My Dear Siestas,
There is simply no time on the annual calendar more precious and profound to us in Christendom than this. I was reflecting a moment ago how rarely we could land on a day or a weekend that most of us were having the same kinds of thoughts. Even Christmas has our attentions strewn among many things but Good Friday, for all of us who follow hard after Jesus Christ, only one.
I told the Lord a little while ago that I supposed, if we really fathomed the depth of Christ’s sufferings and the heights of our redemption because of it, we surely would not be able to lift our faces from the floor. The reality is, we can’t comprehend it. But we can well sit and reflect. We can well glance back over our pasts just long enough to realize afresh what God did for us on Good Friday so many years ago. We can well plead for Him to break through all of our distractions and self absorptions and make Jesus the dearer to us. We can well ask that we would allow our circumstances to make us the nearer to Him. We can well picture every challenge in our lives, every difficulty, every loss, every sickness, every sin, every defeat, and every heartbreak as the soil beneath Christ’s Cross, left beyond choice but to move that it might be planted in the depths with a victorious thud.
“And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He nevertheless made you alive with Him, having forgiven ALL your transgressions. He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Disarming the rulers and authorities, He has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:13-15 NET
The power of the Cross has taken our disgrace and publically heaped it on our enemy.
I told Amanda yesterday that I could not think of a sweeter and more powerful way for us to observe Good Friday on this blog than to invite you to share your own story (in short form please) of your salvation. We have learned so much about one another through various journeys here but this will be the first time we’ve actually given our testimonies of salvation. When did you receive Christ as your personal Savior? How old were you and what were the circumstances leading up to your decision?
I cannot convey how much these testimonies will increase my appreciation of the power of the Cross this day. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Blessed Good Friday, my dear sisters.
Tags: Easter
I accepted the Lord Jesus when I was 12 years old.
I developed a deeper relationship with Christ when I was going through a class at church and had to write a letter to God saying that Jesus died on the cross, so that I could/because I did ______. It really personalized the crucifixion and brought me to a new level.
But nothing solidified my relationship with God more than when I looked into the eyes of my little baby girl, Emma Grace. That really sealed the deal!
Halleluia!!!
It was my 6th grade year in school. I was playing in my bedroom with a girlfriend when she made a comment. “Kimmer, you are going to hell” I was daunted to hear those words from my friend. She told me that because I didn’t have a relationship with Christ Jesus, I was going to hell. I went to a camp called SugarPine in California and accepted Christ Jesus as my personal savior.
I strengthened my walk when I was at Cal Poly State University and haven’t looked back since.
I realized “What happens in you is more important than what happens to you.”
With “Heaven Bound” blessings,
Kim Safina
I was saved in Jr. High at a Billy Graham Crusade!
I will never forget that night! Went with a youth group every night to hear him. I felt the calling one night. It was My time! I was not really from a church-going home and had been invited to church by friends from school. I went for years without my parents attending.
PTL for my salvation and for Billy Graham sacrificing his time to witness to us all!
It was a year and a half ago, during my first Bible study ever, that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I was raised Catholic and spent a great deal of time in the church from the time I was born, from baptism to confirmation. I walked away from God during my high school and college years and did not set foot again into His house in earnest until I met my husband and we were married. Four years later, I gave birth to my first son and then almost lost my life when I hemorrhaged one month after he was born. My Father protected His promise to me that day, but it took me 6 1/2 more years before I truly began to turn from myself to fully focus on Him. God used an acquaintance to nudge me to join her for Beth’s “Believing God” study and I’ve never been the same since. Praise the Lord that He faithfully stayed with me…I thank Him everyday for the blessings He has given me and the protection He affords me daily.
Janet
Married
37
Lenoir, NC
I was raised in church all my life and knew about the Lord and salvaton but never really got it until I was older and maried around the age of 22. I feared death all the time and finally couldn’t take the fear and sleepless nights any longer. I always doubted people from an early age so trusting God was tough for me. How could I trust a Holy God with my life and soul when I couldn’t even trust people I knew? I asked God please show me if He was really speaking to me, He did and I asked Jesus to save me! I believe with all my heart that I am saved but still struggle with the security issue. If anyone in blog world can testify to the same please feel free. I’m coming to terms that I need to trust in God’s power and not my own inabilities!
I was invited with a friend to view a Billy Graham movie at a local theatre. I can’t even remember the movie but knew that the HOLY SPIRIT was convicting me of my sin and my need for the SAVIOR. That was over 40+ years ago and the theme of my song is “JESUS IS GOOD, FAITHFUL, AND TRUE.” I worship and adore Him now and forever!!!
I was 32 years old when I accepted Christ as my savior. I grew up in an abusive family and held all of the trauma and abuse inside that I went through as a child. The only person that made me feel safe was my grandmother who lived 9 hours away. (the teddybear that she gave me was her substitute when I wasn’t visiting her). I held on to him and talked to that teddy my entire childhood. When I was 32 years old, I was married and had two children. My grandmother died and my safety in this world was rocked. I had a breakdown. But thanks to God, he brought many people into my life to tell me about Him and how he cared for me. My life began to slowly change. Christ totally gave me a new life. I was a new person…no longer the abused, weary child. God is so good! I now try to share my experiences to encourage others who are in abusive relationships.
i was saved as a youngster, and in fact, i cannot remember an age when i didn’t have a clear understanding of what was required for us to accept such a precious gift. my very loving and godly grandmother was the one who made sure i learned this at a very young age. however, i like to say that i became a “heart” christian much, much later. in fact, when i was at the very bottom of my proverbial barrel and sprawled on the cold floor of my life and without a notion of what could happen next. thankfully, that answer was one that i found in the prayers of desperation and cries for my pitiful life and what it had become. about two years ago, i reclaimed my rightful place, grateful to be safe in His arms and not about to let go. we are so fortunate, that God never gives up on us even when we take a hike and wander off. He’s still there, waiting for us to return like the lost sheep. Amen.
I was born into a Christian family – my dad was a pastor, so I was blessed to hear the way of salvation from early on. At around 4, I remember coming home from church with a thought that had been bothering me – what if something happened to my family and I – all of them would go to heaven and I didn’t know if I would. I asked my dad about it and he explained how I could ask Jesus to be my Saviour and I did. My parents had read “Pilgrim’s Progress” to us and I think we sang “At the Cross” that day because I remember thinking that it felt like a burden rolled off my back. At age 7, I worried that I hadn’t understood it earlier and asked my mom to let me pray again. She did that with me but reassured me that Jesus had indeed heard my prayer and I was His much loved child.
I was seven years old. My decision came at Easter interestingly enough. The message talked about the Rapture and I knew I did not want to get left behind. I prayed THE PRAYER with my Mom’s assistance shortly after hearing that message.
The most precious part for me was on the day I was Baptized. It was a cloudy, rainy day and right after I was baptized I was in the choir room changing back into dry clothes and through the stained glass window the sun shone through these beautiful stained glass windows for just a few moments. It still gives me goose bumps and I own that moment as a precious touch and affirmation from my Savior!
Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.I know that the Bible is the Word of God and that the Word of God is alive and active, because it has pierced my heart, miraculously transforming my life. Let me tell you how it has transformed my life.
Once upon a time I used to be a lost girl who was running a million miles an hour in the wrong direction. I lived my life in the fast lane. I wanted and took everything that the world had to offer. I worked in night clubs all over the country, working in the adult entertainment industry. About 5 years ago my desire to go deeper into the industry, carried me to Hollywood California. I felt as though I had finally arrived. There was such an excitement in the air. I met lots of other girls there who would fly back and forth to Las Vegas to work. I of course took the bait and headed for Las Vegas. A few wrong moves and I found myself living on the street. I began to steal to survive, and one day I stole a suitcase from some tourists who were waiting for a taxi. I casually walked away and behind an old building I began to empty the contents of the suitcase. I threw an old King James Bible onto the ground. I remember thinking how intriguing it looked, it was covered in gold lettering and designs, it really captured my attention. Over the next few months I began to read that Bible. There were so many times that I would open it directly to verses about a woman named Jezebel. I read about her acts of immorality, and it was as if I was looking into a mirror, I saw myself in those stories. I did not know it at the time but I was a child looking into a mirror (I Corinthians 13:12). The words leaped right off the page, I was really scared because I could feel anger coming from its pages. I asked everyone around me what they knew about this book, but it was as if I was all alone, my only means of communication came from inside its pages. I was not raised in church and I did not believe that God existed. The only time that I was exposed to the word was through my Grandmother, during the first 5 years of my life. One night I was walking the dark streets of Vegas and within my spirit I heard ‘Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death'(Psalm 23:4). I could not imagine why I was even thinking of this, but I know now that the word is a seed (Luke 8:11), my Grandmother planted the seed and God was causing it to grow (I Corinthians 3:6).
Within a few months I came to know my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Now 3 years later, He has done a MIGHTY work in my life. The transforming power of the word has given me a new life in Christ, I am a new creature, the old things have passed away and all things have become new ( I Corinthians 5:17). Jesus and I have come so far together, He is everything to me, I live out the verse that says her many sins are forgiven and she loved much (Luke 7:47). During the last 3 years there have been many trials, rejection and I have suffered under much persecution. Much of which comes from within my own family. But He warned us that He did not come to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34) and that sword can cut right through your family dividing Mother against daughter (Matthew 10:35). Enduring through suffering has brought me so close to my Lord and He has used the pain in such an awesome way to transform my heart and life. I see how the fellowship of His sufferings and the pain becomes the catalyst that He uses to conform you into the likeness of Christ (Philippians 3:10). It drives me to Him and His word and that in turn causes me to grow. My comfort comes from His word, and I am forever hugging it close to my heart. I know that the eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27) and those arms hold me so very tight and make me feel as though I am the most special girl in the whole world. I am 35 years old now and I am just so amazed at the fact that I am actually a college student at Liberty University. When I hear the words ‘born again’ I just smile and raise my hands to heaven to praise the God of second chances!
I was four when I accepted Jesus into my heart. My parents didn’t go to church very often when I was small – my mom had been raised Lutheran and my dad Catholic. But my mom dropped us off at Sunday School and Vacation Bible School quite regularly. I heard the Gospel through a flannelgraph story at VBS the summer of 1969. I knew I wanted to be with God in heaven, and I knew I had sinned (I hit my brother on purpose), so that night in bed I asked Jesus to be my Savior, and He has cared for me ever since.
I had been in church all of my life, from the cradle to age 40. When my husband of 20 years divorced me, I reacted badly, acting out in sinful ways for 5 years. Deep in a pit that included a very wrong rebound marriage, way too much alcohol, and my sons’ father obtaining full physical custody, I was at the bottom of my bottom. God pulled me out, but in a year I realized that I had no idea who Jesus was other than a figure from a Sunday School book. On my knees, I confessed my ignorance and asked my loving Father to show me who His Jesus is. From that moment, I have been a new woman in Christ. The miracles and blessings over the past 12 years have been beautiful and abundant. Living a life in Christ has been the real “dream come true” in this life and the one yet to come. I could not possibly ask for more, but He keeps giving it to me time and time over. How great is our God!
Love,
Fran
I was 15 years old. My parents were out and I was home alone and just watching TV. My “Nanny” called as she always did when Billy Graham was on TV. She told me to watch it and I said oh ok. We had a remote (which was rare way back then!) and I was just clicking through all 3 channels and the remote quit working on the BG crusade. I watched the crusade which was focused on youth and that is when I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was just at my parents home (to help my parents with my mom in hospice)and I now have that old clicker sitting on the table underneath our TV!
I was 9 years old when I met my mentor Katherine–my neighbor at my childhood home. Her husband ministered at a local church and they both seeped the love of Jesus. Katherine was there with me through the divorce of my parents, my mother’s attempted suicide, and all sorts of other adolescent drama, constantly pointing the way to Jesus. I gave my heart to Him when I was 13 years old and have never stopped serving Him. Katherine taught me how to pray, study the Bible, and mostly she demonstrated the love of God in her actions toward me. She is my spiritual mother and treasured friend and I thank God for her obedience to love a nine year old little girl into the Kingdom of God. 🙂
i was saved at an age where most people say, “she was old”. i grew up in a very loving home, but very empty of jesus christ. all my life i hated sundays, because we couldnt go anywhere as it was “church and family day”. went to church a couple of times with some friends when i was young, but that was it. my family never went to church. married a wonderful husband, had three beautiful children, living overseas, and did not know where i would spend eternity. Never thought of it, to tell you the truth! i had NEVER heard the gospel at this point in my life, i was 36 years old.
well, one of my friends had a bible study and asked if i wanted to go. I didnt not own a bible, didnt have one in the house. She also invited me to church, but at this point didnt go. after i started going to the bible study, i had alot of questions. also, when i did start going to church, my 12 year old son, who was born with down syndrome, also came. he had never gone to church either, and had no knowledge of jesus. He saw someone being baptized and all he could say was is “i want to do that”. so, we both excepted jesus at that time and were baptized together before leaving singapore. but it took the love of a child, before i saw jesus!!! It took my husband 5 years to come to christ, and now my oldest son, and daughter walk with the Lord. Praise him!!!!!
I’m from Texas, but I was at Bible camp in Rogers, AR. Last night of camp, thirteen years old, I could not stand one more chorus of Why Not Tonight or Just As I Am. I bawled all the way up to the front of the pavillion and then tried to talk and inhale at the same time.
The scene 2 hours later… Fifty degrees outside, me in my overalls and a swimming pool.
I went under the water freezing cold and I came up feeling more wamth than I had ever known.
Oh, and the Preacher’s name was Elvis! God can be so funny…and He never leaves the building…”Thank You verrry much”
the new blog site is nice but I really liked the last site you had. I believe it was much easier to read, had a more friendly look. thanks for always trying to make it better
oh well, my reply did not get approved. I saw that it had made it on the site on April third, while I was reading through the other stories, bummer.
Andrea Porter Montana 40’s happily married
It made it, sorry I doubted Him and you, please accept my apologies
Andrea
My “7th birthday in Christ Jesus” is coming up on April 14th, 2010. 🙂 Praise be to God, almighty ! Hallelujah !
I was 35 years old at the time [2003], and was living in NW Houston at the time; and had been “wooed by Christ” to “try out one of Miss Beth’s Bible studies, which just happened to be “Believing God” online. It was approximately 6.5 months later that I finally realized that the “what” that I knew was missing in my life was actually a “whom”; namely Christ Jesus… And, I, like many of Y’all, grew up going to church and even enjoying it. However, it was not until I chose to make the attempts to read the Bible for myself, via Bible studies by Miss Beth… And, oh, my, yes, I was “on Cloud 9” for approximately 1 week, then Satan tried to come at me; telling me that it didn’t happen, etc. But, praise God, the lady who helped answer my deep questions and chose to be available to lead me to Christ the week before had signed something special for me, to remind me that it was not a figment of my imagination…… Hallelujah !
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer O.
Southern Wisconsin
I was not raised in church. I was 28 when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I started going to church in September 2001. Everyone assumes that it was because of 9/11 that I started going. That isn’t true. My now ex-husband was arrested in March of 2001, and my children were taken from me. My mother came in from out of state for the preliminary hearing. She wanted to go to church so we opened the phone book. After she went back home there was a point in time I didn’t want to go home, and I realized that I could go to church.
I originally accepted Christ when I was 12. Unfortunately, I already had two preconceived ideas about God and what His place in my life should be. I saw a dictator on a throne setting me up to fail. The second one was that I thought that troubles were supposed to go away, also. Well,cirucmstances went from bad to worse! So, I decided that I did not need such a person in my life. I told him I didn’t want him in my life. Well, we all know that He doesn’t give up that easily. I was one confused chick. I was guilt ridden and depressed. I was in a relationship in which I ended up pregnant. When I had my daughter, I fled from that person for my life. I must have cried for 6 months straight. I remember saying something like, “I just wanted to be special to someone.”
I remember the moment it happened. I was saying good bye to my grandma & grandpa as they were going on a three week vacation. She told me to be a good girl. I told her not to worry. I was gonna spend the next three weeks getting to know my Lord. I almost had to look around to see who had said that. It was indeed me. My hunger revealed itself. I did. I spent three weeks for the first time ever, fasting, praying and basking in the awesome love of Jesus. For the first time, ever, I truly knew I was special to my Jesus. I still do know that I am special to Him. I look back at the woman I was then and can scarcely believe it was actually me.
I have waxed and waned and been through some tough stuff, but came through the other side singing the praises of my King!
I was a typical rebelious teen who wanted nothing to do w/ God. I mean nothing. I moved out on my own at 17. I lived to party. Right after I turned 18, I decided to read the dictionary for some odd reason – it wasn’t something I would normally do. In the A’s I came across the word angel. It said something to the effect “messengers of God or of satan”. The possibility that angels, God, satan, heaven, hell actually existed floored me. It made me think about eternity. If there actually WAS a God then I wanted to serve Him. I wanted to know with certainty what someone had to do to be on the heaven side. For the first time I WNTED to read the Bible. I didn’t even have a Bible but I went and got one. When I read the Bible I was amazed by the simple wisdom it shared. I was expecting fairytales and such. I quit the drugs and ungodly lifestyle and gave my life to God. God came into my life like a flood and He did a huge miracle. He took a very hardened teenager and transformed me into a godly young woman. I loved learning about what pleased God. The change He produced in me amazes me to this day. I can’t worship Him w/out pondering it again and again. Only God.
When I was 3 or 4 years old my parents divorced. My father was a very violent man and my earliest childhood memory is one of him beating my mom and the police taking him away. When I was 4 yrs. old and in preschool, I met my best friend Becky. Her parents were pastors at the local Foursquare Church. My brother and I went and when I was 6 yrs. old, I gave my heart to Jesus. I have attended that same church ever since, and I am now 37. But it was at the age of 16 that I completely surrendered my heart to the Lord, and answered His call on my life. I went on my first missions trip and it changed me completely. Christ rescued me, a very scared little girl who lived in fear and constant insecurity. My three children are growing up in the same church. I am so grateful everyday that their story will be different, that as toddlers they knew that Christ loved them, and their home was safe.
I was 24 and had been invited to go camping with some friends (Jesus freaks…as I called them then). For some reason I HAD to go..rearranged my schedule at work, etc and went. The gospel was clearly delivered in word and action that weekend. Came home to find out my mom had terminal brain cancer. These new friends were the ones who stood by my side, prayed with me, etc. It was a few weeks after that that I accepted Jesus into my heart at church, knowing it would mean a line would be drawn in my family as our beliefs would be totally different it was hard….but oh so worth it!
It was Feb 1976. I made a deal with God…..if He would help me sleep through the night, I would turn my life over to Him. (I was afraid of the dark, due to some uncles who delighted in scaring me. I was also 30 yrs old at the time and my husband who was in the Army was gone. I had two small children as well.) Well, God came through, of course and I returned to the church. I actually accepted Christ later in the year when we moved to HI and attended an Assembly of God Church. I remained in Christ for many years, 10 to be exact and then went through a divorce. I walked away from the church and from God for 15 years and wandered through the desert!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went back into the world – it was what I knew and I “needed” a man to validate me. That didn’t work out to well…….and God drew me back to Himself in July 1999. I lost my Dad shortly after returning to God. He carried me through some very rough times, but He was so gracious, loving and so very very kind. (Of course, He could be no less.) Then in Oct 1999 I lost my beloved job. He knew of course I needed to lose that job. Once again He carried me and “taught” me for five months. It has been a “wild ride” ever since. Just growing in Him and learning how to love Him and others in a whole new way.
What a God I serve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blessings,
Bible Bunny in NO MI
P.S. Hope this wasn’t to long….:)
I grew up in church until I was 11 and accepted Christ, but I never knew there was a relationship to be had. When I had children, I didn’t want them to go to hell, so starated going to church again, taking them. I went through two extremely painful marriages and divorces, made some unwise life decisions based in pain and attempts to find love and belonging and peace… and those choices only brought me more suffering. Finally, after years of praying in desperation (not belief, I only knew if God in heaven couldn’t help me, then no hope was to be found), I took my kids to a Heaven’s Gates Hell’s Flames production, and my children accepted Christ, and GOD met me right there, He was in my face, He was holding me, He answered my prayers of years ago that I had forgotten praying and He was totally faithful when I had been so unfaithful to HIM. I knew in that moment I would only live for HIM, I turned my back on sin and life has been extraordinary and has had so much joy ever since. HE has brought me through so much, and I can see Him at work even during the hard times. I have raised my three ADHD kids completely by myself for over 13 years now, and God has ONLY been good to us. He IS my all in all.
It was at Riverside Bible Camp , Story City Iowa, 1970 that the eyes of my heart were opened to the Message of the Cross. Jesus used my counselor, Joy to help me understand the Love of the Father. What a wonderous journey it’s been. I love him more deeply, and I see more than ever how much more transforming He has to do in this heart of mine! And that is a different Kind of Wonderful!
I love how you have updated your blog, girls! It is awesome!
I gave my heart to Jesus when I was nine years old … then I put my new Bible on my shelf like all the other “good” Christians I new at the time.
The Lord would woo me time and again and I would even worship Him at times … not having a clue what I was doing. I just knew that I felt a satisfaction in those times with Him like no other time.
Then a man instructed me to read the Word. His words were the beginning of a new life for me. I began a relationship with Jesus all over again, with His Word and prayer the very source of our relationship. Since that time, I have had a life experience with Him. It has been a very exciting and adventurous ride. I KNOW Him now!
Praise the Lord! So thankful for the cross, the empty tomb, and eternal promises that lead to eternal life with HIM!
Blessings,
Cheri
ps. Thank you for caring enough to let us share our story with you. I appreciate your listening hearts!
I was 15. I remember the need in my heart but not the date. My salvation meant something to me then but not like it has over the years. I am now 42. Sometimes I am not sure where one thing ends and the other begins. I know one thing, everytime something comes my way, good or bad, I see a new side of Christ and it seems like it is all new to me!!!!
I was 9 years old, my sister of 8 had just passed away. The pastor told us she had gone to heaven to be with Jesus. I really didn’t understand about Jesus, but I knew if that was were she was I wanted to be there too. I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior during bible school that summer.(Not knowing my future husband accepted Christ the same time). For years through my parents horrible divorce, and years of physical abuse afterward I continued to call upon Jesus. At age 33 he sent a lady to pray with me. She said “If God has a more abundant spiritual life for you, do you want it?” I cried yes and knelt on the floor of my living room crying to the Lord. My life has never been the same. I still believe He saved me as that little girl whom didn’t understand completely, but wanted Him deeply. I went to Him as an innocent child, needing a Savior, He came to me as a compassionate God to hold and guide me through the trials that were yet to come. I praise Him! Without Him there would be no hope. His tender mercies are still new each day.
Terri Lynn
North Carolina
50
I received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior on March 5, 2001 at the Nashville Rescue Mission Family Life Center. I had been through two periods of sexual abuse in my life–the last period was from my own father. My mom could no longer handle me or my behaviors, so she kicked me out of home a month after I turned 18. Three days after entering the mission, I gave my heart and soul to the Lord. However, it was just last year that I finally realized that He really REALLY does love me!! I am so eternally grateful for what He did on the cross. He is risen! He is risen indeed!!
Beth, my story is very simular to yours. Thank you for sharing!!! My grandparents are the ones that shared Christ with me.Grandma was a Sunday school teacher.I know she prayed always for us, you see i came from a family of 10.Disfunction and abuse!!! But God sought me out =)!!! And yes i know grandmas prayers where answered!!I am a miracle, saved by His Grace and Love.I was 25 years of age when Christ became a part of my Life and am still walking through the journey He has for me!!=)
Dear Beth,I hope you had a wonderful & blessed Easter. We had a beautiful Good Friday communion service in our church. Yes, as you said, Good Friday is a day that we reflect & try to picture as closely as our earthly minds could on what must have happened on the day our Lord was crucified. And then on Easter Sunday we rejoice because our Lord is alive & all is well with us.
Thank you so much for being my teacher Beth, your bible studies (and recently Toronto LPL) & SLI book have influenced me profoundly.I pray that God will cure me completely from all my insecurities.
Shaminder
30’s
Married
toronto,ON
I was 7 years old and my family and I were invited to church by my Aunt and Uncle. When it came time for the alter call I wanted to go forward and wanted to know why my mom wasn’t budging. She started to cry and we went forward together. It was a life changing day for my whole family that day and I will cherish it always. Thanks Uncle Tom and Aunt Sharen!
Hmmm… concise. I’ll try.
I was 15 & living in a new town. Thinking I could re-invent myself I decided that I didn’t have to be the party-er anymore. I was invited to a youth event and did NOT want to go. Ended up going anyway, all the while resistant. I sat in the back of the room at the beginning. A neighboring youth group put on a play that was on the rapture; two teens went to heaven and two were left behind. I realized if that were to happen I’d be one of the ones left behind.
Side note: My dad, (whom I barely knew because he and my mom were divorced when I was 4) had shared this message with me during a visit when I was 11, but I didn’t understand it at the time. He died a year later.
Anyway,
There was an intermission and at the end of it I went to sit in the FRONT row. For some reason I left an empty seat to my left. (I know why now, of course. The Holy Spirit was there.) 🙂 At the end of the play I desperately wanted to raise my hand, but just couldn’t. I said to God, “If you put someone next to me, I swear I’ll reach out and grab their hand.” SECONDS later one of the actresses from the play sat right next to me. I looked up stunned! Then I looked at her and grabbed her hand. She asked me if I’d like to pray and ask Jesus into my heart and I franticly nodded “Yes.” We got down on our knees and I accepted Jesus.
Afterward, I was floating! I felt like my feet were 2 feet off the ground! Like Beth says, “There’s no high like the Most High”!
I started attending a church nearby, but not much changed at first–other than the drinking. I stopped getting drunk. It was many years however, before I was to truly make progress in my walk with Jesus. But there have been many catalysts to help that happen. An engagement broken, then the meeting of my future husband-who was a bible believing Christian. Counseling, of course. And then the biggest catalyst of all: children! These were the beginning baby steps. But the thing that REALLY taught me how to have a relationship with Jesus was a bible study called “Breaking Free.” Thank you momma Beth for teaching me that what my soul longed for was attainable and how to go about knowing Jesus daily! What an adventure it has been. I love him more every day.
I want to tell you that I re-read this out loud to proof read it as best as I could, and I still get choked up and cry every time I share what God has done for & to me. He is my Hero. Man, I love him.
Thank you for listening.
Momma Beth, I love you and your precious family. Thank you for mentoring us. We daughters in Christ desperately needed to know HOW to interact with GOD. Not just know bible stories, but to learn how our DADDY speaks and interacts with us through them and through our daily lives. It has been a priceless gift to me and–even more– to my family. The chain breaks here!
Anna
I grew up going to church…walked the aisle at 9 to join the church. I wanted to be good but I didn’t want God to have any say so in my life. I had my plans and that was it. At the age of 21 my husband and I began attending a wonderful church where the gospel was clearly explained. It was there that I trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and was baptized. My husband was saved a year later. We surrendered ours lives totally to Christ and was called into mission service soon after. Christ has been faithful and led us over 18+ years of service overseas and now on a new adventure here in the US. Thankful and with a heart overflowing with God’s love and goodness this Easter!
Wonderfully said!!!
I came to know the Lord when I was 23 years old, after being a skeptic for many years. I was very proud and thought I was very good but the Lord broke me of this through a depression that really made me realize how helpless I was. Still I could not believe in God without proof. A friend challenged me to read the Bible to see if I could find proof in it. I remember thinking “God, if you really exist, you are going to prove it to me.” I started reading Matthew, and the Jesus I met in this Gospel frustrated me. He was not anything like the stereotypes I had heard. Then I started reading Job, because I remembered the basic outline of that story and wanted to know more about why God would let a man suffer. Each chapter I read made me more and more frustrated, but I kept reading because I wanted to hear God’s response to Job’s pleas. Finally in Chapter 38 God responded to Job, but it wasn’t anything like I expected. “Were you there when I made the heavens and the earth?” I knew God was speaking to me. Shortly afterward I asked Jesus to be my Savior.
After the Gospel, there is no greater story we can tell than our testimonies – I love reading these, thank you for asking us to share.
I was raised a Catholic but always knew something was missing in my life. Forty-five years later, during one of Beth’s bible studies, a sister in Christ asked me if I thought I was going to heaven. I hope so, I said, I try to follow the 10 commandments and go to church. Well, she patiently took the time to show me the Truth and on Oct. 15, 2000, I accepted Christ into my heart. I am so blessed to have a girlfriend that stepped out of her comfort zone to lead me to Christ. I still attend the Catholic church with my husband but I know I will see Jesus in heaven. PTL!!
Jesus came for me and lifted me out of my pit on Sept. 17th, 2001 ( I was 40 y.o.). Praise You LORD. That’s the day He showed me the truth about myself and begin revealing His love to me.
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. Isa. 43:10
I am in tears now as I read these beautiful testimonies!! I may be too late to submit a comment but I have to try 🙂 I grew up in a not so christian home; I think my grandmother was; she was in a wheelchair due to arthritis for as long as I knew her. The pastor would come to the house and visit her and I would watch 🙂 I think the Lord pursued me always and I was a “tough nut to crack”! My daughter in law asked me to go to church with her one Sunday in Jan. of 2001. It was a young church, only 2 years old but I knew alot of people there and the pastor. I didn’t “cry out” to God but “felt” His Prescence in my soul. That pastor baptized me in March of that year and Jesus has been my Savior ever since!! Praise Him!! Thank you Beth for this opportunity and much love to you and your family this Easter season!!!
I became a believer at age 18. God is good in that he brought me to know him as a young mother and wife. It changed the course of my life and the life of my family. Thank you God for your Son Jesus!
Deborah, CT
I LOVE reading/hearing people’s testimonies! Like many of you, I was embarrassed about my “boring” testimony (I was only three years old… but I remember it vividly). However, I began to realize that I WAS saved from a life of …drugs, immorality, illegal behavior, etc. it’s just that God rescued me BEFORE I could go down those paths. I’ve definitely had my moments of rebellion, but I am very thankful that the Holy Spirit checked me and did not allow me to continue in destructive ways. He knew my temperment and sensitive nature and was so kind to prevent me from doing too many things I might never have recovered from. I GREATLY admire those who came out of those pits, but I am convinced my own redemption is no less miraculous. My challenge is to fight against self-righteousness or legalism, but God has a way of humbling me! I have a story to encourage those with a “boring” testimony. Our pastor’s wife shared her story, which is not terribly dramatic, at a women’s event a few years ago. There was an unsaved woman there who was so moved by her peaceful demeanor that she accepted Christ. A short time later she was killed in an accident. How thankful we were to know she is with her savior now.
Wow.
There is nothing like the power of the cross and the most love-filled day of this world when Christ’s body restored the bridge to Eternity. Unfathomable love.
It was a Good Friday when my earthly father died, and for a twelve-year old girl, it seemed pretty special that God would give him the privilege to die on the same day in which He did. I had said the sinner’s prayer and asked God into my heart many times before, but it was that same year, when that Easter Sunday came, I was confirmed and took that date as the sealed day of my salvation. And Easter was never the same in a good way, as I saw my dad risen with Christ–it’s such a personal story it’s almost too sacred to give words to, but thanks be to God for that Easter, and every year since to walk in such amazing love. All because of Christ.
Blessed Day of the Risen Lord!
I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home where God and Jesus were every much a part of it as my brother and sister and I were. But when I was seven, I felt like something was missing from my life. After talking with my parents, I realized that “Jesus was knocking at the door of my heart.” (That’s the phrase we used to use.):-) So, at seven, I gave my life to Jesus, and received Him as my Lord and Savior. I’ve walked, and many times stumbled with the Lord for the past 34 years, and He grows sweeter to me every passing day. I love you so much, Jesus!!!
Jennifer Walker
Hi, Beth… doing the Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed in my church bible study, just did week 3, fell in love with you, dear one. I was saved just shy of age 16. I had been going to my Catholic church’s youth group – which was lead by born-again believers. they took us on a youth conference in Ohio, where we slept in big tents & heard all kinds of speakers & music. Mind boggling. Well, the last night they asked us to stand up & tell Jesus we loved Him. I timidly did it…. and my heart was changed. I later said the salvation prayer – over and over and over – to be sure He’d come into my heart, but I think He did when I opened up to Him the first time. It was humbling… and life changing. Now 43 years old and still learning, growing in the Lord, attending a conservative, non-denominational, evangelical church. good to be on this journey with you.
Blessings to you Beth: My salvation story happened 40 years ago this past Good Friday. I was sitting in a small church that Good Friday evening and the Pastor was preaching his message but I can’t tell you what he said. You see the Lord was speaking to my heart in such a powerful way the only thing I could hear was HIS voice calling me to repentance. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would jump right out of my chest. When the Pastor gave a salvation call I jumped up, pushed passed my shocked husband and ran to the altar where I confessed my sins to the Lord. As I was kneeling and weeping before my Lord I literally felt a physical weight lifted off my back. I have been growing in the Lord ever since. Even after 40 years I yearn to learn more and draw even closer.
I was saved at 11 years old in a revival on a Wed night. I had struggled with it hard for two nights. But on Tuesday night I could not rest so I prayed Jesus save me I want to be with You forever. On Wed. night I almost ran to meet the preacher during the invitation he asked me if I had trusted Jesus as my Savior and I said oh yes. I was baptized the next week with my 9 year old brother. A funny thing ,they had us dressed in the white baptismal clothes and I was going to be baptized first and my goofy brother not knowing the microphone was on he said Nita you look like Moses. Now I was scared and mad at him it’s a good thing I was saved or I would have insisted he be baptized first and I would have helped the preacher a little. But I have never been sorry one day for that decision it has been the one consistent thing in my life. I want to serve Him all the days of my life. Because of what He did for me I too will have a Resurrection morning. I would like to ask for you Beth and your team to pray for my family tomorrow is the anniversary of the death of my 20 year old daughter Kandance she too was saved and I will be with her again but my heart is still broken I miss her so much and I mostly just want to hold her. I remember when it first happened all I wanted to do was to die and my sweet son sat down on the floor by me and said Mom please live so from that day on that is what I am trying to do for him and my dear husband you know most of the time I know what to do with my mind during this sorrow but I don’t know what to do about my heart. I am sorry to bother you with this I guess I am just sitting here crying my eyes our and needed to tell someone. I don’t want to burden my family and friends anymore with this I am afraid they are sick of me so I just don’t talk about it to them but today I am broken I needed to talk. Please forgive me for getting off the subject but without my salvation I would not be able to survive this thing. So my salvation has been that Jesus said He would never leave me or forsake me I am His child and He collects my tears all of them. One day I will have no more pain, tears, sorrow or death Oh come Lord Jesus come soon I need a Savior. Thank you I really like to laugh and tell funny stories I have a million to tell and when I get this Month over I want to just have me some joy. Love and thanks for loving us women we are a needy bunch of hormonal women and I guess you know God put you here to have to deal with us oh where is the favor. Your faithful friend Nita Daniel
Nita, I’m so sorry for the loss of your precious daughter. I am praying for you right now.
I grew up in a Christian household, but we were all lukewarm. I strayed from faith as a teenager and in my lost-ness, (is that even a word?) I got pregnant. At age 22 I gave birth to my beautiful daughter, GraceAnne. My fling and I decided to make a go of it and got married when she was 2. We bought our first home together, moved across the country, started school for prosthetics, (him) and started taking a Dave Ramsey finance class at the local church. We had decided that our daughter should grow up knowing something about Christianity, so we would take her to Sunday school at the church we went to DR class at. She started asking me questions, (at the ripe-old age of 2.5!!), but I found myself giving her a different answer than she would get at church because of my unbelief. I was worried for her and wanted her to have some sense of security growing up–security I never really knew. So we started actually going to the sermons while she was at Sunday school and I talked to my sister-in-law ad nauseum about parts of the bible I didn’t understand or had a half-baked understanding about because of the church I attended as a child. One day I told my SIL, “Maybe I’m a jew, because I can believe all this stuff God did…but I just don’t get this Jesus thing.” She seemed a little cautious, but explained His sacrifice to me in a way no one had before–“God can’t see past our sins, so we have to sacrifice kife to say sorry and be able to talk to Him. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice so that now we can go straight to God.” It’s simple, it’s a malformed thought, it’s child-like and it was just what I needed at the time. The following Sunday I sat in service only half listening and waited for the invitation. I prayed with all my heart and said, “Lord, I don’t understand the bible. I don’t understand the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But I promise I will believe every word You spoke and will accept your gift. I trust that you open the Word to me so that I may understand it some day.” And since that moment I have been so in love with how ALIVE the Word is to me! That was 3.5 years ago and now I am so incredibly grateful for all the growth and learning. And yes, I totally buy that “Jesus thing” now…hook line and sinker 😉