In the past, my faith could be called casual Christian at best. As in the parable of the sower, the seeds of my belief often succumbed to pressures, challenges and temptations that caused my devotion to fall way short of GOD's expectations. I am now striving to plant my faith in solid soil so that it may grow ever stronger and never waiver from GOD's path.



I will no longer let the physicality of science cause any doubt about my spirituality. Instead I will look deeper into scientific claims to find GOD. Just because we've discovered what scientific occurrences have happened or what substances are made of, doesn't explain how or why except for the grace of GOD. 



No longer will I feel embarrassed about my belief should it come under challenge by my peers. Instead I will look to the actions of the apostles, such as Paul and Barnabas, who kept their faith and spread the Gospel boldly, even in the face of physical danger. I will only seek the approval of GOD and GOD alone.



I promise to step off the never ending wheel of temptation and desire and realize all material things are perishable but my spirit is my only possession that can never be dated or out of style. My life will now have only one status and that is to please the Lord.



To walk in Jesus' footsteps is not easy with all the distractions we face in the world today. So many are out to discredit the word of GOD. Sometimes they can make a very compelling argument but as rational as those arguments may sound, they can never fill you with the peace and joy of faith. I'm an American living in China and this past Christmas Eve, I walked into a church and witnessed hundreds of Chinese rushing onto the stage where the pastor was passionately proclaiming in Chinese that "Jesus loves you!" There was such an overwhelming feeling of joy from the multitude in attendance that I had tears in my eyes. The pastor then came up to me and said I had found a home in that church. At that point, I felt like the wealthiest, most loved and fulfilled person on earth. I thank Jesus for that feeling with all my heart. I feel my roots of faith growing stronger.