I was raised in the Presbyterian tradition in Belfast. This meant Bible Class, church in the morning, and Sunday School every Sunday afternoon. Sundays in those days meant a pretty strict observance of 'the Sabbath', so during my teen years I started to drift away, and by the time I went to University in the 60’s and 70’s I had other priorities in my life. Priorities in which God played little or no part.

So it was not until much, much later that I realised that there had to be more to my life than simply existing. Pauline had gone through some tough times, but her increasing faith greatly helped her through. She had developed a close relationship with God, and this showed. She was able to share her problems with Him. If it was anything that started me along my present journey of faith it was Pauline’s example. It was her example that started my first real efforts at coming back to the God I had turned my back on so many years ago.

So about five or six years ago I started to attend church regularly. Somehow the messages I was hearing started to make sense to me, and I actually started to listen to sermons rather than switch off as I had done before. I started to enjoy the new songs rather than count the verses to see how quickly they might finish. The words started to say something to me. I actually started to enjoy going to church…to be in the presence of God. The rest, I suppose, is history.

My journey of faith has not been an easy one, there has been a lot of soul searching, difficult and sometimes painful times, and I don’t expect the onward journey to be any easier. However, I know that I have never felt more at peace with who I am or where I am going. There is now a certainty in my life, I now know that whatever troubles or tribulations I may face in the future I don’t need to face them alone. I no longer need to feel guilty about past sins so long as I have Jesus Christ in my life. I also know that as long as I obey His commands and teaching I will be able to call on Him and the Holy Spirit for all that I need. I know that I do not need to worry about my future. From now on my life is in God’s hands.

Perhaps part of the reason why I am a Christian can be found in Colossians 2: 13,14 and Galatians 5:16-26. Paul’s messages here helped me so perhaps they might help you as well.

Alexander Wright

Why I Was Confirmed

I am 29 years old and married to Jonathan. We have two sons, Jack and Ryanie.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy several years ago. Due to the illness I was forced to give up work, my driving licence and any independence I had at the time. I became a very bitter person and felt my life couldn’t get any worse.

We had two sons in the space of twenty months. Due to the fact that my epilepsy was uncontrolled and Jonathan had to work, we moved in with my in-laws from the time both boys were babies. My mother-in-law, Gaynor, has always been with me. I have never taken them out alone for fear of having a fit and the children being left alone. At this point I felt a complete failure as a mother and wife and was not a happy person to live with.

Recently I have been diagnosed with a condition called Lupus SLE which causes a huge amount of pain in all of my joints. It has also given me pulmonary embolism. I was told that this illness could not be cured. At this point in my life I knew I needed help, but from a medical point of view all doors seemed to be closed.

It was then I decided to ask God for help, and not surprisingly He answered me. (Contd.)