Just As I Am

Music Off

words

Just thought I'd share this with you;  Charlene,  when I first talked to you in the chat room a month or two ago I went to the site you have on your profile "The Presence of Jesus" but just now this morning had the time to actually read some of the experiences.   Thank you for putting that on your profile! Also thanks for putting your experience on the site.

My own experience was not quite as incredible as yours but very real to me nevertheless.   It happened about Dec 12th or so of last year,  2003,  shortly after I was diagnosed with bladder cancer.   My wife is Vietnamese and a Buddhist.   We have had major problems for many years so I essentially had no one to talk to at all.   I was so incredibly scared,  confused,  alone,  etc.   Didn't know if I wanted to go through with the operation,  commit suicide or what.

I was sitting in the floor watching a Bill Gaither tape.   I dearly love southern gospel music,  which is what I grew up on in rural Tennessee in the 50's.   The tape was a tribute to Billy Graham and his ministries and music.   There was this thing on there about the old hymn,  "Just As I Am",  that they always play at the end of the services to get people to come forward.   I have heard the hymn at least a thousand times.

When they started playing that song on the tape,  it felt like I was completely filled with a warmth and peace that I had never in my life felt before.   I knew then that everything would be OK and that I should have the operation; that Jesus would be with me.   I got on my knees and cried like a baby and prayed for I don't know how long.

When I got up off my knees it felt like all my burdens and worries about the cancer had been taken away and I was not worried about it anymore.

I have known for years that someday Jesus would finally 'get me' and now he had.

The next evening when I called my parents,  who have been attending a little country church for something like at least 50 years,  living the life and praying for me.   I said,  "I have bad news but I have even better good news." I told them about the cancer and my conversion.

My surgery went well and I am fine.