(butterfly taken from boston.com)
I've been talking about how we should change after we get saved, but I haven't actually shared my own change with you.
As I said in my very first blog post, My Salvation Testimony♥, I got saved when I was five.
Since I was just a little child who hadn't gone through a lot yet, I didn't really see a change. Well, maybe I did but it must have been really small because I can't remember it.
When I was little, I always used to get into fights. I was pretty selfish and I thought I could have my own ways since my dad was a pastor. If somebody wronged me, I would pinch them, tattle on them, possibly punch them, hurt them with words, and throw tantrums. Now that I look back at my old self, I feel really sad and mad at all the sin I did. I was a big fool. Proverbs 18:6 describes my foolishness: "A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes." I was saved but I was still letting Satan get me. Of course, my parents raised me up right. They spanked me every time I was one of the 3 D's: Disrespectful, Disobedient, Dishonest. At that time, I thought they hated me even though they kept telling me that correction is love. I hated being spanked. I didn't like being corrected. I was like the fool in Proverbs.
Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Now that I'm older, I'm really glad that my parents corrected my spoiled attitude. If they didn't, I would still be like that today.
The school that I attended for 1st and 2nd grade was a private school (Montessori). Every time we prayed, I saw my classmates doing the cross on their chests. I knew Christianity didn't teach that but by wanting to fit in I sometimes followed. I had very good grades, placing in the top 3 every year. I made many friends with my outgoing attitude. I received many blessings but I took them for granted. The only time I really thought about God was at home and at church.
When I moved to America, I attended a public school in New Jersey for a year. Like in my previous schools, I wanted to fit in. I wasn't very good at English even though we studied it back in the Philippines, so I tried fitting in by cracking small jokes and doing the same stuff they did. I would gossip and make fun of other kids just to be liked. In their science class, they taught evolution. I told my friend that it wasn't true but she kept insisting that our ancestors were monkeys and apes so I just went along.
When I moved to a Christian school, I still had the attitude I was influenced with at the public school. I would make fun of people behind their backs and follow everyone else. I now know that even in a Christian school, some people are unsaved and some aren't very nice.
Moving to the next grade, I still had the goal of fitting in with the cool kids and being popular. I did really foolish things to be noticed and got in the wrong crowd. God punished me for that and I thank Him now for those corrections. God also gave me a specific homeroom teacher that year and His will is clear to me now. He wanted me to be corrected firmly. Near the end of that year, my family attended the Bible Conference at BJ. The message really convicted me of all the sin I did and one of the nights, I prayed with my Dad for reassurance of Salvation.
My third year at the Christian school was really fun. I was very outgoing with my friends and my homeroom teacher was the best. I had fun that year but I wasn't super close to God.
Last year was my growth spurt in Christ likeness. I stuck to my Christian friends and peeled myself off the ungodly ones. I was still friendly to everyone but I really focused on loving Christ. I didn't even care if I was popular or not. I realized that God won't be looking at my popularity level when I get to heaven. I am very thankful that we had chapel every day. The messages really helped me grow and gain wisdom.
This year, I am learning more about my godly friends and am wanting to know more about my number one Best Friend, God. I just thank God for the awesome Christian school I'm in. God has blessed me with so many Christ loving teachers. Through financial trials, He is making me realize that I shouldn't take this school for granted. Bob Jones has been a great blessing and influence in my life.
Please pray that I will continue to grow in the Lord and be a good example among the believers and the unbelievers. Thank you for reading my very long testimony=)
~Change isn't always bad; especially if the change is in becoming more like Christ.~
