My name is Ann Ferguson and I became a Christian in November 1982, four weeks after moving back to live with my dad in Dunfermline, Scotland. I never realized, as I gave my heart to Jesus that night and got prayed over, how my life would change and—surprisingly—not always for the best. I started to attend our local Church of Scotland church in Abbeyview, Dunfermline and enjoyed the Sunday services. At first I attended the morning service only and then eventually God led me to the evening service. The minister's wife worked at a Christian bookshop in Dunfermline and got me a job as a volunteer there two days a week. I loved it and eventually, because I was unemployed at the time, started to work more hours there. In the church I started attending a women's group and helping with the Sunday school. I also helped with the cleaning rota of the church and occasionally with the teas and coffees on a Sunday. I took part in supporting the children's missions as well.

Unknown to me, my body couldn't take the toll of all the physical activities I was undertaking. In June of 1984 I took to my bed with depression and ended up in hospital. I was there for at least a fortnight. I couldn't function at all. I remember thinking that I had let God down and he must be angry with me!

I started to read a romance story I had with me and then eventually managed to start reading my Bible again. I had no idea what was going on and was very frightened. I was afraid of the nurses and doctors and was not willing to trust them at that time. The only person I truly trusted was Jesus! Whilst in the hospital I attended the morning services there each Sunday.

One of the first sermons I heard at the hospital was a breath of fresh air to me. The minister told us the story of Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the blood disorder who touched Jesus. Somehow I knew God was talking to me and giving me hope for my healing. After lunch I went for a walk on the border of the hospital and sat in a cornfield. I had with me my Bible and Bible reading notes for the day. The passage was, wait for it, Jairus' daughter again! After I got home from hospital I shared this with my minister. He didn't say anything and neither did I because at that time I wasn't able to ask questions as I had so much fear in me. It has only been after much Christian counselling and prayer that I am able to share my healing.

God is good and has been with me through all my life. Only I didn't realise that at the time. My Our Daily Bread Bible reading notes have been a blessing to me over the years. When I had bouts of depression, I used to just read the notes without reading my Bible and I got some comfort from them. Thank you for these notes and may they be an inspiration to us all as we continually walk daily with the Lord Jesus. Yours in Christ, Ann

I was brought up in a Christian home by parents who were missionaries in India. I had two brothers and a sister and the four of us were all born in India. Up to the age of 16 I moved back and forth between India and the UK, until finally we all remained in the UK. When I was 5 years old I heard the story retold of the cross of Jesus and how He suffered and died for me. I was very moved and asked Him to come into my heart and to stay there forever. Not knowing a lot, though, at that young age, and perhaps not realising the implications of that decision, my lifestyle didn't change significantly right away.

When I was aged 10 or 11 however, I entered a kind of 'honeymoon' period in my Christian life. I became very enthusiastic about Christian things and keen to tell my friends that they too needed to be saved. Sadly, this did not last. In my early to mid-teens my zeal cooled somewhat and other interests and distractions took over. However, I don't think I stopped believing. God kept His hand on me and protected me from sliding too far into sin. At age 17, certain scientific facts about the vastness of the universe, the speed of light and distances measured in light years caught my imagination. Coupled with Scriptures about the wonders of God's creation and what the Bible said in two psalms in particular (8 and 19), I back to outright faith. I rededicated my life to the Lord and was baptised a few months later.

Down the years since then I have experienced many things—supremely happy times and some pretty tough times, including unemployment and mental illness. Through it all God has sustained me, provided for me and gradually strengthened my faith and deepened my relationship with Him. He has proved His love and faithfulness many, many times over! I have often failed Him but He has never let me down. At age 54 I was married to a Christian lady and we have now been together for nearly 14 years. Marriage was and is a life-changing experience and I am still learning and being stretched! I'm sure she is too!

The Lord is good: you should "taste and see" how true that is. He has promised me a glorious future in Heaven with Him; this is a "living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." The alternative, being separated from God forever, is so awful as to be unthinkable. But it is inevitable if you do not seek Him and receive Him. You don't have to take that route because God's offer of salvation is still open and available and He loves you and longs to welcome you into His family, to share the future He planned and paid such a high price for at Calvary's cross. Come to Him today!