus. I was so so happy he filled my God hole.. Soon I found myself singing on TBN trinity broadcasting network. The Lord began to use me as a Worship Leader as well as singing as the opening act for Helen Baylor, Pastor Donnie and so many others. He has trusted me with his people sending me to the nations to speak and sing to the body at large. All the Glory goes to the Lord. But I soon found myself in some very challenging situations even in my walk with God.. The fact that I belong to the Lord has allowed me to go through some really hard situations but not alone always with him present. As a worshiper the Lord has taught me how to remain humble and wait on him to trust and know that his love is forever. And as I continue to walk with him and meet him in the secret place I am at his service and forever grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ.
My story is one that changed my life and the direction it was headed.
I had a great childhood; loving parents; few problems; nothing that I carried with me with any heavy heart as an adult. Quite blessed looking back.
I entered college and through a few steps I found myself knocking on the door of a dark life. I had struggled with a closeted case of homosexuality for several years.
I entered that lifestyle somewhat afraid but bars and friends made the transition quite easy. This led to that and I was going to clubs, promiscuous, and dabbling in drugs. The frequency of the above varies – sometimes I was in a relationship and drug use was rare…other times I was single and it became the norm. At any rate I was spiraling into more drugs and pornography, sex, and reckless behavior.
Fast forward from age 20 to age 41. I ended up in an emergency room in Texas thinking I was having a heart attack. I was laying in the bed with various monitoring devices attached to me. I was praying with all my heart. I was also in a state of fear and panic. I thought I was dying. I was begging God to not take my life.
My relationship with God had basically been non-existant as an adult. I was saved and baptised at age 9 but my walk with him was one way…He was with me but not the other way around. I knew to pray though.
I eventually came to a point where I stoppesd praying. That is when I heard a voice come into the room – only I could hear him. He said “I am going to ask you 3 questions. He asked me if I enjoyed immoral sex, drugs, and pornography. I answered him. A brief conversation related to the questions, then He said…promise me you will stop having immoral sex. Stop using illegal narcotics. Stop watching pornography. I said I promise and He said “consider this your second chance.”
I left the hospital a few hours later. No heart attack. I was by all accounts fine.
I am now 44 and live a life free of these 3 things. I am active in church, pray a lot, desire an ever growing relationship with Jesus and God. Grace!!