My testimony and how I came to know the Lord.

It started all 22 years ago when I was brought into this world. I was baptized in the catholic church, surrounded by God and people that loved me. From this point I would be brought up in a family centered around Catholicism. My parents who both grew up in devout catholic households had decided to instill this religion in our family. So St. Patricks church located just 2 blocks from our house, became the place where we learned about God. There was a problem, we hated church, and really hated going to our Wednesday night CCD, and to this day I don't know the purpose of. If I had to compare it, I would say it is some sort of "bible study" for catholics, it helps them learn about the catholic religion and the rules you must abide by. 


The next few years played a critical part in where I'm at today. I spent these years going to church and CCD trying my hardest to understand what they were trying to teach me. I desperately wanted to understand what my friends and family understood. But now I ask myself, did they really understand it? As 5th grade approached my two older sisters came to a point where they no longer had to attend CCD. So I played the guilt trip on my parents and also got out of it. I was blessed with parents that didn't force a religion on us, they wanted us to have the freedom to discover God in our own way. As most of my friends continued towards their confirmation, I was happy I didn't have to go to those dreadful Wednesday night classes and wake up for church on Sunday to sit, kneel, stand, and repeat what the priest was saying. I want to make one thing clear before I continue. I don't hate or dislike catholics, until about a year ago I considered myself to be one. I talk about it the way I do because it was something I wanted so desperately to confide in, but I couldn't understand what I was being told. I spend ten years in the catholic church and couldn't tell you the difference between God and Jesus. I was blind to the gospel and the grace of God. I thought we all went to church because it was what "good" families did. Our neighbors did it, so if we didn't want to be looked down upon, we should go too. 


In junior high I became involved in sports. The busy schedule I had gave me an excuse to miss church on the weekends. Our family slowly stopped going to church every Sunday. Church then became a thing we would go to on holidays. It is interesting, the whole time I distanced myself from God and the church I still considered myself a christian. But I knew deep down something wasn't right, something was missing from my life. I was blessed with such amazing family, friends, and talents others dreamed of, yet I didn't know the man that made all that possible. 


High school passed and college came. I was now a student athlete and living on my own. I was finally an adult and in control of my own life. I worked hard on the basketball floor and even harder in the classroom. I had good morals and manners, but I also spent a lot of time staying up late and socializing with my friends on the weekends. I thought this was okay because I stayed on top of my school work and worked hard in basketball. This became something I would look forward to every weekend. I thought since I didn't do it as much as other students that I was justified. After all isn't that what college is all about? This all changed when I met Hannah. I met Hannah the beginning  of my junior year. We started to talk and soon we were dating. I popped the big question (will you go out with me?) on a Saturday night, and the next day she told me I was going to church with her. Immediately I became uncomfortable and was questioning what I had gotten myself into. So being the obedient boyfriend I am I followed her to church thinking this was going to be an hour of yet another confusing message of confusion and nonsense. What I experienced was something totally different. From the time I walked into Prairie Lakes Church I was welcomed with open arms. I was in awe when I left. In just an hour I had learned more about the Lord than I did in 21 years. I felt as if everything pastor Fuller was saying, was meant for me. It was meant to give me a new beginning.


I continued to go to church with Hannah. Not only did I look forward to Sundays but I started to implement what I was learning in my every day life. Three months later I was saved. What does this mean to be saved? I struggled with this for a really long time, even now I am a bit skeptical. My definition of being saved is knowing that God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for you. Knowing that all your sins have been forgiven by the grace of God and accepting the fact you aren't strong enough to do everything on your own. Without this you would spend eternity in hell. Heaven was no longer a place that I had to work my way into. Jesus had given me a gift a eternal life by bearing all my sin and dying for me. The thought of this is so overwhelming that many people run from it. I didn't, I embraced it and decided that the rest of my life I would live my life for God. Many people believe that since they don't understand everything about God or the bible that they are either unworthy or cannot be saved. Let me tell you something, nobody deserves what Jesus did for us, that is why we call it grace. All you have to do is let God into your lives, take a little step to discover him and he will show you things that you could never imagine. This doesn't mean you won't face any struggles the rest of your life, in fact you will encounter more, but through faith you will be able to overcome them. 


I continued to let God grow in me and allow myself to be saved. I began to grow closer to my family and found out more about myself then I had my entire life. I had a different mindset when approaching adversity. I began to see problems and obstacles in my life as a step to prove my faith. With each step I took I became more aware of all the things I was blessed with. 


Looking back at this past year I can see all the places in my life that God has had a hand in. Things that used to depress and discourage me, don't carry the same weight anymore. I am able to take all those negative things in my life and turn them into positive learning experiences. I have made more friendships and seen the true beauty in people that I was once blind to. For anyone that feels lost and alone, or feels like theirs no way God would love them for what they've done, I'm here to tell you your wrong! God loves each one of us for exactly who we are and its never to late to discover his glory.