I am just beside myself about something. The LifeWay event team (in charge of all the Living Proof Lives, Going Beyonds, Abundance events, etc) thought up such fun ideas for the booklet that participants will get at the LPL Simulcast on September 15, 2012. One of them involves you. They want to hear testimonies from you about how you are living proof that God’s Word is alive and active and that His Son redeems. (This is not meant to have anything to do with me or with this ministry. It’s about YOUR own personal story with Jesus.) They are going to go through each one of them, find a great cross section of testimonies, select 5 stories and add them to the booklet for the whole simulcast community to read! And, that, Sister, will be a batch of women from all over the place. Ā
Here’s what you do: In a comment to this post, write a 200-250 word testimony about how God has accomplished a work in you or through you that leaves no other viable explanation (in your eyes) than Himself. Use your words carefully and save them all for your testimony! You might consider doing it on a word document then cutting and pasting it into a comment so you can really think about what you want to say. Your participation through a comment will act as your automatic release for the publication of your testimony if yours is selected, SO, be sure, Sweet Thing, that you don’t say more than you mean to. You know your blog mama’s trying to protect you here.
Listen, these will be such a blast because, even if only 5 get to be selected for the booklet, just think how we are going to encourage one another and build up each other’s faith! NOT ONE STORY WILL BE WASTED. Thousands of eyes see these posts and comments. Girlfriend, T-E-S-T-I-F-Y! I will be sitting on pins and needles to watch these come in. Let’s call the deadline for your entries midnight on Thursday, April 26th.
The five who are selected will be contacted by LifeWay and will win the following:
- Free registration of the 2012 Living Proof Live simulcast for a small group of 7-14 of your friends!
- Free copy of Praying Godās Word
- Free James member book (I realize lots of you may already have one of these but I’ll get these five signed if you want.)
- A special section in the Living Proof Live simulcast listening guide including YOUR story, Girlfriend! (We’ll want your picture, too, if you’re willing to submit it to us. You’ll be contacted and asked for it if you are selected.)
One of the things we’re so excited about this year for our Living Proof Live Simulcast is that, for the very first time, small groups and INDIVIDUALS are able to participate. If it’s anything like previous years, women will be joining us from church buildings, military bases, and prisons, but this year for the FIRST TIME, also from living rooms and couches. You can watch all day in your jammies if you want to!
If this event sounds fun to you, go ahead and get that thing on the calendar: September 15, 2012. We are believing God to permeate walls, embattled minds, and rock-hard hearts and speak words of life, freedom, redemption, ministry. AND UNITY, for crying out loud.You game??
Ā I love you guys so much. Can’t wait to hear from you!
From LifeWay:
If you would like more information about the simulcast or how you can be a host, visit www.lifeway.com/lplsimulcast.Ā
We are broken, O Lord
We have scars,
We are abandoned, rejected,
left alone, abused, trampled on,
We poor and we are needy,
We full of shame and downtrodded,
We are confused and forsaken,
We have fallen and slipped,
We have been deceived and hurt,
But, You O God,
You have not forgotten us,
You have not failed us.
You are Faithful and full of lovingkindnes,
You are our Strength and our Victory
You are our Hope, our Peace and our Joy
You understand us,
You know our coming and our going,
You know our hearts,
Yet You keep loving us.
O God, my heart is grateful,
My heart is full of praise to You
I love You so much for all You do
and who You are! Praise Your Holy Name!
God, thank you for Salvation
Thank you for Your Righteousness,
Your goodness, and Your mercy.
I cannot withhold my thoughts toward
You, O God
For You have brought truth into our lives,
You bring purpose and meaning into our lives!
Thank you, my Lord and my Savior! Light of our lives!~joyce
I am Living Proof! I was self-centered, prideful, and simply put āit was all about meā. I got married; had a couple kids who became my idols. They looked, smelled and acted perfect. But God saved me. Then my 4 yr. old daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia. But God Was there and He carried her through that fiery trial. A short time after she finished treatment we started MICAHāS HOPE a book bag ministry for newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients. And God is with us. We didnāt want to be just hearers of the word but do what it says. So we prayed, a lot. After a failed plan of adoption and we have opened our home up to foster care. Only through Jesus I can offer myself as a living sacrifice day in and out as I homeschool my 3 kids and take care of the 2 boys that have been through so much filth at the young ages of 3 and 4, but God has placed them in our home. We are here to help them and their mommy as we keep them safe and pray everyday for her with the boys. Who just so happened to have never heard of Jesus. What a privilege to share the gospel! What a privilege to serve. I never would have planned this path for my life But God did. From ashes to beauty from self serving to self sacrifice for His Glory Alone… God is Able! I am Living Proof.
The verse that springs to mind when thinking of my testimony is Matthew 7:7 āAsk and it will be given to youā¦ā
I was yearning for some beautiful Christian sisters to have friendships with when that fall season I came upon a Biblically based parenting class and fellowship group for women. I knew it was the answer to my prayer.
Also, in that time frame, I reconnected with a childhood friend as our 20 year high school reunion was coming fast. Ironically and unknowingly we only lived 9 miles apart and both had gotten married and had two small children the same ages. We laughed and healed together as we talked about our youth and the misconceptions we had about each other growing up. I invited her to attend the Mom group with me. She told me that this Biblical parenting class felt like something she has always wanted to learn. Later, when Easter celebrations were on the way, we spoke about what Easter was truly about. She did not know Christ and was embarrassed. I explained my adoring Savior the best I could and it was a blessed moment as God used me to testify for the first time.
Now I am forever woven with a beautiful friend from my past who is now my eternal sister through Jesus Christ.
Oh Lord I pray that all whom I love here on Earth is saved by You, the Holy One!
I remember that day vividly. I was on my hands and knees in the floor of my bedroom, and I was crying. You see, although I had repeatedly tried to follow the Lord, I continually found myself living in defeat. But this day was different, and this prayer was different. I remember saying to God, āGod, if you want my life, you are going to have to take it. Iāve tried this. Iāve tried this over and over, and I canāt do it. You have got to do it, God. You alone…ā Finally, sisters, I had come to the end of myself. This time, I didnāt just ask for forgiveness and a little help, I straight-up cried out for my Savior. Philippians 1:6 became my life-verse overnight. When doubts and fears arose about falling back into defeat, I would speak this verse out loud. Through this, I began learning how Godās word has actual power like a sword to take down principalities and strongholds (2 Cor 10:4). I began saturating my mind with Godās word, and literally experienced transformation by the renewing of my mind (Rom 12:2). Philippians 1:6 was my first sword. As I read Godās word, I picked up sword after sword after sword. Verses of scripture became weapons of offense and weapons of defense in the unseen war that had once wrecked havoc in my life. My God redeemed me from death to life, and I am living proof.
Wish we had a like button. Actually I would hit the love button on this!!! So good!! What a word!!!
Swords of offense and defense; I don’t think I have ever had it better explained. Thank you
Thank you for sharing!!!! LOVE!!!!
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. Psalm119:105 This passage has brought me through so many low points in the last 8 years. At times i was so blinded by pain that this passage was the only thing I felt I had to cling to.
I have always been a believer of Jesus. I grew up in a disfunctional home but over come so much of that. Life was cursing along fairly good.
Then BAM! I woke up one morning to just pure blinding pain screaming across my face. I went to my dentist who happen to be my boss at the time. He did a root canal. Yea… pain gone, or it was suppose to be. Over the next 6 months I had 3 root canals, an apicoectomy, and still that same screaming, blinding pain in my face. I was referred to the ENT who did yet more surgery and yep still that screaming, blinding pain. I was taking vicoden like it was candy, along with Advil, Tylenol, and Excedrin. The ENT sent me to the neurologist. By now I am just praying to God to let me find an answer. 10 months had passed and still this blinding pain! I was finely diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. I was so happy I had a name for this blasting pain. By this time it was almost a year that I had this pain! I did not know this was labeled the “suicide disorder” The suicide rate for this disorder is very high. I have to say the thought crossed my mind more then once but, I could never do that to God. I know he loves me but, I was unsure what he was doing with me. I could never had made it this far without God, but then things went from bad to worse! The pain began to control me. Totally consume me. The pain had such a grip on me. Like a vise that just kept getting tighter and tighter! It stole my life. My friends faded away. My kids stopped asking me if I was coming to their events at school. My wonderful hubby just played video games and did every thing in his power to help me. Life faded and pain moved in. I would take my pain meds and do what I could but It was not much. I had no purpose. I had a major surgery done in 2005 that could help the pain, desperate people do desperate things. Still the pain.. Life was going down hill fast, but I have a loving Father who showed me that life was not to be lived out by laying on the couch in pain. He spoke very clearly to me… Kathleen this is not my plan for you, ok so what was his plan because I sure could not see through the blasting, blinding pain. So off my wonderful hubby and I went to Mayo clinic so I could learn to live the rest of my life with chronic pain, with NO , did I say NO pain meds. God is so amazing! I did learn how to live life with no vicoden and other heavy pain meds. God has given me a crown of beauty instead of ashes. I am 4 years clean of any pain meds and 8 years living with this blinding, blasting pain that I will have until God decides I have carried it long enough for him. yea.. see I talk to any one who tells me they have pain. I share my story how God has given me my life back. How you can have HOPE again if you put your hope in Jesus. I had my hope stolen so many times. Every time I went to a new doctor my hope soared only to be completely wiped out. Leavening me devastated time and time again. Sobbing and crying out to God for help. Doctors are wonderful people but none can heal the way God can. I will be a ray of hope for others as long as I have life in this pain ridden body I have.
Psalm 118:24 tells us “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Every morning I ask God to fill me with his Love and Joy to over flowing so I can give it to others. People can’t understand how I can live in such pain without pain meds and have a happy fulfilled life. I feel like I have a purpose again. Day by Day. Step by Step. Prayer by Prayer. Jesus says. I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
Having known the Lord intimately for many years, circumstances in my early 20ās caused me to succumb to the deceit of the world! Being disillusioned with the church, I stopped going. Without the word, Christian community and accountability I made some wrong life choices. I was engaged to be married and had become friends with one of my fianceās friends. At the very onset of the friendship, I should have fled but I ignored the spirit of discernment; however, the friendship continued to grow to the point that we were emotionally entangled in each otherās lives. I had fallen in love with this other young man, or so I thought, but with the clarity of truth it was an infatuation that consumed me. At the point when I was trying to break away from our friendship, he affirmed his love for me, but told me of his struggle with homosexuality. I made a choice to walk out life with him for a season and gave up everything I knew to be right and true. One night I was weeping because I missed the Lord in my life, but with unrepentant sin could not fellowship with Him. His faithfulness in pursuing me gave me the strength to leave. A year later I learned that one of my friends partners he had been with during our friendship died with AIDS. I too should have contracted AIDS and should not be here. He is faithful to the faithless! Praise Him!
At age 11 I lost both parents within 3 mos of eachother, my father was murdered at the hands of a woman he was having an affair with. My mother died of a broken heart,started drinking, which caused her death so quickly. Lived with my oldest brother and sister-in-law. They divorced some years later. I grew up hiding a hurtful past of being molested once by a family member, I surpressed anger, never told my parents. Years later I married young, my husband committed suicide due to a brain tumor, was mad at God. But some years later reunited with a man I met at college,we both became born again. And the lord is head of my household, married 32 years, four grown children, 2 granddaughters and 1 brand new grandson. Iv’e forgiven those who had hurt me. I serve a mighty God. I am humbled for my peaceful life.
I know this is not exactly what you are asking for. But please lift this ministry up in prayer. God is touching people in the most remote areas of the world through this ministry. http://www.famm-india.com/
I also lift this family up in prayer in many of my prayers. Shannon and Carrie Lewis. They live in Southern Sudan. The Toposa people are very loving. The Lewis family is still learning the language. But “baby” Walker, now four almost five, knows lots of the language. Older brother Davis is at a boarding school. Benton has many many friends.
About five years ago, I realized I was a stagnate Christian. I was spending too much time on an Internet chat board for mothers of twins like myself. It was a lot like Facebook, but it was a small group of maybe 40 moms of twins. I’m embarrassed to say it, but I would log in multiple times a day, taking up at least one or two hours by the end of most days.
I realized God wanted me to give it up. I was praying about it one day while I was blow drying my hair and I said to God, “I just can’t give it up! I don’t know how to let it go.” Then I heard these words so clearly in my mind, “Yes, you can! Just go do it!” I shut my blow dryer off, sat down at the computer, and deleted the link for the Web page. In the weeks following, amazingly, I didn’t even feel tempted to go back.
The best part of this story is what happened in the months after. I saw prayer after prayer answered. Not huge prayers for healing or the miraculous by most standards, but they were prayers that were close to my heart. I grew spiritually. I was bolder, more trusting, and closer to my husband and kids. Most importantly, I was deliberate and faithful in my time with God. I saw changes in my husband that were for the better and he even started listening to Christian music at the time, which was huge for this old-country music fan. I’m not where I want to be, but I’m closer to it than I was. You may have to move some things out of the way to let God get to you, but it’s so worth it.
Rachel, I am so proud of you for obeying the voice of God!
This sounds so exciting!! It’s very possible that the small group of women in my church just might be able to afford to attend this 9/15 simulcast!!! The only question that I have, for now LOL, is this…what is the time-frame of the simulcast?
I looked thru the info in the Lifeway link provided but didn’t see a start/stop time & for some reason cannot get the FAQ links to work either.
Thanks!
Diane in Utah
Diane,
There is an FAQ on our site with info. It really varies per time zone. But the LIVE event from Reading, PA will be from 9:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. But if you are in Central time 8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Just calculate according to your time zone. Please let us know if you have any questions!
In Him!
Paige Greene
I like to refer to high school as the dark years. I was an insecure confused girl who was determined to find my identity in a boy. The relationship I chose was extremely unhealthy. It was abusive in every way it could have been and led me down many destructive paths. I became dependent on it. Addicted to it. Thankfully, God had a different plan. He sent us to colleges hundreds of miles away. While we were making plans for a long distance relationship, God was preparing someone else to intervene. I remember it like it was yesterday. I woke up in my dorm that Sunday morning, got in the shower to get ready for church, and had a revelation. I realized that I had never been around the kind of guy who would be more in love with God than me. Right there I prayed, āLord, send me a man of you who will love you more than me.ā I donāt remember a word the preacher said during service. I only remember staring in curiosity at the young man sitting in front of me. The answer to my prayer who, two years and a lot of prayer later, I would marry. This is not a story about how I met my husband (even though he is great : ). This is a story of how God used a son to rescue his broken, lost daughter who desperately needed a Healer and Protector. Praise His Name!
I looked for love in all the wrong places. Firstborn to my mom, hero child of a charismatic, fast talking, salesman, alcoholic, I searched a lifetime for someone like my Dad to “fix”. Trying to be perfect got me into college, medical school, etc; but it left me empty, tired, alone, and exhausted. In 2005, I had a rude awakening when a sweet sister in Christ laid her hand on my shoulder and said, “You look pretty.” Tears and what I like to call “verbal vomit” ensued as I spilled all my guts. I wasn’t pretty, didn’t she know? As the truth and years of reckless, wrong relationships were shared, this sweet Warrior in Jesus looked at me with love and said, “that’s not you.”. She was kind but blunt, loving and wise. I saw and felt Jesus in her hand, eyes, and words. Something happened. I believed what she said. Jesus loved me and was jealous for me. I shredded the letters of the wrong relationship cutting it off. In those moments my heart began to melt for Jesus. I fell in love with Him. I realized He could be the best boyfriend I ever could have! I went on what I like to call a “man fast”. Seeking more and more time with Jesus, studying God’s word, and enjoying time with my Lord. My Gardener. My Husband: To Him my land was married (Isaiah 62). He turned my ashes into a crown of beauty (Isaiah 61:1-4).
One year later, God saw fit to set me up with a man who is now my earthly husband. I had always wanted children and God saw fit to give me four stepsons! He “setteth the lonely in families” Psalm 68 and “restores what the locusts have eaten” Joel 2. He gave me a double portion! My husband and I serve at our church–he is a pastor and I am a minister’s wife teaching Sunday school! (God has such a sense of humor!)
We just returned from Haiti and, in December, are taking our sons to Africa on mission (I am a pediatrician also and do clinics for the orphaned children
). We ask God to help us to “visit orphans and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27). From rubbish heap to being held in my Master’s Hand, I am living proof that He Lives! He Lives! Christ Jesus lives today!!!!!
I was born into a home where God was taught, feared and praised daily. I believed in him and Ā knew of his love for as long as I can remember. Ā I haven’t yet grasped the depth of his love, but I have seen shimmers- from the darkest places they are the brightest. Ā Gods grace. Ā When I was 7 my father, suddenly died- in our home- quick as a light switched off, here one minute- gone the next. God is so good, he cared for me and took me in as his own. Ā I didn’t know it – didn’t see it then. Ā As a teenager I was insecure, alone, arrogant and numb. Ā My heavenly father pushed me out of the comfortable, sinful, self gratifying life I built for myself and ushered me into what he had planned for me. Ā God’s wisdom is infinite. When I was 19 Ā I joined the national guard- not thinking I would ever be “a real solider”…..until 2003. God walked along me I the desserts of Iraq. He showed me His love beyond what I thought it should looked like. Ā I was 30 when my husband and I separated. I was foolish…..I didn’t see the blessings he had given me….didn’t appreciate them. Ā Once again, God put his arms around me and healed my heart and my marriage. He has never given up on me. Ā I am living proof of God’s grace. Ā Praise be to Him- forever.
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for serving our country! I respect you greatly. I was blessed to read how God has sustained you through so much. Isn’t His grace and love like nothing felt before? Thank you again for sharing.
Thankyou Jesus,
You took an insecure, abused, promiscuous teenage wreck and healed my aching, empty heart. You not only forgave me but counseled and befriended me. You loved me like no other. You are the lover of my soul, you have blessed me with your righteousness. I am clean, I am washed in your precious blood. Every day is a mighty miracle that I am living in freedom through the power of your Holy spirit. I have found living water and will never thirst again.
The details of my wretched life are to much to bare but I can promise you this, I am a true miracle and living proof that Jesus is real. He can heal, forgive, cleanse and make a new creation out of anyone. He made himself known to me when I was 15. I have walked with Him 25 years and He has carried me through some of the darkest nights and fiercest storms. He has blessed me with more than enough. He has given me a wonderful man and 5 gorgeous children. Every day brings a new challenge but we strive to bring glory to His name, so that others will too know the grace and love he has shown to us, and offers to anyone who will call on his name!
****** Please use this submission, not one submitted a few minutes ago ******
Iād always viewed a convertible as a rich manās indulgence. Within a few months my opinion on that changed.
I needed a new car and the Holy Spirit nudged me to purchase a Mazda Miata. After I test drove one, the salesman led me to a Mazda RX-8. He highlighted its power features more than the attributes of the Miata. Two male friends also favored the RX-8.
The opinions of those men caused me to doubt the Holy Spiritās nudging. Confusion took over. I asked the Lord to show me which car to buy. Ten minutes later while thumbing through a magazine, I read a blurb about a Miata!
Godās quick answer left me speechless. However, thatās not the end of the story.
On a road trip three months later, I drove with my Miataās convertible top open. Immediately after popping a disc into the CD player, I was blown away by a long-forgotten desire that the Lord brought to mind.
Five summers before buying my car, Iād taken a different road trip through Napa Valley. The instrumental music flowing from my car speakers enhanced the beauty of the landscape.
I said aloud, āGod, it sure would be nice to listen to this while driving a convertible.ā
That one-sentence conversation was immediately forgotten until five years later while driving my new Miata and listening to that same CD.
That day this not-so-rich girl learned another reason why not to judge others: the Holy Spirit may be prompting their actions.
My Heavenly Father ā the author and perfecter of my faith ā is constantly adding chapters to my heart, but none so influential as the one entitled āJosiah.ā
I am the barren woman of Psalm 113:9 whoās been settled in her home as the happy mother of children. It requires an extra measure of faith to trust God when Heās denied you the specifically-female experience that He Himself ordained. But God supplied that extra measure, and because He did, my husband Andy and I embraced adoption for the first time in 2004.
After one failed attempt, we were introduced to a courageous birthmom we adored. She was due on Halloween, but complications sent her into labor much sooner. I was speechless when the social worker called to announce that our baby boy had arrived ā it was my 27th birthday.
Four weeks too early and four pounds too light, Josiah experienced multiple setbacks during his first weeks of life. We knew right off that God had entrusted us with an extraordinary child, and He has gently helped us part with the idyllic vision that we brought to parenting ā one we felt we had a right to given our struggle with infertility. Itās an ongoing work thatās painful and joyful at once.
Josiah is seven now. His walk through this world will always be uphill, but like the monument the Israelites built after crossing the Jordan, Josiah is a lasting testament to Godās faithfulness.
Itās a testament Iāll never forget ā our shared birthday wonāt allow it.
It is so hard to write this short of a comment about this testimony of mine. I could fill this story in the chapters of a book {I might do just that someday ;)}, but for now, here is my little story. Oh, how I wish I could tell this to you over coffee in our living rooms! {I wish I could include the story of how the Living Proof Simulcast in 2010 played in to it.} Until WE see YOU there {Kansas City: Living Proof LIVE!} or by chance meet on this earth:
Our Schwan Man had come earlier that day and it was nothing but a God-thing, yet his world was messed up and his marriage had fallen by the wayside. We didn’t know his name yet, but we knew this: His marriage was not Christ centered {even if they were Christians} and he had filed for divorce. It didn’t look like ANYONE could ever help alter his thinking, but yet… The Holy Spirit took hold of me that December 2010 evening: ”Beloved, write this folder for Me. Fill it with these song lyrics and with My Word. Love him even though I know you don’t want to… and pray for the Schwan Man like you have never prayed before.” So, in my cozy bedroom I started what the Lord had told this 11 year old little ol’ me to do: Pray for the Schwan Man’s marriage and write him a folder full of God’s Word and the lyrics of the song ”Lead Me” by Sanctus Real. It turns out his name is John. š John would come every other Monday: Sometimes he came with good news and other times news that would make me cry. It was an incredibly painful, amazing time. The Lord answered my groans and our prayers… He HAS a beautiful wife named Jennifer and 3 wonderful boys. Our families are close friends now and this wonderful couple will be expecting a baby girl in July. Praise His name!
Be blessed, Peculiar Treasures!
In 2006 my marriage of 22 years ended in divorce even though I prayed countless pleading prayers to God to save my marriage. My heart was hemorrhaging from pain. I felt like I was standing in the rubble after a horrific tornado demolished my home. I had no idea where or how to rebuild my life. Two weeks after my divorce was final I was diagnosed with breast cancer which followed nine months of medical treatment. I had been a faithful follower of Jesus and had diligently sought His will for my life. I often prayed why God did you allow these circumstances? God didnāt answer this question. He revealed Himself to me in His most personal way. He came alive to me in Scripture by giving me a personal Word to sustain me whatever my need was at the time. He gave me the gift of a greater faith. I learned that deep pain could coexist with His joy and peace as I journeyed through grief and side effects from medical treatment. He loved me through His people, the body of Christ, as they constantly ministered to me. The answer to my question no longer mattered as I found He is all I need. Today I live with advanced breast cancer that daily reminds me to trust God. My heart is no longer hemorrhaging because my āGod heals the brokenhearted and binds up their woundsā (Ps 147:3. He has given me His Presence, His peace and His power to walk through it all. āFear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right handā (Ps 41:10).
Looking back over my life, each 20 years was a season. My springtime was filled with health, hope and happiness. Family and church poured a joyful nuturing foundation over my life resulting in an unshakable faith. Right before age 20, Tom and I were married.
During summertime, life was filled with pride, prosperity and promise. I finished nursing school, Tom was called to preach, finished seminary, and our ministry together was fruitful. Jonathan, Christi Anna and Jeremy were born. Friendships were rich, home was heaven, life was good.
Autumn began as a season of falling, floundering, and failure. My marriage fell apart; my children endured the pain of a broken home, thus, distraction, disillusionment and disintegration. Through brokenness, waivering children, illness of aging parents, I found myself regrouping, rebuilding and the redemption of a God who proved to be all He claimed to be. But, His healing sustained me, brought my prodicals home, and added the bonus and sheer delight of Michael, Keldy, Nolan, Josiah, and Zachary. Then, He trumped the bonus by calling all of my children into ministry, anointing them with passion & mission to build His kingdom.
As I enter this final season of winter, may it be one of fulfillment, fun and fruitfulness. May I be bold in my witness, a rock in faith, an encourager and a mentor. May I walk into new heights, fearlessly and obediently, anointed for service. May my borders be stretched to the ends of the earth His Kingdomās sake.
In trying to condense my testimony into 250 words, I left a “But,” that should not be there in the 3rd paragraph. Can you please take it out? Right at– But, His healing sustained me…
THANKS!
It was a dark night in the middle of a truck stop parking lot that life as I knew it stopped. A man took advantage of a young girl. In distress I fled the scene only to have my vehicle not cooperate. After hours alone in a car that struggled to fully accelerate, I finally make my way to a small Texas town. While waiting for service, I purchase a motel room to escape. I lay across the hard mattress and release the pent-up emotion of the night before. I want to die. I cry out to God. I am not sure exactly what I say, other than I no longer want to live. He will not allow this to happen. As I look back on this fuzzy memory, I think the most difficult part for me is not the horrible incident, as bad as it was, but the dark feeling that I was all alone in the world. Have you ever felt that way? Interestingly enough, to this day many years later, I do not recall much more than I share now. I do not know how I arrive to the end destination multiple states away, but I do know my mode of transportation: Jesus. Do you ever think that there are times you are being held, and you do not even know it? Like a baby who is fast asleep, dead to her surroundings. God carried me home. I am not alone. He is always with me.
My story begins April 2009. I was 9 months pregnant with my son. I was talking with my husband while he was finishing drywall when I felt the Lord drop something in my heart. I glanced at my husband and said, āFor some reason, I feel like the Lord is telling me that there is going to be something seriously wrong with our son, but he is going to live!ā My husband in shock said, āDon’t say that.ā We didn’t talk anymore about it, but I held it close to my heart.
Isaac Joseph Quist was born May 29, 2009. On November 11, 2010 at 18 months, my son was diagnosed with Leukemia. The night he was diagnosed, I stood in my living room and shouted at God that I wanted to see 1000 lives changed from this. He has. Mine being the first one. I have learned what trusting Him looks like. Believing, āHe is who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do!ā My suffering and trusting God through this trial, has led many to Him.
In March 2012, my sister was diagnosed with a brain tumor. My sister also had Leukemia as a child and SHOULD have died. During her stay in the hospital for over a month, God began answering prayers that I had as a small child. Restoration of my family. I’ve learned that there is no time limit on God answering prayers!
At sixty-one years of age, having overcome chronic illness, I have received the most marvelous miracles which definitely came from God!
Chronically ill at twenty-eight was devastating. Doctors were convinced it was in my headā¦Housewife Syndrome!
Bed-bound for four years, I fought, prayed and cried to God, but never gave up on Him or my ability to fight. Despair, panic attacks, severe pain, and infidelity by a loved one were many of the struggles this chronic illness caused.
Researching, I found I had Fibromyalgia. Then six years ago, God led us to a Christian specialist who also diagnosed me with Celiac disease.
Three years ago, a severe season of pruning by God through His grace & mercy showed my husband and me that He could rejuvenate our marriage, which was in shambles. He is now the center of our lives, and the very core of our existence! Our MIRACULOUS marriage could only have been made in Heaven!
We blindly follow Him always! We have āOvercomeā, as we recently sang in our church choir that reaches over eighteen thousand every week. In His time, God definitely answered every single prayer through many people, creating ādivine appointmentsā!
My flourishing Internet business reaches women all over the world. My testimony and my story encourage and teach them to make and sell their own floral door wreath designs.
Praying āexpand my territoryā from āThe Prayer of Jabezā every day, I canāt imagine the places God will lead me to reach others in His name.
Last year we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We didnāt do anything special, just traveled several hundred miles away and lived somewhere else for a week. It only took about 24 hours of being away from our lives as we knew them to realize that living like weād been living, doing what weād been doing was killing us. Literally killing us. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and any other kind of āālyā you can name. We realized that in many ways, we were on the hospice team; just making things comfortable until the eventual end; no heroic measures; no life-giving efforts. Thatās especially frightening when youāre in the ministry.
We came back with desperation to live differently and begged God to show us how. Two weeks later, one of the 2 other ministers on staff with my husband died of a heart attack. I have never been more haunted by my own prophetic words, āthis is killing us.ā And the transformation began. My husband got a scholarship to a year-long leadership program; weāve lost a combined total of 75 lbs.; I could go on and on about all the things that have changed and strengthened us. In a couple of months weāll celebrate another anniversary and by then my husband will be the only full time staff person left at the church we serve. A year ago there were three. The road ahead will be difficult, but not as difficult as it would have been had we not allowed God to start preparing us a year ago!
In December 2010, I resigned from my teaching job and moved to Uganda to live and work with former street children. My prayer was that God would use my time there to radically change my life. He did exactly that! About a month into my stay, just when I was feeling weighted down and broken by all the despair, poverty and pain all around me, God lead me to one little girl who had been abandoned and was living on the streets of Kampala. She was suffering from severe malnutrition, malaria and multiple physical and cognitive disabilities. I knew right away that there was something special about her and within 2 weeks of meeting her, I decided to adopt her. I was heartbroken and in love at the same time. The next months were hardā¦no running water, minimal electricity and this tiny, sick child from a really hard place who needed love more than she needed food. But we learned together. We became family.
In the middle of the adoption process, one of my good friends told me he wanted to pursue a long distance relationship with me. Marriage was something I had given up when making the decision to adopt, but it turns out God had bigger plans for me! We were married within months of my return to the US. I am so incredibly blessed to have a companion to walk through life with. God has shown me that by letting everything go and following Him, life becomes so much better. He has plans beyond our wildest expectations.
Life is short and it should be full. Iām amazed at how God makes beautiful things out of our messy, broken lives. He makes it all work when we canāt. He hears our cries and turns them into a beautiful melody.
I love this!
Faith didnāt come easy. Raised in a non-Christian family, I didnāt know about Jesus as a child. As a young teen, I struggled with mental illness. Already on the edge, I fell apart when my best friend killed herself.
My life was consumed by pain and guilt. Having been close to her, I had felt the burden of trying to save her. After three months of panic attacks and grief, I dropped out of high school and went home with the intention of suicide.
Jesus met me on my knees on my bedroom floor. I prayed, and He heard my cries. God spoke into my heart and kept me alive. Over time, He continued to draw me to Himself. I was invited to visit Christian relatives of my friend who died. They were almost strangers, but I went.
I expected to be treated with resentment, questions, and judgement. Instead, they loved me. While I was with them, I felt an inexpressible peace flood over me. They treated me like I had value. They took me to Acquire The Fire, where I learned that Jesus died to forgive me, and nothing Iād done could separate me from His love. At fifteen, I gave my life to Christ.
I am eighteen now. I still have a journey ahead. Yet I am so far from where I was. I went back and finished high school, and am headed to bible college this September for a missions program. Our God really does save!
Oh Sarah, thank you so much for sharing your story! I pray that it will speak to others just like it has spoken to me. God is GOOD!!!
Judi
The only explanation for why I am still here on earth or in any semblence of a right mind is the Lord in me. Abuse, divorce of parents, mental torment and unhealthiness, tormenting dreams, sinful choices, deep depression and fears. I don’t know why I haven’t gone crazy except for Him. I figure that if I am going to be crazy, I want to be crazy about Him, His Word, fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith. Pray for me and pray for one another, sisters, that we would be women after His own heart. If we are going to lose it anyway, why not lose our life so that we can actually gain it. The abundant life. Real living…
I have held many gods above the One True God.
I had many graven images in my life, and bowed down before them… promiscuity, seeking approval of others, trying to fill that empty void in my heart.
I have taken the Lordās name in vain, too many times.
I paid no heed to remembering the Sabbath day, to keep any day holy for that matter.
I didnāt honor my mother or my father while growing up, and even into adulthood.
I have murdered. I murdered my first child by abortion.
I have committed adultery. When I was a teenager, I began a life of promiscuity, seeking acceptance through sex. While I was married, seeking fulfillment in someone who was not my husband.
I have stolen from people. People I knew, people I didnāt know. I have stolen time, talents and treasures from God, by not giving to Him what He rightly deserves.
I have lied to and lied about neighbors, friends, and family.
I have coveted what others have. I wasnāt satisfied with my life.
I have broken all 10 commandments. Once I met Jesus, and began a personal relationship with Him, I have been able to see my wickedness and repent of these horrible lifestyles. He loves me enough to take my sin to the Cross and die for me. I love Him enough to follow Him. He gives me the strength to overcome the sinfulness in my life, and loves me in spite of that sinfulness.
My parents divorced when I was 5. I grew up in a Christian home, went to Christian school and knew about God, but never had a personal relationship with Christ.
As a teenager, I was very angry because I never really talked about my Dad leaving, and had become a pro at stuffing my emotions. I was tired of being the good girl so I started smoking, drinking, having sex, and using drugs and went from relationship to relationship. I knew it was wrong, but I wanted to feel loved. I was knee deep in debt and depression and was even having suicidal thoughts.
In 2009, I decided to attend church; thinking it would make me feel better and then I could go about my life. I felt God stirring my heart during prayer, but because of my pride I didnāt move. The pastor said someone was supposed to come forward that wasnāt. I reasoned with God, āIf they have another oneā. The message was preached, and they gave another invitation! I raised my hand, and immediately tried to put it down, but God held it up. When I walked out that day I was a new creation.
I completely divorced my former life, and was baptized. A few months later God delivered me from my smoking addiction. He also gave me an opportunity pay off my remaining debt.
God has done so much to restore what the locust have eaten in my life that I could write a book!
The Lord has asked me to share my testimony thank you for the invitation!
This year is the year of my jubilee! I grew up physically, mentally and sexually abused by family members. Due to this painful childhood since 7th grade, I had pain through out my body, muscle spasms they thought were tumors, never attended a gym class (through high school) and the pain was visible in my face. That pain was inside and out and the devil stuck holes in me over and over again with a knifeā¦UNTIL JESUS! I was saved at 11. Filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues shortly after butā¦I did not walk with Him. In 1988, I surrendered my life to Him and was on fire, in love and living my life for Jesusā¦but I did not renew my mind. In November of 2008, I got started! I drank in TBN preachers, the Word in every shape and form, served in choir and went to Haiti. My life changed. After no contact with my mother for over 20 years, I found her on Facebook, and JESUS! He has healed me! He has healed my Momās and my relationship. NOW!!! I HAVE NO PAIN! No āfibromyalgiaā. Nothing! I AM HEALED!!! Emotionally, Physically, and FULL of the love of the Lord! WHO COULD ASK FOR MORE? May these words be a blessing to someone. Know thisā¦Unforgiveness and offense are painful. Give them up! He will take them and restore you to wellness! Amen.
I am living proof of Godās covenant love for me and His unending grace to see me through a season of sickness, sorrow, loneliness, and constant dependency on Him.
Last August I was well one day and the next day was terribly sick. I spent 4 days in the hospital and then home again still sick. Dehydration, loss of appetite, and feeling as if He was taking me home to be with Him were my constant thoughts. Days and days of Drās visits, testing, showed no signs of getting well. Suddenly, through the prayers of family and friends, God gave a breakthrough to my Doctor. The result was that I was going to have to have major surgery in another city.
As I made journal entries in my notebook I poured out my heart to God begging Him to heal me, to release me from having to have surgery. Days and weeks of going from faith, then despair because I felt like He had totally left me on my own. So many times I would call out to Him āGod, where are you?ā
I am now on the other side of surgery, completely healed, and better then before! God proved Himself to me that it matters not the size of my faith. He gave me mustard seed size faith ā to prove that with God the faith is in Him not the size of my human logic of the reasons, where, and how He decides to heal me.
My life began as an unwanted child. My natural mother placed me for adoption. However, little did I know that God had a miracle in store! I was adopted by the most amazing parents and raised in the Church by the most amazing Christian role model; my mother. She was not only my role model, but my confidant and best friend. She walked the walk! When I turned 18 years of age, I remember thinking vividly, āLife was about to get GOOD! ā Little did I know what God had in store? You see, in my youthful mind, āgoodā meant a wealthy professional, living in a city, taking the world by storm!
Three short months after my 18th birthday, my mother suddenly passed away from a massive heart attack. Two months after that, my father was diagnosed with cancer and ultimately passed away 8 months later. You might think, how could it get any worse? A few years later, my 36 year old sister passed away from brain cancer; which left me completely alone (as far as family was concerned).
After the loss of my parents, I walked a bitter road for approximately 10 years. I couldnāt wrap my arms around a LOVING GOD who would allow me to walk this unbelievable path. I thought He knew me? I thought he answered prayers? Was it all a lie? A farce?
Honestly, He introduced me to the power of Beth Mooreās passion and faith. There is no doubt THEY saved me!
Thanks to everyone who is sharing! What a blessing!
An only child, I was born into the union of a Christian and an atheist. Their divorce left me shattered and vulnerable, seeking approval and acceptance in all the wrong places. My darkest years included estrangement, abandonment, and betrayal by those who were supposed to love me most, and death claimed one of the only people I had trusted. My own sin led me through promiscuity and abortion. I became a mother while still a teenager and together, my precious baby and I experienced welfare and government subsidized housing. Eventually I married but was quickly heartbroken and divorced, left shattered again. From the tear-stained carpet in my living room, a television Pastor encouraged me to ācount it all joyā (James 1:2). I reached the end of myself that day in 1999. Jesus picked me up off the floor and began the cleansing of my heart (Psalm 51:10). He calmed my spirit, tamed my tongue, turned my bitterness and un-forgiveness into love and acceptance, and He so sweetly eradicated my pain. I now live a grateful life blessed by hope in Him, with a sweet husband and precious children. Christ led me to Africa to serve orphans and gave me a ministry to continually serve them, Beautiful Feet Global Outreach (501(c)3). I am indeed living proof that Jesus redeems because I am new, a radical transformation! I am living proof that His word is alive because His spirit guides my prayers! Iām living proof that His word is active because He leads me to love, in His sweet name.
Thanks to all who have shared!!! What precious testimonies!
A child wants to know that they are loved unconditionally and loved appropriately, yet that is not the way I was loved as a child. I thought the abuse, both emotional and physical, was normal. I believed that everyone else lived in fear like I did. I didnāt know that there was another way of living until I began dating my now husband at the age of 17 years old. Through the years I have faced so many trials and tragedies that couldāve made me totally give up on God, yet I know that through all of the pain, God has a good plan for me based on Jeremiah 29:11. I had been told all of my growing up years that I would never amount to anything and that my life wouldnāt matter to anyone, yet I know that God has a bigger plan than my parents could have ever imagined for me. When I lost my grandmother to murder in 1996 by my grandfather, who then took his own life, I believed that God must have forgotten me along the way. Fear became my best friend and at times still is, which I know is not Godās plan for me. Then in 2008 I became an agoraphobic and was unable to leave my home. Once again, God stepped in and helped me to take the steps to get out of my house and become a functioning adult. I was able to finally leave my home even though I still have panic attacks at times and have such a fear of certain situations. I know that God wants the best for me and I see His mercies every day in my life.
Most of my life it seems as if I have chosen the most difficult path to getting anywhere. I have found myself at crossroads my whole entire life. At so many of those crossroads I could turn right and get there or I could turn left, go through the mountains, down the dirt road, into the mud hole, get stuck for a while and then somehow get there. After I arrive I look at the path that was the right turn and ask myself again, āwhy didnāt I just go right?ā All this leads me to say that I feel like never has a woman needed more grace and mercy then myself.
Five years ago I found myself alone with three sons. I went from a Volvo station wagon and frequent trips to the country club to sobbing in the welfare line signing up for food stamps. I canāt count the number of times I have sat with just a few cents to my name to someone paying off my childās school bill or showing up at my door with a check for $400.00 (just last Saturday). There is one explanation, my God never fails.
He never leaves me nor forsakes me. He loves me like he loves you. He created us for good works. He has established us and equipped us with everything we need to accomplish what he has called us to. Press in and never shrink back. We belong to the God of the universe.
Early 1987, I was raped and beaten to death. But God… Revived and rescued, I spent 15 years believing God had punished me and the sin was mine, so I ran far from Him. But God… Late 2005, I spiritually collapsed because I could no longer carry the load. I then began my journey to healing, to wholeness, to Him. Finally happy as a wife and mom, I was content. But God… Mid 2007, I stumbled onto notforsalecampaign.org, which described the horrors of human trafficking. I vowed to pray for the victims. But God… The Lord led me to join a ministry reaching out to local victims of sex trafficking. I wanted to minister to the ladies, and only the ladies. But God … Managing to slap on a smile when the traffickers spoke to me, I cared little for these rapists. But God… I tried to gently release my hand from one trafficker after weād closed the nightās final prayer. But God… As he clung to me and dropped to his knees weeping, I wanted shake loose and run. But God… Looking at this trafficker, this rapist, I tried to hate him. But God… Choosing to step between this sobbing man and the crowd, shielding his weakness from everyone’s view, I saw clearly the broken child crying out to his Heavenly Father and my heart overflowed with compassion for this trafficker, this rapist – this broken child. Now, my lifeās work is proclaiming āfreedom for (all) the captivesā. Only God…
I An Living Proof!
It was October 1976, I was 16 years oldā¦.finding out I was 10 weeks pregnant. Well, of course I was in love (yeah, right). The already fragile relationship with my parents was totally torn to pieces. They both agreed I should have an abortion. I could not bring myself to do it. My parents basically said – thereās no room here for you and a baby.
I married the boy. He was 19; I was 16. As you can imagine, this was not exactly a match made in heaven. We were divorced after two years. Can you imagine being divorced at 19? I was. Shamed. Worthless.
My son was born April 30, 1977. Even though at this point, I was not living for Christ, His hand was on me. BTW, my parents became crazy-in-love grandparents and were from the minute he was born.
The Lord used teachers and guidance counselors to help me with my studies and getting me school work at home. The Lord used precious neighbors to care for my son so I could work a part time job. Somehow I was able to come up with the $100 rent on the little apartment. The Lord used friends and family who gave me furniture and a crib. Never did I have to apply for welfare!!!! Can you imagine? This astounds me to this day! I was able to walk with my high school class for graduation in 1978.
After, I applied for and got my very first professional job working in Washington, DC – WITH NO COLLEGE DEGREE, EXPERIENCE OR OFFICE SKILLS. Once again, the Lord provided!! I was able to come in to the IT field just when it was starting to take off and the Lord provided me with one opportunity after another.
Fast forward to now – my son, Michael, will be 35 years old next week. He is a college graduate and very successful in the IT field.
I am an active member of my church and even served in the Youth Department for 7 years. I am now working with 5th and 6th graders in the Awana program there.
Psalm 139
7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 34:1-4
On Sept. 9th, 2010 I was told I was in congestive heart failure and a mass was found on the back side of my heart. I was scheduled for surgery on Sept. 11th. They did open heart surgery and was able to remove the entire mass. The surgeon told my husband that they almost lost me twice and that there was severe damage done to my heart from the mass. I had about a 6% chance of living and if I did make it I would not be leaving with my own heart.
My heart collapsed on Sept. 13th and I was put on a temporary heart assist device and for 7 days my heart remained flatlined. On Tues Sept 21st, the doctor started yelling down the hall for the other doctors and nurses, yaāll have to come see this. The doctor said your heart is beating! My husband and I just started praising the Lord, we were shouting and crying. Before I knew it I had a room full of doctors and nurses most of them with tears in their eyes standing in amazement!
Thurs. Sept. 30th I went HOME!! I left the hospital with my own heart. But Wait thereās a little moreā¦
You see since I was 20 yrs old I had Rhuematoid Arthritis and now I have no signs of an active disease and have been off all medications since. He touched me and I will NEVER be the same!!
Through my walk with the Lord, I have found this to be really true. It is easy to buy into Satan’s lies and believe it as truth.
He once tried to convince me to end my life as I would reach far more people through dying than I ever would through living.
I am living proof that you can lick depression and mood swings and you can do it much of the time nearly drug and therapy free.
I suffered extreme mood swings and depression for over 12 years. At one time I was on three antidepressants, a mood stabilizer and a tranquilizer all at one time. Yet, these did little to help me.
Then, a friend invited me to her neighborhood Bible study and it changed my life.
As the studies dug deeper into the Word, the better my moods became. The daily assignment type studies were the best because they helped instill in me the habit of daily quiet time.
As my moods improved,I needed less therapy until I stopped entirely. With my doctors supervision, I weaned back on my medication until I am almost drug free.
My psychiatrist calls my case “intriguing” because though my circumstances in life have not changed, I certainly have. Then he asked one day,” Betty, tell me what is your secret? I have never seen this in my practice before.”
I commented prayerfully that it was found in the person of Jesus Christ and the Word of God totally. At that instant, chills raced down my spine. Witnessing to a non-christian would have been very daunting to me earlier.
I have gone from dreading each new day to being excited each new day to see what God has in store for me to do for Him.
Saturating myself with God’s Word is very important each day. The past two weeks have brought much uncertainty into our lives. Our son has been hospitalized with a life threatening illness. At 38, he has suffered a stroke and his life right now is uncertain. We face the fact that he may need nursing home care the rest of his life. Brian is a long term survivor of a rare leukemia and he has faced many trials in his young life. My quiet time lately has been more unfocused and brief as we face the unknown. I have had to rely much on verses I have memorized and truths I have learned to carry me through.
Many verses have been favorites especially Philippians 4:13 which tells me I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Also the Psalms are great as often the psalmist begins a chapter in doubt and ends it praising God.
I am writing my first book now and I want to expose Satan’s lie through it. Will I reach more lives through my living life? With God’s help I will!!!
Oh, I pray I will have a testimony to being “proof” in the near future- right now is a time of FIRE – a refining one, I do hope- Can’t wait to hear those testimonies to our Lord’s healing and intervention
I accepted Jesus as my Savior as a child, but I donāt remember the exact date that it happened. This has really bothered me, especially when I would hear preachers say there had to be a specific point in time where you moved from death to life in Christ. I cannot remember exactly when that happened for me, creating doubts in me about my salvation. It came up again a few weeks ago, and I prayed for God to finally resolve this in my heart.
I love the Word of God. Recently, I was studying John 15: 7-8 āIf you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Fatherās glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.ā The author of the study said this means if you soak yourself in the Word of God and let it live in you, actively creating His desires in you, then you will experience answer to prayer, to the Fatherās glory. I had been seeing a lot of my prayers answered recently, so that caught my attention. Then the author said, āAnswered prayer (fruit) is the authenticating mark of the present-tense life of Christ in you.ā Immediately God reminded me of my prayer for resolution. I don’t need to know that date- I only need to know that I am God’s child, and that Christ lives in me.
I was born the baby of my family, was raised in Christ, but I am the prodigal daughter. My faith was once strong, but as my journey would have it, I fell away all too quickly, lured by our distracting culture. As a child, I prayed for God to guide my life. As an adult, I felt completely lost and alone without any real love. I spent many years being angry at God for various things, mainly because of a young broken heart. What I was not understanding was He was the only ONE capable of healing my broken nature.
When emptiness and pain, marriage and parenthood, pushed me back into a search for God, I felt hope again, but not quite faith. Finally, I remember just praying to feel faith and love like I had as a child. Reluctantly and surprisingly, my husband and I started going to a nondenominational church with our four young children. Small miracles on the road to larger ones.
Boom! God shows up! Seek and you shall find. This church was all about being PASSIONATE Jesus followers. God led us directly home. I felt the experience of having been lost and then found, death and then life.
After rediscovering the love that I thought was forever gone, now I personally know the trinity is the true source of this AMAZING LOVE! I learned the journey is ultimately about finding and knowing God’s glorious love for us; discovering that we are one family because of Jesus’ broken body made whole in Christ being raised from the dead.
Thank you GOD for all the amazing teachers, friends and my family who have by the very nature of our oneness made me whole, too. Many have died so that I may live. We were never meant to journey alone.
I grew up under the influence of three grandparents and two parents who believed wholeheartedly in God and Jesus and did not allow us to miss church or Bible study. I never felt forced to attend and enjoyed attending church every Sunday, Sunday night, and Wednesday night and every other event our church sponsored. I never felt particularly religious and never felt a deep connection to God. I knew He was there, I knew He loved me, but I never understood how much He loved me or the impact He could have in my life if I allowed Him.
After my grandmother died I felt absence in my life, her absence and His absence, but I didnāt fully understand what I was missing. I didnāt go to church, I didnāt study His Word. But I slowly, very slowly, realized what I needed. I didnāt actively search Him out, but I ābecame stillā so I could know that He was God. When He told me to move I didnāt hesitate and he put me next door to a church. It was only because of that proximity that I began attending church every week; I joined a small group and then the womenās prayer group that came from our small group. I feel God in my life as I have never felt him before. He has given me hope and a future; I praise him every day and thank him for allowing me to grow closer to Him.
At age 7 I said āthe prayer.ā At 15 I lost my virginity and continued handing out pieces of my dignity to whomever I deemed worthy of my attention. At 21 I moved to the state next-door, and two months later I was back home living with my gracious parents, pregnant and rejected.
I met and married my husband in 2003, a crazy God-story all its own. He adopted my son. Then came more kids. House. Mini-van. All things church. We were leading Bible studies, worship, people ā all the while NOT following Jesus.
I was empty and bored. So I had an affair with my husbandās closest friend who was married to one of my closest friends. In no time my heart was cold. In desperation I began reading my barely-used Bible. And over and over I heard God say, āRepent. Itās going to be okay. Iām going to cover you.ā I believed Him.
On April 23, 2009, I sat across from my husband and risked losing everything to obey God. I confessed, he left, and fifteen minutes later he was back sitting across from me. He broke the silence with these words – āItās gonnaā be okay.ā Then he stood, pulled me into his arms, and said ā GET THIS – āIām gonnaā cover you.ā We donāt talk that way in our house. It was SO Jesus.
We had both crashed, separately surrendered, and been given new hearts on the same day. We slept in the same bed that night, closer than ever. Three years later we are only more in love with each other and with Jesus – living proof of The Miraculous. Ezekiel 36:26-27.
I was blessed to have wonderful parents who raised me in the church and loved me unconditionally. As I grew up I began living a double life binging, purging, drinking and partying ā but also working, getting good grades and attending church every Sunday. Once I got married I quit the partying and took my children to church but I kept binging and purging into my late 30ās. I thought I could ācontrolā my eating disorder, even though I was not in control of anything in my life. I was invited by a friend to a prayer/bible study. So I took my bible off the bookshelf, wiped the dust off and went ā mostly to be with my friends. The Holy Spirit through the power of Godās word changed my life! I learned that not only did God love the world, He loved ME!! Not only did He send His Son to die on the cross, He sent His Son to die for ME! I always felt my eating disorder was just āmy thingā āthat I needed a new brain to be free of it. The bible also taught me that God can ātransform your mindā. If He can do that ā He can give me a new brain! One day in my laundry room (and I HATE doing laundry) I thought to myself, āI havenāt thought about eating and throwing up for several days. Wow!ā As I was folding clothes, I heard in my spirit, āIt is over, you wonāt think of it again!ā God removed bulimia from my life! I felt such an overwhelming feeling of peace – I felt HEALED after 30 plus years! God changed me, and is continuing to change me every day! I give God the glory for everything in my life! He never gave up on me even when all I was doing was going through the religious motions! Praise you Jesus!
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āAngela, the doctors recommend that you have a heart transplant.ā These are the words my parents said to me when I was 12. In a fleeting moment, I thought, āWell, I want to get married and be a mom, so this is what Iāll do.ā Over the next 24 years God has taught me how He uses the storms of life to place us in His timing, for His purpose and glory.
After my sophomore year of college, I received devastating news; I had non-Hodgkinās lymphoma caused by a specific anti-rejection medication I took for my new heart. I contracted a staph infection right before the initial round of chemo and nearly died. It is by the grace of God and thousands of prayers that I am alive.
Cancer-free, I graduated in 1998. With no job prospects close to home (St. Louis, MO) God led me to a job in Houston, TX, where I met and married my wonderful husband, Brian, in 2002. My health slowly declined for several years, till 2006 when doctors recommended that I have a second heart transplant. Confident that God had a plan, we moved forward, and I received a PERFECT new heart in October 2007.
At 12, I felt that God had created a desire within me for two things; a husband and a baby. Praise Him for His faithfulness. On April 10, 2011, my husband I met and brought home a 3 day old, healthy, beautiful baby boy, Karsten.
__________________________________________________________
In order to keep this at 250 words I could not include the following closing, but it really does belong.
I hold onto my testimony, my life, with the greatest appreciation. Through the storms in life I have learned to always find joy in Him, seek Him steadfastly, give Him all glory, and delight in His plans and timing.
You can see the testimony of my life on my blog
http://www.angelamoore.typepad.com
This post really sums it all up!
http://angelamoore.typepad.com/my_life/2011/05/first-published-piece.html
I pray you will be encouraged and blessed. Angela
When I was about 11 or12 years old God intervened in our lives again. This was an intervention that would change the course of my life for eternity. Even thoā I had accepted Jesus as a young child, the way Christianity was playing out in our home was having quite a negative impact on me spiritually. Powerless religion was not enough to keep this wounded family spiritually alive. God knew this. Something was about to happen in spite of dadās free will. My father became interested in church! I experienced church as a living, breathing, life changing ,powerful revelation of God at a camp meeting where an evangelist from Norway, was preaching. The power of God was so strong in that old canvas tent. There were many miracles and testimonies. Testimonies that moved this young girl so deeply. Testimonies of Godās power. Power to deliver. Power to save and to heal. In Those tent meetings is where my worship experience with God began. Oh it was like water being poured on a desert. God breathed something in me that satan would try to destroy over and over again but he would not win. The experience of Gods power through the Holy Spirit was indestructible!! I needed to experience Godās power in order to continue to live. I NEEDED SOMETHING THAT WAS BIGGER THAN MY DAD! Something that was bigger than the demonic. And even tho I would become quite the prodigal later in my teen and young adult life The power of God was something I never could forget. That God was real, I now knew beyond all doubt.
I would not have survived apart from that. THIS WAS PART OF GODāS PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE!! Part of His plan was to give me a future and a hope. I encourage you to Look deep into your life and look for those interventions that saved you. Look for the miracles that brought you to the Cross of CHRIST
I NEEDED HOPE! My dad continued to have free will and he continued in spite of everything to abuse. His brutality did not stop. But God had breathed new life into me. Something that would keep me till I could spiritually breathe again. Nothing in hell could separate me from this new found love. But hell would try. Worship became a very big part of my young life. I remember playing accordion, sometimes guitar in my room and singing worship songs and the power of God would fill the room as I would worship. God gave me very intimate times in His presence. I had no other intimacy. I had found someone who cared for me even tho I could not seem to receive it or believe deeply as I would have wanted to. But in worship that was not my reality. In Godās holy presence I was in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.
One day when I was baby-sitting my younger sister, while my parents were away my sister got her big toe caught in the wheel of her trike. Her toe nail was ripped off. She was in severe pain and I panicked. But I remembered from the camp meetings that God healed, I prayed for God to heal her and immediately her pain was gone. That was a miracle. That boosted this childās faith let me tell you.
As a child I often witnessed what in my young mind were murders of my mother when my father would beat her unconscious, sometimes with a cast iron frying pan. I remember being frozen in time. Not moving. There were countless times dad chose to rage in the car and we were all trapped in that nightmare. I never knew if we would come out of it alive. I never knew if my mother would survive. I tried to become invisible hoping dad wouldnāt see me in the back seat. Dad would put us in life threatening situations at times. I still have a problem feeling safe. I look forward to heaven with all the longing of a child who has never had a home. I long for the joy and peace of safety. When my father was dying it was really difficult for me because I did not know if he was ready. He had taken us kids out of his will with the reason that we had not cared about him, or for him, yet, I had tried to always be there for him. I had always loved him. Finding out that he felt neglected after how he had treated us kids, I must honestly say that I felt I would lose my mind trying to make sense of this. I never could. But I want to tell you that God gave me a very, precious gift in the form of several identical visions about 2 years ago. I saw my fathers face and his face was so different. His eyes were so full of love for me that it overwhelmed me. I saw such love in his eyes. I saw such longing in his eyes for his daughter. Such a holy longing and his eyes spoke so much of how eagerly he was waiting to see me again. How he couldnāt wait to see me. I have seen Godās completed redemption in my fathers face. I saw Jesusās love for me in Dadās eyes. And that love I have never seen in any human eyes. I know where my daddy is and he is healed and he loves me! Oh I canāt wait to see him for real. Two fathers who love me are waiting for me. Never lose hope for someone. There is always hope. There is a song we sing in worship by
Lincoln Brewster – itās called You are the One. There is one line that says All Your thoughts toward me are holy. When we sang this for the first time- in my spirit I went WOW!! That was something I had not thot about before. My heavenly Fathers thots toward me are Holy!!!
Full of love and grace
This is what God can do. To someone who was shown no mercy, my strongest spiritual gift is mercy. To someone who received no human comfort, God has given me a deep compassion for the wounded ones. My lifes work has been as a caregiver for the most part
It is amazing to look back and see the things God used to bring me to my knees. Circumstances and suffering that I would never ask for but years later I am grateful for. My story begins as a little girl, at about the age of 5. I was a cute, stubborn little thing who began being abused and that abuse continued until the age of 13. This changed the course of my life, damaged me from the core of my soul and sent me on a different path. I hid it well, but my life was full of the evidence of its destruction. As a young woman I entered college and dealt with a father who was in and out of jail, a boyfriend killed in a car accident and insecurity that ran through me. I was so miserable, cloaked in misery and shame. I eventually moved away to escape and found myself unable to outrun the truth.
I did not realize God was drawing me, that He was allowing me to come to my breaking point so that He could begin to restore all that was broken. In September of 2001 I gave my life to Jesus, I realized I could not live the way I had been a moment longer. This was just the beginning of my journey, a few months later I would meet my future husband, a Pastor. We are now church planters and I continue to be in awe of the life God had planned for me.
Jesus Christ has so blessed my.life. I was raised in a Christian Family, and at the age of five I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior from my sins. He kept me from following the wrong crowd and to stand up for right. I failed the Lord in many ways, but He never failed me. He proved to be my best friend throughout life’s trials. He was there when my fiancee died in a car accident the year I graduated from Bible college. He gave me strength to care for my husband who suffered from Lou Gehrig disease for seven years. JESUS IS ALWAYS BESIDE US, when we feel hurt and isolated. Life has purpose because Christ lives. In the last two years, He has delivered me from dangers and given me a safe place to live. We don’t need to fear the future. Christ our living Lord, is waiting for His children with His arms wide open to receive them. Only God can bring each of us through our trials in life and give each of us his perfect peace. Without Him we are nothing.