Although I grew up going to church, I didn’t grow up in a “religious” household. To be honest, I didn’t have a personal relationship with God (I didn't even know what that meant or looked like!) Every Sunday, my dad would take me and my sister to mass since we attended a Catholic Church. Although I went to church, I never lived a life that aligned with God’s word and neither did those around me.

 

My household was always filled with arguments, conflict and unforgiveness.  On the outside, it looked like we had everything — we had a beautiful home with 5 bedrooms in a gated community but on the inside, there was a lack of love and a lack of transformation that could come from God. My school life wasn’t any better — since I didn’t have any friends and I would even go the bathroom during lunch and cry in the bathroom stall. During my senior year in high school, I was completely hopeless and became suicidal.

 

On the night I wanted to commit suicide, my dad found me and told my sister what happened. My sister got baptized months before in Gainesville, Florida, and she began to pray for me to study the Bible and become a disciple (Christian).

 

After graduating high school, I moved from West Palm Beach to Gainesville. I actually planned to move to Texas but when I originally sent my transcripts to the college there, they never received it — I paid to send it six times! (God was relentless in His pursuit of me). When I studied the Bible, the Word was no longer used for cute quotes or an inspirational read.

 

Instead, the Bible completely transformed my life because of the power that comes from it when I chose to live a godly life. Please do not hesitate to fill out the Bible study form — "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin..." — Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)