What It's Like To Be A Born-Again Christian

* Phillipians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

* Psalms 37:4

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

* Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

* John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

*Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

* I can only speak for myself, and I have never really told anybody my whole story. I went through alot of phases, including Christianity, before finding my way to God. I spent from age 15 to 21 in and out of relationships that were full of sex, drugs, alcohol, and just trying to fill the hole inside. My dad left when I was 13, but even when he was around, he wasn't really there. He was always online, or "busy", and didn't really have time for me. When I finished 7th grade, right before my 14th birthday, I got the opportunity to live with him. I thought things would be so great. But even living with him, and having it just be the two of us, I didn't have him all to myself. He had work, and all the girls he was dating. I was pulled out of 8th grade to be homeschooled, but I never was. I spent my time there cooking, cleaning, and sitting at the house while he was gone. I missed living with my mom so much. Right before Christmas, he brought me back for a visit. I moved back the following spring. I had turned 14, and was to start 9th grade in Gainesville. But when I started, I was in the goth phase, and was trying out Wicca. I got picked on so bad, and the teachers never helped when I asked them too. When I failed 9th grade, I begged my mom to pull me out. I had to stick in there until two weeks before my 16th birthday. When I got pulled out, we tried a homeschool (which I later found out wasn't legit). When I got out, I was into pot, and had done speed once. Later that year, I would try coke, and I got so hooked that first time, that I did it again, when I was 19. I still have the urge to do it. I know I am skipping around, but bear with me. Right before the Valentine's Day after I turned 19, I met my daughter's father online. We met on Valentine's Day, and we drank and had sex that night. She was conceived that night. We were together for three months, and then I broke it off. I just lost attraction to him. Since then, we have tried to work it out, but have had no luck. I'm just not into him anymore. But having Azrael is what brought me back to God. I started going to church again, back at my old church, New Year's 2010. I started going every Sunday I could get a ride at first. Then two Sundays before Easter of 2010, during the invitation, I was pulled to the front. I never imagined myself being actually saved, let alone baptized, but the following Sunday, that was exactly what happened. Since then, I have relapsed on marijuana once, but I know I am forgiven. I have given up alcohol (for the most part), pray instead of cut, and I don't pick up a pill bottle anymore (unless it is Tylenol or an antibiotic). I have felt more whole since finding God than I have my whole life. I am blessed by Him with my beautiful daughter, and things with my mom aren't as bad as they used to be. I am now in church every Sunday and Wednesday that I can be. I pray when I can remember to. I won't lie, I don't pray every day. I am working on that, though. As humans, we fall short. With God, my life is good. I strive to be a good Christian every day, and sometimes I mess up. But when I do, God picks me up, and sets me back on my path, and tells me it's ok. 

Anyway. That's my story.