I didnt see a page that had Testamonies. so here goes.. this will be where u can share with other christians what God has done in ur life and to encourage one another......

Well in my life~ God has shown me how to depend on him and to always stick by his side. Knowing that God is going to guide every single step i take he will be there with me. He has shown me his awesome love. There were many times when i decided to walk away cuz of the way i Felt. Come to find out ur walk with God dont go with the way I feel. God has delievered me from Depression, and the whole 9 yards. He has always stuck by my side and I thank God for it.... hes beeen healing my broken heart..... ill give more later....

That's awesome that you've been delivered from depression! praise God!! I'll have to put up my testimony sometime soon. It is rather personal, but there is a part that i must share. I am obligated to do so, so others may share in the blessing of being set free from sickness. :)

^ i love garth, and i'm right with her: i'll put mine up soon.

Yeah God has done so much for me... i love it.... please feel free to give ur testamony.. its the strongest thingt that a christian has... besides God and the bible and prayer.

I'd give mine but I probably would be ban from the boards. j/k

CJ

naw i dont think so.. its ur testamony.. and plus i think u know when to stop and all..

I got saved because of a motorbike.
Seriously...

I gotta type it out someday too. Stick it on my site. Put it up here too.

I would share it but I don't think my parents would want me too. :P When I did that at the other boards...

Bad things man.


oooooh. Like what??

In 8th grade (about 1 year ago) I give my life full time to God. It definiately changed me. I confess it's harder once I made the decison. But umm.... it's been better at the same time. And every one on this board that changed me. I love it on these boards I dont know where I'd be without you guys and girls and God.

i suppose if you wanna really know me and my past and my struggles... just look at my past posts... i've pretty much left nothing to question... but as far as actual commitment to Christ (as i have been "saved" for since i suppose age 13) it's just started blooming over the last few years... and just recently (the last month or so) God's really blessed and challenged my in my walk and He's brought me two of the closest friends i think i've ever had... garth included. it's so wonderful the way God works... it truely is mysterious....

yeah, God is mysterious. I bet if we could use all of our brain power instead of the average 10 %, we still wouldn't understand anything that he does.

I might give my testimony, sometime, dunno yet

waiting for some awesome testamonies to come.... ;D

When I was 15 I went to a concert of a local artist. My life really sucked and I wanted to know God with all of me, but it was always just out of reach. At this concert I knew that God was calling me to do something radical. So when they made the invitation I just stood up and told God that he has 2 choices. He can kill me on the spot, cause I don't wanna live a life where I don't see him or he can make me walk with him for sure, without ups and downs in my life.

And from that moment on, God did a work in my life that noone could imagine, from being a total scared kid to going all out for him. I just knew that I knew God took me to himself. It is indiscribeable to ne one who hasn't gone through it.

One thing in my walk with God that i will always remember: Sometimes when I changed classes in school, he just was with me that I could feel him so close, and I just bathed in his love. And I knew it was him.

One time during a vacation, I was reading from revelation and there is this passage that says that the specific people is God's and then for the first time ever, I heard him talk to me aloud. And he said: "You are mine." I can't remember how it sounded, I just remember sitting there, not knowing what to do. just being. I love Jesus!!

God is teaching me that he really loves me, and that there is nothing to fear in his love. NOTHING! He is for us, his heart is for us, he wants to show us a love that we can trust without holding anything back. AMEN

Awesome awesome. ;D

well, here's a lil teaser:

I used to look to the sky n say: F-You, I hate you, stay away from me. Now I look down n say: I love you n thank you. consume me..........since march...wow.

When did you get saved. What happened?

I was saved when I was eight years old. I was at camp and they were having the alter call. I started feeling like I wanted to jump up and down and scream, "praise God." I was holding on to the pew in front of me so tightly that my knuckles were white. The girl next to me was looking at me like I was crazy but I didn't care. I could tell that God was tugging at my heart. Well, I went up and was saved. A year or two later I rededicated my life because I felt like I wasn't where I should be. I love God so much. He has done so many great things for me.

Awesom

I was one of those kids that grew up in the church. Never missed a sunday and never missed a wednesday. If the doors were open I was there. I went on every youth trip and went on every choir tour. If there was something to be done at the church I was there. But when I was in 10th grade I just hit rock bottom. At this point in my life I was really starting get into hardcore music/rock music, and I could tell that a lot of the people that use to hang out with me at church were all of a sudden shoving me away because I wasn't into "christian music". I even went as far as burning some of my cd's just so they would accept me, still didn't work (and i lost a lot of good cds).

Time went on and I started seeing a lot of stuff in the church that really disturbed me. Backstabbing, hypocracy, hate...you know the usual stuff, and I didn't want to be apart of something that was so negative, so anti everything. I didn't want to be apart of something that would do nothing but bring me down. I saw people in the world that acceptmed me more as a true friend than some of my so called "christian friends". So I ditched them and went my own way. Far far away from what God had told me to do. If God said do something I did the oppposite. I was hurt and I was lonely, but one friend...my best friend for life, who just this year I was his best man in his wedding, pulled me aside in the bandroom and instead of chastising me, he did something that no one had done in a long time. Talked with me like a normal human being. He said, "hey man you like Rage Against the Machine don't you?" I agreed and he said, "then man you gotta listen to this new band I found, they're called P.O.D., you'll love them...take this cd home and tell me what you think." I gave the usual smart-elic remark about christian music, but when I put this cd in my cd player I was changed instantly. The music was just beautiful...I had never heard anything like it in my entire life! But most of all I heard acceptance. I heard, "you know...i don't care what music you listen to, or what you look like...I love you like God loves you!"

I nearly broke down in tears! And right then and there I felt God moving in me. I realized that God is not like those christians who put you down for who you are, and I realized that God loves me for me, and nothing else. He doesnt listen to other...he just listens to your heart. Over the years I've viewed the boys of P.O.D. as part of my family. And in doing so I've met some of the greatest people on this earth, who have been encouragements to me through tough times. It's awesome to look back and see how much God has worked through my life since that night I put that cd in my cd player, but I wouldn't ask for it anyway at all.

And that's what I try and tell kids now-a-days...you're going to get looked down on, but don't let it get to you. Jesus died for you, he didn't die for the version of Bible you read or the denomination you belong to, or even if you've bought the latest pair of GAP pants, but he loves you for who you are...as long as you let God control your path you'l be ok.

God is always faithful to reveal himself, even though ppl aren't living in love

Amen warchant warrior... God is everything u Need in life.. and nothing else could cover the void or emptyness like God can.....

this topic is now "bump'd"!

man, this is insane. i'd never have seen this topic but i'm amazed i did -- this is what i get to do at youth group tonight, is talk about how i became a Christian. last week two of the youth leaders shared their testimonies, and i asked one of them if any of the high schoolers themselves were going to -- he went, "yeah, i'd love it if they did. do you want to?" so i opted for it. and, i'm gonna do it tonight. i'm kinda nervous tho. but it's all good.

heh...i wanna share my story...but i wrote it out, t'is semi-long -- so i'll put up a link to it. click here for the rambling =P (http://www.angelfire.com/wa3/freak4life/story.html)

thats an awesome testimony Nina.. reminds me of one of my friends stories. :)

i should put mine up... yeah... i'll do that sometime. when i got time.

Nina, not only was that an amazing story, but was well-written to boot. :D

it's awesome to hear how God pierced your heart so. amazing. :azn:

thanks, you guys. and Eva, i'd love to see yours when you do put it up :]

and thanks for bumping the topic, Mike =P God is good, working through things like that. it's funny you should say the first thing you did... last night, i was talking with one of the youth leaders, Shawn, who also shared his testimony last night, -- this was after Max, the youth leader in charge of the night had already given me some feedback about how i did things (the youth group is going on a sort of 'missions trip' to Montana this august, so they're working on this stuff, sharing their faith; next week they write them out) and Shawn said, "you know, yours was the kind of story that when it's written out, it could be something really awesome."

y'know, i've been writing for a long enough time that his comment just made me stop and go, "dude. God is so in this." i read what i'd written last night, but i know i could have done something that wouldn't have just stuck to what i'd written, ya know? i could loosened it up a little and improvised or whatever... but i'm at the point in my faith walk that i kinda just needed to get all of that stuff off my chest. yes, it's how i met God, but the other side of it is that it's been a source of a lot of emotions for me for a while. i just think it's awesome how God can use it for so much. anyhoo tho, your comment reminded me of Shawn's, and thank you for the compliment. s'all a gift from the Lord.

all thanks be to He who was pierced.

you're welcome Nina. :) both for bumping the thread & for the compliment. ;)

I didn't get saved too long ago maybe 2yrs ago... I grew up as jw only knowing only that, until my brother n law starting telling me about christianity he's really the one who got me interested in it . Before i met God my life practically sucked i was goth or whatever not knowing him getting tease and stuff like that cutting myself until one day when i went to harvest crusade ( a place where all these christian bands play) i only went for the bands, the music of course didn't know that preaching would be involved but it was Greg laurie who asked people to come down to field and accept Christ into their lives i only went because my sister and everyone else went then i felt his presence and i knew it was him and dedicated my life to HIM . Life for me hasn't been the same he help me stop cutting , he clear my mind of thoughts that wouldn't stop , he stopped the teasing , heal my relationship with my mom , give me things i never had before, been a father to me unlike my human father, im so glad i met him that day thank God i went if i didn't who knows where i wouldve been without HIM. theres my testimony and it just gets better everyday :)

amen to that :] awesome that God is so workin' in your life. thanks for sharing!

that is awesome. :) it's cool how people give their lives to Christ every year at the Harvest Crusade (are you going this year?).

no, not this year. :(

Well my uth group for the past year was down to 7 kids cuz alot of kids went to go to college.. At one point before it got to 7 it was in the 30s but now its up to 50+ every week now.. for the past 3 months or more and its really awesome... God is moving in our uth group.. the main group is the 7 and the rest or newbies... And its so stinking awesome.. God has been having his way for the time now.. People are gettin slained in the spirit.,.. People are speaking in tongues and everything.. Worship is more then just the song.. its actually people meaning what they say now.. Its so awesome.. But yeah i just had to put that in there to encourage others... And ur testamony is the strongest toool u have besides God.. BUt yeah dont be ashamed of ur testamony... Sometime in April my uth leader asked me to give my testamony in front of the whole church 300+ and can i tell u i was scared,.. But i did it and it was so awesome.. Cuz of the adults came up to me and told me they were ministered tooo.... So dont be ashamed of ur testamony i was and im glad i did it.....

hey.. that IS encouraging... it sounds like you got an awesome youth group.... for quite a few months my youth group has been SO little... and its been rather depressing since this is something thats been on my heart for years. and its still a very heavy burden. and altho it looks like the kids here are very independant and anti-church.... i know that somethings gonna spring open this summer. and its extremely exciting... theres always rain after a drought.. praise god for that... but anyways.. thanks - i needed some encouragement... god bless

Well God does answer Prayers.. Gods word isnt going to return Void.. And i believe that with Prayers.. It might take time.. But when its his timing its so awewsome.........

I'd give mine but I probably would be ban from the boards. j/k

CJ
I know when to stop, I do, but the true testamony itself is weak without the stuff that'd get it banned, so I'll go with CJ here.

Why would u get banned? Thats the past that God brought u out of.. If ur still there God can bring u out if u want him too.. Ive done stuff in the past that i dont chose to go back to And God is awesome...

I know, and I thank God for saving me (as often as my memory provides)


Sorry, I'll continue...

I love God for saving me, and I thank Him (as often as my memory provides ::] ). But I meant that the stuff that I've done in my past, as I saw as unforgiveably sinful, is just that... I don't want a darkness hanging around here because of me.

Thats ur opinion!! And we respect that!!

...I just think that my past is a little too dark to be posted up here. I don't want to just put it all over the Internet...

I changed my mind. Actually, I, during the period I typed that, was getting lost in my relationship with God. So I'll put my testamony (revised, of course ;)) up on here sometime soon, when God tells me it's the right time. I'll be glad to share my testamony with the world so I may send a message that people like me can be saved from their ... unwanted past. God bless,


A.D.

Awesome cant wait to hear it.. I believe ur testamony will have such a huge impact or effect on others... cant wait... dont forget that is ur past and this is now.. Ur future is waiting for u...

Yes... it awaits me and as I speak it is probably *metaphorically* knocking on the door waiting for me to welcome it in ;D. It'll be soon, don't worry.

Awesome cant wait to hear it...

Glad you're looking forward to it... I've gotten some bad rap on my Testamony before... and it's also been ignored, so I can't wait to post it in case it helps someone out.

It will help someone out....

Well, I'm gonna come around and post a condensation of my testamony... I'm not feeling 100% emotionally open (I'm a bit tired, I guess), so forgive me if I end up sounding cold...

Well, when I was a child the first thing I remember was learning how to read early (Garfield was my favorite!). But after that my mom died... I remember having one nightmare about it, but I never fully understood what happened. If I did, then I must have blocked it out, and I'll never remember how I reacted... But enough of this sob story, I'll move on.

Later my dad got remarried to someone who seemed capable enough and seemed to show loving emotions toward us. I was all hunky-dory at first, but then things went downhill. She didn't approve of my oldest brother, and my dad's finacial and literal support of him, so he left. She didn't like the (a most proper word at this point is "sinner") my older brother was becoming. It's not all his fault; he was old enough to remember what happened and he was probably mad at my dad for the remarriage after my mom passed away. I don't know, but he was severely mentally disturbed, and almost killed me once or twice for fun. I never minded it afterward, but during I always "whined like baby." I guess that's why I've always strived to be a tough guy at the same time as keeping my emotional side. He liked to point knives at me too. He had my little sister under his thumb, and he could get her to do whatever he felt like. That's why my sister acts so much like him and my older sister, because she likes to imitate her older siblings.

He eventually ran away, my mom tugged him back and locked him in his room all day (not good for him, by the way) unless he had to go to the bathroom. He ran away again, but permanently, because he didn't want to move. During the period he was gone my mother abused us, only because he'd push her around. Still no excuse, but I wanted to tell you that because I didn't want you to think her sadism and narcissism is out of nowhere. When we finally moved to Iowa things were OK after she stopped ridiculing me for being lazy/weak about the move (I wasn't physically strong enough to help, and I was a lazy kid). We made friends who were homeschooled like us. I forgot to mention that my stepmom pulled us out of school because of the moving.

But after a while I started to fall into the temptation to lie almost always to my sister because I wanted attention from someone who didn't think I was useless and lazy. I started telling her all these things I have not the heart to tell you guys... they were like completely nuts, no offense C_N ;). But they got worse as we delved into the occult when we moved back (to a different part) of Minnesota. We made our own occult, just the three of us poor children. The abuse got worse than it was in Iowa.

We moved back to Iowa, to where I live now. We were finally able to make REAL friends. Well, they weren't REAL friends, they were just actually friends, sorry if I make no sense.We go back to our old church when we lived in Waterloo. The pastor is forced to move away. Heartbroken. No leader or spiritual teacher now. The youth group whittles away. We eventually stop going. I decide to make friends with the popular kids. Big mistake. One day I tried to visit them, they blew me off (and I thought they were my friends) and I biked away and a car hit me. An old lady speeding. I suffer a mild concussion. It's not my first. When we lived in Texas my brother hit me with my water-pressured bat on accident. The force of gravity was with it because he was trying to use it like a golf club. I bled. Needed stitches. I'll continue.

In the hospital I expected the doctor to say that I had several broken bones, but God was speaking to me quite obviously by saving me from all injury, minus a sprained ankle from the busted bicycle. He was probably telling me that I should turn down the occult and pray only to Him, because only He has all the power in the universe. Guess what? I didn't listen.

I joined a group of *sickos* and loved lustful things. The occult almost swept away until I met a girl named Callie. She had similar interests, and I continued the occult, prayed to false gods, and made-up beings. I made spells and *charms* and such. But I thank God that Callie was too attractive for me to keep that up. So I dropped it and continued my *sicko-ness* in private, behind closed doors. I told no one, and dropped my nerdy friends, and persued women. I was only 13. Even though I strongly lusted after every attractive woman I met, Callie was my focus. But she was my focus for a reason that has still yet been revealed to me. I always had some strange emotional attachment to her. I **practically** worshipped her. I was "in love" with her. She led me to do wrong things against even the law. But I'll have to break this up into two parts now. I'm going to continue typing the rest of my testamony after I post this.

Well, Callie loved lustful things too. She went through boyfriend after boyfriend. None of which were me. So I decided to do what she did just to impress her. She kept alcohol in secret, and we drank together. I also fell into depression because I didn't have her as my own. I *injured* myself once, but only once. I didn't feel it, but after what my older sister went through with her own self-infliction, the screaming my mother did to her, I was too afraid that they'd find out. No wonder my older sister's rebellion was far more rebellious than mine. She hated my stepmom. I feared her.
But anyway, after doing all those things to impress her, we only became closer friends. Go fingure.

Then we grew apart... and I became more depressed. I still prayed to God, even though I had no faith in Him then. I wanted her so bad I toughened myself up, got stronger and thinner and all that. I even stopped eating for days just to lose weight for her. But it was too late. She suddenly moved out and out of town. She visited once, God's telling me that He's still there. I didn't listen. One day I was walking to meet my friend in the park, and this guy sitting outside fingered me. I rudely blew him off... big mistake. He came up behind me later and took a swipe at me, and I got dizzy. He had hit me on the back of the head and yet I didn't feel it. God was saying that no man shall harm His child, but I ignored it. I took it as me being "invinsible." I came to a false realization that anyone who screwed with me was doomed. The guy who assulted me broke his knuckles and became an addicted druggie. God did all that to protect me. But I still ignored Him.

My depression was horrible after a while. I realized that my false relationship with Him was failing, because I was lusting behind closed doors every day even multiple times a day, and I HATED myself for it. The pain I held inside was great, and it was growing. Suicide was on my mind. I had thought that since Callie was gone, that I had no reason to live. She ignored me. She even said over the phone one day that she was gonna call me back, and didn't until yesterday. That was a year and a half to reply to a phone call. But anyway, without her I felt no need to live. I thought daily about painless ways to die. My pain was enough already, I thought, so I wanted to go out painlessly. I continued my lust in confusion. This is the good part. YAY!

In my youth group, the leader of my specific group had bought Left Behind II: Tribulation Force the movie. She let me borrow it. I had an interest in the end times, and that was God's was of yanking on my heart. When I ogt around to watching it, I saw how much faith the characters had. I was finally realizing that my relationship with God was failing because I had let a demon inside me through lust. I prayed to God later to fogive me, and I begged Him to help me rid of my lust so I could love Him like I should. Even though I had prayed this prayer, I did fall intermittently afterward. I may have fallen occasionally, and fiercely, but my hunger to read His word suddenly flared within me. I found out all that I had done wrong, and had forgotten about Callie. My dreams of her went away too. I occasionally dreamed of her before that (and I mean I almost NEVER dreamt of her before then).

But eventually I started following the rules God left instead of the Spirit. I no longer listened to my calling. Lust regained control. I may not have acted on it (but once) but I still thought about it constantly. I hit a slump in my relationship. But don't worry; I discovered after a while that I was thinking about the constant temptation, instead of rebuking and ignoring it. I regained half my faith that I had in God. But I never asked forgiveness for it.

After I regained my faith, it took me weeks to find my way here. I joined panheads and was happy to find a Christian community. But my story doesn't end there.

I started following the laws instead of the Spirit. I suddenly became overwhelmed with sin and depression, and I pressured everyone I knew into believing I was a sinner without cure. I had never understood forgiveness before. I was feeling selfish, like I kept recieveing instead of giving. Well, I got over that, but I never acknowledged what was really wrong. So I hit rock bottom. I thought about suicide again, but I didn't know the reason. Little did I know there was a reason awaiting me the next day. That night I begged forgiveness like never before. I realized that I never was following His will for me, and I was too busy getting cought up in living everyday life as a "Christian" would. When I posted a devotional here, God saw that I was finally ready to do His will. So when He forgave me of my sins, He whispered in my ear that I'd need to remember this experience of flirting with death.

When I awoke the next day and saw a post made by an afflicted child of God, the Spirit of God filled me with the instinct to react. I had never known what that was like until that day not too long ago. I shared my experience with that person, and shared my fogiveness experience, and every emotion I went through. That person said I seemed to understand what emotions thar persong had been feeling. God was telling me "I have had this very purpose for you since before you were born. Every trial you had to endure and every time I shielded you with my loving Hands, I was preparing you for this very day, and for the rest of your life." I heard God's call, and I prayerfully yield it to this day. I finally understand my purpose in this world, why I was even born into this hateful world in the first place. Every person that mocked me in the past and all the support I had gotten along the way was preparing me to serve Him, and I realize that it wasn't me waiting for Him to do His will, it was Him waiting for me to be ready.

I have let go of the past, and now I pray that He will reveal His will for me. I now don't care about living like a Christian, I care about living as a child of God and a servant of His great will. I dont need anything except Him, and as Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 & 34: "But first seek His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." What He is saying is that if you persue Him and serve Him prayerfully in the Spirit of God like I am now, you will be fed and clothed as needed. And I am. I persure God, and whenever He leads me to eat, I eat. I care not about everyday life, though it still tries to worry me, I think about today and pray for all those who are afflicted by what I have been afflicted by, and I pray for all my problems, and He lifts my worries off my shoulders. I carry no burden now, and I thank God that Christ Jesus has dies for our sins, so that I may serve Him fully, and so I might live the way He wants me to. Praise Jesus and may God bless you all,


A.D.

Woah, That is Awesome what God has done in ur life.. I Dont mean the stuff u went through.. But how ur back and it seems like God is using u now.. My testamony is pretty powerful too. EVeryones testamony is Powerful. So im glad u took ur time to share it with us.. Here are some verses when u feel like ur nothing or satan tries to bring u down.. take the time to read them... these verses keep me going... Yeah yeah...
Jeremiah 29:11
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Peter 5:7
Hebrews chapter 6.. dont have my bible on me but it talks about How whatever God has promised in ur life it will happen cuz God is not a liar... so if God has something planned in ur life and he promised u it even if its crazy in mans eyes its going to happen.. so hold that promised close to ur heart!!!!

But yeah those verses have helped me out so much and now they can help u out.. or whoever needs those verses.. God bless...

Thank you for your words (and the Word) of encouragement, I will write down those Scriptures, as they might help me pass on the Salvation the Lord Jesus Christ has given me. God bless!

A.D.

wow a.d. that was an amazing testimony and i feel like it has really impacted me, its also encouraged me to share mine, which i will do later tonight, my eyes kinda hurt from staring at the computer screen so much ;) keep on rockin for Jesus, you are already impacting more people than u will ever know

Thank you! I'd be glad to hear your testamony when you're eyes aren't hurting you from staring at my big posts ;) so YOU keep on rockin' for Jesus, and God bless!

wow. very cool. :)


and no offense taken, btw. :D

I didn't think you were tryin' to offend me... you sound like you're in awe (I am every time I look at the two-part post! *eyes start twinkling as he zones out* *Snap out of it!* lol) I may have been through a lot, but it doesn't compare to everyithing the people I've helped have gone through. God bless.


A.D.

God is Awesome! hes so Awesome... lol.. Yeah sorry but im really excited about what God is going to do in peoples lives...

WOW!! That's an awesome testimony. You stood up and faced your sin like a true christian should. Good for you! This mild speed bump in your life will strengthen you for upcoming tribulations. God really had you under his control. he loves you so much and is so awesome. he always looks out for us. Always persue him without fail and you shall prosper! I'm so excited about your testimony! I know that it will impact lives. God bless.

ok here goes my testimony....

i was what you would call a "normal girl" ok...im a little crazy, but yeah you know what i mean. My parents aren't divorced and they love me and my brother and sister. I used to get along with them pretty well. They don't go to church, and up until like 7th grade neither did i. me and my dad had our occasional fights, but it wasn't too bad. So one of my friends invite me to go to church and i was like sure...and i LOVED every second of it!!!! i couldn't get enough of this church thing, God had placed some serious fire in my heart for him, and i gave my life over to Jesus maybe about 3 months after i started goin to church. before i had accepted Jesus into my life, i felt this emptiness. So i was really excited whenever i became a Christian. I couldn't stop talking about it to everyone i came in contact with. Isn't it sick how satan uses people you love to spoil good things? Well my dad isnt Christian and he got mad at me and told me not to get "brainwashed" by Christianity...and that discouraged me a lot, i dont really know why i let it get to me so much, but it did. And things with my dad started getting worse. We fought all of the time, and he started treating my family crappy..like he was always irritated with us. (he never phyiscally abused us, just verbally) Well it really brought me down, and i started having huge self esteem problems, and i just couldnt stand myself anymore. i wanst fired up for God anymore i was just sad about everything. it was bad.. i hate being sad so much, and i beat myself up over anything i did wrong. i felt like my head was spinning, i wanted to be a Christian still and live for God, but there were so many things in my way. This is the part where i should have went to God. But no, i relied on myself. bad choice. So things got worse and worse with my dad and the worst fight i can remember was when we were on vacation and he told me i was worthless. i cried for the whole night...and then finally i prayed..i prayed and prayed and prayed. and i could feel Jesus wrap his arms around me and tell me that He loved me and He always would, and i recomitted my life to him. I still don't really get along with my dad sometimes, and ive done some dumb things, but ive learned my lesson about going to Jesus, and i know that he will always be there for me, with his loving arms open wide. :)

Amen, sister! Well said! I have felt that same presence in my life when I felt down and I prayed... OK, so that wasn't often, just once when I was praying for forgiveness that day less than a week ago... but still, lol. But seriously, thank you for adding your testamony alongside everyone else's. God bless,

A.D.

Woah that was good. Dont ever let ur dad say ur nothing.. Cuz its not true.. And ur not fighting against ur dad.. u Know that right.. but yeah ill be praying for u.. Keep ur testamony close to ur heart...

both of the testamonies that i have read so far(the last two) i find amazing and make me kind of want to tell mine. i'm not quite ready to share it though because i do not think that it is ready to be told and done happening.

Yes, that is very much true... your own testamony is unfolding before your very eyes... and I can't wait till it's done, because your testamony will inspire FAR more than mine can. God bless!


A.D.

Well w.e u are ready to share it we are ready to listen to it... Cant wait.. im going to post mine soon.. but truthfully i have alot and im not ready to write it all down.. Lol.. but yeah i will soon though....

soon... very soon...

Lol.. Yeah soon, dont worry it will come.. Just like urs did.. lol.. and i loved it.. lol..

thank you... but mine isn't anything compared to everyone else's story... they all will help beyond words.

yeah my testamony will reach alot of people that urs wont be able to reach but it goes the same for urs and many others.. were a team.. yeah...

I guess you can call us that. (Team Testify comes to mind...)

ill probably be able to post an edited version of my testamony after this week.

Yep. Even my story was edited. You'd all probably scoot away from me if I had let 'er rip! But I look forward to your testamony.

What ever u guys want to do..

ok i've decided to finally post my testamony up tonight its pretty long so im gonna post after i can type all of it out with i guess its not writers cramp but typers cramp.

lol... but yes, typers cramp. I get that AAAAALLLL too much. Especially when on here ;) but mostly when writing novels...

I grew up in a Christian home going to church, going to a Christian school, having all Christian friends, and everything that comes with living in an almost completely Christian environment. I was about 4 when I said that I accepted Christ, but I didn’t really understand what it meant.

I was about eight years old when I thought I accepted Christ again but didn’t really understand. Before it, I had become rebellious. I started cussing a little even though I only knew two cuss words and they were not considered that bad. I would fight with anyone, anywhere no matter what. At some point I repented of that and asked Christ into my heart for the second time but again not really meaning it because I didn’t understand the fullness of God’s love for me.

As I continued growing people around me were starting to play sports and the athletes seemed to be the popular kids in the class. I was definitely not athletic or coordinated at all. I would trip over the soccer ball, shoot air-balls in basketball, and completely miss the shot in hockey. You could put any most embarrassing sports’ moment in there and it would probably be something I did. I was picked last or close to last in gym and hated playing sports because of it. In fourth grade I decided that maybe if I somehow became good at sports I would get some friends in my class. I practiced everything I could every time I could. I got better, but still was close to last in gym and recess. I started playing music for the band which took me out of recess about twice a week and I liked it because I loved music and hated being around all of the athletic kids.

Also around fourth grade, because my practicing made me better but didn't gain me friends, I decided I would just do what I wanted. I started to dress weird and started to like a sport that didn’t require teams. I started to ride a skateboard around a lot and dressed in black t-shirts and dark jeans. Other kids thought that what I was doing was completely weird and freaky. They liked me less and at first it didn’t get to me, but later on it did. In fact because it got to me in sixth grade I switched from playing the saxophone to playing the drums because I found it better to hit something to release all of the anger I was feeling.

The summer before entering seventh grade I started to hang out with kids outside of a Christian environment. I hung out with kids who went to public schools and like to skate. I became much like them by cussing just as much as they did and doing what they did like trying almost anything illegal (besides skating). When some friends of mine could get a hold of a little bit of alcohol(rare), we would drink it (never got drunk). I rejected God and thought that I was being completely right in everything I was doing.

I entered seventh grade and found it so much different by how my supposed friends acted. A lot of them stopped talking to me almost instantly because I was different and weird. I was a freak and loser and quickly because of that became a shadow. I gained a few friends, but not many people wanted to be associated with a freak. I skated more and talk to others less. I had troubles with two teachers and hated them for it. I played basketball and soccer but felt unneeded and useless. I basically hated my teammates because they seemed to hate me. They would talk to me at practice or at games, but if we were just in the halls and other people were around I could say, “Hi,” and they would not even notice me. I became depressed because everything in my life seemed to be going downhill, and I couldn’t seem to find anything good in it. I had found a knife in my room and started using it to cut my wrist and started thinking about suicide. I almost attempted once but was stopped by “Adam’s Song” by Blink-182.

Eighth grade year things got a little better as far as not attempting, but I still cut. I still felt rejected on my basketball team and in the hallways, but I didn’t play soccer. I had lost a coin toss and played softball because of that toss. I was on a team that wasn’t the best, but they accepted me a lot more than any other team to that point had. The coaches were the ones though who really made me like the game and make me want to come back the next year.

In ninth grade things started out okay. I still cut but I didn’t think of suicide at all. When basketball came and I didn’t make the team though it hurt me pretty badly, so much so that I got bitter and thought about suicide briefly. I didn’t go through because a sport wasn’t worth it as much as I thought it was at first. In reality to say that because I didn’t make the team was the reason would just be a cover-up for the real reason of I just hated my life. On soccer things were not as good as I had hoped. I didn’t fit in with the rest of the team and felt secluded from them. They would try to be nice, but to me it felt too fake for it to mean anything. I fell deeply into my depression and would literally beat myself up. If I did something wrong in practice and sometimes in a game I would take my fist and hit myself in either the arm or head depending on how mad I was at myself. I almost attempted again on my life, but that time was stopped by some words said to me by someone. “I look forward to seeing you grow in your confidence and abilities.” I truly believe that they were just saying that, but at the time it was almost the only good words I had ever seen written to me. I stopped what I was doing and broke down because I felt so much better after reading those words and thinking about what I was about to do. I still didn’t accept God after this and continued downhill shortly after. I told the person who had written that about my depression shortly after I had told my Youth Leader about it. She gave me a Sunday school answer of, “God is the answer.” I didn’t understand it at the time although I said that I did. I later told her about my close attempts on my life and how I had thought about suicide often, but I left out the whole cutting my wrists thing. She said that I needed to tell my parents so I asked my YL to tell them since I couldn’t face them to say it.

That summer things got to the worst they had ever been. I hadn’t prayed almost at all since I was that eight year old, and I had completely rejected God for over three years because he wasn’t doing what I wanted him to do. The person I had talked to I started calling a few times mostly to get comfort when I felt I couldn’t get it anywhere else.

One day I called her wanting comfort, but I couldn’t bring myself to say what I really needed to say. I said another thing that also kind of needed to be said but not really. She sounded almost robot-like in the answer. I know that my mind was turning what she was saying and how she was saying it so that I would figure that she didn’t care about me at all to make me want to attempt, and I listened to it. After hanging up the phone I took out a bottle of pills and took all the rest of the pills. The bottle was almost completely full when I started and empty when I had finished. I got dizzy and fell on the floor. I was either staring at the ceiling or the wall, but I couldn’t tell (really sad since they’re different colors). I went through some pain that I couldn’t even imagine. I had the worst headache of my life and my heart raced and slowed magnificently. My muscles all tightened and I could barely breathe. As I was growing less aware of everything I tried to get a breath and cried out to God to please save me and forgive me. I hadn’t accepted Christ yet but God heard my cry. He saved my life and allowed me to wake up. I woke up and went to sleep, but upon awakening later on that night, I was overjoyed by the fact that I had woken up.June 14, 2004

Days later some things got bad. I couldn’t bear to look at any of my team pictures because the eyes seemed to glare at me and make me feel guilty so I cleaned out a drawer to put them in. As I was cleaning it out, I saw my knife again that I had just cut with the day that I attempted. I stared at it for awhile and finally put it away without even opening the blade to cut myself.

On June 19, 2004 while I was listening to some music in my room, I finally prayed and accepted Jesus as my savior. I accepted him into my heart and have not looked back at that decision with any regrets.


TO ANYONE FEELING CLOSE TO WHAT I FELT DURING THOSE YEARS I SAY THIS: SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER. I THOUGHT IT WAS, BUT GOD SHOWED ME DIFFERENT. HE IS THE SOLUTION.

wow that was a great testimony, i love testimonies because they reach people in amazing ways...this website really is great, ever since ive joined and been talking to you guys, ive felt closer to God. Amen to God is the solution, zero_punk900!

Yes, I'm sorry, I forgot to post about your testamony last night... a weeeeee bit too tired :P

I found your testamony inspiring. It was awesome to read, and it made me feel more involved, like I have known you longer than a week. I'm glad to have helped you reach the solution, and I pray your testamony will inspire many others. God bless,

A.D.

I have a bit of a story of one of the things my stepmom did to me, so you'll understand the psychological and spiritual terror she instilled.

One day I found out a game I wanted was on slae, so to speak. I call it in, says he can hold it only till closing (it's a popular game there). So later, when I have everything together for it, I asked if I could leave to get it.

Of course, my stepmom flipped out. The store's thirty-five miles away, in a mall, and she flipped out. She thinks anything I do is stupid and useless. When my dad convinced her I could go (man, my dad is cool) I left.

I found out I didn't have enough when I got there. I almost couldn't get it, until God interfered. The manager told one of his friends/coworkers to help out. It's not a good game, but it played its part in my life. Anyway, it took an hour and fifteen minutes for this trip. 35 there, 5 minutes in, 35 minutes back.

As I prayed along the way for my "mother's" calmness, I realizedd it was in vain. When I returned she was screaming at me bitterly about how selfish I was, how I didn't need to go get "that precious video game." She banished me to my room after forcing me to say that I was selfish and that I didn't need to get it.

I read His Word for a while, to calm and center myself. My stepmom sent my lil sis as a messenger, asking if I was "playing that stupid video game." I told her to tell her I was reading the Bible. A person who graduated from a Bible college would understand that, right?

Wrong. My sister said that if I didn't start playing a video game, my "mother" would go livid. My mom wouldn't even let me read the Bible, I was forced to play a video game for hours. All I wanted to do was read the Bible.

Well, my lil story's done. Thank you for listening. :) God bless!

A.D.

I came to Christ when I was 16 years old. The summer between my 8th grade year and 9th grade year my lil sister Holly Danielle was in the hospital. The doctors had no clue of what was a matter with her, come to find out my mother was making my sister sick at that item holly was only 14 MOs. old. The doctors called the police .My sister were taken away, then 5 months after that my mother got sentenced to five years in prison... I became an independent student living in my own apartment working 40 hours a week, just to survive and go to school. I turned to the only salvation I knew at that time. It was drugs and alcohol, but you see this salvation was only temporary the next morning I would still be in the same situation before. Then one day there was this girl invited me to go to young life and I said yes. I started getting involved in young life; went to a camp and there a seed was planted. A couple weeks after the young life camp my young life leader lead me to Christ. I knew I wanted to make a difference in my school for Christ. Boy! It was very hard. I was known in my school as the guy,” who’s Mom in jail and he has his own apartment and he has a party every weekend”. My so called friends once called me dawg homie whatever to bible boy ,but that didn't stop me I became my FCA president my Junior year of high school. I knew God was preparing me to lead. I wanted to work with teens so I went searching around for some bible colleges. I found one that was reputable I found Columbia International University and this is where I happened to get my degree .CIU has been great for the biblical perspective on the world. I praise God for the spiritual aspect of this school



Last year, the first semester of my senior year I was on the way back from the current youth group, (I am a volunteer leader at going back to CIU to turn in for the night).It was down pouring and an 18 wheeler jackknifed on the interstate and my car went underneath it. I spent 40 minutes underneath that truck not moving. I just remembering singing Jesus love me (in that type of situation all I remember saying was that) and Jesus please gives me peace: he did. Still to this day, I do not remember calling the youth pastor I am working with saying this is big Nate I got into a wreck IM bleeding bad and IM underneath an 18 wheeler meet me at the hospital. I had no idea I actually made that call. I spent 1 week in the hospital. I only came out with a broken right wrist and a broken leg. The ER staff said my head was 4 inches up my head would have been severed off. I had plenty of time to look at my life. , I had a chance to Press pause on life. I really had time to think about why I am here on earth and how I can be most effective for God while I’m here on earth.

My life and the circumstances God has allowed me to experience have opened me up for Ministry but in a unique and creative way. I believe God started to do this in me when I was 18 there was a man named Vic who did Christian shows at a place called the warehouse. He took me under his wings taught me how to promote shows read riders for musicians told me how to deal with booking agents. When I was 19 he left the warehouse. I did the last 7 shows they had planned at the warehouse. This is where I believe God started to work with me about where he was leading me next. I saw a lot of over the years working with musicians.



Here in Columbia, I am an independent promoter. I do shows at 3 different venues depending on the type of show it is. I do shows at CIU; a bible college I bring there what I call youth pastor friendly rock the bands. I have worked with at that venue is water deep, ten shekel shirt, Andrew Peterson, ,justified ,pillar ,skillet ,Jeremy camp, telecast ,doc summers band, Jill Philips, Randall good game Puddlleglum l AKA the swift . I do shows at a bar in town called new brookland tavern there I have worked with starflyer 59 ,stretch Armstrong ,cool hand Luke ,lights for Nero, evoka, Monday in London ,poison the well ,hopes fall and many others then I do shows that are designed for teens whose parents won’t let them go to the bar shows at a place called Jeremiah's house .
Back in high school my senior year I brought blindside, lutikriss (now known as Norma Jean), stairwell, dear Ephesus, five iron frenzy I. another great band I have worked with in the past is switch foot and Pod, for Pod I did their first national release cd show for the tfeos cd party and I also worked with the warriors tour,. I have been doing shows since I was 18. I am now 22. There Are many more bands I have worked with but it’s too numerous and Time consuming to write down all the bands Have worked with I have done about 40 shows in the past couple years at least 1-3 a month every month at different venues.

How have I changed since I met Christ??

My heart is still dark: something I cannot trust. So I cling to Jesus Christ himself he is my strength and my portion forever. . I am a new creation the things of old being passed away. I am in a continual process to be made holy that wont end until I meet Jesus and become fully holy in his sight. There is nothing I can do that deserves Christ love. All I can do is receive it and rest in his grace that I don’t deserve. I said all that to say this I have changed because there was a renewal in my heart. I may stumble at times. But my intentions of my heart are to please Christ in everything I do. I may not have all the right answers but I know someone who does so I cling to him and his word .I know longer am a slave to sin but a slave to Christ so I have new ownership and I will trust and obey him no matter what the cost are . I am reminded of who I am a Child of Christ No longer an orphan. I am striving everyday to be a child of god and not act like an orphan of god



My way of thinking about the world has changed since I met Christ I have a desire to be relevant to the culture we live in. I am not in to church jargon or a Christian subculture (it is very prevalent the CCM Genre contemporary music scene 89.7). I seek to use the secular world not to change people but just to present the Gospel. My Job is not to change people just to present the Gospel in a relevant way In that the gospel changes people

My philosophy on teaching relevant messages to teens about God using their world is this



I don’t……………………. the Gospel does it for me.









I am salt and if I lose my saltiness then my whole ministry is Gone. Salt is good for 2 things preserving things and adding flavor. So as a believer in this progressive culture we live in I seek to preserve the things of God and to add flavor to the culture that surrounds me.

This is what I want to be a person who is Constantly and Consistently Growing Madly and deeply With God carries Out through the relationship of my future wife, children, and lost and hurting teens, to be a person who is Consistently seeking Holiness be someone Whose open and readily available to listen to the needs of others and to be a encouragement to all.

It is my Passion to help people discover the real value and benefit that God offers through His church , In every area of our lives God has set up the Church to assist us into deeper and more satisfying living . It is the belief that for too long the church ahs been out of touch and out of date and out of touch with the people. the desire is to show People through modern methods that God , His word and His church can be a valuable source of Help direction and inspiration to our lives . That is the big vision lets pull it in for this semester and this summer.

My philosophy on teaching is

Working Vision






The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road; long before I dance under those lights.



Muhammad Ali

I chose this quote because ministry is an uphill battle at times .Its a war a battle the biggest game we are in called life. : Living life doing ministry.





I must have a heart that does not seek attention. Humbleness is what is needed in order to make this work.



I want to equip equippers

I want to be transformed people transforming people



I use the 2nd timothy I believe its 2nd timothy 2:2 "and the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses these entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also”

We are transformed People transforming people

Or equipping equippers

I have grown wearier of trusting myself then in trusting God. We need to cling to his understanding not our own





We are created for the Glory of God.

My students and I need to share and radiate His renown

I need to let the students know the worlds they live in do not have to be lonely world .With Jesus Christ in their lives it will a life worth immaculate riches.

I hope this has helped you get to know me more

1 am 23 now

Awesome Testamony... I like it.. God is So Stinking Awesome!!!!!!

Yes he is. He reigns surpreme over all earth without even lifting a finger.

i can tell that you're a cool guy Nate. :) that's an awesome story and a great heart behind it. no not your heart, but God's shining through yours.

We are transformed People transforming people

Or equipping equippers
AMEN! my old youth pastor used to say we need to be like the Borg on Star Trek. we need to assimilate. but in such a way as to make leaders who in turn can make leaders.

Yeah i cant wait to read more testamonies.. Keep them coming.,...!!

ya everyone keep them coming. Nate that was an awesome testimony. i loved reading it.

If it's alright with everyone, could you guys give your testimonies? I've been feeling like I need to hear some more testimonies lately, and this is an awesome place to do it.

I became a Christian last year, and since then, God has worked in me, and through me so much.
I never really believed in God, in fact, I didn't really believe that there was a God.

Then my dad got laid off last year, and all those material things I held onto (going out to eat every weekend, having name-brand clothes, shoes, you name it, I had it)had gone.
And some friends dumpedme because I wasn't good enough for them anymore.
I was deppresed, ate very little, and starved myself to the point that youcould see my bones.
My mom started working too, and my dad's anxiety shot up to the point that he hardly ever left the house.
So I basicly had to take care of all my brothers and sisters.
The depressing thoughts kind of took over my brain, until I couldn't take it anymore.

One night, I couldn't sleep, and I remembered my parents talking about God.
I got down on my knees and asked God to forgive me for my bad thoughts, my temper tantrums, and for the mean things I had said to people.
Right then, God gave me a sense of security, and comfort I had never had before.

I started to trust in God, and not in myself, and things went way smoother. God is the only one who can change hearts, and if you just trust Him ,and don't worry, everything will be fine in the end. :)


Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

I never was raised in a Christian home even though I went and still go to a Christian School. I hated the culture. How you had to go to Sunday School, wear frilly lace to Church, etc. Back in the day I thought the only Christian music was Avalon, Point Of Grace, which at the time, and still is today worse then country music <-- which I loved. No way was I going to give up anything to this so called "God and maker of heaven and earth"

I think what did it was actually 'did it' was in 8th grade when everyone know the Holy Spirit was a spirit and actually didnt a phyiscal body except me. I wanted to know more and try to be level with my classmates. I started everynight with a simply prayer 'Lord, help me to know more'. Which was the first prayer I ever prayed on my own in my life. I remember after doing that for a few months I opened up the Bible and read it. Then I am like what about this God...so I read some of Lee Strobel's stuff, which helped alot. For giving up my country music..I heard though my sister of great Christian bands. I feel bad because people tell me I have anew faith, they don't know I have been a Christian for only 2 years, also my family switched churches three times and currently are not going to the Church we are members of.

Ok, here it goes:

I grew up going to church and all that, but I never really believed any of it. I invited God into my heart just for appearances. Well, in second grade I got the WORST teacher ever. She would stand me up in front of the entire class, make them stop whatever they were doing, and embarrass me in front of everyone. Up to that year I was really outgoing and bordered on being the class clown. After that year everyone got the idea that it was ok to make fun of me and embarrass me, so I changed into a very quiet, intoverted person. This continued, and continued, and continued. I started going to youth group when I was old enough, hoping it would help or that I could find some refuge. I was wrong, they did the same things there. Well, for some reason, I kept going to youth group. Then High School rolled around and I hoped things would get better. Once again I was wrong. By this time I was in the early stages of depression. Well the insults and everything went on and on, in addition to that I started taking all kinds of crap from the teachers. That year, finally, someone joined the youth group who didn't make fun of me and actually hung out with me some. Things seemed to go ok for a few months, then one week he wasn't at youth group and my youth pastor had a really bad look on his face. I was kinda worried. When youth group started he told us that Jesse had hung himself a few days ago. My heart sank more than it ever had before. I left youth group early and went home. That started to push me closer to the edge. A few weeks later my mom came into my room sat me down and told me that the parents of one of my oldest and closest friends, whom I hadn't seen in a year and a half, had killed himself yesterday. That pushed me even closer to the edge. Ok things seems to get better after a year or so, I had a new job that paid ok, I had been practically forced out of public school (which was fine with me), and I had stopped going to youth group to get away from their crap. A few months later my Grandma, who had had Alzheimer's for as long as I could remember, took a turn for the worse and was in the hospital and not expected to last another week. I tried to get time off work to go to Cali for the funeral if need be. My manager practically told me to go screw myself. While I was still fuming over that fiasco, my grandpa , who had chronic emphazyma from smoking for 20 years, caught pneumonia. So he was in the hospital too. Several days later, my grandma passed away. Once again I tried to get time off, same response. A week later, my grandpa passed away too. Tried to get some time off once again, again I got the same response. I was really, really mad and depressed at that point. Then the next month I get fired for no apparent reason!! So now I am depressed, mad, lost, and unemployed. For the next year or so (probably more, everything before about age 17 is just one big blur in my head) I was thinking everyday: how could God have let all that happen to me if He cares so much??!! After that year or so I was looking through my CD's and was suddenly struck with the urge to listen to one of my little listened too albums (at the time) called Hey You, I Love Your Soul by Skillet (Duh). So I put it in my cd player and listened to the whole thing. I thought it was good, but I didn't really want to listen to the lyrics so I was ignoring them. That is until it got to the song Scarecrow. Then I started listening, not sure why but I'm glad I did. When the song was over all I could do was sit there and cry. That song is what I think is most responsible for bringing me back to God. I started going to youth group off and on again, started going to church again, and I started talking, like reallg with my parents. A few months later I saw an ad on my churches bulletin board about this youth rally thing. A nationally known Christian radio show host was going to be speaking there, and being a fan of the show I got a ticket. At that rally I recommitted and came to realize that God could only change me and my life if I was willing to let him. Since then I have changed, a lot, and so has my life. Now looking back I find it hard to believe I was ever so far away from God, that I ever felt betrayed by God. Well, that's my story in a nut shell. There's more to it but this post is long enough I think.

Wow, that's awesome how God turned your life around through Skillet's music. Rock on for Jesus. 8)

Here's my testimony:

I was born with a heart problem that I should have died from. I had and still only have 3 ventricles in my heart, as opposed to the 4 that you are suppose to have. I have had 3 operations in my life; one when I was a couple of months, one when I was one, and one when I was 5 years old. By the power and love of God and the many prayers I recived for the first 5 years of my life, I am here, perfectly fine and in no more need of operations, today ;D . I've grown up in the church that I go to now, and I am ABSOLUTLY blessed to be in a church like mine. Our church is so full of life and a complete love and desire to seek God. When I was 5, I gave my life to the Lord. I don't remember any specific time that I decided to give my life to the Lord, but I remember that after I did it the first time, I did it over and over again, just to make sure. ;) I just knew that I needed God in my life. A couple of months ago, I was filled with the Holy Spirt, yet I wasn't confident it in. I wasn't sure if I could :-\ (long story) but a couple of days ago, I relized that I CAN speak in tounges and I AM filled with the Holy Spirit. I am beginning to go through the bible and reading books about evangelism or basically any Christian book that appeals to me. I have a whole to love and understanding of God as of a couple days ago. I have been saved from drugs, premartial (sp?) sex, smoking, drinking and all of that stuff that appeals to most teens because I have been created new and I don't need let alone want that stuff in my life. Sure, I've been tempted and I'm sure I will over and over again, but I know that I don't need to fall into that, I that I always have God to look to for help, as well as people from church. I am so blessed and lucky to have the life,parents, church and love that I have, and it's all God. I take no credit for any of that.

I love to hear testimonies, and I'm glad that someone started this thread ;D

Wow, that's awesome how God turned your life around through Skillet's music. Rock on for Jesus. 8)lol Thanks man. Yeah! Rock on for Jesus! 8)
Ya know that wasn't the only time that Skillet's music helped me out, but that's for another time.

*cracks knuckles* Alrighty, here we go...
I wasn't raised in a Christian home, but grew up with the sense that I was a Christian. The best way I can describe it is when foriegners automatically assume every American is a Christian...yeah...
I was never really one of the bad kids around, but I was kinda messed up as a child. I had a great home life, and still do, good friends, and pretty much the most peachiest childhood one could ask for. I was still messed up though. My friends and I would mess around with Ouiji(sp) boards, or at least the ghetto ones we made, and stuff like that, cuz it was in the movies and looked cool, and etc. And we did other stuff kids our age should've stayed away from...
When I was in elementary school, my neighbors invited me to church. So I went and was like, "Cool!" It was fun, there were games and food, what more could I ask for? So I would go to church and that was me being a Christian.
So, I've never been a kid who is "cool" or popular. And the church I went to stressed on that a bit in the youth group. So I was an outcast and often times had no one to talk to or hang out with. I was a loner, looked down upon, and overall very unhappy with how the Christians were treating me.
But God wouldn't let me slip away from Him. Eventually I actually did give my life to God and began to change my life to one that was more pleasing to Him. I left that church and went to a smaller, more personal one where people were interested in me, not my social status. I began to grow in God, and have been ever since.
This doesn't mean that I haven't had trials, though. Things happen which I won't get into that have often caused strange, bad thoughts of all sorts, along with near physical harm. Yet Jesus has kept me from it, or pulled me out of it before it was too late. So during hard times in my life...like every time these days...haha...I spend time praising God, reading His word, and praying, because spending time with my Father is the only way I know I can get through life.
So yeah...Sorry for the long reading...

Wow, that's so great how God gives you a virtual bungee jump like that... :D


I love reading testamonies. :)

Virtual bungee jump? hahahahahha! I like that... ::]

hey, if your gonna jump, God's the best partner! :-D
alrighty...testimony. :-D

It's kinda funny, As a kid I grew up in AWANA, I honestly believe I gave my life to the Lord at the age of 4 and I would have gone to Heaven. But I really didn't have that relationship. at AWANA, they had testimony nights and you always heard even at an early age, kids whose parents were more harsh than others and stuff. God kept them safe through it. I wanted a testimony. so middle school comes....now, in early elementary school I was an extrovert to the extreme! I kinda crushed myself in 3rdish grade and for some odd reason because a recluse. Don't really know why. then in Middle school I was just a freak. I was looking for a way for someone to notice me and befriend me, plenty people noticed me, enjoyed hanging out with me...but i wanted a FRIEND. I found that chick, thought she rocked thanked God..."w0w, my life is complete, I have elise" HAHAHAHA ****rolls on floor busting a gut!**** then after this great few months of having my best friend in the world, we need to leave to move to Georgia. crushed....balled my eyes out, the world was ending omgosh how could God take away my life? so I went to this retreat and had everyone sign my pillow case, this one advisor signed "Jeremish 29:11 In HIS grip" on it. I hung it on my closet and I was pretty much yelling and closest I've come to cursing anyone out one night, then i broke down, cried, and looked at that pillow case, and low and behold my bible was right next to me...so i picked it up opened to Jer. 29:11, and what do you know? I cried some more lol. but in those moments of crying I heard a very still voice that I'd never listened to before tenderly just whisper to me "I love you"
that's when i believe my real relationship with Christ started. but like I said I had always wanted a testimony. I got to GA and then i was a teen, everyone it seemed like had been taken out of and healed from drugs and sex, which, never appealed to me, but they had proof of how God had worked through their life. What did i have? a silly notion of a person being my life and loosign it? hmmm....so I was always like, God, I want a testimony! BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR!
lol, my family has struggled with health problems for the last 10 years. i didn't notice it so much in middle school, i mean i did but right now I only really got blown over with it since high school (when i moved to GA). My mom's breast cancer returned and my dad had several serious heart attacks and I don't even know what he had, but every other month we were camping out in a hospital room. Mom nearly died two times because of some rather idiodic doctors, and our world fell apart. then, she is in remission, at last! all is well, I looked at some pictures the other day, and she was so healthy and we were all, finaly at peace, what we had been praying for forever it seemed. then of course in 2003, dad had to have a stroke. a major one tha tknocked out his communication system...well that just blew my world up! I never lost faith, but I was definately mad. maybe I did, I don't know. but see, my father was the foundation of my faith, he was really big into theology, he stimulated my mind spiritually more than any other human on the planet could! we always just walked and talked about God. his library was full of books from all the major theologians, evanaglist, even secular philosophy, he was just amazing. and once again, my foundation intellectually. wha happens when that foudnation can't talk? my world crumbled....he has a violent nature (not beating wise) but he refused to go to doctors and in a nutshell mad life a living hell for mom, we would come home, dad would be gone and mom would be on the floor in tears not able to move or get up because of the emotional state dad had put her in, tryign to communicate with him took the energy out of all of us. and every time something started to look up and better....it would crumble again...so this year hits, dad is in MI, a place were he can get help and theoropy and heal and let mom heal here in GA. this is great! I am going to college with the mind at rest knowing things are ok now. HAHAHA another gut buster. my dad decides that he is going to live with mom and make her sacrifice her life again (literally) or he is not coming back to GA. we have a nursing home all ready for him which willg ive him speech and work theropy and get him out and back home quickly. but of course, he is goign to stay in Michigan and take away all support from our family. everything is looking up again and it is destroyed. funny thing was....I got my testimony, becasue through EVERYTHING God was holding me, my brother and mom together. we weren't always happy and pleasent, of course, we punched a good many milk jugs and mattresses lol. but He has been faithful and brought us through, I'm returning to them in the spring to get us emotionally and financially set. but yes, He is faithful, and very GOOD...ALL the time. and God used me and gave me strength...and it HAD to be His strength casue everyone told me how strong I was and I looked at them like they were eating a toothpick covered spicy fish....***like a fool*** but it was God, and He's worked through that and He's brought us out, and I'm sure it's no where close to over still...but I know He's working weather I can see His plan or not....and that...lol...finally :) is my on going testimony

Woah God is awesome.. And i will be praying for ur dad.. Glad u stuck to God through the ups and downs of Life....

hey, your posts caught my eyes when i saw testimonies. i love to hear testimonies and my pastor has been really getting peolple at are church to give testimonies. God is doing awsome thigs and its good to hear a testimony about someone coming to the Lord because sometimes those testimonies get over shadowed by healings and things like that. i am not dogging healings, infact those are very important when trying to show someone that God is real.
anywyas, i have a testimony about how i came to God. it is goling to be kind of short because i have to do my homework.
i was stuggyling with deprssion, self mutalation, sexuality, and an eating disorder. thats a whole lot of stuff hugh. it does not seem like its that much untill you write it all out. anyways, i was haveing a really hard time one day. i was thinking about commiting suicide and i really wanted to cut myself because at the time it made me feel better. i had a knife in my hand about to cut myself but i had something inside of me pulling me back. it was the worse feeling i ever felt, it was like was like there were two teams and both of them had a string tied to me pulling on me, ripping me apart, both of them wanting me to go on their side. i felt conviction of what i wanted to do and i didnt want to do it, but i also had a hudge self hatred towards myself and i wanted to slice up my arm i just wanted to kill myself. sounds nice hugh? well anyways thats what ti wanted to do. i felt like that was so wrong, so i threw the nife at my wall and droped down onto a yellow stool in my room and i cried out to God to take all of the pain away and i felt this release like a big burden came off of me. then i felt God just come on me. i felt this loving, peaceful, warm feeling and i felt better and ever since that day i never wanted or had the urge to cut of kill myself again.
thas actually not how i came to the Lord its a little after i came to him before i was fully delievered

Thats freaking awesome.. Glad u cried out to God and not to the blade..

Thats freaking awesome.. Glad u cried out to God and not to the blade..
thanx i like the verse that you put on there i am going to remember that.

Yeah i use that verse cuz i like it.. I like how There is so much hope in the bible and i never knew that verse exsisted... BUt yeah God is Awesome...

oohhh i have a testimony too.. but i dont have time.. someday soon! hope so

humm this is interesting we have two threads... for this ....

Yeah, I was waiting for someone to catch on...

Well, my parents are missionaries in Turkey. I moved there when I was six and lived there until i graduated from high school.
My junior year of high school i was just fed up with life in general, so i rebelled against God and my parents. I was really depressed after that. I knew everything I grew up learning about God and the Bible was true, but i could never really turn back to Him. Believe i "tried" many many times to live for God again, but it never lasted more than a week or two. FOr some reason I was under the impression that once I decided to live for God that I would always FEEL like living for Him. Well that was not true at all, so i fell away. I finally came to the US and started college 2 and a half years ago. I was extremely depressed. I missed my friends and i was kinda hit with a bit of culture shock coming back to the US. Alcohol helped me forget about all that so i drank a lot. That was alright, but i still wasn't happy, so i started smoking pot...a LOT of it. That made me happy. I would get stoned multiple times a day, so I was always feeling pretty good. Then this summer I went back to Turkey for a few weeks. Of course my parents didn't know about anything I had been doing, but they realized that I wasn't walking with Christ. As I was leaving my mom told me that she was praying that God would do WHATEVER it took for me to turn and start living for Christ. Well guess what, a week after I got back, my first day off work I was super stoned and tripping on some shrooms. I was outside going on a walk around the neighborhood with some friends and my body couldn't handle it. I just passed out. I feel flat on my face in the middle of the road and broke my two front teeth. Praise the Lord!!! My Mom's prayer was answered! That was August 3. God is awesome. He's filled me with joy and everyday teaches me something new. One of the most important things i've learned is that living for Christ is a commitment. There are days that I reallly do not feel like reading my Bible or praying, but that is the only way to grow, so i do it. THings are have been going great. God's grace is truly amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~ryan

i was 5 when i said the prayer- but i think for me- i was too young ??? when i was 12 i started rebelling against the rents + God- i messed up a lot- did a lot of things i regret with guys and stuff- when i was 13 i did something so stupid that i still cant forgive my self for- :'( - i regret that ill never be able to get back the precious thing i gave away- :( i kinda hit rock bottom- got saved around christmas time- almost one yr! :) its really awesome how the Lord talks to me now- and i get excited about reading the bible! :D
God rocks! ;)

Dang, if i had to write the testimony of my life i could write a whole book of the THOUSANDS of times MY BEAUTIFUL GOD has save me from evil... HE IS SO NICE WITH ME ;D dang, what should i write???

ok... here we go, a very small story of my life

i was born on yadi yadi yada, when my mom was just 19 years old she had this beautiful kid and she named him SAUL, i never met my biological father, but i really dont care, i lived with my grandparents, my mom and her 2 sisters, I always called my grandfather DAD cuz that is what he is to me, my whole family is christian (yeah, my mom screwed up, but that was just one time... and she had me ;D) as someone else said, i cant remember a special date when i gave my life to Jesus, but i give it to Him every day, everytime i can just to be sure :afro:

there have been several parts of my life when the devil have tryed to disstroy my life, when I was 10 one of my aunts was kidnapped, she was like a mother to me, she has been there for me always, so i got very deppress those days, they guys who kidnapped her almost kill her, it was a very rought time for my family, this whole thing lasted about 10-12 days, but those days while she was in that situation, my home was filled with dozens of people praying, preaching, lots of people met God when all this happend, HE ALWAYS HAS HIS PORPOUSES!

there is too much too tell, and i dont have time.. i will come back to finish this

yoooooooo, i kno im kina knew hear but i though id make a thread any ways hope thats ok. ne ways here goes, sometimes its inspiring just to hear what god has done in other peeps lives, so her is a thread where u jsut stop by adn leave ur testamonies, for all to see what god has done in your lifes so yeah.

ill start with my own:
well i gues its started in the old place where i used to live, i guess i just got mixed up with the wrong crowd and started to do stupid things that i shoudnt, and then i when i moved it got worse. once again i picked all the wrong friends, i started to hang around with reali bad ppl, and what more i got into there habits aswell, i started to get myself into alot of bad things, like shoplifting and lust. tha continued for a while and only got worse, i was lost in ths sin i coudnt break free from it. and to top it off i started to sink into depresson, i got the feeling that i was worthless, and nobody cared, that i could never do anyhting. i started to get suicidal, and my friends didnt help, they only make things worse, everthing made things worse until god came along. it happend at a retreat i went to with my youth group, it was only for the weekend but the one saturday night when teh holy spirit fell it was like i could touch god annd god touched me. we expienced him there (we bieng my youth group) it was amazing and coming back i could never go back, never turn away, all the sin and sturggle was gone god freed me, and plus he gave me a purpose to get up every morning and a reason to live, he tough me to put it all in his, my hopes my dreams my life everything and just leave it there. and with that i am truly @peace

It happend at a retreat i went to with my youth group, it was only for the weekend but the one saturday night when the holy spirit fell it was like i could touch god and God touched me. we expienced him there (we bieng my youth group) it was amazing and coming back i could never go back, never turn away, all the sin and sturggle was gone god freed me, and plus he gave me a purpose to get up every morning and a reason to live, he tough me to put it all in his, my hopes my dreams my life everything and just leave it there. and with that i am truly @peace

Awesome testimony~~~This part is kinda like mine...kinda sad that we have to have an experience like this to get close to God,huh? Well...I am so happy that you are now @peace! ;D

I thought a place to tell your sotries of God carying you through the hard times might be a good way to encourage others who might be going through the same thing.

Man, God has gotten me through so much! The most recent?...well today actually. I was getting back into the whole depression thing, and yesterday @ school this girl was hardcore pissing me off and being really controlling and I fell back into one of my destructive habits~ But today God gave me peace and a longing and yearning for Him. He forgave me and is giving me joy and...its all good now~! =)

We have a testimonies thread in Mars Hill and a Praise thread in The Garden of Gethsemane.

Everyone probably won't repost, so I'm pointing the way to these two threads so we can read what God has done for one another.:)

K. Here's a fun topic. Share the story of how you came to know Christ as your Lord and savior.

I was actually saved when I was three years old. As a preacher's kid I was exposed to christianity right off the bat. So, one year when I was three the teacher at vacation bibile school gave us the whole run down on how Jesus came here to save us from our sin and if we just let him into our hearts we could live forever with him in heaven. Then she asked if anyone of us wanted to do that. Sounded good to me so I raised my hand. So, we knelt down and prayed but when she got to the part about that I had sinned and so didn't deserve to get into heaven, I stopped. I couldn't pray that I was a sinner cause my daddy told me I was a good boy. This happened about three days in a row and so the teacher finally got fed up and told my dad that he needed to talk to me. He did and explained to me that even though I was a good boy I still had sinned. I understood and the next day I accepted Jesus into my heart. I don't know who that teacher was but I thank God for her.

Peace

You just instantly reminded me of the movie Saved! with the first line of the story.


But, we do happen to have a Testamonies thread already with the same purpose, in the Garden of Gethsemane. :)

Oh, see I don't visit the Garden all that much.

Sorry.

But, we do happen to have a Testamonies thread already with the same purpose, in the Garden of Gethsemane. :)
Actually, it was in the Hill, but thanks for the reminder anyhoo. :D

Thanks for the correction! Sheesh, this day is against me... nothing seems to be going right, except for two things.

I could have sworn it'd be in the Garden... but maybe I'm just getting more amnesic in my old age. :D

Last time I checked, we had one in both places.

I couldn't pray that I was a sinner cause my daddy told me I was a good boy.

Peace
I think it's cool that you had that much faith in your daddy!!

i couldn't find the one in the Garden, but i found this one, so it doesn't really matter. :)