The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with Joy - Tell us one short story here!

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Huling on February 26, 2009 at 10:53am

Well since you mentioned me I'll share a short testimony.

About 11 years ago.I was suffering with a severe bout of depression. I had seriously contemplated suicide. I truly could see no point in living. At the very same time My Mom and step Dad had become Christians and they were talking to me about Jesus and giving me materials, books and tracts about Him. And inviting me to church, bible studies. etc.. What impressed me was that they didn't judge me even though I was a heavy drinker a smoker and various other sinful behaviors. They simply shared Christ with me and I could see the difference that He really made in their lives.They had been living a similar sinful lifestyle before Christ changed them. I could see the difference so I took the message they shared seriously. It finally hit me: The gospel of Christ. His death resurrection, my sin my need of him His love for me. I was all alone in my bed praying and trying to have faith in him. I had little at the time. But He heard my cry. I will never forget that night. Jesus came in and I could feel it. I believed in Him from that point on. He opened my eyes. Things suddenly became clear to me. That was just the beginning and its been a wild ride ever since.

Ryan

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Permalink Reply by Malinda Euell on May 20, 2009 at 2:57pm

Ryan I praise God for your deliverance from depression. I love how your parents had enough of Christ in them to invest time in loving you and not judging you. That's the true expression of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm happy for you!

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Permalink Reply by Frankie Joubert on March 3, 2009 at 10:11am

One of the truly great times that my wife and I saw the hand of God move was on a church camp that we attended. My good friend Marius (a drummer) organized the event for us, as he is quite involved in the music industry in South Africa.

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Permalink Reply by Malinda Euell on May 20, 2009 at 2:59pm

Wow! Your testimony shows that God is still sovereign over disease and sickness in our bodies. He is a God of miracles! Awesome testimony!

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Permalink Reply by Malinda Euell on May 20, 2009 at 2:55pm

Kenny thanks so much for sharing your testimony. It is always encouraging to hear what God is doing in others' lives. Well, God has done so much for me, but I will share a brief testimony as well.

I work for AT&T, a large international company. I only handle the small business side and collaborate with the retail stores for that. Well, with the recession, our company laid off over 12,000 employees. In addition, I had a 6 month span of not hitting my quota. AND YET, God has kept me safe from being laid off and I have not lacked in anything financially. Just last month I was able to, by God's grace, over exceed my quota and receive recognition. Last month I stopped stressing, worrying, and complaining, and became still and shonuff, witnessed the salvation of God from my drought at work.

Thank you Jesus for being true to your word! You do supply all of our needs regardless of the economy, our fears, or our doubts. You will be God period and I love you for that!

Be blessed my Gottalife friends and know that whatever you need or want, God can supply it. He will be God, enjoy being His child!

Malinda

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Huling on May 21, 2009 at 10:32am

Amen ! Melinda and thanks for sharing. It is encouraging to hear others testify of God's goodness and mercy.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Hudson on July 15, 2009 at 3:50pm

Doug Hudson said…I was driving through Twin Cities GA two nights ago and stopped at a friends house briefly, just in time for a torrential downpour of rain. As it let up and I ran to my pickup, my friend commented about a rainbow. I looked down the street and saw the end of one at the intersection and pointed it out to her and we marveled at the sight. I drove that way on my way out of town and as I came to the intersection, the rainbow shrunk down and was a small arc that started on one side of the road and arced to the other side. I have driven in lots of rainstorms and have never seen such a sight!! It just coveered the distance from one side of the road to the other side and traveled with me for approximately three miles as I drove towards Portal, GA. I was in awe, spine tingling laughing and crying awe of this tiny rainbow that traveled ahead of me!
This God we serve is amazing!!
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Permalink Reply by Clark Raulerson on March 1, 2011 at 2:28pm

Since I'm new I will start by giving the story how I came to be in Christ. First some background, I grew up believing in God and that Jesus being the Son of God and that he died for us on the cross so we can be saved. Beyond that our family was not involved in any church except a few visits around the holidays until I was 12 until 14. So the seeds were sown.

 

By 16 I was open, wide open to hear about Jesus. I would go on the side of my mom's house to pray and ask God why was I created, for what purpose. I would pray about many things since I was disillusioned with life in general. God put it in my heart to seek Him and that is what I did. Proverbs was the first book I read, it was a breath of fresh air. I wanted to know God but was not interested in most churches we went to. Even reading The Children's Bible Story was good---the concepts were there though only a narrative of the Bible. I read through the whole OT section. I had a strong sense of (((GOD))). How else to put that?

 

And a few months after turning 17 (this went on for about 9 months) I went to the Halloween Ball on UF Campus. While being there I was disgusted, this reminded me Israel in the desert dancing around the golden calf. I knew this was unusual for me, for a teenager esp., but I wanted to know the God who created me. So without saying a word to my older sister and brother I turned my back and walked home 10 miles on Halloween night. I remember asking God for protection on that crazy night.

 

Once home I laid on my bed and began to pray about my whole life. And so I told God I wanted Him, to know Him, "but not as those religious people." Yeah, that's what I said. So I thanked Jesus for dying on the cross for me, and that He rose from the dead, and He is Lord. Immediately a new joy flooded my inner being. My soul was filled with joy. I did not know my spirit came to life but that is what happens.

 

The next morning I perceived God wanted me to get out of bed. I had no idea why but got up anyway which was unusual for me esp. if I stayed up late. Soon as my feet hit the floor a young couple knocked on my door to ask me to a Home Evangelistic Bible Study later that week. Their names were Jim and Pat. Later they became friends of mine and Jim finished (as a way of putting it) what God had started. He led me to a greater understanding of Christ Jesus and the Word in general.

 

So I went to my first Bible study and for the first time I met people who were different---one of the things I prayed about. They seemed to know about spiritual things. The home Bible study was an outreach with Crossroads Church of Christ. That church was good for the time but I eventually left. So did Jim and Pat who moved to Pensacola, FL.

 

Anyway after a month I went forward to be baptized. They recommend I count the cost and showed me how I was making a commitment to Jesus Christ. I did not even bring up how I prayed the night before I met them though they knew I was open. And so on that Friday night I was baptized in Christ after confessing Him as Lord. 

 

I grew and changed. Teachers in high school noticed a difference since before this I was the usual pot smoker. My mind cleared up. My face cleared up. No one opposed my decision to follow Jesus Christ. They did have reservations about the church I was with. I told them no one has to go to Crossroads to be a Christian, that I belong to Jesus Christ. I did not know at the time the reputation Crossroads had. It was mostly persecution, but part of it was Crossroads over time got the case of the big head and became controlling. For me, though, Jim was discipling me. He already knew the scriptures before Crossroads. And I learned early, instinctively, who to go to and who not to. And after two years Jim and his wife Pat moved to Pensacola with their two new born twins.

 

I'm leaving a lot out. But there were good relationships and bad ones. If anyone knows of the International Churches of Christ then you know what I mean. This was not as bad but God led me to the right brothers and sisters for friendships and I learned more from them than the church itself. Fellowship was big there. I guess you could say I was with an organic group of believers by default. But after 4 years I left to join the Army and the rest is history. It was after my time in the Army when so many people were leaving Churches of Christ to worship at home. The idea of house church began there but there was so much more to be restored to us.

 

I've been with Charismatic churches, Calvary Chapel, and see all the more how organic church life is so much more and springs out of our relationship, connection, identity, in Christ Jesus.

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Permalink Reply by Clark Raulerson on March 1, 2011 at 2:36pm

Hey Ryan. I read part of your testimony. I didn't know this page was in response to your testimony. I just added my own. I will find out to navigate through here soon.

 

Great to hear how you came out of depression and alcohol. Better yet you had seen a change in your family and that's one way you came around. Makes a difference when Christians, in your case your parents, are not there to judge you but to help you. There's a big difference. Praise God!

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Permalink Reply by cunneda on June 25, 2011 at 6:25pm

Peace

 

The cry rings out --- Peace. Peace.
Behold;....... for peace,
I had great bitterness:
Blood on the hands;
Gall on the tongue;
Unforgiveness in the heart.
For the way of peace;
I did not Know .......
Could not know.

Mischief came upon mischief;
Suddenly, in the thick of shadows:
A light ....... Overwhelming Light!
I was without strength -- speechless.
Hubris; perfidy exposed ....... slain.
Inchoation ....... efflorescense ....... metempsychosis:
Promise pierced my soul.
A fresh mind; a pure heart; a new life;
Suddenly Awake!  ....... Astounded!

The Spirit is Life...and Peace,
Flowing from Him; through the Body;
Unto the world ....... Unrecognized;
Unrequited .......It must be so;
"For the fruit of righteousness
Is sown in the peace of them that make peace.
And He who formed the Light
And created the darkness.
Will keep that soul in peace.

 

My verse is my testimony and the witness of my love; He took me from a jail cell almost 40 yrs. ago, and transformed every detail of my life. I am now the father of 6 and the grandfather of 10, with a life so full of His joy that sometimes I have to pinch myself just to make sure I'm not dreaming. Walking with God is truly a wonderful, wonderful life.

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Permalink Reply by Jimmy Nduruchi on June 26, 2011 at 11:45am

Oh the peace from God that surpasses all human understanding! Oh the joy, when God’s children are able to experience that peace the comes only from the Father; the peace that the world yearns for, spending and being spent in search of this hidden treasure that only the cross of Calvary bought for those who would believe in Him that bore that shame to overcome sin and death and conquer the whole world for Himself! We live in times when peace is not spoken about, let alone being felt. Nations are worried about things that they cannot even control. Tragedy looms upon the face of the earth, as lots of resources are ploughed into researching the wrong things—drugs and diseases and deadly weaponry and human physiology among others. Oh that they put all those resources into searching for the unfathomable riches in Christ Jesus; that they researched on love, mercy, grace and kindness.

Arise O Lord, and teach Your children how to live; that they may stop worrying about death and destruction that must come upon them with their filth and stiffnekedness. Pour down Your Spirit from above, that the world may be filled with the glory of Your divine knowledge. Let the shakeables be shaken that those who are rooted in the Rock my bend down and pick the pieces; that the potter may do His work over again on His vessels.  O good shepherd, take hold of the lame and tired lamb; the one that needs peace, and hold it in Your warm embrace as You lead others on this straight and narrow that sometimes becomes so dreary.

 

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