I grew up in a dysfunctional home, my father was an alcoholic and my mother was a Christian but because of my father’s lifestyle, he was in and out of prison. Five out of six sons followed in his footsteps, and I ended up spending nine years in and out of prison in the state of Texas starting at the age of 17. After multiple incarcerations, in the year 2012 I got out and was once again getting pulled back into the life that lead me to be incarcerated, and somehow I knew I needed to get away before I ended up in prison for life or dead from the life I was living. I ended up getting invited by a relative to work in Michigan for a season and I thought what a great opportunity to get away, so I did and ended up staying in Michigan. My strong work ethic payed off because my employer loved me and I thought that this would keep me out of trouble and maybe I could find a happy life here. I met my girlfriend and we moved in together. With time even that was not fulfilling and we spent a lot of time fighting and drinking. As time went on, I felt myself reverting back to the old me and I began to get the sense that I would end up in a Michigan prison. I felt my life going in circles and I had no joy or purpose. We had our first son and I thought my son would help me mature and find purpose but that didn’t work. Then I get a call one day that my dad was dying from cancer and that he only has a few days to live. When he died I felt more heart broken. I would never have the father figure I thought I needed in my life.
When I flew down to Texas to visit his grave, I visited with a cousin of mine that introduced me to Yahweh and told me about His name and other things that stuck with me. Before I left, he told me that now it was up to me to investigate if what he told me was right. So as soon as I flew home I ordered a Bible and began to read it daily. I began to study with groups on YouTube but as as I read my Bible I knew that they had some truth but a lot of error. From the Bible I knew that Sabbath was the right day to worship, I knew that when you died you slept because of all the references in Kings and Chronicles about “slept with his fathers” and I began to keep the Sabbath (or at least I thought I was) and observed the feast days, and I read my Bible daily…. But yet I was still drinking alcohol, smoking pot and doing cocaine. Nothing was changing in my personal life, my girlfriend and I were still fighting and Sabbath was always the worst day. My girlfriend wanted nothing to do with religion and thought I was just going through a phase… but I kept reading and finally I got to where the disciples of Jesus caught Him praying and said, “Lord, teach us to pray!” And I said to myself, “This is what I have been missing!” So I began reciting the Lord’s Prayer and little changes started happening. I began fasting as well but the attacks did not stop till one day on a Sabbath we had a big fight and she took the kids with her (now we had added a little girl to the picture). I felt broken and went to my bathroom and fell on my knees. That afternoon I asked God for three things: forgive me of my sins (the weight of my sinful life was too much) and not only to forgive me but to take away my addictions, and out of all the confusion in religion; show me who Your people are.
When I got up off my knees with tears in my eyes I KNEW I was forgiven and had peace…. I KNEW I would never smoke or drink alcohol or even use profane language… I don’t know how but I KNEW. So I got up with a newness in my heart and mind and strength. But remember, there were three requests and He had answered two right away! The next evening I began watching YouTube and found an Adventist channel.
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