29 years ago........

The picture above is from 1985! ha! Me and my sister, Paulette....hahah! We thought we were striking a pose!! I loved my hair! hahaha...still do! :)

Wow, it's really been 29 years? It can't be! I was only 14! ugh....time has flown by! On March 27, 1980, I became a Christian! I remember it so well. I knew who Jesus was, and I knew he died on the cross for my sins. I just didn't know that one day, He would come back! We were having lots of bible studies at that time, and I was learning a lot. But, to know that Jesus is coming back and to hear of the end times was a bit shocking to me. I did not want to be left behind. I wanted to be sure to be there. You don't get to heaven by works, or by your looks, or by being just an over all great person. Ephesians 2:8-9.

If you confess with your mouth, that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. Romans 10:9.

All you need to do is pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart and lead your life. Romans 10:13 says "For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." So easy! So unknown to the world! So sad!

I am very thankful that my Dad became a Christian, because there were 18 of us in our family that got saved. We will be in heaven one day with the Lord. We will all be together, with those we have lost in this life now, and in the future. It's a great feeling to know this. This is our hope. This is what we look forward to. This makes death look not so bad! There is a future, and it's great, and it's for an eternity.

Being a Christian has been good. Mostly good for me. Some say it's hard to live this way. Some struggle. I feel like the Lord is with me all of the time. I have to live like that. I want to be a good person, think good thoughts, treat others nicely. It's not easy. I remember when I was 18, and working. Some of my co workers would say...."why are you so happy, and why do you have a smile on your face?" Why....because I have Jesus to guide me, and I know that I have an eternity with Him. I think Jesus helped me be an easy going person. I try to do my work as for the Lord. My Dad always said that to me. I always remember that. I want to make Jesus proud of me. I want to honor Him. I want my character to show and show the Light shining in me.

I also remember a time, when I was influenced by "friends". I had a girlfriend that drove me totally insane. They egged me on, and told me to tell her, write a note, tell her off. So, the more I thought of it, the more I wanted to do it. I wrote a nasy letter, and told her how I felt. It was not nice, it was the flat out truth. As soon as I gave it to her, I regretted it. I wished I hadn't listened to them! It was wrong, and I felt it the whole time. I should have listened to my heart. Ugh. I still feel bad for that letter. Well, some time afterwards, this friend and I made up. But, the letter was still in my mind. I appologized, but I still felt terrible. One day, I saw her hubby out and about. He went from smiling to straight faced. He looked at me like I was evil! I knew he had read the letter. It killed me! I felt terrible again and again! ugh! There was nothing I could say. I just said hi to him and moved on; with a heavy heart. Then, the next month, her husband died! oh....I felt sooooo terrible! Just thinking about what I wrote, and what he read, and God knew...! I totally learned my lesson on that one. I was there for her, and we talked often. I learned to move on and forgive myself for it. She forgave me, and we still talk once in a while.

I just think that what is in your heart, is something you should stick with. Dont change for people. It's totally not worth it. It makes you something you are not. I dont usually have a hard time with people...But some are just those that are "special" haha or bothersome. I really try to reach out and I want to be everyone's friend. But it's not easy. But Jesus loves everyone and made everyone, and that is something I need to remember. Even if I cannot stand the way they act! It's not up to me! I am not in control, I am just here to live and be an example. So, I try to be nice to everyone, and be me. I treat others like I want to be treated. I am also learning that I am not a doormat, and I let others walk on me. That is one hard thing to not do. But, I am not perfect. But...one day, I will be! I am so looking forward to my eternal life in Heaven. I am enjoying my worldly life, very much. But after I move on, I know I will be in a place with no tears, and no pain. FOREVER. Thank you Lord!

Happy Spiritual Birthday to me!!! I thank the Lord above for showing me the way!