thirdplacebeliever

My husband (joshuaisme on this forum) found this website and forum through Hal Lindsey's website. We've been listening to Hal Lindsey and reading his books for many years.

I'm a born again believer in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I was born and raised Mormon but God saved me out of that cult and I left for good at the age of 16 having become fully disillusioned with Mormonism due to the craziness that I was being taught in seminary at that time.

I spent the next ten years or so very hurt and confused by my childhood experience with that intensely works based religion. I knew there was a God and that He loved me, but I had no idea who He was or how to please Him. Although I think I had already given my heart to Jesus as a child, I spent years researching and practicing other forms of spirituality such as Buddhism, Hinduism, New Age, Wicca as well as Christianity.

Through God's grace I finally came into a knowledge of the Truth, the Way and the Life on Christmas day 2005.

My husband (who had been looking into Christianity but hadn't professed his belief to me yet) put on a TV show that evening where a preacher was speaking on the Gospel of Grace. With his simple message of salvation through grace and through grace alone, the preacher undid a lifetime of befuddlement and I finally came to know the true God of the universe.

When the preacher did his alter call and began the sinners prayer, my Husband and I, without saying a word to each other, both joined in saying the prayer out loud together. Our lives changed a lot at that point, but it took another ten or so years of Bible study and learning from excellent Bible Teachers such as Hal Lindsey, Chuck Missler, Chuck Smith, Charles Stanley, Jack Hibbs, etc. to unlearn all the false doctrine I had been taught and to learn the truth of the Gospel.

Throughout my Christian walk I've had may periods of doubt and backsliding as I'm sure we all have, but God is good all the time and has been with me through it all; Sanctifying me, chastening me when needed but always drawing me close to Him.

I'm in a place in my life now where all I want to do is walk in God's will, read His Word, study His Word, and share His Word with others. My experience with Mormonism has made me a bit nervous about choosing a church because I don't want to fall again into heresy. I like to watch Calvary Chapel preachers and Baptist preachers and Bible teachers because they seem to stick the closest to God's Word.

I'm hoping this forum will be a place where I can have online fellowship with other believers, develop my spiritual gifts, share my faith and my love of God's word, and be of service to others in the faith and to those who are earnestly searching for truth.

I believe I have a lot to offer as I have experience with overcoming several physical and mental health issues, drug abuse issues, marital issues, childhood abuse issues and betrayal issues. I also have experience with breaking free from habitual sin. I am doing my best to stay a clean vessel for the Holy Spirit to use as a conduit for His power to the glory of God.

I'm certainly not perfect and I sin every day, but I practice the principle of the Christian's bar of soap in 1 John 1:9 and I try to confess and repent of any known sin as quickly as I am made aware of it.

I chose my name Thirdplacebeliever from a story I heard about a pastor who had a 3rd place plaque hanging in his office. When asked about it he would tell people, God is first place, everyone else is second place, and I am third place. Put simply, I am here to serve the body of Christ.

"The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace."
Amen