Hey, Everybody! I was thinking about something early this morning that turned my thoughts toward you. I’d just been going over my memory verses and started reflecting on the whole journey of faith. The ups and downs, the twists and turns. The pain and then sometimes the dullness that scared me twice as much as the pain. Then something would happen and revival would come and back in the saddle I’d go again. His Word would jump back off the page at me and I’d feel fully alive and wonder why I’d doubted. I rewound even further back to the years that I hoped so much that this God I’d been told about was real. I needed Him so badly. I found my heart believing and I deliberately placed my faith in Him. Then I thought about a specific season through which I went from hoping He was real to knowing He was real. Don’t get me wrong. I am still challenged to faith in many other matters and always will be, because “faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen” and “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:1,6) But I seldom sit around and wonder if God exists and still speaks and still acts. Like you, I still see as in a mirror darkly and I wonder why some things happen the way they do and how it will all work out and what some things in Scripture really mean. But “I know the One I have believed in.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
We have so many new believers and even a sizable population of seekers in this community. Praise God, we do! We need to question our effectiveness the moment we don’t. So many of them would probably like to ask us how we “know” this God is real. So I ask those of you today to whom this applies to share a season in which you became convinced to the marrow of your bones that this is FOR REAL.
Think it through and be deliberate in your testimony. Please limit your story to one meaty paragraph so that we can read as many as possible. I can hardly wait. Let’s testify, girlfriends.
I’ve had a few times of KNOWING that He is FOR REAL! But, I’ll stick to one. It was several years ago when I heard those dreaded words no one ever wants to hear…..”it’s cancer”. I remember being almost numb as though I really hadn’t heard the doctor give me that news. As I drove from the doctor’s office, I remember praying and asking God to reveal Himself to me in a BIG way as I really needed Him. As odd as it may sound, I felt a tremendous peace permeate my soul knowing that I would be healed either here or with Him and I asked Him to help me shine for Him throughout whatever was to follow. Before I knew if I was going to have to have chemo, and having been silver-haired for several years by that time, I decided to ask Him that if I had to lose my hair, would He bring it back red and curly!!!! I always felt that my personality matched that of a fiery redhead! :):) Fortunately, I did not have to have chemo and now, almost a full 10 years later, I am cancer free and still trying to continue seeking Him wholeheartedly. Certainly not always easy because sometimes life just gets in the way, but it’s still a very strong desire of my heart.
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
Dearest Volleyball Ginger, I just can’t help myself…I’m just certain God already knew every hair on your gray head and prefered you that way over curly and red!!! Sounds like He healed you right when you put in the request for a new style and color. I love you Siesta and am so thankful for you.
thanks so much Yanna!!!! I began the journey to this “silver” head back in my early college days and years of coaching collegiate volleyball sure added to the totals as well! I really do love it though! You are a blessing too!
Ginger
Beth, thank you for the opportunity to testify! Eight years and 9 days ago my Mom went home to Heaven. While she was recovering from surgery she was in a rehab hospital, and all reports showed she was doing well and would soon be discharged. At the time I worked in Dallas at an overnight Christian radio ministry. The Saturday morning before she died the following Wednesday I was on my way home from work and stuck in the Dallas morning traffic. I didn’t hear an audible voice, but suddenly the Lord spoke to my spirit in an undeniable way these words: “Heaven is more real than anything you’re looking at right now. More real than the car in front of you, more real than the buildings, even the trees and sky. Heaven is more real!” Two days later my Mom’s health very suddenly and quickly deteriorated, and she finished her earthly race.
I’m blessed to have been raised in a Christian home and can’t really remember a time not knowing the Lord. I’ve always believed in Heaven, but this is one time I HAD to know, and the Lord was gracious to give me the reassurance and to even prepare my heart ahead of time. No matter what may happen in this world, I KNOW that Heaven and an eternity with our Lord and family & friends awaits us as His children! You can’t talk me out of it!
Many Blessings!
Linda
I love this!!!
Lord thank you for this!
In 2003, the day after Mother’s Day, my mom died of lung cancer at the age of 62. She lived with us during her last months while we cared for her…it was a precious but difficult time. My husband and I lost all of our parents to illness in the span of 9 years while we were trying our best to raise our family–all were sick with cancer and required our care. These were dark, hard years for our family. My sister wanted to do something nice for me to so appreciation for all she’d perceived that I shouldered during Mom’s illness and in planning her memorial service, so she gave me a gift certificate for a massage at a local day spa. I decided to redeem the gift on the very day my mom’s ashes were buried at the local cemetery…a very difficult day. I’d been reading Ephesians 6 in the morning–the Armor of God. The verses were swimming through my mind all day. When I arrived for my massage appointment, the young woman greeted me by saying how much she liked my sister, and that my sister had requested that the massage therapist provide me with her specialty–an “intuitive massage”…red flags were going off everywhere for me. I knew this was not of God, but wasn’t strong enough to say “no thank you” and leave. I kept thinking of my sister spending money she didn’t have on this gift. So I reluctantly readied myself for this special massage. She began by saying that as she works on someone, she receives “messages or intuitions” about them, and that she’d share as she worked on my back. I said nothing in response. She worked on my back and didn’t say anything for quite a few minutes, then said “this is so strange, but I’m not really getting anything here…except something about armor…are you a person who is very stoic and locked up?” At that moment, my heart felt like it exploded in my chest because I KNEW my God protects me and that He protected me in that situation! I responded that I was a Christian and that I’d been studying that day a segment of Scripture that describes God’s protection for us, his Armor. She became very quiet, then told me she was the mom of a little girl, and that she didn’t know how to teach her daughter about God…she asked me about my church. We had a nice conversation as she finished the massage, and whatever spirit world was lurking about to provide “intuitive guidance” backed off.
“Something about armor” …I love it. That is awesome!!
Hee Hee – I adored this story! El Roi is all I can say!
Love this!!
This really spoke to me today! Thank you!
This story was so great! Thanks for sharing!
Praise God!
Wow! Godbumps all over with your testimony too Lina. Guess you had a Word to share with the mom of a little girl who needed to know God. Would love to hear the little girls testimony today. 🙂 Well my mom was giving this lady a massage…hee hee the massage became the Message. Hands raised in glory to Him! (hands raised lol) What a story God’s massage is a Message, at a forever spa. hee hee I will get so much use from your testimony sharing this one if I may….
He told that intuitive “dog” to GET!”. I’m rejoicing with you!
Very encouraging! Even though you weren’t quite sure what to do–God had your back. 🙂
A few years ago I was just a few weeks out of cancer surgery when I rec’d word that my one parent had died (not expected). 10 days later the other parent died (not expected). I was already struggling with my treatments which had even caused me heart failure. Toward the end of my treatment God laid it on my heart to move to california-(not expected!)I struggled with the timing-yet I knew what God was saying so I moved. 2 weeks after moving to Ca I met the man that became my husband about 8months later. I just celebrated my 3rd wedding anniversary with this godly wonderful man. God had it all laid out, I just had to follow. During those dark days of loss and sickness I would sleep with my Bible like it was a teddy bear. Every night I would close my eyes and picture climbing up into the lap of my Abba Father and ask Him to rock me to sleep. He was faithful in doing this, and it was my Father who gave me sleep in such physical and emotional pain. He is and has always been so faithful to me. Thank you Father, I don’t deserve such love
How do I know God is real?? Well, sometimes I do wonder about Him but I know deep down in my soul He is. He seems to ALWAYS put people in my path to stretch me and help me grow. Like recently putting Cystic Fibrosis children who have had lung transplants and their families into my family’s lives. They come from all over the United States as a last resort for their children to get healthy lungs. I don’t even begin to know why He chose us and why He thought we could handle it. We know NOTHING about this horrible disease and I’m totally not equipped to meet total strangers and strike up conversation. Not only that, He has opened up our hearts towards them that they feel like family. So far, we have had happy endings with these sweet children. However, one sweet teenage girl is fighting for her life right now. I don’t understand why some go through this ordeal so easily and some struggle or possible loose their lives. I’m struggling with this but I know that God has a plan for our family to be involved, even if it’s just for a short time. Yes, it scares me to think we could get close and loose one of these precious children. Especially for the emotions my children will experience if one does not make it. All I know is to be obedient and pray. We have seen so many miracles that have only come from God throught each of these situations. I’m just thankful God has chosen us for this moment in time.
Tina, my brother had Cystic Fibrosis and I just wanted to say thank you for listening to God’s voice and responding to His call to work in this area. You are a blessing to me today!
Em
OH…THANK you for that, Emily! Another affirmation that God is definitely orchestrating this whole experience! It has been PURE JOY for us!
Growing up, everyone around me drank alcohol…often and in large quantaties. I began drinking at the age of 13 (at a family function) and continued to battle this addiction throughout my early twenties. One day when I was praying through tears of disapointment over falling again, I heard Him whisper to my soul “I created you for greater things than to struggle with this for the rest of your life”. I put my trust in Him from that moment forward, and I KNEW He was real!! He set me free and I have enjoyed that freedom from the bondage of Alcohol for the past two years. Praise God!!
Praise GOD!! PRAISE BE to our Lord JESUS! That is the truth of knowing too isn’t it – hearing HIS voice!
Thank you, Crystal, for sharing. I LOVE what God spoke to your soul. I shared that with a friend today who needed to hear it. And I have been talking to God about that too. My situation is different than yours, but I need to be set free as well, healed, and made whole. We ARE created for greated things…
Bless you in your continued freedom!
Wow Beth! Just this morning I was reflecting on my personal testimony and when I started completely putting my faith in God. I even said in my head, “I believe in God” with the hand motions. =)
That aside, I was a senior in high school and I had been through lots of pain but I had been raised in a Christian family. At that point in my life I was very angry and hurt and all I could see was hypocrisy all around me. I began to taunt those around me by saying, “I don’t think I believe in God anymore…” I carried this around for awhile and pondered what a life without God would be like. Then one day I went to my mom (who I had lost a great deal of respect for) and I asked her, “Why do you believe in God?” Her reply, “He’s always been there with me. Even as a little girl when I was raised Catholic I knew there was more and Jesus was with me.” Internally my jaw dropped because I had no reply and no argument with what she said. I then began looking around and thinking, “Can I say the same? What proof do I have?” I also shortly after that decided to let go of some of my anger and figured, if God is really always with me and always has been, then I guess I’m okay with that. This turned into, it’s okay to have “the crutch of religion” which was an open door where the God of the universe began to melt my heart and show me how many ways he had been there for me and cared for me.
My heart is so much for him now and I can’t imagine wanting to be any place but next to him and seeking him. He humbles me with his love.
I can testify that God has provided for my daughter and I over the years. He said he would not leave the widow or the fatherless. I am divorced and my ex husband took me to court right before my daughter started college to stop child support and not pay a dime for her education. He LOST the court decision. End of story? NO…he opened it back up again…and LOST AGAIN! Can you imagine my fears going through this not once but twice? Yet my God was faithful. He protected us and provided. I do not have full time work or benefits, nor do I have a nest egg or much money in the bank. I’m caring for 2 elderly parents and make a small ( very small )amount per week helping a poor soul in town with MS so I have some $$. I dont know what the future holds for me yet I do know this….. I am an heiress of a heavenly kingdom that does not spoil, perish or fade! All I ask for in life is to be more like Jesus, to be in bible studies and to apply what I learn from them. So yes, this God, MY ABBA is for REAL and I’m gonna see him someday…. Halleluia!!! Love to all the Siestas out there and Siesta Momma 🙂
You are in my prayers.
I was in college & my 5 year relationship with my highschool sweetheart had just ended. I was lost in an unknown reality. Everything I had presumed for my future was gone. Marriage? Not with him. Kids that I’d already named in my mind & foreseen with his features? Nope. All because of our sin and the fact that I couldn’t wait on God’s timing and obey His guidelines of sex within marriage. That summer, I clung to Romans 8:28. I was raised in church my whole life, memorized Scripture, and felt like I knew the Bible inside & out. But that summer, IT WAS REAL. It was life. It was breath. It was hope. It was applicable. It was meant for ME. The next fall, I ended up dating the man that I married. He is SUCH a spiritual giant & I respect him beyond words. Our children are beautiful, healthy, and just beginning their journey to knowing the One True God who is REAL. God really did work all things out for my good and for His glory. And He hasn’t stopped jumping off those pages day in and day out, being REAL in my life and applicable to every single situation I face. Thank You, Lord.
I know that I know within every fiber of my being that this God is the real deal. This sweet Lord and Saviour of ours took this broken and shame bound daughter and has brought miraculous healing and freedom. Freedom beyond what I could ever in my wildest dreams imagine. Looking back I see that the enemy intended to seek and destroy me through my abuse which then lead to many, many years of great bondage such as a troubled childhood, promicuous young adult life,divorce, addictions, you name it. As well I had much fear of women which kept me in isolation most of my life till about 3 years ago. I can say to you today through Christ alone and his intervention, years of therapy, a loving husband, a group of ladies that have been empty vessels for God to love me through, I no longer live shame bound.Praise the Lord! I can actually be in a group of women for bible study and not suffer anxiety. I can hold my head high knowing that I truly am a daughter of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords!! That my sisters, can only come from HIM who is the REAL DEAL!!!!! Praise the sweet name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus!
Hallelujah! HIS MOVING, oh it heals!
He made himself so real to me during a very dark time in my marraige. I was sitting in the front passenger seat of suburban coming home from church with my 4 kids behind me. All the sudden a discussion of where to eat turned into what a horrible mother I was, how I was such a terrible Christian, a terrible wife, and on and on it went. I just sat there not being able to move or even speak and the tears began to roll down my cheeks. I literally was frozen! All the sudden I felt a hand reach around on the right side of my arm and start patting me gently. I had no idea which child was sitting behind me and I was not about to turn around. I remember sitting there in the front seat of my suburban and feeling like Christ was sitting there with me saying “its okay darlin, its okay, I’m here with you”! I didn’t move and didn’t speak till I got home. When I got out of my car I saw that it was my oldest son that had sat behind me! Christ was never more real to me than he was that day in my car. Praise Jesus!
Beth,
My younger teenage sister was killed in a car accident when she was 17 a couple of months before her high school graduation. It nearly tore my very faithful, very Christian family upside down. It was and still is the most devastating thing we have ever endured. And I am not the parent just the sister. But, God showed up in that tragedy. So many lives were changed and so many testimonies produced for His glory. One of my sister’s very good friends even went on to seminary and is know a Professor of religion at a University. We may never know this side of heaven why He works like he did and why He took my sister when He did. But, He is faithful and brought us through it time and time again. Glorious Day!!!
Praise His glorious name! Thank you for sharing sister.
Salvation. Answered prayer. Miracles. Provision. Peace.
He is real.
I never really got along with my father. He was always yelling. I could not look him in the eye and very little love (verbal or physical) was shown to me. I hated weekends because I knew he was going to be home and there was such tension in the air. emotional abuse can be just as hurtful as physical abuse. The wounds go very deep.
Fast forward to my adult life: I am a Christian and in my mind and heart i have forgiven my dad but i have never told him. I still feel very uncomfortable when i am around him and can’t look him in the eye when we are talking.
I meet and marry my wonderful Christian husband (JD) and almost immediately it became apparent that i had issues. When JD and I would have an argument I would be “down” for days and would want to leave the marriage. JD recognized there was a problem and suggested that i needed to talk to my dad. “I couldn’t, I just couldn’t. i’d have to look him in the eye.”
We began to pray and the Holy Spirit gently persuaded me that i must confront my dad with this issue.
I decided I would talk to him the next time we were visiting my parents. This happened to be on Father’s Day. The Lord provided the perfect opportunity for us to be alone in the back yard. But I could not do it. I could not look him in the eye. I made some excuse to get away from him as quickly as possible.
About a month later, JD and i were sitting in our bedroom talking and in the middle of our conversation, maybe in the middle of a sentence, I said “I need to call my dad!” I felt like something had just “fallen” upon the room. I know now it was the Holy Spirit. It was like a “Hush, Listen to me” kind of thing.
I called my dad and told him that i loved him and forgave him. He said ” I love you too.” He had never spoken those words to me. We talked a little longer and hung up.
Those were the very last words I spoke to my father. He died about 2 weeks later at the age of 54 unexpectedly of a heart attack.
What a gracious, loving Heavenly Father I have!!! My ABBA, my perfect Father!! He let my earthly dad know the forgiveness of his daughter before he died and I was able to feel the healing between us and I have no regrets because I reconciled with my dad before his death.
This is one of the most important spiritual markers in my life. If i ever have any doubts about God, or if he is real . I can always can go back to this situation and say. ” Look what He did for me here! Surely there is a God in heaven!!!
Several years ago, as a young married couple w/ 3 small children, my husband and I were struggling financially. I was pouring my heart out to God in prayer and scripture reading for help when I heard the words “Trust Me”. It was so audible I turned around to see who was standing behind me, I even walked down the hall, so sure it was “some human voice”. No one was there, that I could see anyway. I hit my knees again this time in praise that I would trust Him and sure enough on the last day of the month, a check arrived for $1,200! Way more than enough to cover our needs. I remind myself of His voice everytime I am tempted to doubt that He knows all my needs even before I do.
My dear, sweet daddy died at the age of 46 after a battle with cancer when I was only 18 years old. It was the first week of my freshman year in college. As I lay in my bed, trying to comprehend what had happened, I distinctly heard him say, “I will be your Father now.” He has been true to that promise. He literally came and rescued me from a sin situation that I had gotten in way too deep to get out by myself. He has dropped countless opportunities for work (I’m a pianist) into my lap. He has taken care of me through a divorce. He continues to lead me down a path that draws me ever closer to him. Sometimes I still act like a stupid, wayward daughter, but He never has given up on me. I long to do His bidding more and more with each passing year.I praise Him because His mercies are, indeed, new every morning.
Shortly after our first wedding anniversary my husband told me that he wanted to kill himself. That surreal evening will live on in my memories for years to come, but it is framed by the hands of the Living God, for He SHOWED UP. As I sat in the waiting room of the hospital next to my sobbing husband, I wondered how on earth I was going to take care of everything. How would I pay for it if he had to go into the psych ward for a time? How could I face going home to an empty apartment? How would the other bills be taken care of?
I slipped into the women’s restroom and railed at God. Fist shaking at the Heavens, I told Him to make it plain if He were real. I don’t recommend this as it’s incredibly irreverent, but He saw past my disrespectfulness and into the need. The answer for taking care of all these things wasn’t on earth. It was in Him. “Random” checks from the cell phone company and the utility provider showed up in the mail. Counseling services were always covered. We had a need, it was met.
Now, He would have been no less God had He not done these things. I know that now. But I didn’t know that then. So He showed up in the way He knew I needed. He has continued to do so, especially as I watch my husband use his clinical depression in a way that brings glory to God. He is FOR REAL.
I became overwhelming aware of His realness when He provided unexplainable peace and strength in the midst of the darkest time of my life. My oldest child was diagnosed with a brainstem tumor in the fall of 2009. His presence was so heavy on my family during those “world turned upside down” days. I became fully aware of my total dependence on Him and His sovereign control over all things. He does work all things together for good for those who love Him. When everything else fades away…His love remains forever! He is the source of all my joys! He wants us to desire Him more than anything else. My faith has been tested through this trial and His presence in my life is now more fully realized!
http://byrdhouse-byrdsnest.blogspot.com/2011/03/safe-in-storm.html
I was so moved by your comment that I clicked on your blog. Such touching words & a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness & love. I will be praying for your precious little girl, Lydia, and your family.
“the proof of what is not seen,” or the ‘evidence'(Hebrews 11:1) Quite honestly, I know GOD is real because HE has healed me in so many ways but did not make me aware of it or even my need until I had moved past it. Counseling sessions revealing confirmations of things HE was telling me to do, think, act weeks before. ‘How can this be, my counselor, a book, my pastor was saying things that have already started to take root in my heart?’ Things I had never heard of. Ways I had never known to act. In essence my knowing HIM was seeing HIM after HE had walked by me. My testimony is this: Should you have no person, no book, no friend, no ANYTHING! GOD HIMSELF can and WILL heal you! HE doesn’t need those things, HE uses them, but HE is NOT dependant on them. People that don’t see will try to put a yoke of doubt on you that says,’You don’t know, you believe.’ I say, ‘you’re right, I believe that I know that I was there when it happened.’
GOD is not hard to find – Jer. 29:13 HIS Presence is felt, HE makes sure of that!
Know that the enemy will go to any length to get us to believe lies, doesn’t make them true just because he is dedicated to our destruction.
Love this!
I wrote a short blog about this very thing a week or so ago. Amazed at how my answer hit me out of the blue.
A number of years ago, I went through a “health scare” with my son who was three at the time. I remember standing in my kitchen, fear gripping at me so tightly I was sure I couldn’t draw another breath, and this thought coming to me…I better know that I know He is real or I will never make it through. Over the next months, I sought Him like I never had in my life before…my desperation for Him was obsessive! I KNEW I needed Him to be all that He said He was and more than I could imagine Him to be. Words could never describe the night I felt His presence in my bedroom in such a way that He could not have been more real to me if He had taken on flesh in that moment and crawled up on the bed with me to hold me in His arms. I couldn’t stop thanking Him… When “nature called”, I actually found myself verbally excusing myself from His presence…just in case He preferred to not come along. 🙂
THe first season for me to **know** that He is real was a very difficult decision to break out of “Egypt” in order to get to the promised land. Egypt was bondage, hell on earth – a very toxic relationship with someone I loved the MOST. Through much Christian counsel, and prayer, I had to break fellowship with this loved one, and despite the pain and heartache, the Lord has repeatedly affirmed me in scripture, especially on days I would waver. He was so faithful to me. He loved me throught that valley through so many people. He sent wise people in my path to help keep me strong. He is FOR REAL. He is so tangible. He is faithful. He is ALIVE. He is present. He is love. He is unfailing. He is unconditional.
I love how so many examples from women truly are things I have experienced. HE sees HE hears…Im telling you, fellowship can free so many confirmations from the Lord. Letting doubts open before HIM, HE will show you the truth. Don’t bottle up doubt, let it free, and watch the LORD!
Several years ago I made the horrifically terrible decision to abort a child. At the time I felt it was my only option, felt like I made the right choice and did not grieve. About 5 years later I was saved by my awesome Savior. My husband and I were attending christian counseling and part of the healing was to confess past sin. That day Jesus laid it on my heart to confess to Him and to my husband. I had a vision of Jesus taking my hand and leading me to the cross and laying the abortion and all my other sin there, he showed me that he was holding my precious child in his arms until we meet. He was so real to me that day it was as though my vision was really happening! I went through the grieving process and know that I am forgiven. There is no sin too big for Jesus!! Praise God for his mercy and grace!
You are absolutely RIGHT, Laura. There is no sin too big for Jesus. I praise Him with you, my beloved sister.
Hello…I was just wondering if there any chance of booking Beth for a Ladies Conferience in “Syracuse, NY?”
Thank You!
I know without a shadow of a doubt that my GOD IS REAL!!! In high school, I was protected in a horrific car accident and walked away from a totaled firebird with a scrape on my leg. Two years later, God healed me from infection, complications from appendicitis, in a span of 12 hours. I went from fever of 104 to normal and showing no signs of infection in 12 hours thanks to prayer and God’s healing. Those are but two examples of me knowing my GOD IS REAL!!!!
I have been a Christian since I was 7 years old, and I had always believed my faith was solid. Then four years ago, I faced a major betrayal in a close relationship that resulted in being abandoned by my closest friends… followed shortly by the death of a young family friend… followed shortly by my cousin being diagnosed with a brain disease that has changed his life forever. It was in that time of struggle and loneliness and being angry with God that I finally began to cry out to Him for help and for Him to really speak personally to me. During the final scene in Lord of the Rings, God spoke to my heart that I had to let go of my bitterness and my will to control things — that like the ring in the movie, I was clinging to something toxic that was killing me, and only God could destroy it and set me free!
It was a shift from information to revelation, and that makes all the difference. I know that God is real and I know His Word is truth because time and time again, it has set me free from believing and clinging to lies… and He continues to deliver me!
Thanks Beth for the opportunity to share just how awesome and REAL our God is . In 2002, while stationed in Hawaii, I hugged my Marine husband’s neck and kissed him goodbye for another 7 month deployment. We had found out only weeks earlier that we were expecting our first little bundle of joy a month after his return. A week and a half after his departure, I miscarried our baby with any close family members thousands of miles away. I was devastated and felt so alone. Two of my very close friends whom I was in Bible study with found out they were expecting only weeks after I miscarried. My hurt turned to anger with God as I felt it was so unfair for me to have to be around my close friends who were expecting. I had to go and have blood drawn for six weeks after the miscarriage to make sure that my body had taken care of everything and my HCG levels were dropping. It was a constant reminder for six weeks of our loss. I questioned if we would ever have children and if that was God’s will for us On my way to the hospital for the blood test that last week, I remember shouting out to God, asking Him to help me through the pain, the grieving and anger. I was driving through a tunnel to get through a mountain, and as tears streamed down my face, I came out of the tunnel to see the most brilliant rainbow I have ever seen. I felt God’s presence and a peace come over me. He helped me through that most difficult time and has blessed us with 3 precious children.
Right now. I’ve been convinced before. But. Wow. He sent my cousin with a word from Him. He humbled me. He convicted me of my sins. He made it snow on the days I had to work while I stumbled through some pain. He vindicated me from false & painful rumors. He systematically nudged people in my life to call & email at precisely the right moment with the right words. He opened my eyes to my relationships. He helped me let go of what I can’t have so I could open up to what I can have in Him. He healed a broken place in my soul. He’s restoring my marriage. And He is using my pain for His glory. All in a matter of 6 weeks. And it began exactly 3 years from the time we moved to this city. I am Believing Him to get to my Gilgal. And He is showing me how “There’s no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you, and on the clouds in his majesty.” (Deut33:26) He has shown me that, because of Jesus, I am Adored and Fought For and He protects me.
10 years ago my family was faced with literally a heart wrenching family crises. My dad had a diseased heart and was put on a list for a heart transplant. The family was told he had a year or two at best and his health at that point was so bad he could not walk across the room without being completely out of breath. When I tell you God stepped in that’s an understatement and does not even begin to cover how we were lifted up. Not only did he give us peace about the surgery he received his new heart within 6 months of the time he was put on the list.
I remember the day I got the call they were going to the hospital. I hung up the phone and stood there for what seemed 10 minutes with so much running through my head and I still thank him for taking over at that point. I got to the hospital and his preacher and the family prayed before he went to surgery. The backpack God had helped me pack with games, coloring books, books, blankets and pillows came in handy. We had 23 people in the waiting room with 8 kids 18 to 2 months. He spent less than 2 weeks in the hospital and God has given us 10 plus years. You can’t even count all the miracles just within this story and we celebrate every day as well as the actual day.
I also have a group of girlfriends that I’ve known since HS class of 71 and 5 other friends that pray for one another and I could write a book on the number of times he has answered our prayers. God shows us he is real everyday and we thank him every time we all get together.
So many things in life can lead to a broken heart. Then many feeble attempts of trying to mend it back together myself, but sometimes, I finally choose to cooperate with God and all of the great teachers that He puts in my path. Then as my heart is healing, it slowly begins to beat differently – hopefully more like His heartbeat. Then, I begin to think and react differently – as I begin to feed differently (on good solid helpings of His food – the Word of God or a really awesome break-through book like “So Long Insecurity” with blogger accompaniment group to boot? are you kidding me?? Followed by a live Beth Moore Simulcast???). Then maybe not too terribly long thereafter, I notice that I am beginning to react differently majority of the time (of course we all have those fun ladies days) – but most days, acting more like the princess, a “Daughter of the King” that I am realizing that I am? To know that the hole that was in my heart (that is how He created our hearts) is finally full of true love for Him, and to realize that He is the one and only way to fill it – Jesus! That He loves you back and is for you and has great plans for you beyond your wildest dreams! You are blessed, and have much to be thankful for! To realize the love that He has for all people and to go and do likewise (to love others and serve God)! You will know it is real, and that you are finally becoming more true blue you, but actually less of yourself! I feel a rap star coming on (OK maybe that is too wild….or is it?!?!):
“Free to be me and like what I see God making me to be and not care about who I want to be or cannot be but just to let it be God in me and really love everyone I see”
or we could save everyone a lot of aspirin and just let Superchick handle it:
to live, love, forgive, and never give up (“We Live” song). Or we could be very country and pray in our most Houston, Texan accent but very sincere at heart:
Dear God, thank you for Wanda Beth – for her being true blue about You – for her honesty and vulnerable obedience to you, Lord, and for her awesome sense of humor – and thank you that her initials are not BM (previous post that cracked me up), but WBM! Praise the Lord!!
One night, I had been dealing with someone who was stalking me. He could be heard outside my windown, and gone before the police arrived. I would sleep with the light on and my Bible in the bed with me. This particular night I woke from my sleep to the smell of fresh bread baking. I ran in the kitchen, concerned that I had lost my mind and left something cooking in the oven. But there was no bread smell in the kitchen. I went back to bed and could still smell bread baking. I went to sleep telling myself that Jesus was trying to comfort me with the smell of Sunday dinner rolls and thoughts of family. A little time later I was taking your study on the Tabernacle. While doing the homework I learned about the Bread of Presence. I was on the floor crying and praising God. In the darkest time of my life, Jesus was so close to me. He was so close, that I could literally breath Him in.
You can delete this paragraph; but to let you know. This is a very modified section of my book that comes out in April, from BorderStone Press, called A String Of Pearls. Thank you Beth, for your devotion to His word. I would have not fully understood what had happened, had you not been faithful to your call and without me taking that study. Love you, Girl!
Diane, I am so thankful your last paragraph is still in the post. I love the title of your book A String of Pearls and will look for it! If you read this and are emailing information when it hits the stores would love a notification [email protected]
TESTIFY Sisterfriends! I have SO MANY REASONS! Cancer, not cancer, infidelity, plain ole sin. One of the many ways I KNOW that I Know that He IS real includes the fact that I was able to continue living my life after the stillbirth of a baby girl. God gives me just enough, every day, all the time, to keep going. He has blessed me with faith – a gift from Him. So now when this song comes on the radio I can belt out “I’m Dearly Loved” and “I am new”. This song will prop you up and set you facing frontward:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w6YG2NZguc
Enjoy it and be blessed! Pure Scripture is always the best antidote.
I was grew up in an Athiest home, but was required to attended Christian Private school (strange I know). Long story short… my brother because a Christian when I was 15 and shared Christ with me for a year, lived like Christ around me. At 16 I got it. It clicked. For 5 years it was amazing. But at 21 I left college to take a year off and entered the real world. I was struck with reality. And all those years of doubt came back to me. I spent a year fighting for faith. Any faith. I wanted to know truth… whatever that meant. So I studied and researched every religion out there. I couldn’t deny that there was a God. Looking outside and seeing babies proved that to me. I studied every religion and every religion disappointed. I read “Case for Faith” and “Case for Christ” and while reading those I was reminded of what Christ had done in me and I couldn’t deny it. It was a turning point, a milestone where I look back on and know I will never doubt His existence again. Never. Like you said, I struggle plenty still with doubt. But not in His existence and rule over my life.
I had walked many years as a Christian, but wonder now, how real I thought God was. Fortunately, I was in a solid Bible believing church, and God faithfully instilled His word into me. When a move brought changes in every conceivable way to our lives, I stumbled, as I drifted from finding fellowship and took my eyes off the Lord. This led to a season of dabbling in things I should not, and pit dwelling. It broke the legs of (but by His grace, did not kill) my marriage. I wallowed in ‘poor-me-ville’ and depression for some time. Finally, God RESCUED me out of the slimy pit and said “That is enough of this.” He set my feet on solid ground, lifted my chin, directed me to a small group doing Breaking Free, then Believing God…and I never looked back. 7 years later, I am still believing God for total healing and restoration of my marriage. The test of time. I did a lot of damage, causing my husband to drift from his walk, and he is still wary of trusting me. As embarassing as it all was, He has used it to minister to others. “Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me.” (Ps.66:16) He is real, and He is good.
Beth this is such a lovely way for us to share, thanks for this post!
I have been very blessed and have had several moments of knowing God is real, but the one the Holy Spirit put on my heart to share is this: I was doing a Christian based weight loss program at my church and listening to other people’s testimonies about their struggles. One lady was quitting smoking, drinking alcohol and food additions all at once. I said to God ” well at least I’m not addicted to any kind of drug!” and He very quickly spoke to my spirit with the reminder that the caffeine addiction I had to Mountain Dew was just as much of a drug! At that moment I was so convicted that I threw out that glass of Mt. Dew and haven’t drank one since. But what happened two days later was the even more remarkable thing. I was in a dead end job, and had been praying for a way out for a long time. Out of the blue I got a call from another competitor company wanting to interview me for a position I knew nothing about. Long story short, that was the best job I ever had, with great hours, great pay and the best boss ever! God knew my needs and wanted to answer my prayers, but He also wanted my heart to be right with Him. When I obeyed He responded in an amazing way!
I too was raised in a loving Christian family and have never not believed in God…accepted Jesus at a young age and been saved a long time… and so very thankful! There are many instances I could share where I have known without a doubt that God is real. Two of them have to do with His protection of my daughters. First when our middle daughter was about 11 we were at the beach on vacation…we allowed the older children including Sarah to go to the beach alone while we were in the condo. When they got back our 14 year old told us that Sarah had almost drowned. She had gotten caught in the undertow and had fought and fought and basically given up when her 14 year old sister “happened” to get up from sunbathing and look out into the water… she could barely see the strap on Sarah’s swimsuit. Being a strong swimmer she swam out and brought her sister to safety. Then the week after our oldest graduated from high school. She was on the way home from a trip 2 hours away with some friends. She was scheduled to be back at her friends house around midnight and call me. Midnight passed, 1am passed… I am now of course wide awake and up praying and reading my bible, claiming Psalm 91:11 “For He will give His angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways..” I finally got a call around 3am from her friends father.. that they had been in a wreck and were at a hospital about 30 minutes from home. There were so many miracles that happened that night that we learned of… first, she had been laying down asleep on the back seat with no seat belt on and minutes before the wreck she woke up, sat up and put her seat belt on. Second, the wreck happened in the middle of the night.. in the middle of nowhere…the car had flipped upside down in a ditch. There “happened” to be some men in a truck traveling in the direction of where they were looking for some of their family. They almost turned around about a mile from the wreck but one of them said.. let’s go just a little further…they saw the lights on the wrecked car and probably saved Sydney’s life…her leg was cut very back(160 stitches) so she would have bled to death had they not arrived. Then the closest hospital is in a very small town and they dont always have a doctor in the ER…but they did this night!! Our God is REAL and He loves us with an everlasting love.. Praise Him!!
Going thru your Daniel study has been such an encouragement to me. I LOVE that not only do we live by faith but there is fact to go along with it! My faith has grown leaps and bounds to see all those prophecies already fulfilled!!! LOVED IT!!! I just think that after going thru that study and seeing all those already fulfilled prophecies – how could anyone not KNOW this is the truth!
The “Knowing” came to me the day I realized that I had been made new. Truly new. I know the transition happened over time, but one day I simply realized I no longer had the thoughts and desires of my old self. My heart and mind had been transformed by the one who created me. What had once been just a restless spirit and a desire to change, my heavenly Father took, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, breathed new life into a daughter that He loved. Thank you, Jesus for wanting me!!!
If my life had been smooth sailing with no real major issues, I don’t think I would have really gotten to KNOW God. I have always been to church, and a believer. BUT to really know, know God- well that came through the mistakes I made so that I could see His Grace. The heartbreak so that I could feel His Love. That this world is not a Just place, but we worship a Just God.
Oh, I know MY GOD is real because HE did a miracle in my life that I LOVE to sharing….
After marrying the love of my life, we were delighted to welcome our baby girl into our home just a few years later. My life was going perfectly. Graduated college, got married, bought a house, and had a beautiful little girl! When my baby was just 4 months old, I was shocked and upset to find myself staring at a positive pregnancy test. I was NOT ready for another baby! I had barely gotten adjusted to life with my 4 month old. Sure, I had wanted other children, but that was to come WAY down the road. I cried ALOT about it, and felt God had given me too much to handle. My husband was delighted, but he of course would still be going to work each day while I sat at home with TWO babies. I was angry about having to be pregnant again and how uncomfortable I would be. Several weeks later, I sat at my doctor’s office in complete shock when he informed me that I had lost my baby. I could barely walk out of the clinic. Guilt completely took over me! In some weird way, I thought I might have wished this to happen. My husband cried, and I felt like it was ALL MY FAULT! How could I have been so careless with a precious gift from God? One night, before I was scheduled to have a DNC, I got up in the middle of the night and went into the den where I got down on my knees and cried out to God. I confessed my sin of being so self centered, and I asked Him to bring a miracle into my life. I actually asked God to put that baby back inside of me and allow me to carry it full term. I said I knew that He didn’t usually bring people back from the dead anymore, but I wanted to say aloud to Him what my deepest desire was. The next day, my doctor called off the DNC because he found a healthy baby with a healthy heartbeat on the ultrasound screen. Praise the Lord was all I could say! I carried that baby boy to 37 weeks and enjoyed every second of it. I even found myself staying positive during the 22 hours of labor with no pain medicine 🙂 Robbie is now almost 3 years old, and as I type this I am sitting on my back porch watching him pick “flowers” (really just weeds) for me! And I am savoring EVERY second of it. Before he goes to bed, I whisper in his ear the same thing every night. I say, “Remember Robbie…No girl will ever love you like your momma!” The way he giggles when I tell him this could absolutely make my heart explode!! His life has shown me how to live a life focused on God, the things of God, the people who need to hear of God, and the blessings that can only come from God. We have had more children and now have a house full! When we are given things that are better than we could have dreamed for ourselves, we are reminded that our God is REAL!!
What an encouragement to read this testimony!! 🙂
I knew and continue to know that God is real because I am a completely different person. Being changed from the inside out…those are not just words….that is a true statement if ever there was one. AND since the day I commited to following Christ (about 11 years ago)….He has not let me let go of HIM. I mean, not a day goes by that I am not committed.. So (1) total change/transformation/not the same person……and I wasn’t capable of that kind of miracle (no way). (2) commitment…… that in and of itself is a miracle. YES – God sends His spirit to nudge me and convict me….more indication to me that He is who He says He is. For me, it doesn’t get more real than that.
Hey, I’m not late today. ha-ha ;0)
Several yrs ago I went through a rough, and I do mean rough time, and like an idot, I said out loud ‘I need real help,something and someone I can touch.’ not church stuff. Maaaan have I regreted saying that.
I know and knew that God was real and all that stuff we are taught from birth in our little Sunday school classes.
I thought my ‘real help with something and someone I could touch’ fixed this rough problem….until it came back.
I reached out to Him, and He showed me His ‘real’ help, He shown me, He touched me. Oh I was saved all though that mess, but I had not really grown in many many yrs. just coasting thru, going through the motion of going to church. some of y’all know the drill.
Now, here we are, I pray daily for Him to be the one true thing that drives me, that delights me, that He will give me an acute hunger, and acute thirst, and an acute desire for Him. BAM! My ‘real’ help. Oh He is really there alright.
sometimes I gotta be stupid to get smart.
I KNOW God is my father and that he is who he is for many reason but one reason that stands above the others is that I have heard him speak to me. Audibly! So clearly that I recall turning around to see who was speaking to me. He spoke to me in a loving but reprimanding tone of a father. I was involved in a very toxic relationship with someone involved in a religion based on false teachings. I was on the edge of a very steep cliff. I was driving a beautiful vehicle- one so dear to me because my father and I had worked on it together. The car crash was sudden and BAD! When I gained consciousness I audibly heard God say to me- “get out, get out NOW!” At the time, I knew it was God and that he was not speaking of the car but of the relationship. That accident was my warning- all the medical personell at the scene were amazed that I was not hurt. I think of his voice often and know that my God is real and loving enough to correct me.
You know Beth this is a wonderful challenge you have set before me. It has really caused me to think and reflect on the goodness of our Lord and Savior. I should do this more often. He is real! Oh how I love Him! My testimony is that I am here and victory is mine. After the death of my mother and father and being sued by family for my inheritance my dream came true and I became a teacher. It was then that I personally learned about abuse in the workplace (it happens more then we think.) I left at God’s command (4 years ago) and I am still unemployed. Just yesterday I received yet another job rejection but the good news is I am at peace. God is real and He has healed me and delivered me. I am here to say I don’t hurt anymore and with all of my heart I want to serve and adore my Perfect Master. To God be the glory for the great things He has done. Bless your name forever Jesus!
In March 2009, our only son had a massive stroke and was on life support. On the day we were to remove the life support our daughter saw her Aunt who had passed away 3 years earlier standing over our son, caressing his forhead. We knew at that moment our God lives..Our God saves. You see, Bob was 43 years old and was plagued with self hatred and addictions. He feared that God wouldn’t forgive his sins..
I grew up in a Jesus-loving, Bible-believing family, but like most people often wrestled with wondering whether or not God was really REAL or if I was just going along with what I had been raised to believe. For years I settled for the LOGIC that there had to be a God because I can see Him all over creation. But last year as our family was contemplating going into full-time, long-term ministry overseas, LOGIC wasn’t enough anymore. I had to know that I knew God was real and that He was leading us – without that last tiny bit of doubt that logic left lingering. God graciously showed me I couldn’t believe based on LOGIC. I just had to know that I believed… that I had the gift of faith and I had experienced God so many times and that I already knew He was real. I rejected my belief based on LOGIC and embraced my belief based on FAITH and have walked (into the calling as a missionary!) in freedom without that little nagging bit of doubt ever since. Hallelujah!!! : )
“a hopeless case, an empty place, if not for grace.” That’s how I know he is REAL.
I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was a small child when I was watching a Billy Graham conference. However, I neglected to give Him Lordship over my life as I got older and found myself down some dark, difficult paths resulting in sin and a big wall between God and myself. One night as I checked on my sleeping daughter of about 4 yrs old I felt deep sadness that I was once innocent and sweet like this child before me and I had fallen so far of the path I didn’t think I could ever get back on. Just then I heard in my mind and my heart a voice so clear that said -“I still see you as an innocent little girl. I have big plans for you. You need to stop sinning (I was in the middle of a whooper!). It is time to choose – it’s either Me or the life you now live”.
I choose God. I did not know then how good, loving, generous, and powerful He was like I do today. I just trusted and knew that where I had been was not where I wanted to stay. My life has been restored beyond my imagination. He has done so much with me in the last few years I can not even recognize the person I used to be.
He has helped me forgive, helped me truly love difficult people, blessed me with strong Christian friends, brought me to Beth Moore, gave me a dog, helped me to raise children that love Him, gave me a job that works well with our families needs, showed me areas that I could help using my gifts and talents, counsels me gently and for my good, and has given me a peace and joy that I can not explain.
As a child I thought Jesus was my ticket to Heaven and away from Hell. He is so much more! Thank you, Jesus!
You know it’s real when you see someone accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior — and it changes her from the inside out!! Our friend, Vickie, gave her life to Jesus on March 5, then came to our small group to announce it with such joy and passion, that we all cried! We went out shopping for her first Bible, and she just couldn’t stop talking about how she “GETS IT” now! Everything we’re reading in the Bible (our church is reading through the Bible this year) suddenly makes sense to her! To watch her joy in the Lord is unmistakable evidence that THIS IS REAL! I’m so thankful that God changes lives!!
Pat in Olathe, KS