PENofFIRE

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: Pools of Love finished third in the contest "Spiritual"

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: Her Just Reward finished third in the contest "100 Word Dash"

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: Destined to Wander finished second in the contest "Dream Story"

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: Proven Love finished second in the contest "Love"

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: The Truth of the Lie finished second in the contest "The Horror of it All"

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: Faith Based on the Word was posted today. It is a Milestone Post. Post number 100!

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: The Scent of Spring finished first in the contest "Bring Spring!"

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: Ever in Her Thoughts finished first in the contest "They're Here!"

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: A Dream Fulfilled finished second in the contest "Have you lived a dream?"

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: Because of Faith finished second in the contest "Faith Based Poem"

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: The PJ Sisters finished third in the contest "Beddy-Bye Lullaby."

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: Your Last Chance finished third in the contest "Sunday, Monday, Doomsday..."

FanStory wrote to PENofFIRE: Compromise finished third in the contest "Under Ten Competition"

PENofFIRE: This is the story behind my entry for the site's My Faith contest.


I had been taught well regarding my church and its rules and regulations. I followed them faithfully. I was strong in my faith and my church's belief. I lived by all the rules, and based all of my life's decision on them. I was taught about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but I was never taught the Holy Spirit would guide me in making life's decisions. I felt it was something I had to do on my own based on the rules I had been taught.

It was a religion I was told would, and could never change. Then one day it did change. At that point, I felt I had been lied to regarding the foundation of my belief. I was told the church was the Rock. When things changed, the rock crumbles at my feet, and I felt as though I was being hurled into outer space. I no longer had a firm foundation to stand on.

I lived in utter confusion. Was all that I had been taught regarding my church and religion a lie? I seriously wondered what other lies had I been taught. Was sin really sin? Would I really go to hell if I did or didn't do certain things? My religion was the core of my being. It meant everything to me. I lived by it; made every serious decision in my life by it. I firmly believed in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but I wondered how I to relate to Them now.

I wandered around for years in a state turmoil. I still had a desire to attend church, but it no longer made sense to me. I had lost my drive. I was living as stated in Judges 21:25 "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

I felt I no longer had a church, a religion, or a foundation I could trust. I was alone in making serious decisions, and in so doing, I made serious mistakes. But God is merciful, for in the midst of the most serious mistake I was about to make, God revealed Himself to me as the Truth. I grasped hold of that Truth, Jesus Himself, and I have never let go. He is my Rock, my firm foundation. I now stand on solid ground. I know the Truth, and the Truth has set me free.

I now depend on God's Word and the Holy Spirit to help me make those serious decisions in life. Proverbs 3:5, 6 has become my mainstay at those times, "Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all you ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

My faith has been restored, but now it is based the Bible and the truth it teaches.

All Scripture has been taken from TNKJV