My story is not as extraordinary as some of the testimonials we like to hear about.  But to me, it is extraordinary to the point that I can barely describe it.

I will start with a short summary of my childhood.  My parents were decent parents, not happy, not unhappy.  My mother was Lutheran, and my father was Catholic.  They made an arrangement regarding how our religious lives would be balanced.  The children would attend Catholic School, and attend Lutheran church on Sundays.  My mother calculated that to be a good compromise.  Neither of my parents were saved at that time.

I will state in the most diplomatic terms that I can – that my ten years of Catholic school (I graduated two years early) were nothing short of hellacious.  Ten years of physical and psychological abuse.  From hitting us with books, to putting small children into garbage cans and throwing garbage on them. . .

I believe that from before I could even articulate my thoughts – I was aware of God.  Even while very young, I was fascinated by nature.  Even a leaf impressed me.  I’ve always been aware of an intense love for Jesus within me – to the point that my family made fun of me.  The irreconcilable teachings between evolutionary science classes and religion Bible stories disturbed me to the point I was challenging the teachers  at the age of eight, because it was so contradictory.  At my school, we were required to attend chapel every morning, and confession once weekly.  During one session, while on my knees at the age of twelve, I told the priest how unhappy I was, and that I wasn’t getting anything out of church or religion classes.  He responded that “Faith is an empty shell.  You can get nothing out of it unless you put something into it.”  So-o-o frustrating. 

Years went by, with me feeling more and more unhappy about life in general.  I was heavily involved with the performing arts, and had the nagging sensation that something was terribly wrong with it all.  My mother had been fairly miserable and self absorbed most of the time.  She also had a terrible 35 year smoking habit that she had tried every method known to man .. .  Smoke Enders, hypnotism, medical doctors. . . Then one day, when I was 18 years old, my mother’s hair dresser led her to Christ.  She came home a different person – and the very visible miracle was her instant deliverance from her addiction to cigarettes.  Very impressive to me. 

Two years passed, while I lived my life, and watched my mother try to lead all of us to Christ.  Her witnessing was rather more like nagging!  But the fact was incontrovertible.  She was changed!  I started reading her Bible – from the back.  I don’t know why I started with Revelation, but it spoke to me.  I had always known I was a sinner.  It was so easy – I held the Bible, closed my eyes, and asked the Lord Jesus to come into my heart and save me from myself.  I told Him I didn’t want to live like I was living – pursuing the world.  I told Him I wanted peace.  I told Him I wanted Him. 

I felt like a ten ton weight came off of me right then.  It was so incredible, but I actually felt it lifted off!  Right at that moment!  I spent the entire weekend crying as one sin after another came up into my awareness, as the Holy Spirit convicted me, for me to confess. 

I didn’t become the Bible thumper that I am overnight.  That was a gradual development!   And, by the mercy of God, my very stubborn father got saved two years after I did, and devoted the next thirty years of his life to studying the Word. 

Dear Lord, make us worthy vessels like unto Thee.

If you would like to know this kind of peace – it can be yours today.  There are four steps to true conversion.  If one of them is missing, it will not be complete.

FIRST, admit that you are a sinner – just like me.

Romans 3:10

    As it is written. There is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23

    For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

SECOND, realize that you can’t save yourself.

Ephesians 2:8-9

    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

THIRD, believe, and turn (repent) towards Jesus Christ, believing in your heart of hearts that He can deliver you –  Jesus Christ – God’s only begotten Son Who died for your sins.

John 3:16

    For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8

    But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

FOURTH,  call upon Jesus for salvation.  Ask Him! 

Romans 10:9

    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:13

    For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Won’t you please, take a moment, right now, and pray for God to forgive you of your sins,

and ask Jesus Christ to come into your life?