Why not share how we have come to our faith?

I'll begin and will try to make it brief.

I was raised in an Irish Catholic home attending Catholic school for 13 years and church on Sunday mornings and Holy Days.

After moving from home I went on a hiatus. Don't know why, just did.

I was married by a liberal Catholic priest who allowed Ross and I to leave the statement out of our ceremony about raising our children in the Catholic faith.

We met with him several times before our wedding and shared that we would raise our children in a faith but we didn't know which one at the time. He was cool with that. That was very odd at the time and I don't think another priest would have done it.

The summer after Ross graduated from Optometry school we went through a difficult time for lots of reasons.

-infertility
-suicide of a very dear friend
-diabetes complications for Ross that kept him from finishing his state boards until the following year

What the heck? We thought we were in control of this life... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

We found refuge in a minister friend who shared the gospel with us pure and simply. He asked us to turn our lives over to Christ (we didn't know what that meant, but we listened). He asked if we believed that Jesus Christ was Lord and if we believed God raised him from the dead. We believed this, but never understood the implications of believing it with our hearts.

He told us to find a church home and become involved, read the Bible, and have faith that God was in charge of our lives and not us. He also shared that we would have life eternal. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> We bought it hook, line, and sinker and will be forever grateful for his advice.

We didn't know what we were doing but we had faith. That's all he asked of us was to trust. It sounds so simple and I guess it is oncce you begin to open your heart and comprehend the gospel.

This faith was very new to me. EVen though I was raised Catholic I never understood the gospel. We didn't read the Bible growing up and when I did it was the King James Version and I didn't comprehend a thing.

I've come to realize that the God of my youth was one of fear and guilt. Someone I prayed to if I wanted to pass a test. I find this so sad, but that's what I was taught all those years in Religion class. I didn't really learn that God was love until I was an adult. What a shame.

I've come to realize the God of my youth and adulthood are very different.

Youth:
I thought I had to earn my way to heaven.
I revered church and not the people.
I had too many rules and standards to live by.
I had limited access to God.
Everything was based on fear.
I had to earn my forgiveness through a priest.
Catholicism was THE way.

Adult:
God's grace is my ticket to heaven.
I focus on relationships.
I feel blessed to live and with God's grace.
God is ALWAYS with me and available.
God is love and forgiveness.
Christainity is the way and it's available to all.

I have lots more to share on this topic but will let everyone have a chance to share their two cents.

HI Dotsie - I know a lot of people who echo your sentiments about just accepting what Jesus did for us on the cross and giving your lives to Him. That's what I did on June 1, 1977. The funny thing is, though, that I was raised as a Lutheran (but I don't remember having really hearing about giving your life to Christ there) and then I became a Catholic when I married in 1967. It was within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal that I found out what it means to turn your life over to the Lord and receive the blessed assurance that gives. However, I found that this really only existed within the confines of the prayer group I attended, and not within the church itself. So I am now attending a church in Bel Air where Pastor Craig just tells it like is right from the Bible. I don't believe that denomination matters at all - it's establishing and building on that relationship. I found that the Lord has been there to hold me up and give me strength throughout the illness and subsequent death from cancer of my father, the illness (10 years' worth) and death of my mother, my son's drug problem which included time in prison, and now the terminal illness of our little grandson, Jordon. I honestly believe that I would be in an institution by now if I hadn't had the Lord's love to rely on through all this (and more). I praise Him for His love and faithfulness to me throughout my life, even when I wasn't aware of it. All I need to do is trust Him and He will get me through even this time in my life...somehow!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by newhope:
<strong>HI Dotsie - I don't believe that denomination matters at all - it's establishing and building on that relationship. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">newhope, thanks for sharing. I agree that denomination doesn't amtter. One of my favorite weekly activities is attending a nondenominational group who gathers to share our faith. We take our brown bag lunches and discuss faith issues for an hour and then part our ways. I've learned so much form the people in the group. It's interesting to understand how people have come to their beliefs.

Joe Girzone is one of my all time favorite authors. I had the pleasure of meeting him at a local book store and he was exactly as I'd hoped. He's a retired Catholic priest who wishes we could break down all the denominational walls. His books are refreshing to read. I think you'd like them.

Dotsie, is he the one who wrote the "Joshua" books? If so, I loved them! I understand that he pretty much gave up all his worldly goods and lived very simply - at least for a while. Have you ever heard that?

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> I had the privilege of having Christian parents. I praise God for it! I thank God they taught us by example more than words.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" /> I understand that having believing parents doesn't make you a believer. Since only a child, I gave my heart to God and he has been the center of my life since then.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> Through life's ups and downs, I've come to know God in a personal way and that makes a world of difference in my life.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> I do believe, as the apostle Paul admonishes, that we should be part of a congregation, and attend regularly. That helps us grow and mature spiritually.

I was brought up in a Christian home--we were Episcopalians but I never knew Jesus Christ as my Savior until our cousin came to visit us one summer.

She was a born-again Christian and when she told her story of faith--coming to Christ even though there was little Christianity in the home---she won me to Christ. I was impressed at how she handled herself with others and her compassionate ways.

Then, years ago I was watching a Billy Graham Crusade and his message of love and forgiveness overwhelmed me and I dedicated my life to Him. There have been ups and downs since then---as it is with most everyone--but my life has steadily gone up, because of Him.

Songbird is right when she mentions the importance of attending church; being among other believers and giving praise and worship helps to strengthen the bond to God and His Son.

I agree that having a church home is important. Not only should we belong to a church, but we should use our gifts within the church community for the betterment of ourselves and others. It is in giving that we receive. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> All of us are given gifts and we are called to use them. Not only in the church community, but any community to which we belong.

This is another reason boomers are multi-taskers. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by newhope:
<strong> I honestly believe that I would be in an institution by now if I hadn't had the Lord's love to rely on through all this (and more). I praise Him for His love and faithfulness to me throughout my life, even when I wasn't aware of it. All I need to do is trust Him and He will get me through even this time in my life...somehow!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I agree with newhope. I've felt that way many times. I thank God because in a time of crisis, someone reminded me that "All things work out for the good for God's children". Since that day, that thought and promise has helped me trust him more, no matter what the situation may be.

I praise the Lord, for he holds the future. He has a purpose for my life. I can depend on him. And He means everything to me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> .

Dotsie,

Good points on using our talents in and out of the church. I remember in the Bible the point made about using or not using the talents God gives. The people who used their talents were given more; those who hid their talents--the little they had--were taken away from them.

A really neat point and another truth--that being we boomers are 'multi-taskers.'

Dotsie, Toni... I've seen it happen in my own life! God does multiply your talents as you use them for his glory!!! We just need to step out in faith.