My Spiritual Story

Well I finally had time to sit down and write this! (Actually I don't really have the time, but it's very important to me that you hear my spiritual story, so I knew that I needed to get it finished.)

 

You may have noticed the lighthouse in the background...I chose it for a specific reason. "Why?", you may ask. Well let me tell you a little about my life first. I was raised in a Christian home, went (and still go) to church every Sunday, and have been a pretty good person throughout the years. However, God never really played an important part in my life until my freshman year in high school. Before that point, God was just Someone I prayed to if Iwas in deep trouble and thought about on Sundays when I was sitting in church (that is, if my mind wasn't wondering somewhere else). That all changed when I met this guy. He was, what I thought, a great Christian...he really seemed to LOVE God, and know Him as well. I began to want that same relationship with God, so this guy started taking me to his youth groups, and before i knew it God was an important part of my life. This was a good thing, because the friendship I had with this guy eventually turned into a relationship, which ended up totally falling apart.....long story. God was what got me through the "break-up" and gave me strength to move on with my life. My relationship with God has not always been perfect since then though, it's been more like a rollercoaster ride-sometimes it's at really low points, sometimes at high points, and sometimes I feel like I'm going through a loop-de-doo! A relationship with God, like any other relationship you may have with family, friends, boyfriends, etc, takes committment and work. You have to read your Bible daily, (it's not as boring as you may think) and pray that you may become more like Jesus. God and Jesus can change your life, if you let Them. They can give you a peace that you've never felt before, and give you self-confidence and love. And best of all, if You believe in Them, you will receive Their ultimate gift: eternity in heaven! But now let me tell you about the lighthouse.

I've always loved lighthouses---I think that they're beautiful. But not only do I see them as beautiful, but I also see them as symbols. For a minute, imagine that you're on a ship, sailing out in the deep ocean. The waves are gently lapping upon your hull and you feel at peace. The sun is setting in the sky, a beautiful array of colors--oranges, pinks, yellows---all are reflected in your eyes. Suddenly the weather changes: the sky grows dark and grim and big thunder clouds start to form. Before you know it, lightening is flashing and rain starts to drive down upon you and your ship. The boat starts to rock violently, and you fear that you'll be tossed over board. You shout for help, but there is no one to hear you over the wailing winds. When you feel like all hope is lost, that no one will be able to rescue you, you see a bright light shining in the distance. It's a lighthouse! Now you get to choose how this story ends:

A) You start to direct your boat towards the lighthouse, and try to wire it for help as well. Eventually you make it back to shore by keeping your eyes set on the bright light and pushing on. You survive!

B) You see the light, however, instead of directing your boat towards it, you give up, and think to yourself, "There is no way I am ever going to reach the shore." You sit down and surrender, and the ocean eventually swallows you up.

Now which option did you choose?? I'm guessing that most of you would choose Option A. At least that's the one I would choose! Now here comes the spiritual comparison. You are on the boat---the boat of life, that's sailing in a vast ocean---this world. Now the storm represents trials that you would face, and the lighthouse represents Jesus, the shore represents God. You see, either you can accept Jesus's help, or you can ignore Him and try to survive on your own. You know the chances of surviving on a ship at sea with a storm raging, right? It's the same thing with trying to find your way in this world without Jesus. He wants to be a part of your life, He wants to help you, but you have to choose Him. The devil wants the world to believe that everyone goes to heaven, well that's not necessarily true, the Bible says that there is only one way to God (heaven) and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Just like the only way to make it safely to the beach (God) is by following the light from the tall tower (Jesus).

"For there is only one God, and only one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people." -1 Timothy 2:5

Everyone sins, there is not a single person on earth who hasn't sinned. I know I sure have! But when God sent his one and only Son to earth to die for our sins, we are given the free gift of everlasting life with Him. Jesus was the bridge between the gap of God and us sinners. Without Jesus, we never would be able to reach heaven because of our sins. But Jesus paid the price for us when he was nailed to the cross, and He did that because He loved us so much. Jesus loved you before he even knew you, and He gave up His life for you! Talk about an incredible love story! But the question is, do you believe it enough to accept Jesus into your heart as YOUR savior???

If you try to find your own way in high school, you may get swept overboard by peer pressure. But with Jesus standing tall as your lighthouse, you will have the faith and courage to avoid peer pressure, and other things. I have chosen to accept Jesus as my "lighthouse" for not only high school, but for life. He gives me direction and helps me to stay on the path of righteousness. He keeps me out of trouble and helps me to remember my goals. He gives me strenth when I am weak, and wisdom to know the difference between right and wrong. He gives me unconditional love and peace.

Jesus can be your best friend, it may sound crazy, but it's true. He'll never tell your secrets, and He'll never forsake you. He knows the pain and issus you deal with, remember, He was nailed to a cross! But how do you get to know someone?? You spend time with that person, talking with them, learning about their likes/dislikes, etc. Well getting to know Jesus is the same way, I encourage you all to read your Bibles (if you don't have one, you can get one at places like Wal-Mart, where they even sell teen-study bibles)....especially the New Testament. The books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are all about Jesus, and his life on Earth. Those are a good place to start, they will help you get to know Jesus better. He loves you and is yearning for you to talk to Him. So what are you waiting for?? Their is no form to prayer...you can stand, sit, kneel, lay down, etc....just pray to God from your heart, talk to Him as if He is your best friend. OH, and God doesn't always answer prayers the way we would like, and they don't always come right away. Often times, I find my answers while reading my Bible, or He shows me his answer months later. God has an awesome plan for your life, trust in Him and He will show you the way.

If you want tot know more, I encourage you to visit some of the links on the main Spiritualiy page. If you have any questions that you would like me to address, please don't hesitate to write me at: girlmeets_world@hotmail.com

I thought I would leave you with one of my favorite poems:

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