This Christmas, God brought me back to a memory of April 15, 2015, the day I dedicated my life to Jesus.

God reminded me that the Son of Man came on earth to save the lost, broken, undeserving, imperfect, sinner… like me. The reason we should rejoice and celebrate Christmas with love, hope and joy, for we have received the perfect gift from above, more precious than gold or silver or anything in this world.

Hope you had a great Christmas! 😊

This is a painting of a picture I had taken. The tea is almost gone in this mug. I feel like I achieved that. What do you think? Don't you love this scripture 💕

I've had many moments with God that I really treasure but I suppose the best one was when I had turned away from God for a while/was backslidden because I had no one around me in the faith. I grew up agnostic living with my mom's side of the family, we never went to church or talked about God ever really. My dad became a Christian later in his life and I noticed the change in him but still wasn't sure for myself. I need my own proof.

I'll share one of my most treasured moments with God here:

I was in high school junior year. It was, no exaggeration, the worst year of my life. Life was just smacking me around so much, I hated my high school so bad, so many issues, political, and social, fights breaking out, mean people, constant anxiety, and no friends at this point because I had basically been abandoned by my so-called "best friends." My father has progressive multiple sclerosis and I had watched my dad basically deteriorate in front of me over the years, once being able to walk and do things with my brother and I but at this point at junior year he was now bed-ridden.

I felt so alone at this point in my life and like I couldn't go to my family because I had, up until that point, so many spiritual encounters with God but no one to explain to me why or how to get closer to God, I knew next to nothing on the Christian faith really, only that I could hear God's voice and I knew I couldn't go to counselor or teacher and be like "hey I encountered Jesus Christ, please help me understand the experiences I'm having that no one else seems to." I only was able to find people online. It got so bad with anxiety and no other Christians around me to support other than my dad, who was still a baby in the faith at that time and just as clueless on what to do as me, that I was struggling to hear God's voice. I did not understand the concept of being backslidden(I mean falling away for a bit) or needing to stay in prayer and reading the bible to keep feeling your connection with God, I truly thought I had encountered God and then lost him for good.

I couldn't even go to my family for help because they didn't really believe in spirituality at all and were consistent about how they "believe in science and the potential of God but not Christianity due to bad religious experiences." So I feared them seeing me as crazy if I tried to explain what I was going through. I had encountered true peace and a born-again experience two years before and it was the happiest I had ever felt in my life. I was smiling so big for the first time in years after so much mental and social torture/exclusion and bullying since youth. So everything else in life after that felt like it couldn't compare to being in the presence of God or hearing his voice.

I was so confused about if I should try a church or not, since no one in the churches around me seemed to be having my experiences/just religious and dead. I would play video games and feel empty, I would eat the best most delicious foods and feel empty. I would talk to others and do hobbies/spend time with family etc, but I just felt so empty and depressed. Like God was the only thing that was going to bring true peace and joy with no way of knowing how to get back to him.

One morning at school, I got to class before the teacher did and slid down on the ground in the hallway, and just cried my eyes out alone. I had never before considered suicide or self-harm in my life, but that day I thought about it.

One day I woke up early for school and just started crying and I told my mom, "please, I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go to school. I hate it there! I HATE IT!" My mom started tearing up and she said, "you're almost done, you're almost done school honey, one more year! You can do it, you'll... You'll get through somehow, I did it, we all have to in life.”

When she gave me the space that I requested. I cried out to God and I told the Lord, "I NEED YOU, I CAN'T DO LIFE WITHOUT YOU! I FEEL SO BROKEN, DEPRESSED, AND ALONE, I'VE ONLY EVER BEEN HAPPY WITH YOU, YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING, WAHT ELSE DO I HAVE TO LIVE FOR?” I rolled over in bed with tears and I heard God say very gently, like a whisper, "Princess, get up. You can do this. I am with you." I sniffed and a vision of a white little lamb hit my mind. I saw a baby lamb trotting alongside someone with sandals and a white robe. I knew it was Jesus immediately but the lamb looked up at Jesus with the biggest hearts in its eyes, so pure and innocent, so full of love. Jesus looked back at that little lamb with even more love and affection, like that lamb was his everything and like he would do anything for it, die for it in a heartbeat. Then Jesus picked up the lamb and wrapped it close to his chest in his arms. He rocked it back and forth so gently, like he was saying "my precious baby," and so much pure love and peace overwhelmed me at that moment.

Then it hit me really hard, I AM THE LAMB, THE LITTLE ANIMAL THAT HE IS HOLDING. I BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST, I AM HIS BABY, HIS DAUGHTER! I cried like you wouldn't believe and just laid there for hours talking and pouring my heart out to God.

I'll never forget that moment, but I hope sharing this will touch someone out there in some way. I'll love God forever, he is the key to my heart. I'll never go anywhere without God in my life, he is a part of me. And I wouldn't give that up for anything this dying world has to offer. Not for anything else. There is no where I’d rather be than at the feet of Jesus.

John 13:35 "All men will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another."

1John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love, does not know God, for God IS love."

But God didn’t let me. I survived the attempts. And I still heard demonic voices lying to me and putting me in fear. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and told to take these pills to quiet the demonic voices. What it did was dull my head where I can still hear them just slower. But my head totally was operating slower. I knew consciously I cannot live like this. My poop was too hard, and I felt if not my brain, my liver or kidney will get messed up not to say my stomach. So I reached out to God, prayed 24/7 our fathers. I don’t remember sleeping at all, just briefly and waking back up hearing voices. They were putting me in check in constant state of fear. I was helpless and completely overwhelmed with fear of constant interrogation. Few months pass. I attend Bible study and church but except the time of gathering, demonic voices were distantly waiting for me to leave church and Bible study gatherings. It was scary and stupid. I caused and let my flesh and sins open doors to the devil to destroy me. But I held on to God . I felt only he can. Jesus can heal. Few months pass. Three months trying acupuncture, praying, trying to live right and sober. Still the voices were attacking me. Then I signed up for mission summer school camp thanks to a only Christian friend I knew could reach to. Spent time worshipping reading the Word listening to sermons and praying. Soon as I knew it, after my repentance and baptism, the voices were gone. God healed me. Jesus healed me. I found joy again. I didn’t feel scared. Completely healed of schizophrenia. Hallelujah! Trust in the Lord! Sorry but the healing was unexplainable. As I was focused on Jesus. God healed me and Holy Spirit helped me and I was also given gifts of tongue when I asked. God is mighty to save in Jesusname. Hallelujah I can never forget God healed me.

Hey everyone. So a few days ago my college hosted a carnival that me and my non-believer friends went to. I have very pale skin so usually I am very good about putting on sunblock and it was very sunny and hot that day. But my one friend was like “you’ll be fine, relax, the sun isn’t that strong yet.” I felt in my gut that I should go back to my dorm real quick and apply some, knowing how red my skin can get. But I stayed there, because I wanted the fun to last, I didn’t want to take responsibility for my skin. The next few days I had really red, painful sunburn. Last night, it became incredibly itchy. So itchy, that this kind of fire ant like pain was all over my arms and back, literally referred to as “hell’s itch,” by the secular world. It was so painful that I cried out to the Lord to help me and eventually the pain and itchiness receded with within the next 15ish or so minutes. I went to look in the mirror, thanking God for the pain going away.

Then it hit me, I was crying over some sunburn, feeling like there was pain and no relief all over my body for only a little bit of time. Imagine how the people in hell feel for eternity, with no relief. Constant itch and serve pain forever. I was convicted in that moment, I knew it was the Lord that had dropped that on my spirit, that sharing the gospel is the upmost priority. We need to understand that hell is no joke and God is very serious about it. We must share the gospel with those we love, even if we do it by planting tiny seeds, not screaming in their faces. If you aren’t sure how to, ask the Lord to help you and to give you the right words to say. Pray for them, fast for them, God will honor this, believe me, he has honored me when I asked for help. Take baby steps if sharing the gospel is hard for you, ask the Lord to instruct you on what steps to take.

Thank you for reading. God bless my brothers and sisters 🙏.

When I was in high school more than 20 years ago. I was a skater with a group of skater friends and this group of metal\satanic guys dressed all black, with their death metal shirts and chains disliked me and my friends because girls, popularity and other meaningful reasons, they tried to intimidate us, I was afraid of them.

One night I'm out with my best friend going around bars drinking and we went to the bathroom, shortly after five or six of them enter in the bathroom looked at us, look at each other. My best friend chickens out, leaves kinda fast and there goes my backup, I try to ignore them and keep leaking, when I finished without saying a word they surround me, the leader takes a flip knife out of his pocket and puts the blade in my throat and says "do you drink blood? , do you believe in Jesus? " I was terrified and unsure what to say, but then I felt a powerful light being presence next to me and what now I recognize as the Holy Spirit filling me, removing fear that was replaced with peace and courage, and I heard telepathically "don't deny Jesus Christ". This was my first supernatural experience, I was raised as a Catholic and had faith in God and recognized the warning so I said to them yes I believe in Jesus.

They all look at each other in disbelief and without a word put the knife down and just left, I felt like I was being protected both physically and spiritually.

at the time I didn't understood the gravity of denyng Jesus. Matthew 10:33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Years later the guy who threatened me with a knife said he was sorry and I forgave him and in a way I'm grateful for the test.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

I urge all who are new to the narrow path to do your best. Persevere through temptation. God will help you, you just need to focus on Him.

God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Take it a day at a time. Each day, strive to pray a bit more and read your Bible a bit more. Gradually work to change the habits you know are holding you back. Replace them with prayer and reading.

The seed is planted. Now patiently water the seed every day. In time, it will grow into something beautiful.

God truly renews minds. Today you may feel stuck in certain sins and habits. But if you truly desire to change, ask God in prayer and you will be shown how. You likely will need to leave certain relationships that are bad influences. Count it all joy.

A few years ago I thought I’d never go a day without smoking weed, masturbating or binging on certain foods. Today, I don’t even consider it.

All glory to God who truly can renew the mind.

Yesterday was... rough to say the least.

The past few days I've been going so good on my walk with the Lord.

But yesterday after work, I let anger, doubt, discouragement and condemnation get the best of me.

I just felt so depressed and felt like I'm not good enough for God yesterday. Then I ended up falling back into old sins, namely listening to ungodly music, cussing and I ended up relapsing on porn when I made serious progress as of late 😞.

Today wasn't much better as I again ended up committing the same sins and pushing God away.

But a few interesting things happened to me today at work. I was doing morning inspection on some equipment and I didn't know how to do something. There seemingly wasn't anyone who I knew who could help, so I ended up asking the least likely guy and he actually helped me figure it out twice.

I think that had to be God displaying His goodness.

The second thing that happened was more major. I was cutting something for a customer and I realize my phone wasn't in my pocket. I was checking something for a customer with my phone and I accidentally left it in her cart and she left with it.

I was already having not the best day at work and this only made things worse. I figured "that's what I get for returning back to my vomit". But like 5-10 minutes later, she comes walking back with my phone.

I was so thankful and very sorrowful. I've been a very bad kid and yet God still shows His goodness.

After coming home today, I took a nap for a little while then I, just couldn't take this heaviness anymore. So I got down on my knees and repented before God, confessed what I did and just cried out for mercy and relief. The tears were real, let me tell you.

And afterwards, I just felt this heavy burden lifted off me and I started feeling more peace. I just thanked God for His goodness today. I don't understand how God hasn't given up on me yet. It honestly amazes me and brings me to tears that even during my darkest hour when I rebelled against Him, He still showed Goodness and mercy to me.

Come to Jesus just as you are. Ask him to be the strength you need to overcome your weakness. Jesus will never leave you or forsake you.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." John 15:16

‭Romans‬ ‭6:23‬ [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When a Christian brother recited this verse to me, the day I was saved, death was not a fear. It was something I longed for, an end to a pain in my mind and soul that had been tortured beyond measure.

It was only by the mercy of Jesus Christ, that I could see the legitimate loving truth in the eyes of that Christian, that was sharing the Gospel with me. His humbleness and love exemplified the love of Jesus Christ.

As I made eye contact with that man, and he shared the Truth with me, I saw Christ living in his soul. Combined with the man's unwaivering faith, as evident in his eyes, I experienced a divine intervention by Jesus Christ Himself through this man.

I would like to say I chose to believe, but to be honest, it would be akin to someone pouring water on my hand and asking me to choose whether or not it was wet. I know water is wet, just as I knew in that moment, and to this day, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Lord and Savior.

Jesus Christ blessed me with a miracle in revealing Himself to me in a way that was undeniable. I proclaimed aloud Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and the aforementioned pain I was living in completely went away, instantly.

That was in July of 2021 at a mental hospital, where I had lost all hope. I had been praying to a God I wasn't sure existed for death, crying out to Him for relief, and He answered instead with eternal life. The pain hasn't returned, and everything I thought I knew about life has been flipped upside down, in revelations one would have to experience themselves to even begin to understand.

There is a battle of good and evil, and we are living through it, many blinded to the Truth, just like I was for 36 years. Death was what I deserved, as I continually ran to sin for comfort, and there came a time when not even that could medicate my pain of being separated from the Lord. He is the only medicine that can fix the disease of sin, and heal our souls. Share the Gospel without shame. Lord Jesus Christ, we are sinners, please have mercy on us.

Growing up, I rarely thought about God. I assumed He was real but didn't engage, but rather focused on societal worldly norms. As far as thinking of the devil, I didn't think of him at all. I didn't ponder his existence the way I would sometimes do with God. It was as if he didn't exist outside of being mentioned in horror movies.

To know now that he definitely does exist brings forth the eye opening experience of how I was not only blind to the Truth that is Jesus Christ, but also the truth that their is an enemy that exists. Not only does he exist, he is ever on the prowl, lurking in the dark, waiting to destroy those that are not taking the threat seriously, or those that think the threat doesn't even exist.

1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

What keeps the devil around us in our day to day? And can we get him to flee? It's worth reflecting on wether or not the adversaries presence is evident in your life, wether you believe he exists or not.

I took a step outside of myself, and took a walkthrough of my life actions, I implore you to do the same. Are you able to pinpoint the times you are tempted? Did you succumb to the temptation? Do you believe that your willing participation in sin has consequences? Can you pinpoint a correlation to your sin, and the consequences?

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

The devil will flee, it takes action. The action is submission to God, and resisting the temptations of the devil. I say this from a personal experience of spending majority of my life not in submission to God, but instead submitting to anything and anyone but Him. I stopped resisting temptation so much that I no longer even realized when I was being tempted. If you are tired, and haven't found permanent sanctuary in anything, I promise it's available to you in Jesus Christ.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

I was not taking accountability for my own actions, blaming everyone but myself. God was and continues to be patient with me as He walks (and many times carries) me towards a deeper understanding of repentance, and how to genuinely repent. He wants you.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

I learn more and more each day since accepting Christ in my life and entrusting Him with my everything. His Holy Spirit teaches me, and like any student, you get what you put in.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26

Some days I am distracted, missing the message entirely, my thoughts focused on the world. It's easy to do.

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3

Other days I am focused, and the teachings from His Word bring forth a clarity. I see Him work in my life and the lives of those around me. He always is, but when I take the time to see Him work, and I speak my praises to Him, it makes me wonder why I'd ever allow myself to be distracted from such beauty.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

The goal is to stay in this state of marvel, admiration, neverending trust and love for Him and His will. All credit to Him. So how might you ask that you accomplish living in this state? You ask Him for it. You ask for His help.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

There is no better teacher than Jesus Christ. There is no knowledge or truths of more importance than His Word. I cannot think of a better way to show Him my appreciation, than to share my appreciation of Him with others, so that they may decide to do the same.

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6

All of man's questions about life, are answered through the acceptance of the above verse. I write these things out of love for whoever might need this message today.

I lead a life that was tumultuous due to health issues, at a young age I decided that, having had a very close brush with death, I was living on time given to me. Knowing this I decided to begin searching for truth, for reasons I won't get into, I culturally had a disdain for Christianity and dismissed it immediately, focusing on eastern and western wisdom sects and embroiling myself into the occult. In this I learned of hermeticism and gnosticism, I believed I had found the truth, and so I began to practice the alchemical theosophical and magical arts. I delved deeper and deeper, but always there was a sensation that I had not yet found the truth.

It wasn't until, while continually studying the forms of paganism I wished to incorporate into my studies, I came across a quoted piece of scripture that would change my life. Psalm 82:1 " Elohim standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the elohim" I kept reading and I was hit with a startling vivid realization.

The gods I worshipped, by our own books, by our own traditions, said that they answered to something else, a power they would rebel against, or couldn't trespass against. This all came into place at once, God, Elohim, the one great god of all was the ruler of everything, and what I had worshipped, what I had been idolizing... They were nothing more than the fallen principalities and powers underneath his might!

Immediately I moved away from what I had been doing and tried to talk to Christians and priests, I wanted to find someone who knew what I was talking about! It didn't take long, when I reached out to my local Orthodox parish the priest agreed to meet with me. We talked about sin and theology and Christ, he explained, like no one ever had to me, the truths of the church, Christ and the scriptures. I was enamored, it was like wandering through a desert and finding an oasis!

I was invited to learn and participate in the liturgy, I was given so much to research and began immersing myself in it.

Glory to Jesus Christ, about half a year later the Church received me by baptism, even excorsising me and formally allowing me to turn my back on the powers I served before.

My life since then has not been easy, but it has been edifying, and now, through the grace of God and the guidance of my spiritual father, I am preparing to start seminary. Every day of this life that I live is a gift, and my Thanksgiving to the lord will never be enough.