Jackie Levin's story

  My early years were not spent in a Christian home. I have two brothers, the eldest of which suffered from asthma. I was very protective of
  him. I remember one time, I was about seven, seeing some boys having a go at him. Well, I was out of thehouse like a wild cat. I shoved the ring leader over, grabbed his cub cap and ground it in some mud, yelling at him to leave my brother alone. I was very shy, but I wasn't going to let anyone have a go at my brother. Of course his mother duly arrived at our house and I received my punishment and told to apologize. But I wasn't sorry, as far as I was concerned he got what he deserved. When I was thirteen I started going to the Church midweek club and the Sunday morning service. The club was for 11 to 15 year olds. and I really enjoyed it. I got to know them and they me, and at home time calling out "Night, see you Sunday." Shortly after I started going to the morning service. Well, I "wouldn't see them Sunday" if I didn't, and I felt guilty because when I said it I knew I didn't mean it. My mum came with me for moral support and she got my dad to come as well. (They both came to know Jesus as their Saviour.)

During the six week holiday from school, the local 'Roxy' was showing a film, The Student Prince. I did enjoy it, I cried my eyes out. I went to see it six times, not because I wanted to see the whole film, good as I thought it was, but in one part, the prince’s grandfather dies and he sings a song the first few lines being,
I'll walk with God from this day on, His helping hand I'll lean upon,
This is my prayer my humble plea, May the Lord be ever with me.
There is no death, Tho' eyes grow dim, There is no fear when I'm near to Him.
I'll lean on Him forever and he'll forsake me never.

I wanted to know what was meant by 'No death', 'having no fear', and ‘He'll forsake me never'. I had many a session with my pastor and my Bible finding out about the promises of Jesus. Jesus tells us in John chapter 11 "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even tho' he die." In Hebrews chapter 13 God says, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." My pastor helped me understand what it all meant and about why Jesus died on the cross. I thought I wasn't bad, that I was too young to be a sinner! Then it struck me, what about all the horrible things I'd done and thought and said, 'cub cap' came to mind. I was a sinner. Jesus died on the cross for my sins. He rose from the dead so I could accept His promises and I asked Jesus to forgive me and be my Saviour. Now I belonged to Jesus, my sins were forgiven, I had the best friend in the world, and He would never leave me and one day I would be in heaven with Him forever.Life hasn't been plain sailing since that day . My mum and dad had many illnesses, the family scattered all over the world, and other problems. But I trust Jesus and He has never let me down. As Jesus promised, He gave me the strength to cope with all these things. I have known blessings and joys too many to count. Through the years God has always been there for me, to draw strength from. Never leaving me, never forsaking me. The only person I know whose promises will never be broken.

In the words of my favourite hymn, “I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord".