Before Jesus Changed My Life
I grew up in a culturally Catholic family, but didn’t awaken to having a relationship with Jesus until several years after college. During that time, I had a roommate who was very interested in witchcraft. I ended up spending the next couple of years wavering between Catholicism and witchcraft. In the fall of 2001, I went on a retreat called “Walk to Emmaus” and learned more intimately how to have a relationship with Jesus. This was when I specifically gave my life to Jesus. Prior to that time, I only knew specific stories from the Bible and hadn’t studied them. I was able to see a more personal side of being a Christian and learned more about salvation through that relationship with Jesus as, and not just “being a good person”.
How Jesus Changed My Life
After college, I volunteered at Olivet Neighborhood Mission. This was an outreach of Olivet Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. I loved helping with the Mission and eventually joined the church. The Mission helped me become comfortable talking to people from all kinds of cultures, religions, and backgrounds. I met my husband, and after our children were born, we volunteered as a family. I learned that there are no coincidences and God can and does provide for even the smallest needs. More often than not, someone would ask for a specific need (work boots in a specific size), and donations had already come in that provided the exact item needed.
The Gospel is Jesus' teachings to us about how to live and follow him. My favorite scripture is from Matthew 25:34-40. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." I think God wants us to look at those around us in this way. Being ready to help in any way we can but genuinely and joyfully.
My Life After Jesus Saved Me
Life has always been intense, but being saved has made me a stronger individual spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Everyone has challenges and frustrations, but becoming saved; and having an intimate relationship with Jesus has given me more stability and especially grit to withstand what gets thrown at me. In addition, I also have a better understanding of what real joy feels like.