Julia's Story

I could never even be able to express how wonderful today and last night has been (Sunday, Feb 3) and how it changed my life. I would not have been able to have the nerve if it were not for Lindsay Ripley. That girl has a true solid heart for God and he put her here for a reason, to help people find him and show them that he loves them and she is good at it. It is definately a day I will never forget. I don't even know where to start there is just so much.

I guess I have never really felt like I have found a church in LS that I could be a part of. It was hard at first moving here because I thought that it was what God wanted me to do. But then my mind slowly started to change. I sat miserable for so long giving up on my hope and faith where life was dreadful. I gave up. I have came in contact and made friendships with so many people in LS that have slowly formed me to be the person i just became... I could never thank all those people enough!

This year I met amazing people who invited me to Grace Church, and little do they know, they changed my life. I started going there every once in awhile and when I realized that the people were not going to let me leave them I had a feeling it was right. The people at that church are the most talented, loving, caring, and followers I have ever met. They showed me what it truely meant to be a follower and it made me jealous that they had a relationship that I once had and wanted back. They don't know it but just being someone's friend they change peoples lives... and most of all for me they change people's hearts. I started hanging out with them daily and that is all I wanted to do, but I still had not found what they had. I wanted it so bad so I tagged along with them for awhile in awe of what they had. They became and are my very best friends.

That's where it started, them being my best friends. Some of the boys are in this band that just really touches people's hearts and they are what sparked my faith. Last night they had a gig at Maine Street Cafe. I knew that God had them play there for a reason, because I met a true Angel. I met this guy who's name was actually angel and we started to talk. He was telling me things about myself that I did not know people knew. He told me Bible verse's that I was going to use later that night but had no idea. He told me that I needed to be strong and prayer was the way to go. This angel truely changed my life.

Later that night I was with girls and we started to pray about things we were all worrying about. Everything they worried about was answered with the verses and thoughts that angel have given me previously that night. Angel told me that God would soon spark something in me so I would know that he did love me and it would let me know if I was in the right place and that everything Ii had gone through was worth it. And he was right.

Today at church I was just hit with amazing worship and I knew right then i was in the right place. I had a feeling that I had never felt before and then I gave my lost self back to Christ for the first time in 2 years 6 months and 22 days. I have counted the days, and I no longer have to count. My days of being sad and living in memories of the past are over because I am now living for God, and the future to come. For the first time today I felt home, home with God. I have not felt like a true follower in a long time or been able to find a place like Grace since I left my real home. My home is now here, with God and that's where I want to stay. I now feel what they all feel and feel the thing that I have been missing for so long and it feels good. I knew there was something strange about the day because I went to bed singing Encore and woke up singing Encore. I couldn't stop smiling because one of my best friends was being baptised and it was just an awesome feeling and amazing day. I felt more happy today than I have ever felt in my entire life. I never knew a happiness existed like this and it is because it only exists with God. I am sad that it took me this long to find my way home but someone told me today that I arrived right on time. That God was not mad that it took so long but I arrived right on time... Well, it feels good to finally arrive.

Like a very good friend of mine wrote (I don't think he realizes how much his music truely impacts people and that it impacted me and is like the theme song to life which is Encore..... it goes Bravo God Bravo. Everyone join in a great shout. Encore In awe of his beauty and might. He goes on to say Sing a new song to the Lord our God. Earth and everyone in it sing. Sing to God and worship him now. Shout for God's Glory and wonder. Shout for he saves.This song is so true and is one of the best things some has ever said. God saves and we all need to share it and be joyful. I have been singing it for the past like day and I cant stop singing it and I believe it will go on to change other people as well.

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you: do not be dismayed for I am YOUR God. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Angel told me that verse last night and pointed out that it is personalized. God is OUR God and is always there holding our hand through no matter waht we are going through and he will always stay our God no matter what. And it sure finally feels good to know that.

Thank you everyone for helping me find my way back home. And I pray that anyone else who feels like me will find their way back home or even home for the first time too not only because it was the best decision I have made my entire life but because... its never too late, you are always right on time.
Julia Buccholz, 2/12/2008