I remember before I became a Christian, I used to go to church on the occasional Sunday and I used to look at the empty pews and think to myself....."there must be more than this". This went on for years and I often wondered why I never understood the sermons or why the church didn't go out there and bring the people in rather than wait for the people to come to the church. I remember going to a christening and seeing the church building full to the brim - people standing up near the door because there were no empty places to sit - I thought.... "this is how it should be. Full. Full of people wanting God's attention. But even so, there must be even more. But I didn't know what 'more' there was. If anything. Maybe this was just it - maybe there wasn't anything else.

A friend of ours became a born again Christian and we thought he'd gone mad. He used to come round to our house every day and stay until 12 and 1 O'clock in the morning telling us about Jesus. He went on and on and on...until we threw him out. But then he'd come back the next night and the next night...going on and on and on and on.

At this particular time I was going on a regular basis to have my fortune told. I'd go along to the clairvoyant to learn of my future, but while travelling there I'd be praying to God and telling Him what I wanted to know!! I think He must have sat there with His head in His hands saying "what is she doing!!"

I had no idea at the time that this was not the thing to do. I don't ever remember a sermon on this type of thing being an abomination to our Lord.

Our friend had given me a leaflet for a local church that I had never heard of. I had the leaflet for about six months and one Sunday decided to give it a try. I decided to go along and sit at the back and weigh it up. So off I go.

The minute I walked through the door a voice sayd "Oh no - what are you doing here!!" It was an old school friend who was so pleased to see me she took me by the hand and sat me next to her on the front row.

I was overwhelmed by the friendliness of all the people at the church. People were so genuine and kind. The worship time was remarkable. I had never experienced worship like it and part way through I just wanted to cry. "Oh, you're in church. You can't cry in church - wait till you get home" was what was going through my mind. But them someone behind me started to sing in the most angelic voice I have ever heard. It was so absolutely beautiful that I just sobbed - for about 15 minutes. I had no idea why, but it was such a relief. When I had stopped crying I felt so calm and, the only way I can describe it is that I felt released. As if things had been swept away from me forever.

I shall never forget the sermon. It was on Jonah and how he was running away from God and going in a different direction to the one that God had planned for him. The speaker likened it to people who go to clairvoyants looking for something that they don't need to know about and also looking to others rather than God. Now, I understood that sermon - I believe it was handpicked that day just for me. God took me to church that day, to tell me what He wanted me to know.

Although I didn't say the 'sinners prayer' that day, I know that Sunday in December 1996 God cleansed me from the influence of all those visits to the fortune teller. He cleansed me from the effects and I have never looked back.

I have since repented of that time of my life along with lots of other things and I gave my life to the Lord in March 1997. I am grateful to our friend who used to keep us up til all hours of the morning telling us how much Jesus loves us.

Most of all I am grateful to God for leading me to Himself - for introducing me to His Son, Jesus. And to His Holy Spirit. I am so thankful for God's grace and His faithfulness and His forgivness.

I am thankful for the relationship I have with Jesus - Christ in me, the hope of glory.