There is Always Hope

Life can throw curve balls our way; that’s for sure. But it’s the way we respond and get back on our feet, dust ourselves off and learn from our mistakes that makes the difference.

I grew up on the Northern Beaches, got married, had a family and worked hard to make ends meet. Way back in 1981, my Mum and Dad encouraged me to go to this new church they’d found in a hall. Looking back I really didn’t fully understand what was going on … but God did!

I went along with them to a service and when the altar call invitation was given I went to the front as a 17 year old and prayed a simple prayer to invite Christ into my life. It’s amazing, looking back how much grace He gives, the God of love. Regrettably, it was only about 8 months later that I was back doing things my own way again.

Fast forward again to 2009:  my marriage had ended, I was middle aged, my life was a mess & I felt spiritually dead. I was thinking, “There’s got to be more to life than this!” My sister Julie told me I needed to get right with God again. When she said that, it was like a light of hope went on inside of me.

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.

When God is involved there is always hope, even when we feel far away He loves us so much. Just as it talks about in the Bible, just like a Shepherd that leaves the ninety nine sheep just to find the one that has strayed.

I decided to go to C3 Church, Silverwater and found them such an amazing bunch of kind hearted people! At the end of the service, when the invitation came to receive Jesus, I was the first one there, with tears of repentance as I gave my life back to Christ.

I started to read the Bible and took hold of some specific verses for my life that gave me hope. The first scripture I used was like an anchor for me. Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in The Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding, in all my ways acknowledge Him and He will make my path straight”.

What Was the Difference?

The difference between the first time I prayed to ask Christ into my life and the second time was one thing: knowing Jesus. It’s so important that we learn how to hear from God in His Word and learn to connect with Him as we pray.

And that’s exactly what the Essentials Course does! I’ve done Essentials four times! Twice by myself and twice bringing others along. Pastor Richard and Kate are the real deal with a genuine heart to see people established and flourishing in their relationship with God.

What About Water Baptism?

Once I realised what Jesus had done for me and who I was in Him, I wanted to be Water Baptised. For me it was an act of cleansing the sin and shame of the mistakes of the past and coming out of the water as a new person.

I realised God has sent his Son to save us from the sin in our lives and the mess it causes. He paid a big price for that so we could be free. We need to respond and do our part.