The Christian of convenience.

[Frederick]

I am, as a few of you already know, a born-again Christian, and I would like to take the opportunity to share with you just how much my life has changed since accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart.

Although neither of my parents were church goers on a regular basis, I was brought up in a Christian environment, starting off with "Gentle Jesus..." in my father's presence just before bed, before progressing to more adult prayers once I started school. Later in life I even joined a Christian youth club, so I guess I got off on the right footing. Problem was, that's where it ended.
Once I started work I became an adult in an adult world, and was expected to behave accordingly. With pubs, clubs and soft porn magazines in every newsagent, God was soon forgotten. Over the course of many years I went through religious phases, becoming all religious for about three or four weeks or until whatever crisis I was going through passed, and then I was back to my old ways. Like most people, I suppose, I was a Christian of convenience. Meanwhile the top-shelf magazines were becoming stronger, as was my need for a "fix". After wasting all my money on cheap filth, I'd end up having to walk home penniless every Sunday morning.
Fast forward many years when I was going through yet another crisis. I was not far short of a nervous breakdown, when I listened to a lay preacher. I'd heard preachers before, but this man was different - he actually spoke with knowledge and authority. After he'd finished his sermon he asked me if I'd given myself to the Lord. This time I knew I was being called. I went straight into the nearest church, dropped to my knees, and cried. I asked Jesus the impossible - to cleanse my mind. Before I stood up, I knew my life would never be the same again.

Eleven words changed my life. They didn't come from the bible, prayer book or anything else.
I would like to share those eleven words with you, because if they changed my life, I pray, with every ounce of strength I have, they will change the lives of those who may still be in doubt. They are, quite simply:

"Lord, come into my heart, and stay with me forever. Amen.

[streetsinger]

Originally Posted by Frederick

I am, as a few of you already know, a born-again Christian, and I would like to take the opportunity to share with you just how much my life has changed since accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart.

Although neither of my parents were church goers on a regular basis, I was brought up in a Christian environment, starting off with "Gentle Jesus..." in my father's presence just before bed, before progressing to more adult prayers once I started school. Later in life I even joined a Christian youth club, so I guess I got off on the right footing. Problem was, that's where it ended.
Once I started work I became an adult in an adult world, and was expected to behave accordingly. With pubs, clubs and soft porn magazines in every newsagent, God was soon forgotten. Over the course of many years I went through religious phases, becoming all religious for about three or four weeks or until whatever crisis I was going through passed, and then I was back to my old ways. Like most people, I suppose, I was a Christian of convenience. Meanwhile the top-shelf magazines were becoming stronger, as was my need for a "fix". After wasting all my money on cheap filth, I'd end up having to walk home penniless every Sunday morning.
Fast forward many years when I was going through yet another crisis. I was not far short of a nervous breakdown, when I listened to a lay preacher. I'd heard preachers before, but this man was different - he actually spoke with knowledge and authority. After he'd finished his sermon he asked me if I'd given myself to the Lord. This time I knew I was being called. I went straight into the nearest church, dropped to my knees, and cried. I asked Jesus the impossible - to cleanse my mind. Before I stood up, I knew my life would never be the same again.

Eleven words changed my life. They didn't come from the bible, prayer book or anything else.
I would like to share those eleven words with you, because if they changed my life, I pray, with every ounce of strength I have, they will change the lives of those who may still be in doubt. They are, quite simply:

"Lord, come into my heart, and stay with me forever. Amen.

Amen

[canny]

Thank you Frederick, Amen

[onesiphorus]

Sounds good to me

Praise the Lord

[JIP]

Amen
And thank God that you have accepted God.

But nomatter how unkind I may sound now, or whatever some may say,
I just want to tell you a fact that you must remember my friend. I can vouch for what I am saying as I have experience all this in my natural life.

"It does not become a tip-toe through tulips once you become
saved."

The real struggle for change comes after you are saved. The road
is going to be bumpy as you are guided, corrected and refined by God.
Be joyful and accept His Will to be done unto you. Every time you climb
another step higher, you will enjoy and know the compassion of God.

Be Blessed
JIP

[canny]

Originally Posted by JIP

Amen
And thank God that you have accepted God.

But nomatter how unkind I may sound now, or whatever some may say,
I just want to tell you a fact that you must remember my friend. I can vouch for what I am saying as I have experience all this in my natural life.

"It does not become a tip-toe through tulips once you become
saved."

The real struggle for change comes after you are saved. The road
is going to be bumpy as you are guided, corrected and refined by God.
Be joyful and accept His Will to be done unto you. Every time you climb
another step higher, you will enjoy and know the compassion of God.

Be Blessed
JIP

Amen JIP aint that the truth !

[Wabco]

Thanks for sharing that with us Frederick.
We are Christians in the making every day too, like JIP said.
Praise God for refining us to become more like Jesus.

[Frederick]

Originally Posted by JIP

Amen
And thank God that you have accepted God.

But nomatter how unkind I may sound now, or whatever some may say,
I just want to tell you a fact that you must remember my friend. I can vouch for what I am saying as I have experience all this in my natural life.

"It does not become a tip-toe through tulips once you become
saved."

The real struggle for change comes after you are saved. The road
is going to be bumpy as you are guided, corrected and refined by God.
Be joyful and accept His Will to be done unto you. Every time you climb
another step higher, you will enjoy and know the compassion of God.

Be Blessed
JIP

You don't have to tell me what an uphill battle it is! The devil will try every trick in the book to get you back, because he would have lost so much, subtly eating away at you confidence.
"Born-again? Bah! It's just another passing phase - you wait and see."
"How can you call yourself a Christian if you still have anger in you heart against those who've done you wrong?"
"God's help? Don't you think He's got enough people in this world to worry about without the likes of you?"
"All these answered prayers would have happened naturally." Et al.

Believe me, I know there are hard times ahead! That is why I asked God to guide me to a church of HIS choice, so that I could be spiritually fed. He guided my to my local Methodist church where I found genuine love and companionship that was so lacking in other establishments. Yet the earliest sin I committed was by far the easiest - pride. Your head swells once you become a born-again Christian. You feel you want to fight the world in the name of God, as if He doesn't have zillions of people at His disposal! You feel you've done something really wonderful, whereas you've done nothing. At His will we live, and by His Grace we are saved. The next thing you think, is "what does He want in return?" The answer, of course, is nothing. Like a puppy that keeps messing on the floor, He loves each and every one of us unconditionally. God knows we sin - all the time. The only difference is I now hate sin. Every time I wilfully sin I feel I'm driving those thorns deeper into His head. The slate has been wiped clean, but what a price to pay for my salvation - a price I can never repay. I have mellowed over the past five years, although at first it was terrible, although that's the wrong word - I was on an emotional/religious high for months. Whereas the devil made me feel a failure by pointing to the likes of Billy Graham, mocking me by saying: "You could never do that." I realise God doesn't want a Billy Grahan clone - he wants Fred, warts and all. Sorry for the long epistle!

[canny]

Originally Posted by Frederick

[b][i] I realise God doesn't want a Billy Grahan clone - he wants Fred, warts and all.

Amen Fred !

[JIP]

Wow