Carrie’s Story

 My name is Carrie Alme and I grew up in a small town in North West Minnesota. I had a Christian family but had a hard time understanding Gods purpose for my life. I was a very selfish child only thinking about my-self. I knew that Jesus loved me but I just didn’t understand why he wanted my life or why he died on the cross for me. I went to church every Sunday but I didn’t understand what the pastor way trying to tell me, because I didn’t believe.

 I remember when I was about nine I decided that I was carrying my sins long enough and I decided to give my life to Jesus. That was one of the most amazing years of my life. I know God really worked in my heart that summer and I that I needed him in my life. Because I was so young I didn’t really know what it meant to have a personal relationship with Christ in my life.

As I got older I strayed away from God and thought that I could do everything on my own I became prideful and self seeking. I put myself before others and knew that I was going down the wrong path.

My older sister encouraged my little sister and I to do early morning devotions with her. We became closer as sisters that year before my older sister graduated high school. After Anna left for college I went back to my same old ways. I got caught up in trying to fit in better and I realized that I needed something more than friends and fitting in. I needed Jesus.

My senior year in high school I tore my Sartorius muscle running and was told I have a heart murmur and wouldn’t be able to run like I used to. I had wanted so badly to go to sections my senior year. I was hurt that I couldn’t run , I got depressed and had a hard time accepting the fact that God had taken away the one thing I had wanted for so long. He showed me that I needed him above everything else in my life and that it would only be through his strength that I can run the race that is set before me. God made it evident that he wanted to humble me through this experience.

Every summer since I was nine I went to a bible camp that encouraged me to have a personal relationship with God. I knew that I had gone though a lot in high school and needed a deeper relationship with God rather than the fake life I had been leading in school. My senior summer I chose to dig deeper into Gods word and see what he had in store for my life.

When I got to college I knew it was going to be hard to keep my faith. I had a hard time my first semester because I wasn’t in CRU or a bible study. I wasn’t really able to go to church because I didn’t have a car and my roommate didn’t go every weekend. God really used my first semester as a time of trial and showed me how much I really needed him in my life. My second semester God really worked in my heart. I started going to CRU and turned my life around. God has such an amazing plan for our lives and we need to accept that in to our hearts.

Jesus died for us and he wants us to follow him. He is calling on our hearts and he loves us even in all of our sin. He is there guiding us and pursuing us with all of his heart. We can either accept what he has done for us or reject him. He wants to be your friend; he wants to be a part in your life. God made you for a purpose and that is to glorify him with all of your heart. He loves you and wants you, he wants your life. Even though were not perfect he can take that part of us and change us. Even though we still sin God sees us as new through Christ and loves us.

Jesus has made a diffence in my life, he has captured me and changed my heart and how I see people and view myself. He has changed my relationships with my family and has made me put my trust and hope in him. He is my rock and my fortress in which I stand. I know that he wants to use me for his purpose and I am so excited to do his will.

I would like to leave you with a bible verse.

Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the plans I have for you declares the lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, but to give you a hope and a future.

God loves you and wants to work in your life. All you need is him. The world will pass away but Christ will always be there ready and willing to work in your life.