Testimony- But GOD!!
In study our homework is to write out our testimony of how God saved us. Who we were before Christ and who we are after. I have written my testimony at least half a dozen times. This time though I wanted it to be different. I wanted it to scream BUT GOD!! I want my testimony, which is my life, to show the grace and mercy of God and not me.
My mother gave birth to her 6th child, which was me! My family at the time was a church going family. I was baptized as an infant according to the Catholic practices. Growing up I thought this made me a Christian. Our house had religious decorations. I remember reading the Ten Commandments often. There were multiple times in my life where I was in situations that I could have died in BUT GOD had other plans. I remember my mom saying "You must have had an angel looking out for you." I know now it was God who protected me for His Work and His plans. When my parents divorced when I was five so ended our regular church attendance. It probably ended earlier than that but honestly I do not remember. If it was not for pictures I would have to say we never went to church.
When I think back to who I was growing up and into my early adult years I am reminded of what the Lord hates, I did or was all of them. I had arrogant eyes, I lied constantly growing up, I shed innocent blood (for Jesus says if you look at a person lustfully you have committed in your heart Matt. 5:28), I devised wicked plans, I ran to evil, I was a false witness, and I spread strife.(Proverbs 16:16-17). I was once a daughter of disobedience awaiting God's wrath (col. 3:6). I was defiled in my mind and my conscience and unbelieving so nothing was pure in my world (Titus 1:15). I was completely dead in my sin. I was living for myself and no one else. I fought the fight for my way and what I wanted at the expense of all involved. I was in such denial of who I really was. When asked I claimed to be saved and even would give a testimony of how in middle school I went through First Communion class at a friend's Lutheran Church. Which I did do and really thought I was good!
Then one weekend in 2003 I went on a weekend with some church ladies. We had been in church for about a year and a half. This was the first church I ever attended regularly. We went to hear Beth Moore speak on the book of Ruth. I feel in love with the story of Ruth and heard for the first time that what I had done while I was young was not repenting and believing. That day at the conference I was so embarrassed to be there with ladies I had lied to and lead astray about who I was. I did later share with many of them the truth. I had learned for the first time I was dead and needed a Savior. I learned for the first time that Christ dying was not just for the holiday Easter but there was true real meaning to His death. He died so that I would no longer be a slave to sin but a slave to righteousness. I had fallen so short of the grace of God BUT GOD sent His Son for me to be reconciled to Himself! I still was not really sure that was all I needed to do. After all I did not have a relationship with Him. I just met Him!
In my infancy of my faith I trusted in my works and my treasures. I had a God plus faith. When issues arose I did not look just to Christ. I had a Christ plus something attitude. At times that something was anything from shopping, to drinking, to working out, to friends. I did not know how to trust the Lord with all my heart lean not on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). I was so wise in my own eyes and I did not fear the Lord (Proverbs 3:7-8).
I believe beginning in 2010 my understanding and fear of the Lord has grown. My love of Christ has grown tremendously. I see what He has done for me and I am thankful. I trust in Christ alone! My hope is in Christ alone! I live with the hope and desire to fight the good fight to finish the race, to keep the faith. I look forward to the day of glorification in which I will be perfected in Christ (2 Timothy 4:6-8). I yearn each day to know and understand more about Him. I have compassion on those who are dead in their sin. I have freedom knowing that it is not I who will stand in the judgement seat for my sins but that they have been washed snow white by the blood of Christ! My joy is made complete in Him and being a Servant of Christ's. I desire understanding so that I will know God's Word (Psalm 119:125) like I know all those old 80's songs. I want His Word to flow from my mouth like a river through the valley.
God has given everything I need. He has shown Himself faithful to me through difficult times His peace and His mercy surpass all understanding! The Lord is my strength and my song! I delight to do God's will. His law is written on my heart (Psalm 40:8)!
I am a changed woman because of Christ! He is my Rock and My redeemer!!
Here are most of the verses I referenced. I pray this encourages you to share your testimony. How has God changed your life? How have you changed with the washing of God's Son?
Maybe you have not been washed in His blood. Is it time? Do you know you need a Savior? Do you know you are heading down a path of destruction? Do you know the wages of sin is death and that no one is righteous not even one? Do you know Christ is the only way, the only Truth, the only Way to live?
Blessings!!!
Proverbs 16:16-19
There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
Matthew 5:28
but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Colossians 3:6
For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
Titus 1:15
To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
Ephesians 2:3-4
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
My mother gave birth to her 6th child, which was me! My family at the time was a church going family. I was baptized as an infant according to the Catholic practices. Growing up I thought this made me a Christian. Our house had religious decorations. I remember reading the Ten Commandments often. There were multiple times in my life where I was in situations that I could have died in BUT GOD had other plans. I remember my mom saying "You must have had an angel looking out for you." I know now it was God who protected me for His Work and His plans. When my parents divorced when I was five so ended our regular church attendance. It probably ended earlier than that but honestly I do not remember. If it was not for pictures I would have to say we never went to church.
When I think back to who I was growing up and into my early adult years I am reminded of what the Lord hates, I did or was all of them. I had arrogant eyes, I lied constantly growing up, I shed innocent blood (for Jesus says if you look at a person lustfully you have committed in your heart Matt. 5:28), I devised wicked plans, I ran to evil, I was a false witness, and I spread strife.(Proverbs 16:16-17). I was once a daughter of disobedience awaiting God's wrath (col. 3:6). I was defiled in my mind and my conscience and unbelieving so nothing was pure in my world (Titus 1:15). I was completely dead in my sin. I was living for myself and no one else. I fought the fight for my way and what I wanted at the expense of all involved. I was in such denial of who I really was. When asked I claimed to be saved and even would give a testimony of how in middle school I went through First Communion class at a friend's Lutheran Church. Which I did do and really thought I was good!
Then one weekend in 2003 I went on a weekend with some church ladies. We had been in church for about a year and a half. This was the first church I ever attended regularly. We went to hear Beth Moore speak on the book of Ruth. I feel in love with the story of Ruth and heard for the first time that what I had done while I was young was not repenting and believing. That day at the conference I was so embarrassed to be there with ladies I had lied to and lead astray about who I was. I did later share with many of them the truth. I had learned for the first time I was dead and needed a Savior. I learned for the first time that Christ dying was not just for the holiday Easter but there was true real meaning to His death. He died so that I would no longer be a slave to sin but a slave to righteousness. I had fallen so short of the grace of God BUT GOD sent His Son for me to be reconciled to Himself! I still was not really sure that was all I needed to do. After all I did not have a relationship with Him. I just met Him!
In my infancy of my faith I trusted in my works and my treasures. I had a God plus faith. When issues arose I did not look just to Christ. I had a Christ plus something attitude. At times that something was anything from shopping, to drinking, to working out, to friends. I did not know how to trust the Lord with all my heart lean not on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). I was so wise in my own eyes and I did not fear the Lord (Proverbs 3:7-8).
I believe beginning in 2010 my understanding and fear of the Lord has grown. My love of Christ has grown tremendously. I see what He has done for me and I am thankful. I trust in Christ alone! My hope is in Christ alone! I live with the hope and desire to fight the good fight to finish the race, to keep the faith. I look forward to the day of glorification in which I will be perfected in Christ (2 Timothy 4:6-8). I yearn each day to know and understand more about Him. I have compassion on those who are dead in their sin. I have freedom knowing that it is not I who will stand in the judgement seat for my sins but that they have been washed snow white by the blood of Christ! My joy is made complete in Him and being a Servant of Christ's. I desire understanding so that I will know God's Word (Psalm 119:125) like I know all those old 80's songs. I want His Word to flow from my mouth like a river through the valley.
God has given everything I need. He has shown Himself faithful to me through difficult times His peace and His mercy surpass all understanding! The Lord is my strength and my song! I delight to do God's will. His law is written on my heart (Psalm 40:8)!
I am a changed woman because of Christ! He is my Rock and My redeemer!!
Here are most of the verses I referenced. I pray this encourages you to share your testimony. How has God changed your life? How have you changed with the washing of God's Son?
Maybe you have not been washed in His blood. Is it time? Do you know you need a Savior? Do you know you are heading down a path of destruction? Do you know the wages of sin is death and that no one is righteous not even one? Do you know Christ is the only way, the only Truth, the only Way to live?
Blessings!!!
Proverbs 16:16-19
There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
Matthew 5:28
but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Colossians 3:6
For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
Titus 1:15
To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
Ephesians 2:3-4
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
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