Freedom Ministries
Denver, NC USA
saintrisha@netzero.net
I am a mother of two and have battled with anorexia most of my life. I accepted Christ when I was 22 years old, while training to do evangelism. At this point I had been working as a youth Minister for three years. I grew up going to church and hearing that Christ died for my sins, but had never really committed myself to Him. Shortly after accepting Christ as my Savior, my anorexia returned full force. Why? I thought I had to be perfect to be loved, even for God to love me. I had been taught all the rules of religion my whole life and didn't really know anything else. This battle continued for the next ten years. Sometimes not as noticeably there, but always there.
A little over a year ago, I was on a major downward spiral with the eating disorder. I was depressed and angry and extremely scared. As a last resort I reached out to my pastor and shared my struggles with him. His first question really annoyed me. He asked, "Are you reading your Bible and praying daily?" Well, duh!! I told him that I had spent my entire life reading my Bible and praying. I needed something more than pat little religious answers. Out of desperation, he sent me to a place for Christian counseling. I really didn't want to go, but I knew I needed help. This turned out to be the biggest blessing in my life. I learned not only did Christ die for my sins, He died so He could give His life to me and live His life through me. I learned that not only does He love, He accepts me as I am. Because Christ lives in me and I am totally forgiven, I don't have to try to be perfect, God has declared me righteous. He has totally forgiven me for all my sins, past present and future!! He is truly a God of love.
I am in the process of starting a ministry to share this message with others. Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has made you free!! Stand firm, do not let yourselves be burdened by the yoke of slavery again." Christ died that we could walk in freedom. God knew that man could never keep His Law perfectly, so He made a better way. The Law was given to show us our need for a Savior, to show us how wretched we truly are and Christ was God's answer to our situation, He was God's unfailing gift of grace to us. Galatians 2:20 says that we are crucified with Christ and the life we now live in the flesh we no longer live, but Christ lives through us, this is the key to living the Christian life, Christ has to live it through us, moment by moment, day by day. Apart from Christ I can do nothing, but in Christ I can do all things!! The ministry I have is to bring freedom to the captives, whether the task master is depression, eating disorders, legalism, or religion. Whatever the "crisis", Christ is the answer!! God desires each of us. He really wants to know you and for you to know Him. He doesn't want religion, look at how Christ responded to the pharisees, the religious leaders of His day. God wants a real, intimate, personal relationship with you and with me.
Do you know for certain that if you died tonight that you would go to heaven? This is the most important question of your life. If you are not absolutely certain, please contact me or visit this link.