I Love hearing a Testimony!

[Glory]

Revelation 12:11 * And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

We all have a testimony of how our blind eyes were opened. I believe that by sharing our testimony, it not only brings glory to the Lord, but it also could be read by unbelievers who stop into the RR Forum.

I also believe by sharing your story, it brings the Body even closer together. Sometimes we tend to forget that some are baby christians, and some perhaps suffered an extremely difficult life... enduring much pain, and thus we may be too quick to judge or use harsh words against someone who offends us.

So please share, how did you come to know the Lord Jesus Christ?

[lostsheep]

My journey is one of many twists and turns. Just recently I have been studying the sovereignty of God and his “elect”. This study has changed my entire perspective of how a person becomes “saved”. And I believe that my story reflects the fact that I am one of his “chosen” people. He new me before I was even born! He chose me first, while I was dead in my sins. I believe this is the reason why I have always felt like his child. In fact I could not give you a date or time that I have had a “life changing” experience from some “sinner’s prayer” that I said. I do believe people have these experiences but I never have. God drew me closer and closer to him a little at a time.
So my belief now is that those of us who are the elect are, were and will always be, his children. I believe that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we do this because of the drawing of the Holy Spirit which God placed inside of us. I believe that it is not some special prayer we say to God that saves us. What if we said it wrong or didn’t use the right words? How do we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart? How does one come to this place of TRUE belief? I’ll tell you, God put it there FIRST!!!
I believe that we are “awakened” in a moment of clarity somewhere in our lives as to who Jesus really is. Life experiences lead us to recognize our sinfulness and selfishness which causes us to be broken in his presence. We realize that we fall so short of the glory of God. We realize that we will never be good enough. We realize our total dependence and our need to be forgiven and “saved”. This is only done through the blood of the Lamb on the cross. Jesus died for me. He felt the pain of my sin on that cross. He paid my debt once and for all. I am forgiven because He calls me his child. I am forgiven because God chose me in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4). I am forgiven because it pleased God to do so. I love him. I TRULY love him, because he first loved me!
I believe in Jesus because he has shown himself to me. His spirit that dwells inside of me has always been there, talking to me, and teaching me. However I have not always listened to him. In fact I believe that he let me “do my own thing” for a time to teach me the things he wanted me to learn. I believe that my father dieing when I was six months old was in his plan. I believe that having an abusive step father was in his plan. I believe the miscarriage of one of my children was in his plan. I believe that ALL of my paths have been directed by him to lead me to where he has me today.
Today I thank God for taking my father when I was a boy. I thank him for my step dad who taught me so very well how NOT to treat my wife and my children. I love them so much in part because of what my step dad did. I thank God for taking one of our little ones, my wife’s parents came to know Jesus because of what they saw in us during that time. I thank God that he has given me three sons. I get to be the father I never had! I thank God for his word that says he is a Father to the fatherless.
So here I am today 3 years removed from drug use. Jesus is now my daily “high”. He has placed me in a job at an automotive repair technical school that involves being around young adults who have a past just like mine, but they have never heard of this saving grace that we know of. I have a voice at work because I can relate. People listen to me when I talk because I am a teacher and I am very knowledgeable in my area of the field. God has given me a special talent for fixing cars and I believe this talent was given to me so that people would respect me when I talk and they will listen to me when I speak about him. Especially when I share my past with them and tell them what Jesus has done for me!!
In conclusion I want to do, above all, what is good and pleasing to him in everything that I do. In all that I say, in all that I speak, in all that I think. I want to share with the world how much Jesus loves us! I want to hear these words “well done my good and faithful servant”. I want to be with Jesus forever!
Thank you God for your great love for us, that you made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our sins. Thank you that it is by grace we have been saved.




P.S. To my brothers and sisters on this network. I wanted to let you all know that regardless of your view of election, whether you agree with me or not, does not change my love for each and every one of you.
I still believe man is responsable for his actions. Somewhere in this doctrin is some sort of paradox and I'll admit I do not fully understand it all.
Finally I do not think that God caused my step father to abuse me, but he sure made it right. Some how, it was exactly what I needed to make me who I am today. Again, another paradox.
As far as my dad dying when he did at the young age of 27. Was this Gods plan? In this case I think it was. My half brother and sister would NOT exist today had my father lived. I love them so much! So again, thank you Jesus for taking my father when you did.

[Glory]

Lostsheep, I do believe He begins drawing us to Him from the beginning of our lives. He reveals Himself to us from the very beginning. But it takes that very moment of realizing exactly WHY The Word was made flesh. Why He died on a cross. Realizing that He paid the price for our many sins.

I don't believe either that a "sinners prayer" is what saves us. Repenting means, turning around. Making an about face, to follow Him.

I LOVE your testimony. It so touched my heart. Hallelujah for how He has worked in your life!! Yes, He uses the good and the bad to work in us. To break us, shape us, and mold us into His image. That work in us continues until the moment we take our final breath.

Thank you Lostsheep, for sharing your story with us.

[Jesse]

My testimony can be viewed through the following link: http://members.tripod.com/jdlarsenmn/testimony.htm

[Brokenjar]

I hope GOD can use this. I have never shared this much before, mostly out of fear and shame. I think it will explain a lot about why I am brokenjar. Here’s my story about how He took hold of me.
I was born to life on a farm. My parents, my aunts and uncles were all together and my grandfather was the center of it all. In the beginning, like the rest, my life flowed around him and I enjoyed his light. But then cancer stole that life away and the glue was gone. His children went separate ways, the farm was sold, and the glue for my parent’s marriage went with him as well. War. Both my mom and my dad remarried. My step father was an angry man and nothing never seemed to be enough for him. My father was too busy and in his new family my brother and I had to deal with lies and humiliation from his new wife and kids. More war and prisoners of war. I grew up searching. My step father had his stack of porn and it seemed to be a life line to me, a lonely boy with no close friends or place in the world. Oh how I was wrong. It led me to molest someone and it went on for a couple of years. I graduated and went to college, empty and mentally broken. I was so sure at times that I alone existed or that everyone could read my mind. Someone asked me about myself and I remember saying I felt like a red ball that is pretty on the outside but empty and dark on the inside. Kind of freaked him out. GOD had plans for that broken thing and a couple of guys came to my room and shared Christ with me and I prayed. Summer came and I decided that my decision was nonsense and drew away from the Christian crowd. I got a job casting aluminum for the summer. One day it was very hot, I was running three molds and I started getting sick and realized that all it took was me to faint and part of me would be in that big pot of molten aluminum. It was then that GOD came to me and told me that I wasn’t in a good place and I agreed. The next thing I knew, one mold malfunctioned and froze solid and the controller on the second shorted out. I was down to one mold, and I was on fire. I an opportunity to molest that person again but GOD said “It’s time to end”, and GOD took the madness away. I returned to college on fire. Years went by, I graduated, entered the Navy and then returned home. The fire still burned but shame and Satan was beating me up all the time over sin and the evil I had done. I was so sure that I was worthless and useless, especially to GOD. But GOD had other plans. He brought a woman from an abusive marriage into my life. He said, “I want you to love and cherish her and be a father to her daughters.” You have no idea what that meant to me…I tear up just thinking about it. I have continued to grow, but porn was still dogging me. I climbed the ladder at my new job, but within a couple of years my stepfather died, a daughter was gang raped, my son was born, my brother committed suicide, and 911. I topped it off with looking at porn and lost my job. I was so sure that was the end, but again GOD had other plans. He showed my mercy and love through my wife, and within a short time gave me a better job than I ever had before with a raise! God took my fall and made it into something good, put my kids out of a bad school environment, and gave my wife the opportunity to start school for Nursing. 2 Corinthians 4:6,7 “For GOD, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from GOD and not from us…” I am a broken jar, but GOD chose me to show His glory. It is my prayer and hope that He shines through all the cracks and holes in me. I now burn with a desire for my home with Christ and leave this world and its things behind. GOD is my life, my savior, my redeemer, my healer, my hope, my joy, and my song. Now my story is in His hands. I pray that He is glorified by it.

Blessed be the name of the LORD.

[yeshua'sbride]

I hope GOD can use this. I have never shared this much before, mostly out of fear and shame. I think it will explain a lot about why I am brokenjar. Here’s my story about how He took hold of me.
I was born to life on a farm. My parents, my aunts and uncles were all together and my grandfather was the center of it all. In the beginning, like the rest, my life flowed around him and I enjoyed his light. But then cancer stole that life away and the glue was gone. His children went separate ways, the farm was sold, and the glue for my parent’s marriage went with him as well. War. Both my mom and my dad remarried. My step father was an angry man and nothing never seemed to be enough for him. My father was too busy and in his new family my brother and I had to deal with lies and humiliation from his new wife and kids. More war and prisoners of war. I grew up searching. My step father had his stack of porn and it seemed to be a life line to me, a lonely boy with no close friends or place in the world. Oh how I was wrong. It led me to molest someone and it went on for a couple of years. I graduated and went to college, empty and mentally broken. I was so sure at times that I alone existed or that everyone could read my mind. Someone asked me about myself and I remember saying I felt like a red ball that is pretty on the outside but empty and dark on the inside. Kind of freaked him out. GOD had plans for that broken thing and a couple of guys came to my room and shared Christ with me and I prayed. Summer came and I decided that my decision was nonsense and drew away from the Christian crowd. I got a job casting aluminum for the summer. One day it was very hot, I was running three molds and I started getting sick and realized that all it took was me to faint and part of me would be in that big pot of molten aluminum. It was then that GOD came to me and told me that I wasn’t in a good place and I agreed. The next thing I knew, one mold malfunctioned and froze solid and the controller on the second shorted out. I was down to one mold, and I was on fire. I an opportunity to molest that person again but GOD said “It’s time to end”, and GOD took the madness away. I returned to college on fire. Years went by, I graduated, entered the Navy and then returned home. The fire still burned but shame and Satan was beating me up all the time over sin and the evil I had done. I was so sure that I was worthless and useless, especially to GOD. But GOD had other plans. He brought a woman from an abusive marriage into my life. He said, “I want you to love and cherish her and be a father to her daughters.” You have no idea what that meant to me…I tear up just thinking about it. I have continued to grow, but porn was still dogging me. I climbed the ladder at my new job, but within a couple of years my stepfather died, a daughter was gang raped, my son was born, my brother committed suicide, and 911. I topped it off with looking at porn and lost my job. I was so sure that was the end, but again GOD had other plans. He showed my mercy and love through my wife, and within a short time gave me a better job than I ever had before with a raise! 2 Corinthians 4:6,7 “For GOD, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from GOD and not from us…” I am a broken jar, but GOD chose me to show His glory. It is my prayer and hope that He shines through all the cracks and holes in me. I now burn with a desire for my home with Christ and leave this world and its things behind. GOD is my life, my savior, my redeemer, my healer, my hope, my joy, and my song. Now my story is in His hands. I pray that He is glorified by it.

Blessed be the name of the LORD.

Bless you for sharing that, Brokenjar. The love and gratitude you have for our dear Savior is so evident from your post. Praying with you that He is glorified by it.

[Glory]

Brokenjar, the Lord uses every testimony. There is someone out there (many someones) who needs to hear or read your testimony! Someone who THINKS that nobody will understand (but YOU WILL!). Your testimony can help to change a life! It will bring them hope! Hope that the Lord will forgive, heal, deliver, restore, and save them!

I know it must have been difficult sharing your story. Thank you! God bless you brother. And may God continue to use you, and your testimony, to bring glory to Him.

[Glory]

My testimony can be viewed through the following link: http://members.tripod.com/jdlarsenmn/testimony.htm

Jesse, I love your testimony. Praise God! I am quite familiar with the music you once listened to. I have 2 son's who also listened to those same groups. I just posted on another thread under "Anything Goes" about MUSIC. Then I read your testimony here! Coincidence? I don't think so.

How I praise God for the work He has done within you! And will continue it until He calls you Home.

I love the scriptures you ended your testimony with:

"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Jesus, from Mark 2:17).

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (The apostle Paul, from 1 Timothy 1:15).

Hallelujah to the Lord!

Thank you Jesse for sharing your testimony with us! God bless you!

[lostsheep]

Brokenjar. Thank you for sharing. I know it was not easy. I just wanted to share a verse with you.
Romans 8:28
[ More Than Conquerors ] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Also remember this one.
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west,So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

God bless you my brother.

[Brokenjar]

Good testimony Jesse

[Just Ron]

I didn't realize how hard it is to write your own testimony. The past 45 mintues has been really torturous.

I know that I do have a testimony of how Jesus Christ has changed my life.

I know that there was a time that I didn't have no interest in Jesus Christ or what He had done on Calvary. No spiritual interest of any kind.

I also know that there was a time that I suddenly had taken hold of Jesus Christ and since then, He is continously changing my perspectives, my views of Him and my life.

I came out of a life of homosexuality and sexual abuse and of sexual addiction. No fun. It's not an "alternate lifestyle". It's death, physically, emotionally and especially, spiritually.

I wish I could say that I got totally out of that life after I came to Christ. But I didn't, because my committment toward Him was very feable, wishy-washy, double-minded. I didn't trust Him to meet my needs, to fill that hole in my heart.

But in the last several years, He allowed me to see that the life I was in, the gay lifestyle ,will not nor ever fill that hole. Only He can fill that hole for He is the One who created my heart. He knows my needs and knows how to fill those needs.

My relationship with Christ is ever changing. I pray that it becomes closer and closer.

[homesick9748]

I praise God for your miracle, Ron.

[Metania1]

Firstly, let me say that this is not easy for me to do even sitting behind a computer screen. Lost Sheep I really enjoyed reading your testimony and can honestly say it touched me and even prompted me to write this. My father died when I was 5 years old. He was sick and was diagnosed with kidney failure. He would often go to the hospital where he would receive his dialysis. One month during his treatment he was gone for a significant portion of time. I remember wanting to so desperately see him in the hospital so I pestered my mom to go visit him. My mom finally gave in and when I got to the hospital the nurse said, “sorry honey we don’t allow children your age where your daddy is.” About a week or so later he had died in the hospital. At the age of 5 your job as a kid is to try to put the world around you together in such a way that it makes you feel safe. What happened next rocked that perception. The next thing I remember is seeing my dad at the church lying in a casket. You see I grew up in an Orthodox church and funeral services are done inside the church. I had no idea why we were there or what my dad was doing in this box. I recall seeing the casket and thinking to myself that he was going to get up at any moment. I know it sounds strange but 5 year olds often times do not have the ability to put 1 and 1 together and come to a right conclusion. I had no idea that he was dead, I thought he was just sleeping and that he would get up. The next image I have is when they were lowering him into the ground at the cemetery. At that moment I realized that I wasn’t going to see him anymore. It was final. I bring all this up because like Lost Sheep I viewed this as a way of God showing me that He was my true Father. Mind you I did not think this as a five year old, but did so later on in life. The idea of God being my true Father became even more evident to me when my mom remarried. There was this guy who kept coming into our place of business and he would often help my mom out whenever she needed it. I remember asking my mom one time “is he going to be my new daddy?” My mom remarried about a year later. The emotional need to have a father figure in my life at the time was so strong that it needed to be filled and my mom sensed this as well. Well, because both of my parents are from “the old country” and I was a first generation born American, they did things differently in terms of raising kids. They were not very educated and so my step dad would often get drunk and abuse me both physically and mentally. He often would hit my mother as well and I was powerless to do anything about it. I always lived in a constant state of fear. Not knowing what would come next. I always adjusted my behavior and actions to please my step dad, but it did not matter how I acted, my step dad would find a reason to act “aggressively” towards me. I reached a point in my life where I concluded in my own mind that I was going to shut down emotionally. I became depressed and suffered from anxiety, but did not know it at the time. I liken the experience to a frog who is slowly being boiled in a pot of water. The frog thinks everything is ok until it is too late. I finally reached my college years and that is when I gave my life over to God. I did not have what you would call a typical salvation experience at first. One day while in my room I dropped to my knees and asked God the following question. My life had become broken and I needed answers. I said to Him, “if you really exist then show yourself to me.” That was it. I had a peace come over me that I really could not explain. At the same time however I wasn’t sure if God heard me or not, but the following month I started school. It was while at school that I met a girl who was a born again believer. My intent at the time that I met her was that I was going to use her in a sexual way. I say this to show to you that my heart was still not right with God at the time. We talked often about God and religion. There was something different about this girl though. She was always happy. She often would talk to me about spiritual issues and say to me that God wants a relationship with you. The words and concepts that she spoke to me were so foreign to me. God? Relationship? What is that I would ask? I would often think in my mind do you even know what you are even talking about? She would tell me that Christ died for my sins, and that He loved me to the point of death and that He wanted me to be with him in Heaven. Initially, the truths spoken from her mouth appealed to me, but I thought how arrogant of you to assume you know anything about what God thinks. How dare you assume anything about your salvation before you die and are standing before Him. It was at that point almost as if she was reading my mind that she showed me 1st John 5:11-13. I stopped dead in my thoughts at that very moment and immediately recalled the experience I had when I asked God to show Himself to me, while I prayed in my room a month earlier. I was then introduced to the sinners prayer, which I prayed on more than one occasion in my life. You know just in case I did not do it right the first time. To me it is not so important to know when in time I was saved. The truth of the matter is that God took my experiences both good and mostly bad and used them in such a way that He would create in me a need that only He could fill. And I suppose one could say that in the fullness of His timing He did. Thank you for listening.

[heart_changed99]

Mine can be viewed here: http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=35794

[Brokenjar]

FreeInHim, Metania1, and bride_of_christ thank you for sharing your story! Sometimes it seems like you're the only one on this road and it is great to look around and see that all of you are here too.

[Glory]

FreeInHim, Metania1, and bride_of_christ thank you for sharing your story! Sometimes it seems like you're the only one on this road and it is great to look around and see that all of you are here too.

I was thinking the same exact thing. I think this thread is awesome for so many reasons. It shows the power of the cross! How we are overcomers through the sacrificial blood of the Lamb!

It brings the Body closer together in seeing that, we are not alone! Everyone has a testimony! I sure wish more would share on this thread.

Each testimony here has made me cry at the amount of pain each of you had to endure. But then, how Jesus who's love is beyond our understanding, has taken each one under the shadow of His Almighty wing, loving each with such unconditional love, restoring, healing, comforting, and through His grace... taught us how to forgive those who have hurt us so deeply.

I also believe in sharing your testimony, it reminds yourself of where you once were, and where you are today. All glory, honor, and praise, to our Saviour Jesus Christ!!!!
I love you all.

[Just Ron]

FreeInHim, Metania1, and bride_of_christ thank you for sharing your story! Sometimes it seems like you're the only one on this road and it is great to look around and see that all of you are here too.

It's a struggle, but Jesus has the victory!

[homesick9748]

Glory, Thanks for starting this thread. Every story on here makes our hearts closer and closer to one another, as we are commanded in His Word. You can't read any of these testimonies without drawing near to the posters in Christian love. Thanks to you all for posting.You have my prayers.

[lostsheep]

Firstly, let me say that this is not easy for me to do even sitting behind a computer screen. Lost Sheep I really enjoyed reading your testimony and can honestly say it touched me and even prompted me to write this.

Thank you Metania1 for sharing your story too. Our lives have so many parallels. In particular the abuse of our step fathers.
I wanted to share something else with you, I am not sure why but I'm just feeling very thankful right now.
Jesus has delivered me from the hate and anger I had for this man for so many years! I am free! Through some godly counseling I realized that my real hatred for this man came from being a hurt little boy. I wanted a daddy so bad. He just never lived up to what I needed. He hurt me over and over and over again.
But through the blood of Jesus Christ, I have forgiven him. I mean really forgiven him. I have learned that saying you forgive someone and really forgiving someone is totally different. I can forgive because Christ forgave me. I can forgive because it releases me from the bondage of hatred and anger that act as cancer to my body. I have cut the strings from this man.
Forgiving him did not mean that I was saying what he did was ok. Forgiving him cut me loose from the bondage that he still had on me.
So one day I put it to the test. He showed up at our church. By this time I was in my mid twenties and he was dying of cancer. I saw him from a distance. My heart started pounding. I was so nervous. All these emotions...I walked up to him and reached out my hand and grabbed his. I just said hello and welcomed him. He seemed to be in shock. It was really a God moment.
The next time I saw him was I actually visited him at the hospital on his death bed. I brought my son with me.
I saw nothing but a broken man on that bed. I saw him look at my son and realize that he missed out on a grandson. Not his own flesh and blood but still I could see his pain. I reach out to him. I actually hugged him. We prayed together. God was so much in that room. I'm tearing up as I type this. I have no hatred left. Somehow God has enabled me to only remember the good in this man. I know I will see him again someday. He's probably hanging out with my real dad right now. Maybe building us a house or something.
I am rambling. I am not very good at typing.
I am so free!!! Thank you Jesus I am so free!! Thank you for teaching me what a blessing it is to forgive.
This wall of hatred was broken down by you. I love you Jesus.
Thank you Jesus that I can really say I love this man too.

[heart_changed99]

Praise God for all of these testimonies! I read each and every one of them. It really is amazing how God has touched us in His own unique way. It just goes to show you that He really does know what we need. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. Our personalities will never be understood by man because God made it that way to show his amazing creativity! He truly is an awesome God!

Thank you God for the Salvation of your people. Thank you for those that will be touched through these testimonies! Amen!

Keep 'em coming!