I Can't Live without Jesus

Written by Liza Moore

Liza Moore was willing to share her response to the following question that she was asked in an application for Inter-Varsity Small Group leader at the College of William Mary:

How did you become a Christian?  Describe some of the key experiences that have shaped your faith.

I grew up going to church so pinpointing a moment can be difficult, but I will do my best to describe why I can't live without Jesus. I have always felt a strong connection between God and the outdoors. My first time when I actively remember feeling God tugging at me was at church camp, Camp Hat Creek, which I attended for a week in the summer from 3rd grade to 5th grade. Each night we would have vespers and that first year in 3rd grade I was super homesick and yet at vespers each night I was entirely comforted in worshiping God. In middle school I was confirmed at my home church and professed my faith in Jesus as my Savior, but of course, the story never stops there.

I went on ski-trip conferences in middle school in the NC mountains and mission trips to NC beach slums. I have visited many National Parks with my family and without fail I am stunned by God's creation. I attended Montreat youth conferences in the mountains of North Carolina. God and the outdoors yet again, seems to always click with me. Romans 8:38 says that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. At each of these conferences, I would most likely end up in tears at some point, wondering why I have been so blessed and why God loves little old, selfish, stupid me. I would end up so overwhelmed by God's love for me that I (normally calloused to outward displays of emotion) would be in tears.  I learned however, from these conferences and other activities that I will never fully understand why God loves me and wants me to know him, other than because I am His child, formed in His image with a desire for Him hardwired into my very soul. And since He loves me when I have done nothing to deserve His love, how can I (well all of us) respond in any other way than with unadulterated joy?

As a junior and senior in high school I began to more fully live into this joyous response to God's love for me. I led a bible study during lunch for senior year as well as worked regularly with the homeless in my town.  Through my experience with Christ so far, I have been taught the value of every person: old, young, homeless, poor. I have been taught that if you are always comfortable, you are probably doing something wrong. I have been taught to not waste anything that I have been given or blessed with. I have been taught to seek God with all I have. I have been taught that following Jesus requires daily repentance and surrender. I look forward to the growth that my faith will have through leading a small group and I'm excited to see what God has in store.

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