Happy New year to everyone!
I just had a 're-connection' with my faith and I felt that I needed to share it, as I'm so excited for it to have happened. So a little back story might be needed.
I come from a not-so religiously oriented family. Sure, we have connections to the Anglican church, but the only times I ever remember going (or knowing of anyone going) to church or talk about God were at weddings/funerals and the occasional Christmas/Easter service that we would attend. Suffice to say, my religious experience came much later in my teen years.
During my middle school years, and because of my family's low income, I was sent to a very evangeilical summer camp in my hometown (Hope Valley Day Camp in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada for anyone that knows it). It was here that I really began to learn about christianity, and what it meant to be a christian. Long story short, during the following few years I became very active in the church. It was to the point that I was even trying to share my knowledge, as well as enjoy the fellowship of other Christians that I attempted to start a 'Christian Group' in my high school. This was met with much ridicule and it is at this point that I began questioning everything. Probably more in an attempt to fit in, rather than because I felt God had abandoned me, I declared that I know longer felt the affiliation with God and Christianity as a whole.
By the time I got to University, I began meeting people who were good Christians, and still found places to fit in, no longer locked into the cliques that existed to High School. I didn't fully commit then, but I was now beginning to re-examine my faith. I began to occasionally read the bible again, and made attempts to go to Church, but it quickly became something that was no where near page 5 of my priorities...
Fast forward 5 years later, I'm out of school, living with my girlfriend and working (I'm an Officer in the Navy). Without the distractions of college life, I have begun to seriously think about my life, my faith, and how to better it. It was not until today that I decided to re-commit myself to God, and restore my faith in Him.
Tonight was the first time in over 5 years that I actually got down on my Knees and prayed. And the moment I said "Lord" out loud, I began to feel a tingling sensation on my neck that quickly spread throughout my body. I instantly began to smile as I am 100% certain that this was God letting me know that I'm finally making the right choice. I felt this sensation throughout my entire prayer, must have been on my knees for a few minutes. When I finished, I got up and felt like a giant burden that had been lifted off of me.
I immediately felt the urge to share my experience with others and sought out this forum with hopes of either sharing similar experiences in life, or maybe help those who have been astray from Gods love for a while.
Happy New Year!
Brandon
I just had a 're-connection' with my faith and I felt that I needed to share it, as I'm so excited for it to have happened. So a little back story might be needed.
I come from a not-so religiously oriented family. Sure, we have connections to the Anglican church, but the only times I ever remember going (or knowing of anyone going) to church or talk about God were at weddings/funerals and the occasional Christmas/Easter service that we would attend. Suffice to say, my religious experience came much later in my teen years.
During my middle school years, and because of my family's low income, I was sent to a very evangeilical summer camp in my hometown (Hope Valley Day Camp in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada for anyone that knows it). It was here that I really began to learn about christianity, and what it meant to be a christian. Long story short, during the following few years I became very active in the church. It was to the point that I was even trying to share my knowledge, as well as enjoy the fellowship of other Christians that I attempted to start a 'Christian Group' in my high school. This was met with much ridicule and it is at this point that I began questioning everything. Probably more in an attempt to fit in, rather than because I felt God had abandoned me, I declared that I know longer felt the affiliation with God and Christianity as a whole.
By the time I got to University, I began meeting people who were good Christians, and still found places to fit in, no longer locked into the cliques that existed to High School. I didn't fully commit then, but I was now beginning to re-examine my faith. I began to occasionally read the bible again, and made attempts to go to Church, but it quickly became something that was no where near page 5 of my priorities...
Fast forward 5 years later, I'm out of school, living with my girlfriend and working (I'm an Officer in the Navy). Without the distractions of college life, I have begun to seriously think about my life, my faith, and how to better it. It was not until today that I decided to re-commit myself to God, and restore my faith in Him.
Tonight was the first time in over 5 years that I actually got down on my Knees and prayed. And the moment I said "Lord" out loud, I began to feel a tingling sensation on my neck that quickly spread throughout my body. I instantly began to smile as I am 100% certain that this was God letting me know that I'm finally making the right choice. I felt this sensation throughout my entire prayer, must have been on my knees for a few minutes. When I finished, I got up and felt like a giant burden that had been lifted off of me.
I immediately felt the urge to share my experience with others and sought out this forum with hopes of either sharing similar experiences in life, or maybe help those who have been astray from Gods love for a while.
Happy New Year!
Brandon
