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My Name is Michael Hedley. Up until January
2006, my life was a mess, I was desperately unhappy and just generally
hurting and not a very nice person to be around. On the 26th of
January 2006, I became a born again Christian, and my life has
changed so dramatically! I now have so much contentment in my
life.
I had an excellent job with all the trappings of success (and
the debt to go with it of course!) Yet I did not have any contentment
and if I was honest I wasn't even that happy.
I was brought up in a Christian home where going to church and
living a Christian life was the norm. By the time I reached 14
years of age I rejected this life because I wanted to taste what
the world had to offer, and proceeded to taste everything that
came my way. I got involved in drinking from a very young age,
tried drugs and did all the ungodly things associated with this
type of lifestyle.
I got married in 1980 and whilst I was reasonably happy I wasn't
totally content with my life. I carried on drinking heavily, and
as I thought leading a 'normal life' and enjoying myself. But
looking back I am not sure what I actually enjoyed about it! By
now I had rejected everything my mum had brought me up to believe.
My mum however never gave up on me and was praying constantly.
>In 1993 I joined Freemasonry. At that time I was totally unaware
that the rituals and attitudes associated with Freemasonry go
against all God's teachings! By now my mother was exasperated
and desperate for me to return to Christianity. But my rebellious
nature was furious at her interference and I was enjoying the
upset I was causing her. Apart from it being a false form of religion
the very nature of Freemasonry drives a wedge between families
as you are encouraged to attend as many lodges (meetings) as possible.
It was like going to a party every night, so I was never at home.
It just sucks you in without you realising it. It is like a form
of brainwashing. And without you realising it your relationships
have disintegrated and for many (including me), beyond the point
of return.
My son was born on Boxing Day 1996 and I felt that I now had everything
to make me happy! However, I had drifted so far away from God
and all his teaching I had now lost sight of the things that should
have been really important to me.
As I rose in the ranks of Freemasonry my drinking got worse and
my misery increased. My marriage broke down completely and I went
on to have a string of relationships.
I suffered a series of health problems which resulted in me losing
a couple of good jobs. My life was in a downward spiral. There
were two things in my life however that were rays of light. My
son and my girlfriend, who has stuck with me and prayed for me,
so there were now two praying women in my life!
However, due to my constant involvement in Freemasonry I had started
to become abusive, arrogant, very selfish and I used to treat
my girlfriend terribly, why she stayed with me I can only thank
God for. I used to treat all women with contempt and I was just
a horrible person to be with. I always wanted to push people away
from me because I knew that I would hurt them, but I must have
had a conscience because I did feel bad about hurting people,
I was just so mixed up! I now know that my mum had embedded Christian
values within me, but still at that time I was rejecting them.
In August of 2005 my mum, who had still been praying for me all
of this time, gave me a copy of Davey Falcus' Testimony on a CD.
Davey was a violent criminal who ran criminal fraternities on
Tyneside.
After I listened to his testimony, I was in floods of tears, and
I didn't realise just then that God was starting to work in my
life. I knew how dark my life had become, but yet I could feel
this love reaching out to me. Because I had conditioned myself
to reject love I had a problem accepting it.
I was now Master of the Lodge in Freemasonry, which is the top
position in the lodge which you hold for one year. When you attain
this position, you are expected to visit other lodges in order
to encourage members from another lodge to visit your lodge, this
also meant that I had to be out nearly every night of the week.
My drinking got so bad that year that I still can't believe I
managed to hold down my job. Darkness in my life had now reached
such a point where something had to give and again my health was
to suffer.
I was still progressing in Freemasonry and was forging ahead joining
other degrees (different ceremonies), which are higher level than
the basic degrees I had joined, some of the things that happened
in those meetings were just plain bizarre and it wasn't until
after I was a born again Christian, that I realised just how much
the whole of Freemasonry and its rituals, were completely against
God's word.
In November of 2005 I was diagnosed with having pneumonia and
ended up in hospital. I was suffering with the most intense chest
pains and my breathlessness was severe. When I arrived at the
hospital I honestly thought I was going to die. A few days later
I was rushed back to the hospital this time in an ambulance, and
again the chest pains I was experiencing were just incredible.
In my mind I knew that if this was a time for repentance then
this was it! I now know that this was God graciously bringing
me closer to him and giving me a second chance.
My mum had watched me self destruct over many years and she must
have been wrecked with pain and heartache seeing what I was doing
with my life, but she never gave up hope, she prayed and kept
on forgiving me for all of the hurt I caused her. She was about
to have all her prayers answered in the next couple of months,
because God knew precisely the right time, that I would give my
life to Him!
That time was the 26th Of January 2006. I was still suffering
from incredible chest pains, and I was getting more and more worried,
that this was going to kill me. My mum asked me if I would go
and meet her pastor (Davey Falcus). So I thought "why not I have
nothing left to lose!" After talking with him for over three hours,
challenging him on many things I thought were false about Christianity,
he asked me where I was with my faith. I really didn't know how
to answer him, but something inside was saying I want to believe
that Jesus can change me!
He prayed for me and my chest pain disappeared immediately. I
had never really believed in this kind of healing even though
I had witnessed it many times in my youth. But sure enough the
pain had gone.
Later that night, at home, I got on my knees and gave my life
to the Lord. The peace that came over me was like nothing I had
ever experienced, I felt different, I felt that something major
had happened. It had!! God had changed my life in an instant.
My mum must have been dancing when I told her, she would have
been so happy, 34 years of prayer and she had never given up hope.
Over the next few days my life began to change, I stopped swearing,
started reading a bible and the words in the bible started slowly
to have meaning for me. My drinking reduced till eventually I
stopped altogether, I didn't want to hurt people any more and
God started healing me of my own hurts. I started to attend church
and began learning how to pray. Because I am a singer I was invited
to join the worship team singing and playing guitar.
I want to let as many people know about Jesus and how He can change
your life from misery to happiness, how he can heal people from
their long term addictions and how he can set you free from doing
awful things. I want to let people know that they are loved and
that God has a plan for their lives to change them, give them
peace, joy happiness and hope. Most importantly Jesus said no
man can enter the kingdom of heaven unless he is born again, and
that no man can come to God unless through Him (Jesus). You can't
get into heaven by just being good, by worshiping false Gods,
or giving to charity! There is only one God!
A few months after I became a Christian God gave me the gift of
writing Christian songs, and more recently I have recorded these
songs onto a CD, called Living Waters, which is now available
on my website and is helping to bring hope and peace into the
lives of people who hear it. The songs on this CD represent my
journey so far since I became a Christian, and the words express
my joy that Jesus' amazing grace has saved a wretch like me. And
He can do the same for you! I have since appeared on Genesis TV
and many people have contacted me through this for help with Masonry
issues
Jesus died on the cross 2000 years ago for my sins and the sins
of all mankind, He is alive today and he can take away sadness,
he can heal your broken heart, he can set you free from violence
and misery and give you peace, he can change your future from
an eternity in Hell to an eternity in Heaven. He has a plan for
your life, to change your life and all you have to do to accept
him is to say this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know I am a Sinner, I have done many bad things
in my life. I want to invite you into my life as my friend and
my Saviour. Forgive me for all of my sins, I repent of my sins
and I am really sorry for all the bad things I have done in my
life. Help me to turn away from those things and help me to live
my life as a Christian. I believe that you are the Son of God
and that you laid down your life for me on the Cross. Heal me,
forgive me and lead me to an eternity with you Lord Jesus. Amen.
If you have said this prayer and really mean it, you are born
again (saved). Find a church to go to, get a bible and the Lord
will let you know how to live your life through the words in the
Bible.
Jesus said " Unless you are born again you cannot see the Kingdom
of God"(John 3:5). "For God So Loved the world that he gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish,
but will have eternal life" (John 3:16)
Accept Him into your life and let him change you forever.
God Bless you.
If you want any further information about what to do next please
contact me on 07879 253 072 or by email: living_waters@hotmail.co.uk
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