My testimony

My first encounter with God was when I was 16 years old, my grandfather introduced me to the Bible, and God, and gave me my first Bible. I left my grandpa’s and continued to live my life as a normal kid would, it wasn’t until grade 11 that I started going to church, and met my good friend Pastor Rob. I continued going to Windsor Chinese Alliance Church for sometime, then I stopped. I never read my Bible during those times. Fast forward to a couple of years ago, an incidence of psychosis led to a car accident, involving me with the court. I decided to attend Brentwood Recovery Home for alcohol addiction, and by going to Brentwood I would help my court case. I never would have gone to Brentwood to get sober without the car accident, nor would I have met my good Christian friends Troy, Carlos, Jeremy, Roger, and Jason. I would not have had a desire to surrender to the Lord if it wasn’t for the car accident, going to Brentwood, and meeting my Christian friends. Perhaps the accident was meant to happen, I don’t know, but what I do know is that even though I wish the car accident never happened, I’m grateful for how God used my story for the better. He brought me closer to Christian friends that I’ve always wanted, and gave me a desire to follow the Lord. Although it’s been a rough journey towards that goal, with struggling, and sinning along the way, I know that God loved me first, 1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.” I believe if someone loves you, you should at least try your best (and at times we will still fail), to love them back. To me, Jesus is the very image of love, for what He did on the cross, taking our penalty. A death I deserve for my own choices to sin against God, because He died for me, I can have a relationship with Him.   I think God is amazing not only that He died for us, but He literally created the universe. To me that is pretty darn cool. He even knows the number of hairs on my head, I’ve been struggling with a certain sin lately and it has been with me for years of my life, but I can safely say that struggle is over now. I want to commit my life to Jesus as much as I can, I know it’ll be a struggle from day to day but with my Christian friends, knowing God is by my side - that He forgives me, loves me, and wants me - I can make it through. If I had to pick a favourite verse it would be John 15:10 “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”   Thinking back, God saved me from drugs and alcohol, He gave me the best parents I could ask for, and let me live in a country such as Canada. I am blessed, even if I don’t have the life I want. I look forward to growing in faith, and one day hugging Jesus.