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Something Stirred Within Me
Having grown up in a Christian home, I read the Bible some and attended Christian
meetings regularly. Although I believed what I heard, somehow it wasnt real to me.
Eventually, I found other things to do as a teenager, and by the time I joined the
Army when I was 19, the Lord Jesus was about the farthest thing from my mind. I started
drinking for fun, then it turned into a habit. Before long, I was into drugs. I was
trying to have fun and be happy, but the more I tried, it seemed the worse my condition
became. I began to realize there was more to life than having things and doing things,
but I had no idea what it was!
After I got out of the Army, I began to travel around and visit some of my buddies,
but I got nothing except more discouragement. All the things we talked about doing
after we got out just fell apart. I drifted up into Toronto, in Canada, and after
living on the street for a week or so, I met a young Christian who asked if he could
talk to me about the Lord. He sat down with me and began to speak, then he gave me
a tract about Jesus being the Son of God who came to give us life. Something I had
never felt before stirred within me. (Later I found out it was faith!) Through contact
with him and some others there in Toronto, I eventually opened my heart and received
the Lord. I had a wonderful experience of salvation and enjoyed the Lords sweet presence.
I realized that all the Bible stories had been true, and that I had a misconception
of who Christ really is. The real Christ was all I wanted now! But soon the experience
faded and I didnt know how to go on contacting the Lord. I was miserable and even
began to get back into the things I was into before I was saved.
I hitchhiked to California from Florida and wound up on the street in Berkeley. I
got very desperate and turned to the Lord, asking Him to take me homeso He did! That
evening I met some young people in the local church in Berkeley and they spoke to
me about the Christ I had met before. As we talked, I began to have the same feeling
inside as when I received the Lord! I told one of the brothers I felt like I had failed
the Lord. He told me I wasnt supposed to make it on my ownI was a member of the Body.
Since that night, I have been living in the Body of Christ, enjoying the Lord daily
in His word, and enjoying His riches in all His members. The local church has gotten
richer every year for over twenty-five years. Praise the Lord! He has kept me year
by year growing in His grace and in the apprehension of His Body. The real Christ
has a real Body!
D.P.
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