I am really glad to hear from you Patti,

 

I think we have more in common than at first we may have thought. I too made a dramatic about face spiritually back in 1979. I had been a church goer and believer my whole life but still going my own way until I finally obeyed God and gave up my life plans for whatever He had in mind. Once I had done that He began a long learning process that has never stopped. It included many things that are outside the comfort zones of the average church goer I guess but by this time I had become completely different from where I had been before and was not afraid to go wherever God led me and learn whatever He wanted to show me.

 

In short I understood that learning from God would not make me popular but that was what I gave up (I was becoming a successful a rock musician when God asked me for my record collection at a Keith Green concert just after I graduated from high school). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyl_4mooOnc&list=UUrMYUUYI38cWibjQNhM8_pA&index=1&feature=plcp

 

So, I discovered that God is looking for people that will trust Him above all else and that this is our greatest challenge in this life. Jesus said whoever is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. God is looking for faithful ones that He will then share His kingdom with. Part of this learning process includes us having to choose between this world and His, or our family and friends vs. His home and people. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you.

 

I told God that I was afraid to give up my music in favor of the Bible and church because in all my years of going to church and Sunday school, I never could learn the Bible very well. So He told me that if I would give Him my record collection (burn them) then He would teach me things that even pastors and teachers did not know.

 

He has done that.

 

Thank you Patti for listening.