Christ Church
Hackenthorpe
Cecile's story
As a child, I was physically, emotionally and sexually abused. At the age of eleven years old, I tried to commit suicide by slitting my wrists, ( fortunately I slit the wrong side ).
I always had to have a boyfriend - which I realise now was a deep need to be cared for and loved by someone. This need led me to get involved in some wrong relationships with men, which didn't do my self -worth any good. I was very insecure, lacked confidence and had no self worth/esteem whatsoever. By 1993, my whole world crashed - I had a mental breakdown.
In January 1994, my friend invited me to go to see a medium (spiritualist). I had always vowed I would never go and see one but, at this time, I felt so low, I couldn't have cared less what they told me, so I went. She told me nothing bad, but told me never to have the tarot cards done as they were evil (I didn't know then that tarot cards and spiritualists work from the same source - the devil - which is evil).
In December 1995 I went to a Christmas Fayre where there was a lady reading tarot cards and decided to have mine read. She told me nothing bad, but before she had finished I began to feel really fearful. By the time I got home, I was a fearful and anxious wreck, so much so, I went back to find her , but by then she was gone. During the next two weeks I lived in torment. I actually believed and felt I'd brought death on my family. I also had a strong urge to go to church. I felt I needed to go and I also felt the urge to read the Bible.
I remembered what the spiritualist had told me about the tarot cards and phoned her and she told me I needed 'spiritual' healing, so I went to see her. When I went, she wasn't there and something inside me was telling me not to wait, but I waited until she got back ( I know now that it was God warning me to go ). This time, I wasn't as comfortable with her as I was the first time, but it didn't stop me deciding that I would go back and see her after Christmas.
One night I had a dream and all I saw was the face of this spiritualist and a voice saying "do not go back to this woman for she will defile you", and that was it. When I woke up the next morning I suddenly remembered it and all I could think of was this word 'defile'. I didn't know what it meant but I didn't like it so I looked it up in the dictionary. It means to make ritually unclean. I didn't know what the dream meant but I just knew I wasn't to go back to see this spiritualist. ( I know now that the dream was God warning me not to go back). There is a scripture in the Bible in Leviticus Chapter 19 Verse 31 that says 'Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists for you will be defiled by them'. I came across that scripture soon after the dream. The exact words God used to warn me!
I went to town and found myself in the Christian bookshop and came across a booklet called 'Why Jesus?'. I bought it, took it home, read it and gave my life to Jesus ( became a Christian ). After doing this, a voice ( I now know that voice was God ) told me to look through the phone book and find a minister because I needed to be prayed for. I did this and have never looked back since.
Since becoming a Christian, my whole life has been turned upside down ( for the better ). I am a different person. I have a real contentment. I have received so much healing from things that have happened to me in my life. I could NEVER NEVER go back to my former life and I could NEVER EVER do without God in my life. I love Him so much and HE really has done GREAT things, not just for me, but for my two daughters who have been 'to hell and back' with me. God has also given me a wonderful husband, who's a committed Christian and the right person for me.
There's a scripture that's really special to me. It says, 'the Lord will restore the years the locusts have eaten', and that is exactly what God has done for me. Amen!
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