When I met Jesus it was a complete surprise.  I was always

interested in spiritual things,  but I never would have dreamed that He was what I was looking for.   When I gave my life to

Him my family probably thought it was just another phase I

was going through.  And why not,  they'd seen me try it all! 

From sitting under pyramids, to astrology, to astral projection.  But I knew right away that this was different!!

It all came together in the summer of 1984.  I was heading

deeply in to the psychic.  I had about $200 worth of books

on astrology,  and tons of computer generated charts!   If

it was New Age;  I was in to it. 

But all that was about to change.  All the things I had believed were called in to question in just one summer day.

I awoke that morning with excitement.   A psychic fair was

being held at the local mall and I was busy trying to convince

my family to go.   My brother was also busy;   doing his best

the night before to tell me I needed Jesus!  I thought he was

CRAZY!   

"Jesus?"   It was pretty obvious I didn't want to hear it.

"Why would I need JESUS?"   My brother was a pastor, 

and honestly,  I expected him to say something like that. 

What I did not expect was what would happen when I

went to get my "reading".  I got in the car and headed to

the mall where I found the psychics already busy at work.

As I waited I looked over their tables and noticed the

various things they had set there.   One man in particular

had a book with some writing on it that I'd never seen

before.  Finally it was my turn and I sat down at that mans

table.

I don't remember him predicting that much about my

future.  We mostly sat and talked about my desire to

go deeper in to spiritual things.   He explained that he 

could do an incantation that would put me more in touch

with my "spirit guides."  He explained that there would

be a new moon in 3-4 days and he would do the incantation then.   "After that,"  he  said, "you will have more psychic ability."  

I was thrilled!

And also strangely bothered.   I felt that something was not

right,  but I couldn't put my finger on it.   I had a bad feeling,

and it was getting worse.    It was almost like the feeling of

impending doom,  like a dark cloud hanging over me.

I didn't see it at the time,  but it was God's way of waking me up.

I immediately went to the bookstore to see if I could learn more

about this New Moon incantation.   I headed to the New Age 

section and randomly picked a book off the shelf.   As I read,

I noticed the strange words that I had seen at his table earlier.

It was a reference to satan!   Which,  needless to say, scared the daylights out of me!!   I had always believed that what I was

doing was okay.  Reading that paragraph at Waldenbooks really startled me.

The more I thought about it,  the more concerned I became.

"The New Moon prayer is coming in 3 days!"   I headed home

to find a bible.   I had stolen one from a pastor when I was in

Jr. High because I thought it was cool.   I had never bothered

to read it and didn't have a clue where to look.  So with a closed

bible in my hand I said,  "God, whatever I open this up to,

that will be you speaking to me!"  When I opened my eyes to

read,  the first thing I saw was Isaiah 47.13-

"All the counsel you have received has only worn you out!

Let your astrologers come forward,  those stargazers who

make there predictions month to month,  let them save you

from what is coming upon you.  Surely they are like stubble;

the fire will burn them up!  They cannot even save themselves

from the power of the flame."

When I read that it really hit home.  Astrology was the big thing

I was so in to.  I said,  "Okay God,  I think you're speaking to me,

but just let me open the bible again to make sure!"  When I did,

I landed on a passage about people who do their magic stuff

on the new moons!

"No Way!"  I  said out loud.

To make a long story short;  I opened my bible 5 times in a row

like that,  and each time I landed on a passage that dealt with the

occult.  By that time I KNEW God was speaking to me!  On the

fifth time I said, "Okay God,  this will be the last time I ask you

to show me."  I opened to Acts 19:19

"A number who had practiced their magic arts brought their

scrolls together and burned them publicly."

I was petrified!  I figured God was telling me what to do,  so I got

all my books and charts and put them in a grill and burned them!

What I couldn't burn I threw in the lake.  Then I asked God to save me from what was coming upon me,  and to deliver me from what the psychic would do on the new moon.

I still didn't know Jesus,  but I made a commitment to pray to 

God every night when I went to bed.  I would ask Him to show me

if my brother was right;  if Jesus was real and the answer to all

my searching.  I don't know the exact date,  but sometime after

about a month,  I became absolutely sure that Jesus was alive...

and that He wanted me!  Those first days of knowing the Lord

were really, really special.

A month or so after that I was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  It was

probably the most beautiful experience  I've ever had.  It would be very hard to put in to words the love that I felt God had poured in to my heart.  It was like it was all around me!   And how clean

I felt inside!   It was as if every wrong thing I'd ever done was

just washed away.  

I guess the greatest thing when I think about it all,  is how awesome God's love is for me.  It's just so remarkable that He would pursue me like that, and at a time when I wasn't even wanting Him!   Why would He go to such great lengths and providences to make sure that I would find Him?   He really, really loves us!

I can't tell you that if you open a bible like I did the same thing will

happen for you.  God works in every situation the way He chooses.  But I can tell you this,  His love for you is every bit as real.   And if you seek Him with all your heart...you WILL find Him...because He's just waiting to show Himself to you!