Second Friend Day - Elmer Towns

I only knew God as the Father so I talked with Him, reading I John 5:11-13 and I John
4:23. I read more of the Bible and there was Jesus all over the place. He was really God's Son. I
didn't know all of that was in the Bible.
So I sat at the dining room table and said okay to God. The pastor said all you had to do
to have Jesus come into your life was to ask Him; you didn't have to feel anything, but just know
that He'd come because He said He would.
You had to admit you were a sinner and ask Him to forgive you (I John 1:9) and He
would. I didn't "feel" like a sinner, but the Bible said by God's standards I was, so I asked Him to
forgive me. To the best of my understanding, I asked Jesus into my life. I was afraid, but I asked
God to be in charge of everything. I explained to Him that He would have to prove everything to
me because I knew so little and this was all so new.
The pastor said you didn't have to feel any-' thing, but I did. I felt relief and I felt
protected. I felt like I belonged to God and I felt safe from Satan. God had led me right up to the
-entrance into His family, showed me how to get in, then helped me trust Him so He could come
into my life and bring me into His Life. He had always been there to help me - I just hadn't
known it!
At first the church and the pastor and the fellowship was my lifeline. Gradually, I learned
to have the Lord teach me directly through His Word, along with life experiences. My church is
still my favorite place on this earth except for the times I'm alone with the Bible and the Lord.
When I first asked Jesus into my life and understood that He actually loved me, I hoped
He would come right away so somehow I could be with Him. Really, the only reason I could see
for staying on earth was because some other people needed to know about Him. I was ready to
go.
Now since I've known the Lord, He's been doing real changing in me. I can see why; I
needed to be doing some growing and learning. He is still changing me and I am becoming a
new person. This is the most exciting adventure of all. It is not easy because I try too hard to get
in the way. I also seem to be fairly stubborn in some areas.
I've really had some great teaching at the church and I feel my understanding growing.
The whole process is fantastic and it's Him. One of the best things that has happened is that I am
now learning to relax a little in Christ and maybe let Him do whatever needs doing a little faster.
As I said, I'm a real "do it yourself' type, only that's not how He works.
How can I say thanks for a new life? And where do you begin? I praise the Lord for His
people and His pastors. I'm glad I had a fresh start in life! All I can say is, Praise the Lord!
The true story of one who found Christ.