All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
What Did God Use to Reach You
Would you be willing to share what God used to reach you with the gospel? Was it the Bible, a person, an event (good or bad), a combination of things or ???
God often uses testimonies to encourage and impact others. What is your testimony?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Gardener on
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Hey I found it on utube (well at least a trailer):
Hey David take a look at the garb on these people - the best era the late 70s early 80s!
This song brings back memories.....
Haha you should talk to Rod about dating chicks 12-14 years your junior! He can give you some pointers although I am sure you don't need it. Rod ended up marrying the one he set his sights on. Us young chicks are alot to handle hey Rod - but worth it!
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Permalink Reply by Carla on
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Linda Ruth, I own these movies.. lol
They are pretty dated.. ;-)
Michelle recommended them to me almost a year ago. :-)
They are good.
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Praise the Lord, amen. God is Good and He never gives up on us.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
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Praise God Choco. It's great to have you here
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Choco
God bless you for your open and honest heart in sharing this. I got the same 'message' from God only under somewhat different circumstance. The message I'm referring to is when you mentioned reading from that book that said ;
" The thing that hurts Me most is that My child doesn't trust Me. "
I have been guilty of that many times ( not trusting the Lord as I should ) and the Lord has really had to get my attention and remind of how it grieves Him when we don't trust Him to do the right thing instead of what we may have wanted Him to do. It's been over 30 years and I'm still ' learning'.
God bless you for sharing.
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LT
I grew up in a ' non christian' home. My parents were pretty morally good people but not interested in ackowledging God. At least that I knew of anyhow. I pretty much tried to do whatever I had the 'nerve' ( or perphaps 'stupidity' would be more accurate ) to get away with. I was there to encourage anyone who wanted to make fun of anyone with any good 'morals' , especially anyone who had anything good to say about God or religion. I just wanted to believe that if I convinced myself that there was no ' accountability' than I could do whatever I could get away with. Besides I believed that all ' christians' were phony and weak. I had several friends who were of the same persuasion and we ' encouraged ' each other in our pursuits.
God had to bring about circumstances that took me ( very literally) over a 1000 miles away from my ' support group' . He set me down in a little backwoods town in central Florida and began to answer the prayers of a church in Woodbridge , Va.
God first striped me of all my 'supports'. No job, no friends and was living in a place with running water but no other utilities.
He then proceeded to show me what a ' real Christian' was. He led me to a woman who eventuallybecame me ' spiritual mother'.
Thsi precious woman simply walked the walk. We can ( and I did) denounce phonies who only talked the talk , but there is no arguing with someone who walks the walk. And this precious saint did that.
Then at just the right time ( God's time ) she invited me to church. I had not been to church in over 12 years. I don't have any idea what the preacher even spoke on that night because I simply didn't care. But when she asked me to up to the altar with her I couldn't refuse. I didn't know what I was going to do when I got there but I went because she asked me to. Half way to the altar the Holy Spirit met me and the rest is history.
Praise the Lord and I know He blessed this precious woman who is now in His presence.
God bless
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Charles,
I praise God for His goodness, grace and patience. He kept on calling.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Amen - Praise God! Charles I do not know you personally, but I have always been fond of you and look forward to your counsel and feel like i really do know you.
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Amanda,
Even though we go experience horrible things in life at the hands of others we can rest assured that God loves us. He is very patient as He waits for us to surrender our lives to Him. He is a loving God Who extends us His grace, His mercy, and brings healing.
PTL!!!
Lord Bless,
LT
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This is the same Testimony I have as a blog. I will paste it here to allow it to join the rest of the Testimonies of God's amazing Love and Grace.
I will give you a short synopsis of my life in order to bring Glory and Praise to my King and Lord.
My life has been a difficult one, born into a family full of challenges. My father was a heavy alcoholic until his early 70’s; he stopped drinking only because his body could not take it anymore. He was kicking me even from the time I was in my mother’s womb. In his intoxicated state he would become extremely jealous and conjure up thoughts of my mother being unfaithful to him and claimed the child she was carrying was not his. He would abuse her physically even as she was pregnant with me.
I grew up watching my mother get horrible beatings. I was thrown against the wall time and time again as I tried to defend her. As I grew up 90 percent of my physical fights were due to me defending kids/folks suffering abuse by others. I understood as I connected the dots on my own that that came from being helpless to defend my mom when I was a child. When my two oldest brothers and myself were old enough to restrained my father and let him know that we would physically hurt him if he insisted on hurting our mom, the beatings stopped.
My dad was quite a womanizer and one of his other women could not have children, so he took my mother’s first born from her as a gift to his other lady. She raised him until he was 13 years of age. My mother suffered multiple beatings for trying to get him back. My oldest brother was reunited with us when we had to leave El Salvador. My two brothers and I were going to get drafted by the government or the left-wing militias when we were just kids, that is the reason we left our home land. I was also torn from my mother’s side when I was 2 years old and taken to live with my dad’s other woman but I cried so much that I was returned back to my mother’s side when I was 3. My dad had also given me to his other woman. I only remember crying during this period of time. I am the youngest of three boys and my sister is the youngest of 4 kids.
The placed I grew up in from the time of my birth until I was 8, was so bad that my mom would keep us locked up all day while she worked. We lived in government housing surrounded by thieves, prostitutes and people who practiced witchcraft. I was literally caged up from the age of 3 until I was 7 years old and started to attend school. My dad was never around. My oldest brother would get out through a hole on the roof, I could have done the same but I rather stay behind the wire fence and observe people. We had no Television, so the people in the neighborhood were what I analyzed and study.
I was extremely anti social and loved solitude. My thoughts were my world. One of the few times my mother allowed me to go around the neighborhood I went out to look for a kid that was a lot older than me and who used to beat up my brother. I found him near a cliff and without hesitation I rush to his side and pushed him. He landed inches from rocks that would have killed him if he would have landed on them.
Every single member of my family experience horrible demonic visitations, my mother suffered persecution of demons that pushed her to visit a couple of churches. We were not religious nor visited any church in a regular basis; we may be visited 3 different churches in a year’s time, but only visited each one once. As I speak to my siblings about the experiences I had with demons, we conclude that we all had the same experiences of demons surrounding us and taunting us while we were paralyzed with fear.
When I started to go to school and walked to and fro from school I started to run into the neighborhood machete fights, where body parts would come off flying. Gun fights were also a common thing. I remember watching this one particular man whom I had come to know loose his armed in a fight as I was coming from school. He screamed my name for at least 15 minutes asking for my help, but it seemed to me to be hours. I was probably 7 years old at the time.
My mother did all she could to try and make us into a family. She was the glue. Among the many horrible stories I could write you about is the memory of my oldest brother stabbing my second eldest brother centimeters from the heart, my dad shooting at us when we got into fights, my two brother and myself got addicted to cocaine as well etc, etc, etc…
I also experiences the horrors of a civil war (El Salvador suffer a 14 year war) and the exodus of so many from the placed we called home. Getting separated from my mother as it rained bullets from M-16’s as the military fought the gorillas was a common occurrence, as it was to see decapitated, mutilated corpses on our way home or on our way to the city. We left my country because the gorillas were about to draft us and there was no choice in the matter.
Mental, physical and verbal abuse was heaped upon me as well. My family moved to California when I was 10. My father had been here for a couple of years already, he had left due to the war as well.
Like most people that have experience such a cruel side of life, I was full of anger without even knowing it. Coming to South Central L.A. in 1981 did not help, but only created new challenges. Gangs were thriving back then. I was so accustomed to mayhem, pain, destruction that when God enter my life, after a while the absence of the crazy life I lived before, was something I actually missed, not consciously but unconsciously and God of course started the life long process of sanctification in my life to overcome so much.
I hated love and peace before Christ saved me. All I wanted was to become the best criminal ever, the best killer. A killer that kills killers. I did not ever want to hurt the innocent, according to what my twisted mind called innocent. I wanted to possess a coldness that would seem to the normal, everyday person, demonic to say the least. I wanted to be able to kill and laugh about it, but I was able to do this, only to those that take joy in oppressing the weak, in abusing the masses. My dream was to be able to kill someone with a smile on my face while doing it.
I gang-bang for a while but it was not for me, I would end up fighting the hommies most of the time, since they wanted to do pity crimes, many times against the people in the community. I would tell them that if they wanted to really do something, then we should rob a bank or hit homes in Beverly Hills.
The first time I went to jail, I was charged with 12 counts of armed robbery, but was only convicted of the one I was caught. The detectives were able to crack my best friend and he was convicted of two robberies. We were guilty of 6 of the twelve.
Everything I did had to do with a journey I took upon myself to take, at the early age of approximately thirteen, I would say. I set out to trained myself to become the perfect killer. I started myself training, by seeking knowledge in three areas. I perceived at a young age that street, book/academic and spiritual knowledge were essentials to be a well equipped killer. I sought the positive side and the negative side of the knowledge that can be acquire in these three areas of life. I was subscribed to Popular Science, Stereo Review, Hot Rod, Discovery and I collected National Geographic’s. At the same time I read High Times, a magazine that specialize in growing the best Marijuana. I study with the Jehovah’s Witness for three years (they never shared the Gospel to me - incredible) and was looking also to buy the Satanic bible (God had his hand upon me and I never found it, I did finally read it as a Christian and I am currently writing a rebuttal to it, along two other books).
My mom visited a few churches in her own search (growing up) but we never belong to any congregation and we were not religious in any way. While I concentrated on the positive experiences one can accumulate in my search for knowledge, all was well. I was never satisfied with the conclusions men came up with to the tough question in life, so I was always seeking. Studying history only made me angrier since I was able to read about the many abuses human kind has suffered in the hands of dictators and their like.
I remember feeling like I owned the world after getting my specialize associates in accounting. I had suffered so much and yet, here I was graduating, fluently speaking a foreigner language. So even the positive side of worldly knowledge worked against me, pride had taken hold of me. I dove into the negative side of those areas an I was almost destroyed completely. I ended up in a prison with 4 years to serve. I remember so vividly the moment the state bus pulled up to the prison - I thought in my mind (without a cinch of fear) I am home.
It was during my classification period in the penitentiary that I came to the knowledge of Christ. It was through my desire to know, to learn that my encounter with the almighty was arranged. During the classification period, which lasted 3 months, I was held in a two man cell, but was by myself 90 % of the time. The inmate that served as a librarian passed my cell and asked me if I cared for reading material. I asked him for anything non-fiction. I have always loved to learn, so I told him I did not want novels, which I do enjoy from time to time haha, but to give me something factual. He threw under my cell door 2 little paper backs, one is called, From Prison to Praise, it was the testimony of an ex-gangster who became a preacher. The other one was I think called Jack the Surf, ummm something like that and it was the testimony of a professional criminal/thief turned preacher as well.
After reading these two books, with my heart prepared by God already, one night the Lord came into my cell, no I did not see him nor did I have any idea what was happening then; but He stepped into my cell through the working of the Holy Spirit, He brought such conviction into my heart and mind (Which i fought for what seemed to me to be hours, as I tossed and turn on my bunk) that I had no choice but to fall to my knees weeping, sobbing as I repented of my iniquities, and made a prayer that so many have cried out, while the Spirit would tell over and over - you have sin, you have sin, repent. This was my prayer: If you are there, if you are real, please change me, I am sorry, I 'm sorry. I am tire. I am so tire, help me. In the midst of my sobbing I heard him say – I LOVE YOU. I WILL CHANGE YOU, as He imbraced me, as I had never been imbraced before. The peace that surpasses all human understanding came into my life that day. I have never been the same since then. As soon as I could get my hands on a bible I started reading it. I was led by the Spirit to start in the Gospel of John. There were times that I did not even want to go to yard time because I was so into the stories. I cried with the word as I got to learn about Stephen’s stoning and I laugh as I saw the power of the church. When I finally was allowed to come out to yard time, it was like seeing for the first time, I was truly reborn. I remember walking around (in a prison there is nothing to look at but gray walls) simply gazing at the clouds and the sky and a far away tree, as if it was the first time ever seeing them. It was awesome. I knew immediately that I was born for this, to preach and teach his word. When I finally got to go to a chapel service the Spirit led me to accept Christ in public, so I could break any shame that may come with being Christian in such a setting. I still remember that old servant that had driven miles through the dessert to bring us hope, the word, when he finish his service he turned on a small stereo and started playing “There is power, wonder working Power in the blood of the Lamb,” I sobbed again as I accepted Christ publically.
The almost three years I served were the best ones of my life up to then. I felled completely in love with God, the Holy Spirit and my Jesus. I would quickly get the nick name of the preacher everywhere I went in the prison system where God gave me favor with the official chaplins and the guards. The guards would anounce my daily bible study during yard time. I preached and taught the word for thost three years and have not stopped since. If I was to start telling you all the miracles and experience as far as God’s protection, healing and ability to supply our needs go, this would become a book, haha. The Word of God became my best friend. It has not been easy to overcome so much and like Paul I am not saying I reach the finish line by any means, but like my beloved Paul I leave behind the pass and press forward towards the heavenly call in my life. I counted all rubbish in comparison to the knowledge of Christ. At times when I talk about my pass in the context of a testimony I am amazed how much God changed me. From a person that though about smoking a joint with his 16 year old kid (I don’t have kids but if I had one I thought) to someone willing to die and live for Jesus.
Just amazing how much God changes us. Due to all the nonsense I had to endured and overcome I can now relate to so many. I can comfort them with the comfort God has given me. I feel comfortable by Gods’ grace and to his glory to speak to a scholar or to a homeless person on skid row. The experiences of working for some of the most powerful companies in the world and at the other extreme living in prison for years, has helped me become well rounded in many areas. Gods Spirit has been busy in my life turning all the nonsense to work for his kingdom and purposes. I also had plenty of unpleasant experiences in the body. As you know I am sure, our deepest hurts come from within the family as well as our deepest joys.
My father was a heavy alcoholic until recent years. He accepted Christ during our home bible study on November 4th, 2009. He was against Christianity until a couple of months ago. God is Awesome! My sister, brother and mother became Christians years ago, which leaves only my oldest brother from joining our family in Christ; I am sure that will be soon. God will finish what He started in my family. I have been in Christ for 16 years now and I am debating as to which school to attend to work on my Masters in Divinity.
God has been good to me. Praise Him!!!
8/31/2010
My brother called my mom after months of not knowing where he was at or whether he was alive or not and informed her that he is in Teen challenge and has become a Christian. He will be in Teen challenge (Rehab program) for 1 year and all he talks about now is serving God.
Thank you all for praying for Him. I mentioned him at the end of my testimony blog as being the only one pending salvation in my immediate family. Now my whole family is saved. God is good. Praise HIm!!!!
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