Well, as I am assuming most can see that I am a new member, and this will be my first message on the forum... I decided the best way to start off would be to tell my testimonial! 
I was very fortunate to have been born in a Christian family and to have given my life to God at a very young age. When I was 5 years old, I was called to become a missionary of some sort. I know this will sound cheesy :o but my calling was somewhat like the calling of Samuel. I heard my name called 3 times and each time I went to my parents, and after the 3rd time they told me the story of Samuel, so I went back to bed and when I woke up in the morning, I went to my parents and told them I wanted to become a missionary. Well, a 5 year old really has no clue what a missionary is... Anyway, as I grew older, it seemed to me that I had a really good life, up until my brother came down with a mental illness that all but tore my family apart. I became very bitter and angry and every time I would take one step in the right direction, something would happen and I'd jump 5 steps back. But, finally we found out what exactly was wrong with my brother and he was placed in an assisted living center for the mentally ill. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my brother dearly, now. Well, my parent's realized how much they really had ignored me after my brother was placed, and had pushed me completely aside for about 5 years, they both tried very hard to change that, but by that time, I had only 3 friends in school because I was very mean and angry and people didn't want to give me a second chance, so even though my circumstances at home had changed, my school life made it nearly impossible to improve. Then I found a good older "mentor" who realized my love for horses, so she took me out to her place and taught me how to ride. That was a real turning point for me, until she and one of my new "horse friends" stabbed me in the back and said some things that really and truly hurt, so I was back to block 1. Things finally got so bad at school and with my inability to make friends at this school, that my parents and I decided that a move would be in our best intrest. It was the smartest move we have ever made. Now I have more friends then I can count, I have re-dedicated my life to Christ and am stepping ahead in my plans to become a missionary, and I have found out the importance of family (which I have here and never had there). I will be graduating from high school this school year, and I still have my concerns and my worries, but I have found that if I had never been through those hard times I would never have had the strength to give into God's will for my life, nor would I have ever grown past being a "spoiled little girl who was practically born a christian" to knowing that to every little tiny thing or worry I have needs to go to God, because he can heal all the hurts and pains. Even when I turned away from God, He never ever turned away from me.
Sorry for my message being so long. LoL! If you're ever in need to talk to someone about anything, I'm always here and I know how much people need a shoulder to cry on. What I would have given for the good christian friends I have now, to have been back at my old home, to help me through the hard times.
I was very fortunate to have been born in a Christian family and to have given my life to God at a very young age. When I was 5 years old, I was called to become a missionary of some sort. I know this will sound cheesy :o but my calling was somewhat like the calling of Samuel. I heard my name called 3 times and each time I went to my parents, and after the 3rd time they told me the story of Samuel, so I went back to bed and when I woke up in the morning, I went to my parents and told them I wanted to become a missionary. Well, a 5 year old really has no clue what a missionary is... Anyway, as I grew older, it seemed to me that I had a really good life, up until my brother came down with a mental illness that all but tore my family apart. I became very bitter and angry and every time I would take one step in the right direction, something would happen and I'd jump 5 steps back. But, finally we found out what exactly was wrong with my brother and he was placed in an assisted living center for the mentally ill. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my brother dearly, now. Well, my parent's realized how much they really had ignored me after my brother was placed, and had pushed me completely aside for about 5 years, they both tried very hard to change that, but by that time, I had only 3 friends in school because I was very mean and angry and people didn't want to give me a second chance, so even though my circumstances at home had changed, my school life made it nearly impossible to improve. Then I found a good older "mentor" who realized my love for horses, so she took me out to her place and taught me how to ride. That was a real turning point for me, until she and one of my new "horse friends" stabbed me in the back and said some things that really and truly hurt, so I was back to block 1. Things finally got so bad at school and with my inability to make friends at this school, that my parents and I decided that a move would be in our best intrest. It was the smartest move we have ever made. Now I have more friends then I can count, I have re-dedicated my life to Christ and am stepping ahead in my plans to become a missionary, and I have found out the importance of family (which I have here and never had there). I will be graduating from high school this school year, and I still have my concerns and my worries, but I have found that if I had never been through those hard times I would never have had the strength to give into God's will for my life, nor would I have ever grown past being a "spoiled little girl who was practically born a christian" to knowing that to every little tiny thing or worry I have needs to go to God, because he can heal all the hurts and pains. Even when I turned away from God, He never ever turned away from me.
Sorry for my message being so long. LoL! If you're ever in need to talk to someone about anything, I'm always here and I know how much people need a shoulder to cry on. What I would have given for the good christian friends I have now, to have been back at my old home, to help me through the hard times.
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