Hey! Yes, this is an author's note. I want this chapter to be just fully talking to all of you. As you may have known, this book will reach it's 1st month since it was published but today, it's the 1st month of the book since I made the drafts. And for this month, it's just so amazing to see this book grow!

I have never really imagined this book to grow this quick. For this chapter, I am going to tell you the story of how I thought of this book and some other topics I'd like to talk with you. I want to have an author-reader relationship and here is where I will share some of my experiences with all of you.

So on the third week of August, there was a monsoon that hit the country. The rain was so strong which resulted in the low-lying areas being flooded and the suspension of classes. On August 23, I was reading "From A Christian Girl's Perspective" which I decided to reach because I was curious on how a Christian girl views life given that I am a guy and I view the world in my own perspective.

There's this chapter that the author mariellefelio_28 mentioned that evangelizing people on the internet (specifically Wattpad) is easier and that's when it clicked to me. The main reason I even decided to follow just was to spread His word across all nations as He said in the book of Matthew.

As you know, I'm persecuted. My parents and the rest of my relatives are Catholics. They don't want me to "change religion" to put it simply, they don't want me to become a Born Again Christian so they never allow me to participate in any of their activities. From my own perspective, religion serves no use. Sure, it's where we started to get to know God but seriously though, it's also the root of wars and conflicts. The common mistake of people nowadays is that they devote more of their time in their religion more than Jesus Himself. 

Get the picture?

Going back to the story, that day as if God was urging me to write a story. My story. And with that, The Teenage Christian was born. The week of no classes, I concentrated on writing the chapters until finally, I've decided to publish the first few part three days after I clicked Create Story.

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How's life being persecuted? Well, hard. Many times, I was scolded for secretly attending services and even writing my devotional. And get this, I get scolded for hand lettering bible verses and song lyrics because it was under the influence of the born again.

But I am BORN AGAIN.

Not the religion, of course! Born again as in being a new creation, being renewed and having decided to follow Christ until He comes to fetch us.

As my pastor said, no one who followed Christ was not persecuted. And that's when I enjoyed being persecuted (weird right?). But actually, come to think of it, Satan attacks when we're closer to God. The reason I'm being persecuted is that the enemy fears that I will continue. The reality is that he doesn't want being the only one to be punished that is why he tries his best to tempt us and lure us into his trap.

He thought that I'd give up when I become persecuted.

Well, HE WAS WRONG.

I fought hard. I pushed through even though I was being persecuted. I secretly evangelized people with my friends in our city's plaza once and I secretly pray. Basically, I serve the Lord in secret. I hide from them when I do the works of the Lord. But it doesn't mean that I don't grasp chances to make them change their minds. I bring up the Lord sometimes in between conversations and on top of that, I strive to make them see that I've truly changed. That being born again is not a religion but a devotion to Christ. And I have to say, it's slowly working.

On our church's anniversary, I prayed to God to make my parents allow me to attend the big celebration. When I asked for their permission, they said yes in an instant. I was mindblown and can't stop thanking the Lord! But after a few days, they scolded me for attending. Haha.

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When I still wasn't a Christian, I was a horror movie waiting to happen. I was a sadist and a traitor. I gossip so much and found satisfaction in the pain of others. I was overshadowed with lust and pride. I also have wicked anger management issues. I now thank the Lord for molding me to be the creation He wanted me to be. I thank Him for planning my renewal from the very start.

Like most people, I've had my fill of family and friendship problems. TONS! And at those moments, I easily doubt myself. I always ask myself "where did I go wrong?" without even thinking that it was all in accordance to God's plan. So whatever you're going through right now, remember that everything goes according to His plan. You may not know the purpose, but you'll understand in the long run. The only thing we have to do is to trust in Him for His ways are higher than ours and He never intends to harm us but to make us prosper!

Lift your head up and know that you are loved!

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Now, I just felt the need to just type in what I want to say to all of you. Tell me if I should keep doing these types of chapters every now and then! Thank you for everything guys. Thank you for the support you're giving. You don't know how happy I am seeing the progress of this book and I am truly happy being an instrument of God as I write this book.

I'm not only an author, I am a friend. There are 1k of you out there and my inbox is lonely. I've shared a glimpse of my life, why not share yours? Do you have problem or just want to talk? I'm only a message away. Need prayer requests and encouragement? Pm me or comment on one of the chapters and I'll be glad to help you out.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we have to build each other up. Encourage one another when one stumbled. 

Again, thank you for everything. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Thank you. I love you guys!

God bless you! :)

P.S. While I was writing this, Speak Life by TobyMac was playing. I just found it amazing! Hahaha! You should listen to it as well!