12.10.09: My story

Hello! I hope you are having a good week are aren't too stressed with Christmas things yet. :)
We finally decorated our Christmas tree tonight! I'm sitting here looking at it and it's pretty much amazing. I did a good job (Yes, I decorated the nine-foot tree with designer and family ornaments single-handed). Pictures to follow!

I had lunch with a friend today, whom I haven't seen since April or May; she was my leader at my youth group last year. It was very nice! We got to talk about this year and all the events. We caught up on the events in our lives this year.
It turns out, she had a friend who was there at the same time working on her computer and we all talked; I love meeting new people! Eventually, we got on the subject on how I came to know God. And I thought I'd share it here! So grab a cup of coffee and let me tell you my story about that.

Well, I grew up in church. I believed in God and even liked Him at times. I wasn't a severely abused child or anything like that. But I didn't take loving Jesus very seriously. I basically grew up on my parents' faith.
Things started getting harder when I was thirteen (which I wrote about here in April, I believe. Be sure to read it; it's a major part of this). It was a hard, dark time in my life which wasn't made any better since I wasn't side-by-side with God. I felt unloved and unneeded and wished to end it all. Luckily, God intervened on my dark thoughts with a song.
From then on, I started thinking about taking Jesus a little more seriously.
Last summer, summer of '08, I was on a trip to Kansas for my birthday. I went alone and it was a real turning point in my life. I remember reading my Bible in bed one night. I stopped reading, looked about the room and said, "Ok, God. I'm afraid to trust You, but here I am. I'm not mine anymore, I'm totally Yours. Do whatever you want, I'm living to love and serve You."
(note: I made the decision to love Him, and then I had feelings for Him. Not the other way around. Commitment comes first)
My life started getting crazy a month later.
Ever since then, it's been non-stop action. Some of it has been the best, most beautiful times, and some have hurt like nothing I've ever felt before; like words I can't say. In fact, most of it has been hard. It's been the hardest year. But the best. I've learned more this year than my whole life combined. I've helped more people, loved more people than ever. I've had dreams broken, dreams met. None would have happened without Him.
I've experienced more of God this year than ever. I hadn't seen His beauty like this before! I've seen Him in everything! He's spoken to me, showed my things I would have never known or imagined. Just this year.
How good of Him to allow me the privilege of seeing Him! I'm just me, and He's....Him! I get to serve Him and then He teaches me things and spends time with me!
I could go on forever, but I'll save it for another post. ;)
Thank you for listening to my story! I know, it's dull compared to many, but dear to my heart nevertheless. You have a good time this week at those Christmas parties! xoxo