A Place That Has Totally Changed My Life and It Will Change Yours!
Back in my freshman year, I had an encounter with Jesus that awakened me. At the time, my mom was in a nursing home and on those long car rides, I was doing this challenge called "30 day challenge". I was like, "Sure, why not". Little did I know that this one little "yes" would lead me to a place that I'm in today. The 30 day challenge was that any time you listened to the radio for the next 30 days, it was christian music. One night heading to the nursing home, I was listening to "K-LOVE", a christian radio station, and I just felt a weird presence. All of the sudden I felt like Jesus was sitting right beside me in that black Dodge Caliber. He was telling me that He loved me and that everything was going to be okay. Then and there at that moment, I became so hungry to know more about this Jesus that I met in the car that night; nothing would stop me. I HAD to know more.
I had heard about this bible study that was about to start at my high school. Something about it drew me in. Once again a small "yes" would lead to another place that would change my life. This bible study was when I began to scratch to the surface and then plunge into all that Jesus was. I had heard about this place called "The RAMP". There was a conference that was going to be taking place December 31- January 2, 2014. The Holy Spirit was pulling me in like never before, telling me this was the place that would change my life forever.
I was so excited for this conference that I devoted a journal for it. The very first thing in there, I wrote, "LET GO of past pain and move and reach forward for God's plan for your life!!!" Before I went, my life was just out of control and so broken. It was a time that I was confused, hurt, lonely. Starting my freshman year, my dad began to emotional abuse me. It hurt a lot. So much so, that I became depressed and suicidal. I went to this conference telling Jesus in surrender and defeat, "Jesus I need you. I don't know what else to do... I can't go back with the stuff I have now, I just can't."
The day had arrived, we were in the car heading to the LeConte Center, Pigeon Forge, TN. I was so excited. We waited in line, and as each minute passed, the anticipation increased. The doors opened and we got our seats. As worship started, I felt home. I had never met any of these people before, yet, I felt at home. I saw these people on the stage worship like I had never seen before. They were so passionate, but it was real. They knew this Jesus that I had encountered. I had never felt Jesus so strongly and so powerful until that moment.
The speakers began, and during the entire conference, I was just pulled in and had complete focus. Jesus began speaking through them, explaining my exact situation. Every day, literally everything was penetrating to my heart. One speaker, Micah Wood, said, "Where you are going is better than where you came from!" I held on to that with hope. He said that hope is the belief that things can change. His message on December 31 was about hope. Without your anchor of hope, your sail, your soul will be lost at sea. The sea waves were tribulation. I felt that the sea waved were crashing on me.
On the second night, Brian Beasley spoke about the love of Jesus. This was the night that changed my life forever. In his sermon he spoke that:
- We do not have the authority to determine our own value, because Jesus already does.
- Not only does he love me, but he enjoys me.
- Value is only worth as much as you risk.
- Let the sick things in you die so God can do great things.
In my bible I had Psalm 27:10 highlighted before this conference, and he spoke about it. My heart was inflamed with His love.
That night this band played and this song broke every hurt, every word of rejection off of me. The song changed my life, and I will never ever forget it. After the conference, I searched for ever a year looking for the song. During "Abba", I just felt the arms of Jesus holding me so tightly as I wept. He was telling me that He loved me and was proud of me. Telling me that He can be the father that I needed. He would not hurt me, or abandoned me. I felt this crazy, radical love that I still feel today. Every single word broke a chain of brokenness off of me. I was no longer an orphan. He gave me a future, hope and love. I was so impacted my this song, that for the rest of the conference that day, I just couldn't stop crying. in fact, I didn't want to leave, but the same Jesus that I met at that place, came with me.
http://www.theramp.org/media/winter-ramp-2014-the-ramp
Today, I still am moved by the words written in my journal. I feels like yesterday when all of this happened. With today, I still have breakthrough moments, but this one was like no other. I don't know your situation. Maybe you were like me, alone, broken. Maybe you were moved by this and want to find this Jesus. I am so thankful for The RAMP... If you are interested to learn more click on the link below. A simple "Yes" can lead you to a door of eternal journey.
"To know the real God , is to know and experience the eternal journey,searching Him out and forever being in owe of each discovery you find in Him."- Karen Wheaton
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