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 Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:41 pm
Alrighty here's mine.
I was born and raised as a christian, but in the later years of my life I fell under shady circumstances that made me doubt the existence of God, so I went and did things that I shouldn't have done. But then, some people came into my life and just the right times, too miraculous to be coincidence and through that and a new church, I was saved again. I still remain close friends to my old gang, but now I am uninfluenced by their beliefs and love them like I never thought I could. I grew, and found happiness, which always happens sooner or later when coming back to the arms of God.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:20 am
My testimony... Well, I grew up in a pseudo-Christian home... that is my parents claim to believe in Christ but they don't live it and as church was a source of argument for them we really never went. My dads controlling and my mom's a childhood abuse victim, and they have always fought and shouted and all this kind of stuff... as a kid I believed God hated me because my parents fought ... and put me in the middle. They would talk about the sanctity of marriage but they never even slept in the same room. My mom was in and out of psych care for much of my childhood and my dad was a cronic workaholic. I started trying to kill myself when I was about eight, because I figured God must hate me if he does this to me. I believed that everybody was a hypocrit, and all I could concentrate on was making my pain go away. In high school I became an overachiever to combat my low self-esteem, and a workaholic to boot. I was a cutter, I would hurt myself to punish myself for being less than perfect because my parents didn't acknowledge my achievements, and I felt worst of all that I could never be good enough for God.
I hated myself for not being perfect.
About a year ago, I can't really explain what happened. I just started noticing God, and it dawned on me that He loves me and wants me to work for Him... I always used to think He would never want me, but I started to see He has a plan for me... and best of all th HE LOVES ME!
I got baptised this March, which was huge because before that I was always afraid to share my faith with others.
Now I feel blessed to live each day and I know that My God will always provide all my needs, according to his riches and glory. He has made a new creation out of me... and I understand that the trials he's led me through till now have shaped the person he wants me to be. God is good.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:08 pm
Wow...I feel so at home among you all. I thought I was weird.
I grew up in an atheist family, and endured a very serious clinical depression from third to sixth grade, which literally stole my childhood from me. Then, recently...
I saw an angel. He led me through my baby steps toward Christ, and has been with me since then, occasionally appearing in a physical form as he did the first time. I'm being baptized on May thirteenth.
Along the way there were a couple stange happenings--minor prophecies and strange dreams with Bible verses I had neer heard inside them. But one of the most important things I've learned is that I don't need miracles in order to love God--God's existence is enough for me.
Not many people have epiphanic experiences, or clear-cut vocations such as that which I have been blessed with. But that's not really the most important thing. The significant part is that I have somehow come from depression and unbearable darkness into the light of God, and Heaven knows I am grateful.
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 2:03 am
Isn't it wonderful to come out of darkness like that! Can I hear an Amen?!
...God excites me! xd
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Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 7:32 am
mystia Isn't it wonderful to come out of darkness like that! Can I hear an Amen?! ...God excites me! xd Amen. xd God excites me too.
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:02 pm
Hello everyone, I just joined to day and thought I would give mine.
Well here it goes. I grew up going to a way out there Baptist church( And I'm not knocking anyone who goes to a Baptist church.This one was just a really bad place for me at the time.) when I was seven alot of my friends were geting saying they took God in there heart and did the whole things. So I was like I'll do it to, not understand it in the lest. So I did but as I got older nothing felt right about. It was like I was trying to walk in someone eles shoes that weren't mine.
We left that church when I was nine, haveing gone to it nearly my whole life. Me and my two brother and one sister along with my mom moved away. We went from South Carloina(sp?) all the way to Ohio. After alot of stuff that happened before we moved over the years(Which I don't really want get into right now.) My whole family stopped going to church. We lived with my moms boyfriend for a few weeks only to get kicked out and homeless. So we ended up living in a homeles shelater for nearly a month. Moving from church to church for a week. Then lived in a small house livign on food stamps.
Things for better but after everything going wrong I wanted nothing to do with God. We moved back home after eight months. Then God really taught me a hard lesson that took me awhile to get. He will helps us through every bad to the better on the other side. Cause six months after we moved home my mom had been dateing this wonderful guy who she married, and thanks to him we are in a real good place now.
We moved to Ga got a house and started going back to church. At first I still wasn't sure if I wanted anything to do with God, but he did put me in the right place at the right time. We started to go to an Amazing church that slowly but surely really brought us around. The month of August of the year 2003, out of pure boredem having run out of books to read I picked up my moms copy of the first Jesus freaks book. I read it with in a couple of days and it really really opened my eyes, and got me thinking. After talkign to my parents and pastor I layed down my life for the Lord. In full for real gave him every bit of my life. My Baptism was held on August 10th of that year on my 13th birthday.
Every since then life has been great. I now am 16 turning 17. I Help with V.B.S each year, I Teach one class every week. Also sub for another teacher when she is not at church. I have come a apart of the church which help save my walk with God.
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Sorry it was long but I figured I'd give the whole story the best I could.
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Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:23 pm
i've been away for awhile...
anyway here goes: my life was like so many other christians. i was born into a christian family, and grew up learning the bible. i am so thankful for that. i never really knew God until i went to Word of Life christian summer camp. there, my life began to change. i realized that there is more than just being a good girl and going to church. i really knew nothing about our God. at camp, i realized how much more there is than that. that winter, i went to my first retreat. that was where i first met the Spirit. i think i can say that It came down to meet me at that retreat. i felt so happy, i cried so hard...it was the happiest night of my life. after that, i started going to all the retreats our church offered. i started paying attention to sermons. i began to know God. and now, i can happily say that, although i still have a way to go on my spiritual journey, i have come to know my God.
i'm presbyterian protestant, by the way. i really love my church. the youth pastors are awesome, and people in the youth group really seem to know our God. i really am thankful that i am a part of the church.
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 3:34 pm
Desirel Wow. All of your testimonies are breathtaking.
Our God is awesome.
Here's my story.
I was not born into a Christian family. My mom believes in God & Jesus, but does not know or follow the scriptures. My dad is a scientist, who is openly Atheist.
I went to church as a social event. I had friends there, and we got to run around and play games. Sure, I believed in God. I just never really knew him, or wanted to know him. I was too preoccupied with school and boys and being cool. Sure, I prayed before dinner, and I liked my pastor, but I was a child of little faith.
When I was twelve years old I was raped.
After this, the spirit of fear consumed me. I was afraid of going out of my house, and I hated school. I was afraid of men, adults, talking to people, and things that moved too fast.
Instead of running to God, I ran in the other direction.
I would cut myself, and I was fascinated simple physical pain was compared to emotional pain.
I got into the 'wrong crowd' because I could relate to their sadness. They were calm, and sad, and safe.
The devil took so much advantage over the rape. I was convinced that I weighed to much. I was convinced that I was hideous, and that even if I did come to him he wouldn't understand what I have done.
The devil told me that I could never tell anyone about the rape, to bury it inside because no one could ever understand how I feel.
BUT. Never put a period where God put a comma,
In the 10th grade, a complete stranger to me (who is now my friend and mentor) invited herself to sit with me in an art class. She complimented my painting, and she made my face turn bright red.
Every day she got me to speak more and more. Eventually, she convinced me to go to church with her.
I can't say I was changed right away, because I wasn't. I went on an Encounter trip with her. (a church renual weekend getaway)
I had no clue what impact it would have on my life.
When we were there, they asked us to write down everything we could remember hurting us in our past. They did not force us, but they did challenge us to share the hurts with a leader. I shared mine to the same senior girl and cell leader who asked me to go with her.
For the first time, four years after, I told someone I was raped.
The support I got from her was unexpected and unbelievable.
So then I slept.
The next day, during the Purity discussion, I told my cell group my story.
And they told me they still loved me. So did God.
And then I repented.
The last day of the Encounter was just as powerful as the fisrt. I forgave. I forgave him for hurting me. I forgave my parents for not knowing. I forgave my friends for not asking me why I left. I forgave them because God had forgiven me.
And then came the commitment.
I gave my life to God. I kept nothing to myself. I am a cell leader now, with a healthy cell built under my mentor's.
God has poured his blessings over me, and I have killed the giant of fear.
Oh, and I am happier than ever.
You my sister are a living, breathing example how the result God can have on someones life through situation and through people. You are a true hero for what you've been through and wow....that's all i have to say.
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 3:37 pm
kyina wow, all your testimonies are amazing. here's mine:
i used to be a "hard-core atheist," if that exists. i was very technical, and didn't believe that God could possibly exist, since i thought that He was invisible and invisible things/people are nonexistant. however, i'm really thankful that my mom used to literally drag me to church every week three years ago, and although i hated it, i slowly learned to believe in what the pastors were saying.
believing in God, for me, was really a gradual process, but two sorta important events helped me to believe more. once, i couldn't find my choir music, and since i accompanied on piano for the choir, it was a big deal. so i prayed (this was when i half believed in God) that God would help me find it before the next morning. so i look for it for like 2 hours, then go to sleep, and i still didn't find it. but then my dad knocks on my door and he found my binder in his room! i was like eek
the second event was shen i was in the shower and i was bored, so i half-prayed that if God existed, then he'd give me a sign. so i look at my right hand, and i see the word "yes." (btw, now when i look on that hand, i can't see it anymore.) so in my head, i'm like ok, i believe in God now. 3nodding
but it took me a couple months to actually get involved in church, since i don't really like to talk to people i don't know. i only got involved in our youth net and a cell group in the summer of 05, and my spiritual birthday is on january 20, 2006, and i've been glad God entered into my life ever since. Your emotions are so adorable. blaugh Good job finding him......well i don't think "Good job" does justice but hey.
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 3:39 pm
Inconsistent Moon I've always been around God, since I go to a Christian School, but I haven't really recognized him untill this year really. When I was young I just thought, "Yay! I'm a Christian!" and then completely forgot about God to go play with my friends. Unfortunately, my friends made fun of me a lot. All I remember doing in my childhood is crying when I was at school. Then when I got home, I would be happy because no one would make me cry there. I failed to realize that if I prayed, then maybe God would give me strength to stand up to all the people who were making me miserable. So the years progressed and I still didn't really recognize him. In 7th grade, I got my heart broken, and then really turned away from God. I got very depressed and I didn't act like myself. I even forgot to pray. Days, even weeks went by when I didn't think of God. Then I went to a Christian Camp that is up in Yosemite. That place seriously changed my life. God worked in me so much there. I remember haveing to leave the sermons because I was so overwhelmed with emotion. I could also tell that God was working in other's lives too, because I saw others outside of the worship area crying aswell. If I hadn't gone, I probably wouldn't be as close to God as I am today. Then yet again I fell away from God, and yet another place saved me. It's up in Arrowhead. There I got my heart broken again. I cryed myself to sleep the first night I was there. But the next day I realized that I was crying for selfish reasons and that I couldn't live without God. He was always there for me and would always be willing to listen. God is like my best friend now. I can tell him whatever I'm feeling and he'll just listen patiently. I do admit, sometimes I feel very alone, but then I remember that I have God as my bestfriend, and that he'll always be there for me. With him in the picture, I'll never really be alone. I'm glad you found Christ and got him to help carry the burdens of life with you. It's so neat to read peoples testimonies......it just fills you with awe.
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:49 pm
Here is my testimony:
I grew up in a Christian family, went to a Christian school.
Nothing to extreme about it.
I accepted Jesus into my life in grade 2.
I remember the moment better than i do any other childhood memory.
I remember sitting on my bed knees folded underneath me praying the pray that would change my life.
I went to a Christian school up until the 5th grade.
Without realizing that I was forgetting about Christ.
Sure, when people would ask I'd tell them i was a Christian.
But was I really anymore?
Then the LORD Almighty, gave me the best gift that has been the greatest blessing a girl could get.
Two friends.
Not just any friends.
Friends, that just happened to be Christian.
At first, our friendship wasn't that God focused.
It's kind of funny actually.
We didn't really talk much about God.
A little bit here and here.
But not much.
During grade 7, that's when my story turns from sweet to...well not so sweet.
My father discovered he had Colin caner.
Doctors said he had only 2 months to live.
It was hard to deal with, but i dealt with it.
But then in grade 8 my friends and I were all were hit with a powerful kick in the but from God.
All in different ways we suddenly had this drive, this passion that still burns with in us 4 years later.
My passion for Christ came when one day in my english class a girl told us how she was half hindu, half Christian.
For some reason that struck a nerve.
Then she said how in the hindu religion they reach to love everyone and put down Christianity in the process.
Suddenly a bomb exploded in me.
The nerve of that girl!
Putting down God and His Word!
...Wait....could i exactly call myself a Chistian.
From that point on i knew i had to make serious changes in my life.
And i did.
But as soon as i found Christ again the devil decided to tempt me.
All started in my first year of highschool.
This temptation was in form of a boy.
Not just any boy.
No.
A supposedly Christian boy that liked me.
Wow.
Imagine that.
Someone liking me.
All of a sudden i wanted to rush into a relationship with him.
I asked him to be my boyfriend and he said yes.
I told myself that I needed to keep this relationship going or else I would never be able to get married.
I became obbsesed with keepin git going so ignored anything he possible did that would hurt me.
I gave him excuses.
I feel in love with the good in him and refused to look at the bad.
I didn't know that he only wanted me for his repuation and for sex.
Since I grew up in a Christian family I alwasy knew the rule "No sex before marriage".
What little miss innocent me didn't know what what came in between sex.
He alwasy asked for sex.
And I alwasy said "No."
I wanted to give myself to that one special person.
After all, God wanted me two save it for the one he planed for me to marry.
So to keep my boyfriend around....well lets just say hands below the belt.
But of course, this would only satitify him for so long.
We broke it off and I was crushed.
I went from not understanding his treatment of me, to hating myself, to hating him, to hating myself.
I was getting know where.
This all because of a boy who was a waste of time.
But suddenly I started to feel dirty.
I felt more worthless that spit.
One day I broke down to my friend and told her everything that i had done.
What detestable acts I had commited (To some that might not be that big of a deal but to me it was. I was a good little Christain girl and so were my friends)
Instead of turning her back on me she comforted me.
The fear of rejection, the fear of loosing one of my best friends went away.
I ask God for forgiveness and he opened my eyes to a new relization each day.
Now I am completely open and honest with my feelings thanks to God and my two best friends that accpeted me with all my flaws.
Now I am more focused on Christ and I can get enough.
Now I have higher expectations in boys. =P
Now I am more mature and can relate to more people.
Now my friends and I are continuing to grow in Christ.
Now I am letting my life song sing.
Oh...and don' think I forgot about my dad.....I am proud to say trhough the prayer of co-workers, family, his friends, my friends, both non-Christian and Christian, he has lived more than tow months...he has survived 4 years longer than they said he would.
Praise Jesus!
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 9:54 am
Well, I was born and raised Catholic for my entire life, but we rarely ever went to church. Yeah, there were a few times we would go to mass at St. Charles, but I never really enjoyed it there. I didn't understand what it was all about, and it felt entirely too ritual-based to me. So, most of the stuff I learned from the Bible was self-taught, but what I knew was very limited. When I started to read the Left Behind books in the middle of junior high, I decided I wanted to start going to church again, and once more we went to St. Charles. I really didn't like it. I just felt really out of place there. They would all recite these things that they knew by heart, and I would stand there dumbfounded and not doing anything.
Well, a friend of mine invited me to go to a Baptist church with her in town during eighth grade. I asked my mom about it, but she said no, and that if I wanted to go to church so bad I could go with her to the Catholic church. She thought I just wanted to go to a Baptist church because of my friends, but that was far from being the truth.
Well, one night, my mom and dad were having an argument over something pretty stupid. Dad's a gun nut, and he wanted to buy more of them while my mom didn't want him to. I had never heard them arguing so bad before, and it really got me down. I have no idea why, but I had wished I had never been born.
Well, I'm kinda embarrassed about what happened afterwards, so I'll kinda skip it, but my sister came upstairs and talked to me. She decided that maybe I really should start going to church, to a church that I myself wanted to go to. She talked to my mom, and my mom agreed, so Dad and I started going to church. I believe it was February of 2003 or so that I accepted Jesus into my life after realizing that I didn't really know Him at all.
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