Jerry:
As a teenager I experimented with drugs, but alcohol became my drug of choice into adulthood. My drinking led me to jail, two divorces and a lifestyle of deception. I met my third wife and tried to show my righteousness by getting baptized, joining a Christian church and becoming an active member. However, as my alcoholism was threatening yet another marriage, I finally attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and met someone I could relate to. As I worked through the steps with this sponsor, confessed my sins and realized that only God could get me through, I became a believer. Since then, I have stayed sober and have been transformed by Christ, my Redeemer.
Kristin:
There is a song that says, "brokenness, brokenness is what I long for, brokenness is what I need, brokenness, brokenness is what You want from me".
Before I became a Christian, I was lost, insecure, broken and searching for someone to give me the golden answers. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, what I was supposed to do with my life. I was experiencing a tension between feeling broken and wanting someone in my life to fill and fix me all up and yet simultaneously not wanting to let anyone in or thinking I deserved it. So, the idea being broken was actually how God wanted me seemed unbelievable, almost. The notion that there was a God out there who wanted me for who I was, which included being 3rd best or even last at something and not THE BEST filled me with such a sense of hope. I started to unravel emotionally and then I read some powerful words in the bible. God made me to be exactly like he wanted, that he made no one else like me, that he knows all of my thoughts before I speak them and that he created me for a specific purpose. So, YES, of course I wanted that! The fact that God knew me inside and out, past, present and future AND the best part, he still wanted to be my God, for me to be his child. Now, if only I would ask him into my life, which simply was believing that Jesus is God's son, sent to earth to die for my sins, asking God's forgiveness for my sins and asking Christ to come and live in my heart. When I became a Christian, many changes did occur overnight, but my life is still not a fairy tale. There are times when I feel lost, broken, insecure, but the difference is that God is with me, by my side and walking with me through it. And as the rest of the song goes, "So, take my heart and form it, take my mind and transform it, take my will and conform it, To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord." And I am still being transformed, day by day, minute by minute.
Chuck:
As I was growing up I was very selfish,self-centered,conceited and greedy. I was only out to provide for my wants and desires no matter who I hurt in the process. I was always spending my time with biker gangs, thieves, thugs, strippers. I was using them to get what ever I wanted. Then one evening I was lonely and no one was around to keep me company, I realized I was looking for something more in my life but I didn't know what. As I looked back on my life I became very depressed and fell to my knees. Crying in my shame I called out to Jesus and asked Him for forgiveness for all I had done. The instant I cried to him I could feel a sense of peace and love come over me that I had never felt before. I realized from that time on that what I have wanted all my life was not temporary pleasures, but an every lasting love and sense of belonging. I have found that in Jesus Christ. And as I continue my new walk in life I realize that I may fall but I will not be alone anymore. I have a large family that will stand by me in good times and bad times. Thank You JESUS for accepting me into your family and accepting me as I am.
Jenny:
Our marriage seemed to be going well for the first several years, but we both started feeling like something was missing. I wanted to start a family, but we were having trouble getting pregnant, which was driving me crazy because I am a controlling person - very planned and organized. Then I found out that my husband was having an affair. I was devastated and didn't know what to do. I even thought about suicide. But God had great plans for me and our marriage. My sister-in-law prayed with me, and I gave up trying to control my life and gave it to God. Eventually, after much prayer, my husband returned to me, but more importantly, he returned to the Lord. Our marriage is not perfect, but it has been deeply transformed through the grace of God.
Casey:
Have you ever experienced an inner need that could not be filled? That was me! I lost my Father when I was very young and grew up with an angry stepfather who did not believe in a God. What was interesting was that I always wanted to please him but never could. The void with in me due to the lost of my father needed to be replaced with something that I thought would bring about a purpose for my life. Unfortunate as it was I chose a path that left me empty, depressed and scared. You see I thought it needed to be filled with companionship so when my first and second marriage ended in divorce I was ever more confused. I also thought my job would bring about value but as I grew in position the void grew larger and all I ended up with was more responsibility. To ease the pain, alcohol and drugs brought temporary satisfaction so it was important to have them part of my life. This left me broke, without my family and a need to self medicate.
One day I found what looked like to be a credit card with this exception. It said, "Bank on Christ". They call these cards tracks but I never would have known this. This card shared with me how to meet Christ. I got on my knees and said, "Lord I do not even know how to pray so help me." I followed the instructions on the card that defined sin and made it clear that I was a sinner so I needed to confess it. The card told me that Jesus was my Lord and Savior so I needed to receive the gift that came with him dying on the cross. It said He chose the path to death so that I may have life now and everlasting. So I invited him into my heart and into my life. My first words were "You are real!!!!" as I fell to the ground with peace and Joy filling the void. That is when my life of purpose began. There is a new chapter that starts every day but it would not have ever happened if Jesus would not have come into my life that day. Ask him to come into your life. He is real! I dare you, "Ask Him!"
Kristina:
I recently went on my first mission trip - a medical mission to Haiti. We served the Haitians with medical care and supplies but I felt more richly blessed in how they served us. They welcomed us with hope and love. They live in a poverty-stricken world yet have more faith and contentment than we could ever see in America. They often have to look to God to provide their next meal and we, Americans, find it hard to trust Him to provide us with a newer, bigger house. Through them, I have learned to be content with what I have and who I am. God doesn't care what I own, but He does care about what I do with that "stuff" and knowledge in order to better serve Him and His people.