I was raised by two atheist parents. I was a defiant atheist. My father said: God is a man-made idea. The Bible was written by men. Priests are a bunch of parasites. My mother and siblings are still atheists.
As an atheist, I thought people used religion as a crutch, because they couldn't deal with reality. And to be perfectly honest, I didn't think they were very bright.
In the latter part of my life, I went through a life-changing experience and needed someone/something to help me. I chose God. And I'm so grateful I did and that He accepted me.
I KNOW how it is to have no faith, no God, no hope. Everything was just factual.
And now I know how it is to have faith in God and to hope. I choose God. I don't even know how I would have gotten through the past 4 years without him. When I started going to church, my 2 sons and husband joined me. He was a Catholic, but didn't go to church, so started going again.
How wonderful that your path was drected and guided by God. Nobody knows us better then God. And why God is the best teacher. Having been a atheist and from what you were shown and learned your faith is strong because you lived it. Nobody can ever take that away from you. And all of it based on free will.
We do not force religion on anyone. We however encourage everyone to go and find God and establish a relationship with God. We fear if we forced this we would do more harm then good despite all of our good intentions. As they experience things with God we are there to listen and then share with them what was shown to them to help them with that understanding. This continues as God reveals more to them in their journey through life. The teachings never stop unless they decide to stop them. The old ones said we could live three life times and not learn it all as God is so great.
The old grandmothers encourage us to always come before God in humbleness and humility. And frown when we think we are better then anyone else. They remind us that we are here only to become the best person we can be. So we are only in competition with ourself. Sort of the old US Army commercial of be all you can be. I encourage be all you can be with God and let God assist you in your growth spiritiually.
You went from non believer to believer through the grace of God. Because of this you have a deep appreciation for with your experiences with God. There is what i have shared with others including Christians is the different levels of faith. There are the nonbelievers which is sad as they have no idea what they are missing. I do not judge them as they have free will. I pray they will find God. Then there are those who want a little religion or they come to a point they are comfortable and remain there. The there are the ones that want to be all they can be. I always recommend be all you can be with God teaching this to you.
And for those who had walked away and returned I give thanks in prayer. I am thankful they realized what they are missing and returned back to God. I only see it as a learning experience that helped them appreciate God even more. We will keep praying that all people will return back to God, and that we all come together and heal.But we will never interfere with free will. the choice must always come from their own heart.
I was raised by two atheist parents. I was a defiant atheist. My father said: God is a man-made idea. The Bible was written by men. Priests are a bunch of parasites. My mother and siblings are still atheists.
As an atheist, I thought people used religion as a crutch, because they couldn't deal with reality. And to be perfectly honest, I didn't think they were very bright.
In the latter part of my life, I went through a life-changing experience and needed someone/something to help me. I chose God. And I'm so grateful I did and that He accepted me.
I KNOW how it is to have no faith, no God, no hope. Everything was just factual. And now I know how it is to have faith in God and to hope. I choose God. I don't even know how I would have gotten through the past 4 years without him. When I started going to church, my 2 sons and husband joined me. He was a Catholic, but didn't go to church, so started going again.
I am so grateful & blessed. 🕊
Thank you for sharing this.
How wonderful that your path was drected and guided by God. Nobody knows us better then God. And why God is the best teacher. Having been a atheist and from what you were shown and learned your faith is strong because you lived it. Nobody can ever take that away from you. And all of it based on free will.
We do not force religion on anyone. We however encourage everyone to go and find God and establish a relationship with God. We fear if we forced this we would do more harm then good despite all of our good intentions. As they experience things with God we are there to listen and then share with them what was shown to them to help them with that understanding. This continues as God reveals more to them in their journey through life. The teachings never stop unless they decide to stop them. The old ones said we could live three life times and not learn it all as God is so great.
The old grandmothers encourage us to always come before God in humbleness and humility. And frown when we think we are better then anyone else. They remind us that we are here only to become the best person we can be. So we are only in competition with ourself. Sort of the old US Army commercial of be all you can be. I encourage be all you can be with God and let God assist you in your growth spiritiually.
You went from non believer to believer through the grace of God. Because of this you have a deep appreciation for with your experiences with God. There is what i have shared with others including Christians is the different levels of faith. There are the nonbelievers which is sad as they have no idea what they are missing. I do not judge them as they have free will. I pray they will find God. Then there are those who want a little religion or they come to a point they are comfortable and remain there. The there are the ones that want to be all they can be. I always recommend be all you can be with God teaching this to you.
And for those who had walked away and returned I give thanks in prayer. I am thankful they realized what they are missing and returned back to God. I only see it as a learning experience that helped them appreciate God even more. We will keep praying that all people will return back to God, and that we all come together and heal.But we will never interfere with free will. the choice must always come from their own heart.