If anyone had asked me, I would have said I was a Christian.
I knew that I loved God, so I thought that was good enough. As a child, I went to Sunday school every week. I figured I just needed to do enough good compared to bad, and I should be okay.
But in the back of my mind, I always thought, Am I really good enough?
In my adult years, I stopped going to church, but my mother would bug me about attending.
I had heard all about what it meant to be a Christian. My brother and my mother had both told me how we are sinful people, separated from God, but that God had sent His Son to die for us. If I just acknowledged that He died for my sins and asked Him to come into my heart, I would have eternal life.
I understood; I just never wanted to do it. I thought any commitment to God would mean the end of my fun.
My husband and I both retired, and my mom kept bugging me about church. I decided I finally had time for church and started going to a new one. I'd slide in and slide right back out, but I was really impressed with the pastor's sermons.
Then, on March 11, 2007, I was singing the song, "I Surrender All," and all of the sudden, I was singing the words, praying the words. It all connected and fell into place.
Right then and there, everything that I had learned growing up made sense. For 50 years, I never understood it as people tried to explain it to me. My eyes were blind, but it all became clear that day.
I surrendered all and asked Jesus to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior.
I rushed home and started making phone calls. I told my mom, "You're not going to believe it! I get it, I get it, I understand."
Not everything in my life is rosy. I still have problems, but I know things are going to work out. I have a peace and trust that I can turn it over to God, and it's going to be okay.
Next: Would You Like to Know God Personally?
Theresa and her husband are both retired and live in Cary, Ill. Each week Theresa meets with her mentor, Campus Crusade for Christ staff member Rose Sutherland, to learn more about the Christian life and grow in her faith. Theresa and her husband enjoy working in their yard, camping and being outdoors.
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