Before Jesus Changed My Life

I grew up attending (forcefully) catholic services and Wednesday evening CCD classes so one would think I would have some sort of understanding and knowledge of Jesus but that was far from the truth. I knew he loved me and I was baptized, that's about it. I didn't know how to open a Bible and get myself to the readings and what the numbers meant. Fast forward to young adult life where I was living a sinful life. During 2020 (Covid) a friend of mine from work invited me to attend a Veritas service and I laughed at first because I referred to all churches as cults but something told me this time to accept the offer. I was absolutely blown away and moved to tears. THIS was exactly what I needed, I could FEEL it. I was working a job in clinical health care and I struggled daily with what we were all living through at the time. I always yearn for knowledge and logic when I want to understand things and nothing was making sense to me when it came to COVID. My family and friends leaned on me for guidance and I couldn't hide my feelings to my patients; something about ALL the information waterboarded to us was completely OFF. My brother even called me one day and felt a different shift in energy and he too was concerned about the spiritual things he was feeling. He leaned on me on what to do during COVID as did my parents. I made sure none of them took any of the shots and lived with minimal fear as possible. Of course that was heavy to command when everything else was pushing fear. I refused to cave to fear. This is when the Holy Spirit took over and for the first time, I started listening and trusting.

How Jesus Changed My Life

I started praying and talking to Jesus, I even got out my Bible. I had no idea where to start but I started reading. It was a heavy time and I was so conflicted on the sinful relationships I was entertaining and something deep down was off. I think most people are told "you're just depressed" when they express those feelings out loud. Something (come to learn, that was the Holy Spirit) told me to refuse the easy culture diagnoses of "depressed" and trust me, during the COVID days that was very accepting. I refused to believe I was depressed and I continued to lean more into God and those friends that I know walk with Christ. (Romans 12:1-2)

To think about actually going to church, making that a priority to attend every Sunday was a laughable thought a year ago but I did just that. It quickly became my most important priority, something I genuinely looked forward to. Every single service I would cry; during the sermon or singing in worship, I cried. I've never been an over emotional person so these emotions caught me off guard, but I continued to lean in.  I knew my soul was needing this and THIS is what I was craving. I know now Jesus was simply calling me to him; the truth and the light. That's all I was looking for at that time, no matter how hard it was to hear, it was a sense of calmness of accepting the truth and the gospel.

I started taking classes at Veritas, watching The Chosen and loved finally LEARNING about Jesus. Everything started clicking and making sense; Christian holidays gave me much more meaning and celebration. When I would watch others getting baptized, I would always say to myself "I'm going to do that one day." I was baptized as a baby, but this baptism would be to display MY commitment to him and putting to death my sinful past. Colossians 3:4-6 makes it clear that my life is now completely found in Christ! Salvation is so much more than being a good person, it is being made whole and reconciled to God!

My Life After Jesus Saved Me

I attend church every Sunday and I look forward to it, it's my battery recharge. I even joined a connection group. Trust me, these are things I would have NEVER thought I would be participating in. I enjoy talking to people about Jesus and our instructed way of life and my faith in him being in control. I'm no longer pursuing culture or material things for happiness. I'm not looking to impress anyone or make sure people know this or that about me; it's only about what God knows and giving him glory. I have a very close relationship with my nieces and nephews and now getting to share my faith in Christ with them has been so amazing. Hopefully allow them to build a strong foundation in Jesus in this crazy culture world. I want to be an example for them as well and seek Christ and understand his greatness. It would have saved me a lot of years in my life spinning in circles if I had a better love of Jesus. I have a new sense of peace and comfort striving to please only God and my only goal is eternity with him and by living my life giving him glory. I have this desire now to share my love and appreciation of Christ to others. To share my peace I have found only through him. I invite many to come to church with me and pray for the Spirit to move them the way I have been moved and FEEL his Spirit.