I was raised in a Christian home by both parents in Ontario California, my childhood was filled with love, family, and God. I have believed in God since I was a little girl, & I was taught Bible stories, and that God loved me. My parents were very involved in the church. My dad was on the praise team and my mom taught Sunday school, so I was always at church. My first kiss was even by the pastor’s son :) I attended Youth group occasionally and all my friends know I was a Christian. However I found that there was much more to following Christ than just believing in Him or going to church. I really didn’t know God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit at all.

In high school at least for me I was more concerned with what I was going to wear and who was driving me to school than I was about God. I forgot about him really, I had cheerleading, my friends, love and a boyfriend. I remember making fun of my Christian friends who were totally sold out to Christ and would carry Bibles everywhere they went. The worst was K Wave a Christian radio station. I would say that I was like most teenagers...I would sin during the week and ask for forgiveness on Sunday’s like everybody else how attended church. It took me looking at my life and changing the decisions I was making to yield to Christ’s true path for me.

I was not mature in my faith nor did I know or study the Bible. I only believed. There is a Big difference I found. Jesus wants our heart, mind and soul to be His. Not to make us weird and in a cult but to protect us from evil, bless us, give us hope and a future. We are his witnesses of love and hope, because He is in us.

When I look back at the fun I had in my life before I thought of Christ in all that I do, it consisted of parties, going out to drink with my friends and what boys I could get with.

One day after fighting with my boyfriend I asked God – is this what you have for me? I knew that I would not be happy and there was more out there for me. I asked for help and I meant it. I came home and cried with my brothers on the stairs at our home and I didn’t look back. I knew that I was on the road of the world and I was getting eaten up. I decided to let God lead my life, no matter what It took. If I was truly going to love the Lord I had to get rid of my sin. It was amazing to see God work after that. I started looking for God and serving Him. Since I have made this change in my life God has given me joy, peace and understanding beyond comprehension.

Once you give your whole life to Christ nothing else will satisfy you. I still continue to grow in my faith and love for God. I find what helps me is to stay in the word and pray a lot. I buy devotion books that help me through scriptures and I continue to walk when I’m scared, when it gets hard, dark and lonely.