Sunday, August 3, 2008

My testimony!

Hey y'all!

I got BAPTIZED today! You're probably like, "What? I thought, she was, I thought she's saved?!" Well, that's fine. Ok, let me tell you about myself and my walk with the Lord and how it has changed over the years.

I accepted Christ when I was a little 6 year old. I thought it was the right thing, however, the older I got the more doubts came up. If I sinned I didn't really think it was all that bad. I would go ahead and live on with it. I turned 11 or so and still life was the same, always wondering, 'Am I saved? I think so?" So, I tried each time to really get close to the Lord. I would try to motivate myself with reading the bible and praying, however, I didn't have the urge to do it every morning. I didn't think I was a bad person, and I most certainly didn't find myself walking closer to the Lord. I would often pray the prayer over and over again, especially when I'd go to any conferences. But, I didn't take it serious. I wasn't feeling a growth in my life. It wasn't until I moved to Illinois almost 2 years ago, when I was 14. We began going to this church we found and my life was changed. I began to have convictions each day. I would wake up early in the morning just to have a special hour with the Lord. It was about the middle of October when I re-accepted Christ in my heart. I felt renewed. I felt that I was free from sin and was ready to begin over. I couldn't live the sinful life anymore. I felt rotten when I sinned and wanted to immediately ask for forgiveness. I totally surrendered my life to Christ and that fall and winter were just wonderful!

I was thinking, "Wow, my life is going great! My life with Christ is just wonderful!" Until, summer 07 hit! Of course, you are more outside and so are others, and in this case, kids. All ages, boys and girls. I began hanging around these kids having the thought, "It's ok to hang around a few hours, nothing bad will come out of this, besides they're all younger!" Sure enough, a few hours ended up into an entire day. I would get questioned about my faith and constantly what I call, persecuted! Whatever I'd say or do, kids would come out and say, "Why that, or why this?" I would tell them but the more I'd say, the more I'd get mocked. It always felt as if I would read my bible and pray, each day would get worse. I began to feel pressured and wondered, "Hm, I'm your child God, why aren't you watching over me?" Believe me, the last day I lived there was the worse! I felt like just falling apart, but still inside of me, I knew I was doing wrong with these kids but I did it, because I didn't want to be questioned about every little thing. We moved in the end of June and it wasn't until the middle of July or so did I realize how much senseless times I wasted out there. I began to feel troubled the entire summer with certain things and I would cry out to God and just ask him to take all this trouble away from me. The fall hit and I began to see that all that trouble that was going on with me and those kids was trials and tribulations. I began to search the bible and pray and just cry out to God. It says in the bible that when you walk with the Lord and the closer you get others will notice you and will mock you. I was getting those persecutions from 12, and 13 year olds.

All what went on last year was only a blessing from God because I became closer to Christ. My walk with him is just lovely, I am so excited to meet with him everyday! I can no longer imagine life without my God. Instead of complaining when I fall into trials and tests I rejoice! So, there you have it, that is why I got re-baptized this afternoon! Both my little brother who accepted Christ a year and a half ago and I did it on the same day! Praise the Lord!

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; James 1:2

3 comments:

Kalani said...

Congratulations Vanessa!!

Anonymous said...

Oh wow Nessa, that's a great testimony!!

Allison said...

How exciting! What an amazing testimony of God's work in your life!
Rejoicing with you!