. . . I call upon God, and the LORD will save me. Psalm 55:16 (NRSV)

Dear Friend,

I was taught about the Lord as a child, but growing up I strayed from God’s will for me. However, all the while, Christ was continually wooing me. I regularly asked questions such as “Is there a God? Will we all go to heaven? Why does God allow such evil to thrive in this world?” While in graduate school, I started getting answers to my questions from two precious Christian women who loved me and introduced me to a personal relationship with Jesus. I have been walking with Jesus ever since.

However, that certainly does not mean my life has been easy. God never promised that Christians would have an easy time at life. My most recent struggles have been the murder of my parents in October of 2005, the loss of our baby Rachel in December of 2006, and a recent diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome for my youngest girl (Christina, now age nine). In the context of deep pain, many lose their faith, others miraculously find faith they never had before, and others grow deeper in their walk with the Lord. For me, my relationship with the Lord has grown deeper. I have come to know the Lord more personally and intimately. I have grown in my knowledge and likeness of Christ. God gave me the ability to forgive the man who murdered my parents, thus enabling me to also go forth and share with others about forgiveness, surviving personal tragedy, and finding spiritual hope in the face of great loss. Even though I have experienced a strengthening of my faith after the tragic loss of my parents, I do still sometimes ask God the same old questions. I am still healing as I have found healing to be a daily surrender to the Lord.

If you feel God is calling you to recommit your life to Him or you desire to know Christ for the first time, I pray you will turn to the Lord now. Ask Him to guide you and open your eyes to His truth as you read the following scriptures and explanations that describe God’s plan for a personal relationship with you.

We are all sinners.

“ Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).

“ . . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

There is not a single person who can claim to have never sinned or led a perfect life.

Sin separates us from God, but God provides a way to have a relationship with Him.

“ . . . the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

“ . . . God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“ . . . God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The consequence of our sin is death. As a result of sin, we all experience physical death, but we do not all experience spiritual death. Spiritual death is separation from God that lasts forever, for all eternity.

Jesus paid the price.

“ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When Jesus died on the cross, Jesus paid for our sin. Jesus’ death paid the price for us to receive eternal life versus death. Salvation, being spiritually alive versus spiritually dead, receiving the gift of eternity with God in heaven, is a free gift God is giving you. Will you receive it?

Be reconciled to God.

“ ‘ . . . Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’”; (Romans 10:13).

“ . . . if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

“ Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me” (Revelation 3:20).

God loves you! Jesus paid the penalty for your sin. Jesus is Lord. Believe God raised Jesus from the dead.

Are you ready to open the door of your life to Jesus?

If you are ready to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you can pray as follows:

Oh, Dear God, I am a sinner, imperfect, and struggling. I come to You for comfort and love. I want to know You. I acknowledge You as God. I accept all the love that You have to offer through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I believe Your Word. I choose to trust You for the salvation of my soul. Help me Lord. Save me. Come into my life. Renew me. Make me whole. Amen.

Growing in your faith.

I want to encourage you to keep growing in your faith in Christ. The Bible and Christians throughout history give us many examples of how to grow in our relationship with God. Here are some ways you can do that:

(1) We are not expected to walk the Christian life alone. Christ desires for us to have fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42) and to share each other’s burdens. Find a church, a community of Jesus’ followers that provides sound Biblical teaching to help you to grow in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus and people who can care for you and love you!

(2) Daily, spend time reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word. You may want to start by reading the gospel of John to learn more about Jesus. I also encourage you to join a Bible study where you can learn from and with other followers of Jesus.

(3) Talk to God. Praying is just talking to the Lord as you would a friend.

(4) Contact Dr. Tina Elacqua, via this website to let her know of your decision to recommit your life to Christ or to invite Christ into your heart for the first time.

May the Lord bless each one of you as you seek a deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Walking with Christ,

Tina