THE FIRST BUT NOT THE LAST

 I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO WRITE A NOTE HERE ON FACEBOOK FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.  I JUST HAVENT BEEN SURE OF EXACTLY WHAT I WANT THE NOTE TO SAY.  HERE GOES:

IN THE PAST, I WOULD HAVE NEVER POSTED SO MUCH "CHURCHY" STUFF ON MY FACEBOOK.  I WAS OUT THERE RUNNING THE ROADS, CUTTING UP, DOING DRUGS AND CAUSING TROUBLE EVERY CHANCE I GOT.  THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME KNOW THATS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING.  I USED PEOPLE AND DIDNT CARE WHO I HURT.  EVERYONE HAS HEARD OF HITTING ROCK BOTTOM, WELL, TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT,

                                                 I HIT THE BOTTOM OF ROCK BOTTOM

I WONT GO INTO DETAILS BECAUSE THE DETAILS NO LONGER MATTER.  THE DETAILS WERE THROWN INTO THE SEA OF FORGIVENESS.  AND FOR ALL OF THAT, EVEN THE CHAOS OF MY LIFE,  I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. 

SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH, WE HAD A TESTIMONY SERVICE BASED ON "AMAZING GRACE".   ANYONE WHO WANTED TO WAS ENCOURAGED TO STAND UP AND TELL EVERYONE EXACTLY WHAT GOD HAD DONE FOR THEM PERSONALLY.   I BRIEFLY TOLD EVERYONE PRESENT HOW THANKFUL I WAS FOR THE LORDS FORGIVENESS, HIS MERCY, HIS LOVE AND HIS GRACE, BUT I ALSO TOLD EVERYONE THAT WE DIDNT HAVE TIME SUNDAY NIGHT FOR ME TO FULLY TELL WHAT GOD AND HIS AMAZING GRACE HAD DONE FOR ME.

GOD REPLACED THE SINS WITH FORGIVENESS.  HE REPLACED THE DOUBT WITH FAITH.  HE REPLACED CONFUSION WITH PEACE. 

AND IF GOD CAN DO IT FOR ME.....HE SURELY CAN DO IT FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.....

I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD BE SO HAPPY.  
I LOVE MY CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE IN IT.