All growing up I could feel the hand of God on my life. I’ve had miraculous things happen on numerous occasions. In kindergarten I was walking to school and as I was crossing a road, a car came barreling down on me and I felt myself picked up and set back on the sidewalk. When I looked around, no one was there. Another time, I was at a strip mall with my dad. I was about ready to run to our car. As I dashed forward, it felt as if I hit a solid wall that I could not see and as I bounced back, a car came barreling past.
As a teen, I received the gift of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. That day really changed my life because scales fell from my eyes; everything was brighter and clearer, and I could see the beauty of creation like never before. I started reading scripture then, but the more I read, the more unsettled I became with the church world; The traditions and doctrine’s I observed were not matching what I was reading. So, I began reading books about other religions. Sometime in my twenties, I realized that I was comparing all these religions against scripture to see whether they aligned with truth or not. At that time, I realized that I believed the scriptures to be the truth, I got on my knees, and I prayed that God would teach me his word and I started at Genesis and started reading and God started teaching me.
I spoke in front of a congregation where many got up and walked out. The reason people got up and walked out was because I said the name Jesus Instead of Yehoshua.
At another congregation as I sat there, people began yelling back and forth as some believed the scriptures I had shared while others did not. I read the scriptures showing that the holy men of God Wrote everything that God told them and not to add or take away from His Words.
I have talked with a pastor who have said they knew the scriptures I was sharing were true, but they had made a promise to a man to stay and teach the doctrines of that denomination.
Other pastors have told me I am not able to correctly understand scripture unless I have gone to seminary. And they would show me things in the scripture, and I would go home and read the entire book again in context to see what it was saying over and over I did this, and my faith grew.
I had the privilege of taking some summer school classes at Keeble College in Oxford. One class especially stuck out to me and that was understanding revelation and how scripture interprets scripture. Out of all the professors he’s the only one that I remember. I pour out my heart to the Father and he hears me and answers my questions comforts me when I need it. I am always amazed with his patience and Grace. He has brought me through many trials and tribulations, and it’s been wonderful.
I truly understand the Psalmist when he says:
Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom [is] toward those who love Your name. Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because [men] do not keep Your law.
—Psalms 119:129-136 NKJV