Renungan Harian - House Of Peace

Moody Abraham

Psalms 40:5
Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works, which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward.….if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

I was born in a small village in India to Abraham K. Abraham and Aleyamma Abraham. My father named me Moody, hoping that someday I will be an evangelist like D.L Moody. Even though my father was a schoolteacher, he spent most of his time preaching to the people about the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ. My parents taught me about the love of Jesus Christ and the importance of living a life that is pleasing to Him. I knew the love of Jesus Christ and accepted him into my life when I was nine years of age. Ever since I made that decision, the devil was after me. He has tried to destroy me several times.

One day, it was a very hot summer afternoon; my parents told one of our workers to clean our open- well. The well was about thirty feet deep. The worker was emptying water, tying a bucket on the end of a long rope. He was pulling the water for a long time and because of a good spring under the well, he was not getting anywhere. I told him to tie another bucket on the other end of the rope and I will climb into the well, you pull one bucket up and I will fill the other with water. He thought that would be a good idea. I climbed into the well after talking to my father about the idea. While I was filling one bucket, somehow, the other bucket got stuck on the pulley on top. The movement of the rope made the bucket to fall on to my head. I didn’t feel the pain because of the shock. I thought everything was spinning around me. My dad climbed down on a ladder and took me out from the well. The doctor told my dad after the surgery that it does not look very good. If he makes it through a week, he will be fine. Every night my dad knelt by my hospital bed and prayed for me. After a week, Dr. Benjamin, the surgeon came to my room. He had a smile on his face. He told my dad that I would be fine. God saved me from that terrible accident.
Two years later, I got sick. I had boils all over my body, from head to toe. I was in pain I couldn’t lay down on the bed, I couldn’t bend any of my joints, I couldn’t hold anything with my fingers. My dad was in a Seminary in North India. My aunt took me to different local doctors. They gave me medicines to drink and to apply to my skin. Taking a shower was almost impossible. When I took a shower, blood started to come out of the boils. I knew how Job felt. My aunt took me to a hospital. The doctor said I have nephritis- infection of the kidneys. The doctors, husband and wife, were relatives of ours. They were kind to me. They tried everything to make me feel better. Nothing worked. I knew the end was near. My aunt, Sara, put my head on her lap and prayed and I felt the teardrops falling on me. She knew she was about to lose her nephew. I was getting weak. Someone suggested to my aunt to take me to a bigger hospital. I told her, “I don’t want to go to another hospital. I just want to go home and die peacefully in my own bed.” I didn’t have a choice. My loved ones took me to a modern hospital with all the latest medical equipment and doctors whom are trained in western hospitals. I spent almost a month in that hospital, nothing happened. While I was in the hospital, my father was studying in a Bible Seminary. He had a dream one night. He saw that I was really sick and I was saying, ‘I want to see my father before I die.’ The next morning, he left his Seminary to see me. When he came, I was really sick. He talked to the specialists. They said I would need new kidneys. My kidneys were damaged because of the infection. There was only one hospital in South India that did kidney transplant at that time. It was too far and we couldn’t afford the expensive surgery. My dad took me home and he, along with my mother and a few believers, started praying for me. God completely healed me. The devil failed to get me. Our family moved to the U.S.
God saved me several times from bad accidents. One time I was driving from Washington DC to Oklahoma with another family. It was around 2:00 A.M. We were all very tired. I went to sleep while I was driving. When I woke up, my car was already in the shoulder. I looked to the right there was a deep ditch. In a second, I would have been in the ditch along with the others. God was there to help me. I went to Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania to do rafting, in Youghiogheny river. The river runs through the mountains of Western Pennsylvania. We had fun in the rubber raft going over strong rapids all morning. Late in the afternoon, after lunch, we all decided to swim in the river. I can swim, but I am not an expert swimmer. Somehow, I got into a whirlpool. Next thing I knew, I was going around and around deep inside the river. I tried everything to come out. I knew I was trying in vain to come out. God saved me from there. God gave me an idea. Instead of trying to go up, I went down to the bottom and crawled a few feet away from the whirlpool. Once I was away from the whirlpool, I got out in no time. The devil failed again.
When my wife Lali was pregnant with our second child, she complained about pain in the backside of her stomach. I took her to the hospital. They ran some tests and couldn’t find anything. It was late in the afternoon. They took her into the operating room. Around 9:00 P.M., one of the doctors, Dr. Indu Mital came out of the surgery room. She said, “I have bad news for you. Your wife has acute pancreatitis, infection of the pancreas. She is going to die either tonight or in the next few days.” (My wife was only six months pregnant then God, through the Holy Spirit helped me in that terrible time and gave me the strength to make right decisions. I felt the comforting presence of Jesus Christ that might. Just because I insisted, they put my baby in the incubator. He was a tiny little human form. He weighed close to 1 kg. He was only big enough to fit in the palm of a hand. They kept my wife in the intensive care unit, on a life support system in one floor of St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan and my son in another floor in an incubator. There were IV stands, monitors, tubes, wires and respirators scattered throughout the room. My wife lay unconscious for days.
Dr. Khan and her team worked very hard on my son in the pediatric ICU. I believed God sent Dr. Khan and Dr. Tyagi to help us. My son, Shawn, (the name Shawn means gift from God) had all kinds of problems. My wife was unconscious for several days. One day, when I was holding her hand, she moved one of her fingers. That was the first lively sign I experienced after she went in for surgery. I asked her, “can you hear me?” She moved her finger again. I was very happy. They removed the respirator. She started to breathe by herself. The doctors were very optimistic. They said it looks like she is going to come out of this problem but she will be in a wheelchair. She will not be able to perform her everyday chores. The God I believe on, He is plenteous in mercy. He provided her strength to walk out of the hospital.
I experienced God’s love and healing when we went through sickness and sufferings. I believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and sicknesses. Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions, and was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” The love and care we experience from others will only last for a short time, but God’s love is everlasting. From all these experiences I went through, I can tell you that God sometimes let us go through pain and sufferings to teach us His love and care towards us. When nobody is there to help you in your painful situations, God will be there to help you. The Bible says, “God sent his only begotten son,” Jesus Christ to save us. “He is our refuge and strength in our time of trouble.” When your friends and loved ones leave you and try to cause problems in your life, He will stay with you and comfort you. When the doctors cannot cure your sickness, He will heal you completely. When you face violent storms and difficulties, He can give you calmness and peace within you. When you say I cannot take it anymore, He is there to carry the weight for you. When people falsely accuse you, He will say I know your heart more that anyone else. When you say, I cannot trust anyone, He will be there as the greatest friend you can trust. “He will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Dear reader, would you give Jesus Christ a chance in your life? Would you ask him to come into your heart? He can take away all your problems and can give you peace and salvation. Just pray a simple prayer. “Jesus, please come into my life and forgive me from all my sins and I accept you as Lord of my life”.
When I went through all these problems, I did not know that God was preparing me to be a testimony for His glory in others lives. Whenever I get a chance I go to different churches and testify to them about the love of Jesus Christ and how He still heals people from terrible sicknesses when doctors cannot help us. God gave me opportunities to testify about His love and healing in Africa, United States, Asia, Middle East, and South America. I am not doing enough for what Jesus Christ has done for me. He saved me from eternal hell and saved me and my family from different sicknesses and problems. I just want to glorify the name of Jesus Christ for what He has done for me wherever and whenever I get a chance.
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As I rang in the New Year in January 2004, I just didn’t feel “right.” I couldn’t understand why, I mean, I ‘d graduated from one of the top universities in Florida two years prior, I was gainfully employed, and I was engaged to the only man I’ve ever loved, but I was not happy. Things weren’t right with my health. In the months prior I’d had pains, strange sensations, and sounds coming from my chest. By the New Year, I’d developed a cough that just wouldn’t go away.

I was 25 years old and thought that I was indestructible, as so many young people think before something hurts them. I believed in God at that time and accepted Jesus as my savior, but I did not necessarily have a foundation in Christ.

I went to see my doctor. After a month of x-rays and CT scans, my doctor determined I had a large mass in my chest cavity which “Could be cancer,” she said.

After a failed attempt at a needle aspiration biopsy (AKA “closed” biopsy), my PCP explained that, to help determine whether or not I had cancer, I would need to have a serious operation so that the mass could be examined.

Instead of celebrating Valentines Day 2004 with my betrothed, I was diagnosed with Stage II Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Just as the doctors had to cut open my chest to biopsy the tumor, my heart felt ripped open and exposed. My doctor told me that I had a 17 X 9 CM tumor in my chest cavity.

I was discharged after a few days at the hospital. I was in pain and had a hard time breathing as I lie in my bed that night. I began thinking about death and became scared that I would not make it to see my next birthday. In the darkness of my bedroom, tears rolled down my face and I called out to my Lord.

“Lord,” I cried, “I can’t breathe, I am in pain, and I’m scared I’m going to die–I’m not ready. Please help me to breathe and help me to get through this.” In the darkness, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit who said, “Everything will be okay. There will be ups and downs, but you will get through this,” He promised.

My fiancée was sleeping beside me. I whispered to him that everything was going to be okay. In his sleep, he smiled and excitedly said “That’s good!” I was immediately able to breathe, the pain in my chest ceased, and I fell asleep. The next morning, I got out of bed and told my mother, with tears of joy in my eyes, about my experience.

God guided me to an Oncologist who specialized in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (he is a Christian!). I went through Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments from February until August 2004. I got sick, lost my hair, and felt tired. The radiation treatments burned my skin, but I never feared death again after that night.

My cancer has been in remission since August 2004. I am so thankful for the man God sent to me. I love and will cherish him forever for fighting the cancer with me and for making me laugh during those hard times. He took care of me in so many ways and seeing that made our relationship stronger and made me love him even more. On October 2, 2004, God saw to it that I married that fine man.

I’m glad I had cancer.

The previous statement may sound crazy to some people, but if not for cancer, my relationship with God, with my husband, and with my family and friends would not be as strong as it is now. I would not have a story of faith and courage to help someone else who is going through something similar. I know the power of prayer, and I speak with my Lord often. God loves me despite all of my faults. He loves EVERYONE. All you have to do is talk to Him, pray to Him, love Him.

God has continued to bless me and my husband. My life has changed–I know I live and breathe because God wants me to. I love life, and I am happy unlike I have ever been before. God is my Father and my best friend. He is truly great and merciful!
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Jan 25, 2005 I am diagnosed with stage IV lobular carcinoma breast cancer. Wow! I was 39 years old. Too young to go through something like that!! This past year has been a whirlwind of God’s grace, mercy, and healing power. I started with chemo, at that point the tumor was inoperable and needed to shrink before I under went surgery. The amount of prayer I received from my church, family, and other believers was absoultely overwhelming (in a good way!) I was anointed with oil and laid on of hands. (James 5:14) As strange as this may sound I knew God was going to heal me so that I would not need a mastectomy. I had a peace but yet was still scared. Satan would of wanted nothing less than for me to turn my back on God.

(John 10:10) I under went 8 treatments of chemo ( now I understand why they call you a survivor!) I had an extremely difficult time with that. Through all that God proved Himself faithful to me over and over again. Three weeks after my last round of chemo I went through another PET and CAT scan. The results read,” the hypermetabloic lesions identified in the left breast, left axilla, and the left supraclavicular region have resolved.” “There is no evidence of malignancy.” My oncologist was thrilled and quite surprised with the results. I saw the surgeon and he said that he could not do a lumpectomy because there was no lump. He leaned toward the mastectomy due to the fact of my family history and a high possibility of recurrence. He also said to do what your heart tells you. It was time to stand on the promises of God. I had memorized 26 Bible verses of life and healing. Talk about really stepping out on faith. I do not doubt God at all. James 1:6 Some may say that I read into that final report. Whose report shall I believe the report of the doctor or the report of the Lord? My radiologist thinks I do not understand the seriousness of this cancer and that I am quite ****ish to not have a mastectomy. I did go through 28 treatments of radiation. He told me that he would not be surprised if I was to have cancer again this past Christmas. (I didn’t!) One doctor believed that I would be dead in 7 months. In the human eyes and medical field it is absurd for me not to have a mastectomy. 1 Peter it says that by His stripes I am healed that doesn’t mean by his stripes I am healed only if I have a mastectomy. Yes I could still have a mastectomy and I know that Lord would be with me, but if you know without a shadow of a doubt that you heard from the Lord why put yourself through that. Some may say that this process is not complete without a mastectomy. The Word of God says, “I will not die but live and proclaim what the Lord has done.” Psalms 118:17. Also “Every Word of God is flawless, He is a sheild to those who take refuge in him. Prov.30:5 That is what faith is all about. Faith does not make sense to someone who may not believe.The Bible says to prove God. And let me tell you I will prove Him until my time here on earth is done.
I had a mammogram last week. Went back to the surgeon. There is some thickness that he says is due to the radiation. However, he wants me to do another test. I will because I know without a doubt that I am healed. He could not see anything on the ultra sound. The doctors look at me like I have 3 heads when I tell them about the healing power of my God! Don’t get me wrong I would never tell a women not to have a mastectomy. That is something between you and God. I will continue to stand on the promises of God. There are so many wonderful promises. It was time for me as a Christian to put them into practice for my life. I had another doctor tell me that most women who die of breast cancer have a strong faith. Satan will use any means to make you feel that you have not heard from the Lord and to make your faith unsettled.
I turned 40 last month. Never thought I would be so excited to be 40!
“AndI will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:13-14. To God be the glory great things He has done and will continue to do!
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The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. Proverbs 20: 5. It has been said that to be careful what you ask for you just might get it. The Bible says; ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7. What a blessing to know that whatever you ask for you will receive it as long as it is in line with the word of Jesus Christ. Did you know that we have powerful tools we can use which is our speech, and minds. The Bible tells us over and over again that if we ask for anything in Jesus name we shall receive it.

Lets look at James 3:4 it says Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are drive by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. It says at Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 17:20 it says A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

It is also mention in 1Peter 3:10 For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Wow!!! Is that wonderful or what to know that Jesus listens to your prayers. Now look at Mark 11:24 it says
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that you Father in heaven may for give you your sins.

Do you remember the fig tree? You can read it at Matthew 21: 18, but look at Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea; and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Now look
At Ephesians 3:20 it says Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

We all need to know; By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not make out of what is visible. Hebrews 11:3 Take a look at Matthew 12:36 it says But I tell you that men will have to give account of the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. At Proverbs 28:23 it says He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue. So please build up a strong faith in Jesus Christ, and keep praying and asking in Jesus name.

Love Always,
Your Sister in Jesus Christ
Mellody Davis
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The Lord has blessed me abundantly throughout my life. During my studies, when I was sure that I will fail for my exams, God help me and I passed with very good marks. For my 10+1 exams, I was sure that I will not be promoted to 10+2 because I did my exams very badly and the previous year, thery were very strict in promoting students to 10+2. The Lord helped me, that year the Head Mistress was getting a trasnfer so she said that all the students should me promoted. Praise the Lord! During my engineering also he has done wonders.

I always used to ask God for a very good husband from my 10+2. When I was in the last year of my college I had to do my project work. I went to a computer center and joined there. Actually I didnot want to join there because I had one very near my home but something was forcing me to join there. There God showed me my life partner. He was my computer sir. I was getting attracted to him and he also used to talk to me. I asked God to help me. After 6 months we both shared our minds. I had to keep this a secret for a long time because I was sure that my parents wouldn’t allow. I prayed and prayed for God to help me. He also was looking for a better job. We tried very hard for a job. Many marriage proposals were coming for me but by Gods grace nothings was suitable. He went to Middle East and tried for a job there, but it was in vain. By that time my parents had doubt and I told them everything. My father was very abgry. He did not speak to me for almost 2 and half years. I prayed and prayed and finally he got a job close to his home. God then changed my parents mind. After 6 months we got married. Praise the Lord!
We love each other a lot. God has blessed our family life. Now it has been almost a year. We are praying to God to bless us by giving us children. I know that God will hear our prayers.
Trust in God and pray to him. Talk to him. He will answer our prayers. Have faith in him. Ask God to give patience. He is our Father and nothing is impossible for him. Praise the Lord!
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Though I accepted the Lord as my Savior around age 7, my parents, 3 younger brothers and I moved around too much to become established at church or anywhere else. 12 schools in 13 years.

The top priority in our household was to stay out of my parent’s way. Dad had a nasty temper and Mom was overwhelmed with having 4 kids in 5 yrs. We never heard “I love you” or got hugs from our parents, but there was plenty of abuse to go around. Leather belts on bare behinds sting terribly but ridicule and sarcasm hurt even more. I was sexually molested by an uncle repeatedly. I felt pretty worthless a lot of the time and had little reason to think differently. This is what’s known as a “textbook setup” for lots of relationship trouble as an adult.

I retreated to my bedroom frequently as a teenager for many long hours, sewing cute clothes and stringing teeny-tiny seed beads into great long necklace ropes. It was therapeutic somehow.

Though I did well in school, there was no money for college and loans were never mentioned as an option. I did however win a scholarship to go to beauty school for free based on an essay that I wrote. So I went and I did very well, though my parents indicated that hairdressing was beneath me.

Over the next few years, life got tougher. A brother died in an accident. Someone slipped and told me that my dad was not my biological father. By the time I was 34, there would be two marriages, 2 divorces, and two children. And a year at business school, paid for courtesy of NYS taxpayers while I was on welfare in between husbands. It was at business school I met and became fascinated with the computer. Being on welfare was humbling but taught me how to budget.

Professionally, there would be many jobs, either doing hair, selling department store cosmetics or office reception work. There was also a lot of partying, a lot of dating and a lot of self-absorption. I was a work-out queen and had abs of steel. Everywhere I went, people would tell me I looked like Julia Roberts. Once I focused on hairdressing, my career became quite successful…130 clients and about $13-1500 a week coming in. My self-worth was defined by my looks and my reputation as a good hairdresser.

God was nowhere in the picture (or so I thought) and hadn’t been for over 20 years. I had even begun to doubt His existence. I was becoming cynical and bitter in other ways as well. But I was having fun, doing what I wanted, working hard and looking good.

Then something strange happened right before I turned 40. My hair started falling out, for no apparent reason. In 3 months, pretty much all the hair on my head, eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair simply fell off. The diagnosis was an autoimmune disease called alopecia areata, and I had the most severe type – alopecia universalis. Sounds almost pretty, doesn’t it?

Now, I could lose a leg, or an eye or my hearing maybe, and it wouldn’t have affected me as deeply. But my hair? This shook me to the core. What would I be without my long, thick wavy auburn hair? The hairdresser with no hair? A bald Julia Roberts???

I fell to my knees in my little apartment and cried to God to help me. I knew this was going to change everything, and I knew I couldn’t get through it without His help. I asked forgiveness for doubting Him, for leaving Him and for my sinful lifestyle. The pain of my hair loss and the consequences of my sin culminated that day in a recommitment to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I found a church home and family and craved His truth.

During that time I quoted Phillipians 4:13 a lot. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And He did. It wasn’t easy doing hair all day while mine was falling out, and later, when it was all gone.

But by God’s grace, I found great wigs wholesale and even sold a few here and there to cancer patients and a woman with this same disease who had heard about me though the idea of selling wigs as an adjunct to my business seemed too bizarre.

Though I had sworn off men because of the likely rejection I’d face when they found out I was wearing a wig, THIS was the time the Lord chose to bring a most special man into my life. He placed his life in Christ’s hands shortly after we met. And a year and a half later, we got married. And quickly, before he had the chance to think about what a bald old lady with wrinkles would look like.

My hair grew back, we put a salon in our home and had a baby girl. Then about half of my hair went again. I had hoped it would be a one-time incident – sometimes it is. This second bout proved that I would most likely cycle in and out of hair loss for the rest of my life. Though more annoyed than devastated by it this time, I dragged my wigs out of storage and thanked God it wasn’t a more serious disease.

Then a series of amazing things happened – things non-believers would call coincidence (but we know better!). The Lord used a good friend’s experience with breast cancer and a host of other things to bring me to a decision.

Now, about 10 of the 18 hours I work every week are devoted to cancer patients, women with alopecia areata and others struggling with medical hair loss . I take no profit on the sale of these wigs. If they didn’t know it before I met them, they learn within about 15 minutes that I deal every day with what they are facing. If someone can’t afford a wig, my church will buy her one (local residents only).

I fit these women with beautiful, stylish “alternative hair” while gently making the point that they will gain an entirely new perspective on what beauty is over the next few months. There are tears and laughter, anger and prayers, shaving and primping. And hopeful smiles. I give God the glory every chance I get and get more hugs in a week than I had the first 18 years of my life. What an incredible honor to be used by God in this way.

I still sew, but now it’s silk linings into wigs that irritate sensitive scalps. And I still string beads, but now with silver, gold, crystal, semi-precious stones and vintage beads. Women have been donating jewelry that can be taken apart and born again (pun intended!) into a new creation and then sold to support the wig ministry. The #1 seller is The Salvation Bracelet. It’s been very rewarding to design a web site promoting this ministry click here and I hope to get my testimony on there soon.

My abs are soft now but so is my heart. My 3 yr old daughter enjoys parading around the house in Ma-ma’s hair and shows great interest in hairdressing. My 18 yr old son just changed his college major…for the 3rd time…to computer science. My oldest son has a legacy from my biological father – schizophrenia. My husband and I rely on the Lord every minute of every day for strength with that.

Most importantly, it doesn’t matter who my earthly father is. My heavenly Father has redeemed me, loves me, provided me with clear purpose for my life and has brought everything together for good. Because Jesus suffered for me, I don’t have to suffer anymore. Leaving my pain, shame and guilt at the cross frees me from the mess I had made of my life. With the clean slate provided by the blood of Christ, I can now get past myself and help others in their suffering. Praise God for taking our broken-ness and making something truly beautiful with it – a reflection of Him – a reflection that has nothing to do with an image in a mirror.
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A true story about the author’s grandson.

On Sunday morning May 30, 2004 at three o’clock, the shrill ringing of the telephone awakened a grandmother from a deep sleep. The voice on the line asked. “Do you know a young man by the name of Eric Webb?” Cold chills over took the grandmother. She immediately sensed that something was very wrong. In a shaky voice she replied, “Yes, he is my grandson, has something happened?” He has been in a very bad accident and you need to go to the local hospital immediately.” No more information was given…

She quickly began to dress while praying that her grandson would not be hurt too severely. Eric’s grandfather had heard the phone conversation and was up and preparing to leave for the hospital as well. In a very short time, they were on their way.

Within less than a mile from their home, they saw the ambulance and police car lights flashing in the darkness. A policeman on the scene directed them to detour around the accident and provided them with some information. There was just Eric’s vehicle involved and no one else was hurt. He also said their grandson was at the hospital and a helicopter had been called to air lift him to a larger hospital in Missouri. due to the extent of his injuries.

Upon arriving at the local hospital, they were met by a nurse who escorted them to a small waiting room. She said, “The helicopter is here and the doctor is preparing him for transport, then he will be in to talk with you.” The grandmother called some friends and they arrived at the hospital soon thereafter. They waited with the grandparents in silence but joined them in prayer that God would spare their grandson’s life. They had lost his mother (their daughter) in 1997. Within minutes, the door opened and the doctor entered. He introduced himself and with a handshake began telling them the sad and horrifying extent of Eric’s critical injuries.

“We don’t hold out much hope that he will live” was the statement that rang in the ears of the grandparents for several hours. The doctor continued with his explanation in a very concerned voice. Your grandson has multiple broken bones, his brain is bleeding, both lungs have collapsed, and his face is severely damaged. If by some miracle he survives he will need a complete reconstruction of his face. He is on his way to St. John’s hospital in Springfield. Missouri. He said there is one slight ray of hope; he was fighting us when he was brought it. He is sedated now and on life support for the trip in the helicopter.

As this was a Sunday Morning, there would be many Prayers going upward for Eric.

The friends said they would call everyone to request Prayer at their respective Churches. They would also contact their Pastor and would have a special Prayer for him during the morning service.

The grandparents went home and quickly packed an overnight bag, called some out of state relatives to give them the bad news and asked for Prayer. Also a prayer Request was sent on the internet to a world wide Prayer group.

Then they were on their way to the hospital where Eric had been flown. By this time, the sun was rising in the Eastern Sky and a beautiful Lord’s Day was beginning. As they traveled the seventy miles from Harrison, Arkansas the grandparents were in constant prayer and asked for strength to face the days ahead. They both knew that it would be a miracle for Eric to recover but they also knew that “All things are possible through Christ who gives us strength.”

Upon arriving at the hospital, they went quickly to the Trauma Emergency Room and were told by the receptionist that Eric was in the Trauma ICU. Instructions were to go there and inquires could be made via the telephone beside the door of the ICU.

The grandmother picked up the phone and a nurse asked, “May I help you? “I am Eric Webb’s grandmother and we have just arrived.” She was very kind and with concern in her voice said, “We have just gotten him from the ER and I am in the process of cleaning him up a bit; just have a seat in the waiting room and I will talk with you shortly.”

The grandparents continued in silent prayer until the nurse came in. She dropped down on her knees in front of them and confirmed what the local doctor had said earlier. When asked what the prognosis was at this time, she explained; “He is in serious condition but he should live and as to what extent of damage, we’ll have to wait and see.” She then asked if we wanted to see him for a few minutes. He was in an induced coma and continued to be on life support.

The grandmother was somewhat prepared as her sister was in a similar condition from brain surgery in December. As they entered the ICU, Eric was motionless and of course all the tubes (One in each side draining fluid from his lungs, one in his head to drain blood from his brain and all the other tubes, wires, etc required for the machines that were connected to him). His face was not disfigured as much as they were prepared for. He had a broken nose, stitches in his right eye lid and several small cuts and bruises on his face. Eric’s grandfather was overcome and began to weep silently as the grandmother prayed over him asking for a healing miracle and for the stoppage of blood from his brain. They were only allowed to stay for a very few minutes and was told the time of the next visiting hours.

There were tornado warnings in the area within an hour or so following the visit and all visitors were asked to take refugee in the basement of the hospital. While there the friends that were with the grandparents in the early morning hours arrived and were asked to join them in the hospital basement. They were welcomed and supportive in giving a report of the abundance of prayers in all the local churches for Eric.

The storm passed by without spawning a tornado and all hospital visitors were allowed to return to the patient rooms or to the waiting room. Before the next visiting time (Every four hours) the Pastor and his wife were there and several of Eric’s friends.

The grandparents gave up some of their time with Eric so that all who wanted could see him and say a prayer for him. There were many Prayers for healing said for him that day..

Hospitality rooms were provided for a minimal fee. Through the help of Eric’s nurse the grandparents made reservations for the coming nights as they wanted to be near their grandson.

After the last visit with Eric that night they retired to their room. They were still much in prayer but had a more positive feeling that their grandson would make it. They had a fairly good night and were up fairly early the next morning. They had time to get something to eat before the first visiting time of the day.

The next two days were pretty much the same with little or no change in Eric. Lots of friends and relatives came to visit and Prayers were continually said on his behalf. The last visit on Tuesday night, Eric was awake and could answer some of questions. He was coming out of the induced coma and his color was improving. The grandparents visited the length of the time allowed before going to the room for the night. At approximately 11:00 P M, the telephone rang. The grandmother answered and a male voice said I am from the ICU, there is “Nothing wrong.” Eric doesn’t remember you being in to see him tonight. He would like to see you now.

They wasted no time in getting dressed and down to ICU. The life support had been removed and he was breathing on his own. The nurse stated, “He is doing well and is responding. The tubes that I didn’t remove, he did. The grandparents spent about thirty minutes with him and when he complained of pain, he was given medication to make him comfortable. When he was relaxed and going to sleep, they slipped out and went to the room for a peaceful and thankful night.

Eric continued to do improve and was taken from ICU to a regular room on Wednesday. He still had the draining tubes in his lungs and the one in his head but the fluid was slowing down as well as the blood from his brain. In the meantime, a plastic surgeon was planning to set his broken nose as it was somewhat crushed and needed to be straightened. The cuts and bruises on his face were healing rapidly. There was a noticeable healing power taking place within Eric’s broken body. He had broken ribs and both collar bones were broken with one shoulder dislocated.

Within the following two days all the tubes were removed and he was able to be sitting up in a chair. The surgery on his nose was completed without incident except he had a reaction to the anesthesia and was disoriented for most of the night following the surgery.

The next day he was able to be up in a wheel chair and be moving around in the hospital, even had a short stay outside in the sunshine.

Eric was well enough to come home exactly one week and a day from the date of his accident. The doctors were not sure just how long it would be until all the broken bones were healed but they seemed certain he would never have full use of his right arm due to the shoulder injury. The grandparents never lost faith and continued to pray for complete healing.

The follow-up visit to the doctors was remarkable with everything showing much improvement and healing better than expected. There was no time frame given as to when he would return to work, but within six weeks Eric had gone back to work. There are no noticeable scares on his face. No one would ever know his nose was broken. The doctors may not admit a Miracle but the grandparents and Eric know better. His team of doctors was wonderful but divine intervention was the ingredient that Made Eric whole again. Eric’s family will always believe a Miracle is why he is alive today.

Eric is a 23 year old handsome young man and says he his thankful every day what the Lord has done for him
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Often as Christians we face a nagging fear. “What if I am not saved?”

The question is uncomfortable, unnerving, and for many it is downright terrifying! For some, the question itself is a nuisance. “Of course I am saved,” they tell themselves. They accepted Jesus Christ, all is forgiven and now they can live their Christian lives pretty much as they please. If this is you, you need to reconsider.

Others will take the question differently. If this question is downright terrifying to you, we need to talk, or it will paralyze your faith and destroy your walk and testimony. You are going to have to get past being paralyzed or you will end up like the man who hid his talent saying to the Lord in the last day, “I knew you to be a hard man….” The end result was not pretty!

It is time to get past the fear of not being saved. It is time for you to be free to walk in your calling boldly. Lets get started…

“How do I know I am saved?” Lets take this question head on. The question itself is based on a false premise. There are so many shades of meaning in the word “know” that come into play. Sometimes we can “know” something that is false. That will not make it true.

The Bible gives ample evidence that there are people who will “know” they are saved, only to find out they are not! I do not wish to be one of them. Do you?

“Am I saved?” is a question that needs to be asked.

Here are some people who think they are saved but are not. Jesus warns that in that day MANY will say, “haven’t we cast out devils and healed the sick in your name?” His reply in the Day of Judgment? “Depart from me you who work iniquity, I NEVER knew you!”

These people operated in the power of the Holy Spirit. That was not denied. But they did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. They were busy building their own church empires. They were not “laying their lives down for the brethren” as they claimed. They were carnally minded in a spiritual mission. Jesus warns, “the pharisees seek the praise of men, therefore they have their reward.” That it. Its over when its over.

Is this you? Are you doing the work of God for a paycheck? If so, In doing the work for a paycheck, is your judgment being impaired because you are afraid to alienate your financial base? Have you generated income streams and publicity schemes to “promote the gospel,” but find yourself being the recipient of adoration and loving it? These are warning signs. Ignore them at your eternal risk!

Am I saying you cannot be genuine if your living comes from the Gospel? No. Paul says it is fitting that those who preach the Gospel should live off the Gospel. However, doing so in modesty and integrity are key. If you have had to sell of a portion of conviction, or integrity to maintain your position as teacher and evangelist or pastor, take heed.

There are others who are not using the Gospel as a career or path to stardom

For many “Am I saved?” is the million dollar question! It is the core of their conflict! The devil says you are evil and unloved and God doesn’t even WANT to save you or accept you. Well, the good news is that 1 – its the devil speaking to you, and 2 – he is “a liar and the father of it”, says Jesus Himself! Now, if the devil is telling you God does not want you, and has not accepted you, what does he gain, if in fact the devil already has you??? As we have seen, often the opposite is true. The devil tells people they are saved when they are not – and so, your question is magnified . . .

Here is the Biblical answer my friend. A doubting heart will not “know for sure” you are actually saved until Jesus calls your name and says, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord!” Jesus anticipated the need for His people to be assured of salvation when He said, “Fear not little flock (insert your name here), it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Think on this for a moment….. God is not stingy with His blessings. The Father, delights in giving you His Kingdom! God takes great joy in giving you and I the greatest gifts! We don’t have to read the fine print to Him to persuade Him to give us His Kingdom. If you are struggling with fear, Matthew 6:33-34 is a tonic for your soul and a map for your feet.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Seek first the Kingdom of God AND His righteousness. Do not be paralyzed with fear. Go on your way with God. He will be faithful for the rest.

We ‘know’ we are saved by faith. Our faith is not in our ability to ‘feel’ saved. Our faith is in God. He tells us what we must do to be saved (repent and believe and be baptised for the remission of sins and you shall be saved.) Do those things.

When unbelief and doubt come in, tell them to go back out because your Father says you are saved because you believe in Jesus Christ and have devoted your life to being about His business. Then, simply assume you are a son or daughter of the Most High God and act like it in your dealings with God, with others and with yourself.

The truth is (don’t hit me :) ) “How do I know I am saved?” is a very self-centered question. Take the focus off self, and place it on the Lord. Your life is His mess to clean up, not yours!

When doubt comes in be very clear in addressing it, saying, “Whether I am saved or not, I will serve Jesus Christ my Lord and Him only will I serve!”

Then simply serve Him, serve Him, serve Him. Be about the business He puts in front of you day in and day out. Be diligent in His Word to hear His voice. Be open and honest in prayer. God will take care of the rest. Stop looking over your shoulder and put your hand to the plow, looking forward. Let God clean up the mess you left behind and don’t be condemned in it. God will take care of you and the assurance will just be there in due season.

If you have chosen Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Master, be encouraged and be BOLD! Ask God for boldness. Read Psalm 103 before you go to sleep tonight and meditate on it. God loves you. He always has. He always will.

Psalm 103:10-18
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
We know we are saved by faith, not sight nor feelings. When we obey the Lord, we know we will have our reward. Now go on! Lets be about our Father’s business and enjoy the journey. He will never leave you nor forsake you in it, for faithful is He who has begun a good work in you to complete it unto the end. Even so, “Come Lord, Jesus”.
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“And they overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of
their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11).

Your testimony is about what you have experienced – what you have seen and heard.
A real Christian can talk about their experiences with God through Jesus Christ. We
as Christians are called to a relationship of real communication with the Son of God.
God comes to live inside us. Things change. God deals with every person in a
different way. The more Christians that come forward and talk about how God has
intervened in their life, the more people will begin to realise that God is for real,
miracles do happen, and prayer works. This will inspire others to seek God and turn
from their sins so that they too can know the peace and satisfaction that comes to a
person who truly gives their life over to God.

Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the end of the earth.” To be a witness to Jesus is to speak and communicate the things
that you have seen and heard in your life, that happened because of Jesus. Its the
Holy Spirit who makes Jesus real to us, and makes Jesus real through us.

God’s plan is for people to hear the good news that Jesus Christ payed for their sins,
and conquered death for us through rising from the dead. After believing, people
should go on to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, and then testify to others what
God has done for them.

One of the greatest testimonies was from a power pagan emperor who came to know
that the God of Israel was indeed God over all. King Nebuchadnezzar actually said in
an announcement that went across the whole known world:

“I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has
worked for me.” (Daniel 4:2).

Like Nebuchadnezzar, we should seek to glorify God all over the world. Now, with
the advent of the internet, it is possible to do this all over the world with very modest
resources. I want to encourage YOU to do your part in spreading the fame of our
God by writing down your story and sharing it with us all through the medium of the
internet. I have done this myself and my story, although not especially dramatic, has
reached thousands of people around the world and continues to provoke responses
from readers in the form of e-mail messages. I personally have collected scores of
testimonies from all over the world, many of which can be read on my Christian testimonies page.
Many people are getting challenged and uplifted by this. You too can share your
story with the world through this site and others with a similar purpose. You can
reach people that no one else can reach.

The Bible says, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His
deeds among the peoples!” (1 Chronicles 16:8). If you have been rescued by God
from your sin and the consequences of it, one of the ways you can express
thanks to God is by telling others of what happened. Writing your story down
will equip you to share it verbally with others, and will enable you to reach at least
one person per day for the rest of your life for the Lord.

Other Considerations on Sharing your Testimony

If you have really drawn near to God, you will be like Peter, who said, “For we
cannot but speak of the things we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20) even when
he was persecuted and threatened on account of his testimony, and the power of the
name of Jesus that he was operating in. The most important thing to testify of, though,
is not physical miracles, as wonderful as they are, but the way God has redeemed
your soul – bought you out of the hand of the devil for himself. The Bibles says in
Psalm 107:2, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed
from the hand of the enemy”. Its a wonderful thing when we can honestly testify
that we now know God has forgiven our sins. If God has redeemed you, then you
should say so – publicly. And one of the best public forums today for this is the
internet.

What if your testimony is not so great?

Your testimony does not have to be super dramatic or unusual to be effective. Not
everyone can relate personally to a sensational testimony. If on the other hand your
testimony is weak because you can’t point to a change in your life, could it be that you
have not really consecrated your life to God properly? Are you trying to living with
one foot in God’s Kingdom, and the other in Satan’s?

The Bible says, “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of
Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of
these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
(Ephesians 5:5,6).

Is your heart still in love with this present age, this world system? If so, it would be a
great time to decide to live for God and to get serious about it, because none of us
are guaranteed a tomorrow. Perhaps your testimony is weak because you have not
given attention to the wonderful truths concerning the Holy Spirit and overcoming
Satan that can be found in God’s Word. I have begun to explain these things on my
site elsewhere, for example, here. God wants your testimony to be strong, so you can
live unashamed before God and men, and give honor and glory to God. He wants
your life to show forth His power – what He can do. And God has done absolutely
amazing things for people in all kinds of trouble, who were messed up and without
natural hope. Some testimonies of how God helped such people can be found on this
site.

If God has worked powerfully in your life, please share it so others can benefit. It will
remind you of how God has worked and it will encourage others to believe in God. It
may be the means by which another precious person comes to a saving knowledge of
the Lord Jesus. So do it. Begin to write down your story.

How to Organise your Testimony

If you read Acts 26:1-29 and Acts 22:1-21 you will see two examples of how the
apostle Paul gave his testimony in the midst of great pressure, where his destiny hung
in the balance. Paul talked about his early life, before meeting Christ – both the good
and the bad points. Then he talked about how Christ revealed Himself to him and his
response. In Acts 26 (where he was not interrupted) he is able to spend more time
talking about his life since his conversion. Its good to devote about 40% to “Before
Christ”, about 20% to the conversion experience, and about 40% to “After Christ”.
People want to know what kind of a difference Christ made in your life. Be honest
and authentic. Don’t try to make it look better than it is, or to make your past sound
worse than it really was. God will bless a testimony that is truthful. People are usually
pretty good and spotting phony things. Don’t be like the American poltician who
reputedly told voters how important religion was to him, and how his favorite verse
was John 16:3 when he probably meant to have said John 3:16. You’ll get a laugh if
you read what John 16:3 actually says.

PRACTICAL POINTS

PLEASE DON’T WRITE YOUR TESTIMONY IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
Use lower case, its much more attractive. Try to break up the main sections or
thoughts into different paragraphs. Use short sentences and a simple, unaffected style.
It makes it easier to understand. Aim to point out the effect that meeting the Lord had
on your soul, after you surrendered to Him. Share how you felt. Don’t use religious
words and biblical phrases that people untrained in the Bible are not familiar with.
Even a lot of church people don’t understand a lot of the biblical phrases, or the
meaning of words. Try to make your testimony clear for someone who has no
knowledge of God or the Bible, and as you write it, put yourself in their shoes.

How to Publish your Testimony

Besides e-mailing your testimony to me and others who may wish to publish it on their
sites, it is really a great idea to get your own free home page. These can be obtained
in many places. You can make slightly different versions of your testimony and set it
up at multiple home pages. You can also include on your site other information that
relates to you. You might wish to write about your hobbies, your family, or your
interests. If you have knowledge of something in life that others may benefit from,
consider making a page or two about it and publishing that – people will find that
information and some of them will come to your testimony. Make sure every page on
your site links to your testimony. Then submit your pages to http://www.google.com
and other places. If you want to invest some money consider getting a domain name of your
own, because this may get you better listings. Its definitely worth it to reach more
people for the Lord. Try to get reciprocal links with other Christian testimony pages
because it will bring more traffic in for your page too. All this does require a bit of
effort but it is not as difficult as it sounds. Consider investing a few hundred dollars to
get a professional to do it for you if you want to do something really nice but don’t
have the technical expertise. At the very least, type your testimony in, and e-mail it to
me. You could also try recording it on a tape. Audios can also be published on the
internet.

I encourage you to do this today. You can always upgrade and improve your
writing but the main thing is to do it. You will then have something which God can
take hold of and use for His glory. Then register on this site and create a blog post with your testimony so it can be published. I do publish most of the testimonies I receive. God
bless you.
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I want to take some time to write about the joy that I once again have because of this beautiful truth of Universal Salvation. I will start from the beginning and try to make it as short as possible so not to bore you to sleep! I grew up like many of my brethren in the Catholic church. But, it was more like an agnostic Catholic faith that I was given. What I learned even had a name for it.. “twice a year Catholic.” My family never told me about God or the Bible or anything that like that. So I grew up with the only knowledge of God coming from angry nuns in CCD Classes.

This was a traditional Polish Catholic church, and taught many disturbing things like children in Hell and God’s Judgment (ofcourse this judgment was for everyone NOT under the Catholic umbrella) on Mankind. I listened to it but luckily for me I goofed around most of the time and didn’t believe in that nonsense, although I really couldn’t have cared less at the time anyway. So I grew up without God being in my life, and later the words of Christ would really ring true that WIDE is the path of Destruction and most are on that path.

In a quiet suburban middle school I found all the drugs a kid could handle. I was in 6th grade when I started doing drugs (Marijuana, LSD, Mushrooms…etc.). This led to partying like few college students in the area at almost half their age and less than half their size. Me and my friends would take much pride in the amounts we would do and how we compared to older folks. Believe me, there is no suburb free of drugs. Before I drank a beer or smoked a cigarette, I was smoking pot regularly (at least once a day). This of course led to more terrible things like Cocaine, Methamphetamines, liquor and violence, all before my freshman year in High school.

When I started High-school most of the guys sold drugs from were still there, and believe it or not they weren’t dumb intellectually but were actually A or B students. But, nonetheless our group was well received, never had any trouble with bullies because the upperclassmen (also druggies) were our friends and this was well-known throughout the school. Much of my Middle School and early High-school life is a blur, there was times of fighting, running from police (sometimes we got away), cursing my family, lusts and shaking my fist at God in total defiance.

One of my friends was drinking one night with some other kids in the winter…(a nasty Buffalo winter)…and they decided to walk to Tim Hortons (coffeeshop), at night. The sidewalks were covered in walls of snow and so they walked along the side of the street. A driver didn’t see them until it was too late, he turned the wheel in hopes of avoiding hitting them, this caused his whole car to turn and side-swiped my friend, his girlfriend, and 4 others, killing them all. Because of the weather conditions that night (white-out), the driver had his license revoked for a time and had to take some classes. This friend of mine was a great guy, he was in our group but didn’t do so much as we did, so we pushed him to the periphery of the group.

His death tore me apart inside… .I had to sit in the back of my English class without my buddy, no more passing notes making fun of the teacher. I started to look into the BIG questions for the first time in my life, the WHYS, HOWS, even though I didn’t believe in God, I still blamed Him. I started to read and read: Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, Ravi Zacharias, C.S. Lewis, Max Lucado…and I kept finding the same thing…these guys have got something!! I WANT IT TOO!! So I asked God to take my life, I told Him that He was either going to help me or I was going to drive liquored up into a tree. Well, He met me half-way with open arms, yes He even RAN to me, ME! What was so special about me, a waste of space sinner? Apparently He told me through His Word that I mean enough to Him that He sent His ONLY Son to take all my sins on that sick torturous tree and He nailed Him to it. I was absolutely leveled, I found IT, my heart was overwhelmed, my eyes were gushing with tears, my stomach hurt from my GRIEF and JOY flowed from my now removed stain, He took the weight of the world off of me, I was SAVED!!

“What do I do now” I thought. “Gotta by me a Bible and read it, I’ve been reading everything else, why not delve into the Book that I got this great joy from?” I bought a 6 dollar King James Version because it looked like it was the most read…there was an entire rack with KJV Bibles. I got it and started to read it, but it made no sense to me. I couldn’t undertand it at all. So I bought an NIV, and the floodgates opened! The TRUTH came pouring in, I was filled with joy from every page, reading about what my Lord said and the audacity with which He spoke to the authorities…who did they think they were dealing with? This was Jesus Himself! I laughed and laughed when Philip said that a months wages could make enough to feed all those people, and how that blind man seeing the interest the Pharisees had with getting information on this Jesus asked them “Why do you want to know, do you want to be His disciples too?”

How awesome was the Bible! I couldn’t believe it, this is the same Bible I railed against with my buddies. Of course the drugs stopped, the drunkenness stopped, the lusts stopped, the hate stopped, and my friends were dumbfounded.. “He’s all religious now,” “little Buddha thinks he’s better than us”, “He must have cracked”, “Mirek doesn’t come out anymore”, “Anti-Social”…etc. I invited them to my home for bonfires and we would drink a few beers and ofcourse they would ask me about my faith.. I told them “Its not a religion, its the Person who filled the emptiness” I told them to research into the Resurrection, but it all fell on deaf ears.

My family thought I joined a cult, anything that isn’t Catholic was a cult to them. But, in fact I did join many churches looking for the one that fit me. I loved being surrounded by my Brothers/Sisters in Christ! I devoted all my time in finding a good church.

Then came this teaching of HELL. Ohhh, it would send shivers down my spine. The Love of Christ was being replaced with fear and dread of eternal punishment of everyone I knew, my entire family, friends, EVERYONE who didn’t say Jesus is Lord and truly mean it…that’s a lot of people! I would picture my family in this fiery cavern (plus I have a very active imagination!) crying out to me over and over. The depression I used to have back in my druggie days was flooding back into my life. I had this amazing Joy until I looked at my Mom and Sister and my Dad and Grandparents, my little cousins, and my friend who died in the carwreck…”Why didn’t you MAKE ME BELIEVE” Is what they would always cry out. Always. And I would be in “Heaven” crying, “I’M SORRY”, how painful a feeling it is to see a loved one get burned, now I seen them being tortured in this Fiery place of damnation, with no hope of being redeemed.

What kind of religion had I gotten myself into?? What happened to that first moment of salvation when Jesus came into my life and I felt His LOVE? It was being trumped by His “Righteous Anger” and “JUDGMENT DAY!” This was NOT what I signed up for. Jesus, this was NOT what I asked for!! Why take my burden of sin and give me such JOY then give me the burden seeing my family burn forever??!! What could I do? These preachers/ministers/pastors/priests–ALL of them preached a place of even worse magnitude and quoted directly from my Bible!

I was at a loss; my God what have I opened my eyes to? I would ask questions that would not be answered, I was hoping for anything–even if it meant a refutation of Jesus’ Deity but I knew from the research that He is who He said He Is…

Behold I make ALL things new! What Joy filled my heart when I began to study the teaching on the Tentmaker website in depth! There was nothing in context that suggested this place was even considered by GOD, His word was in fact His WORD and it did not have eternal punishment as a consequence, I found the opposite to be true, He is in FACT the Saviour of the World, not just the few who heard the TRUE message of redemption and accepted, but restitution of ALL things in Christ!

He saved me, but it wasn’t from this place that the preachers were talking about, it was from my sins that enveloped and completely covered me.. I was entrenched in filth with no way out. I was going to destroy myself, there is no doubt in my mind.. Suicide was fast becoming a viable way out, I turned to God and He delivered. That Joy disappeared with the inclusion of a “Hell” in God’s Will and it came back tenfold with Hell being cast away forever….and by forever I mean really FOREVER!!

I hope this testimony will move hearts towards the Truth of God’s Love for ALL, not just the few who hear the Gospel. It is indeed FINISHED! Lets take Him at His Word…AMEN I searched for God’s Truth and was first led to a site called what-the-hell-is-hell.com, from there went to Tentmaker.org and found the Scholars Corner. That is where I further researched and found the TRUTH. I owe my joy to this wonderful website, and I will see you ALL in Jesus’ loving arms and will thank you again there.. THANK YOU!!
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