German guy,
How did you find your path to Christianity?
I was born a Christian. But as a young adult, I drifted away from faith. I believed in God, but it was not a strong faith - it's more like taken for granted. I got wrapped up in worldly things. Looking back - it is true that you usually see the hands of God through hindsight - God had directly intervened in some situations to help me inspite of how I mistreated Him. Oh yes, I prayed when I was in trouble. One was an instant reply. I applied for a regular job becaue I needed to have a regular income (I was a newly-hired casual then). Human resources said I had no chance at the position since there were 7 senior employees who also applied for the job. I remember crying that night and praying. The next morning I got a call from my employment. Human resources said all 7 senior applicants turned down the position, therefore it's mine. AND YET, I still kept away from God. Years later I felt this void inside like something was terribly missing. I knew it's my faith. I remembered my late father how he read the Bible everyday, and I said to myself that someday I'll do the same thing. But I never opened the Bible.
One night I asked God a question (it's just a question in my head). The next morning, the radio was on and it played a short clip of the late Pope's message (who just died then). My ears perked up....because in this short clip it seemed he was talking to me, and answering my question. I remembered saying to my husband, "he answered my question!" Btw, I don't normally listen to the radio. I think God was preparing me to be more receptive.
A few days later, I was surfing the channel when I stumbled on an evangelist named Charles Price (The Living Truth), and he was talking about the rocky road to faith. I got glued to the program. He read passages from the Bible and explained them in such simple ways that he made it seem so easy to read and understand the Bible. I ended up opening my Bible, and I've been reading portions of it everyday ever since- just like my father did - and will do so until I can physically do no more. When I found Pastor Price, we were facing a very difficult time in our life.....we were losing our business, and the big possibility of losing everything.
My husband and I read a tragedy in the papers. A farmer had lost all his 9 children and pregnant wife in a fire. He was a staunch Christian, and through his brother he made it known that his loss did not lessen his faith, in fact the more he'll cling to faith. My husband and I were both crying....we were humbled. This poor man had lost his entire family and yet here we are worried about money. We decided to hand our life in God's hand and let Him do as He will. We slept well that night....and the ensuing nights even though we faced a very frightening future. No, we didn't lose everything.
These last three years was filled with adventure for me. For some reason it seemed like God had placed me in various places and situations - I just went along with the flow. So many wonderful stories happened within that 3 years - but it's a very long story.
I feel so at peace.
Pastor Price adviced us to find a local church to belong to since we have to worship with the congregation. We both became born-again, and got baptized again last summer.
Reading the Bible everyday is very important, not only because you get to understand it more....but because it helps keep me anchored. It's a compass. And yes it's true, God will sometimes "talk" to you through the verses.
