This is My Story

This is my story Pt.1


What's neat about God is that he is a personal God, not some far off, impersonal entity. Because of this we each have a unique story of how in his mercy, he decided to reach out and save us . This is mine.



I grew up pretty well off in a small town outside Philly (Pennsylvania). I lived in a nice home in a friendly neighborhood and was lucky to have two parents who loved me. From ages 1-4, I only really have two clear memories: Getting a loyal, golden lab named spot and my dad becoming sick, passing away from cancer when I was 4. At age 4, of course, I didn't really understand everything that was going on. When, he died, I thought that even though my Dad was "gone" I was sure we'd see him again sometime soon- I was wrong of course.


Even though our family fell apart, my mom and I picked up the pieces and moved on; it was something possible to do with loving family. My mother and I were actually able to travel to see family and friends several times a year throughout my childhood .


At age 5, my mom and I joined a nice little church only a scenic 5 minute drive from where we lived. I remember everyone there being so nice and loving towards my mother and I. Curious as to why everyone was so kind, I learned about Jesus after only going there 2 or 3 times. So, when I heard about God, I decided I liked the sound of that Jesus guy and his offer of heaven. I figured I was on board. I made great friends there and almost always looked forward to going .


When I came to be 13 or so, I started to make some friends, and do some things I knew I shouldn't have. It wasn't long before I was cursing (thought it was cool), manipulating situations in my favor, and acted entitled. Worst of all, I got into porn and objectified women . These sinful and destructive habits that I let take me over, were really a reflection of where my heart was at the time. I believed in God, but I didn't really believe I needed his presence in my life. I was well off and was happy. I didn't understand that pursuing selfish things that just made me "happy," was no way to live.


I'm so thankful my story didn't end there. When I was 16 1/2, one summer, I started to see things a little differently. For some reason, I was suddenly aware of God at work in people's lives around me. I was seeing sincere love in those attending my church, and in the attitude of my friends parents when their son died (one of my best friends). His parents used his passing as an opportunity to draw near to God and lift up his name, while I only misdirected my anger about his death towards God. What probably impacted me the most however, was seeing how God was working in my mother's life. He was helping her to love with a servant like love that just blew me away.


My mom Got me a cool teen Bible that summer. One day I decided to pick it up and started reading. After only about 5 minutes, I still can't come up with words to describe it, but I felt so at peace and unburdened. Witnessing God's overwhelming love and then reading about it, I finally embraced it (Jn 6:44) . That week, I decided I wanted to follow Jesus. I didn't want the counterfeit-Christianity that I had been practicing before, but instead, to become a new creation (Cor 5:17).


Immediately, God helped me to make significant changes in my life. I was no longer cursing or acting as spoiled as before. And even though I had to end a friendship or two in the process, it was worth it. Porn was quite a struggle, but only when I handed my addiction over to God (2Cor 12:9), I was able to give up porn. Now I can gladly say I haven't looked it up but once in almost 8 years! Saying I'm imperfect is an understatement, but, God has my heart and has given me a hope that never fails (Rom 5:5).



I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my testimony and thank you for listening. Glory to God alone!

Feel free to ask any questions or let me know if you want to hear more.

Congrats on making it through the whole story, God bless you!

Grace wins.

- John

great testimony

thanks for this

Thank God

Thank you for sharing! Wonderful testimony

Thank you seeking family, God is good

Nice hearing your testimony!
Hope God is edifying you and blessing you even more!

Thanks for sharing such a great testimony, for sure grace wins.

To God be the glory.

Blessings.

Yes, God has been very merciful to me, blessing me not just with what I need, but also with the relationships I need to grow closer to Christ.

Thanks Rochii, I know you accepted Jesus about the same age I did

You know that's right!

Blessings to you too sister

Your life sounds very much the same as mine accept for the blaming God part,I too thought I could,"handle" my own life and not need God to guide me but something about the change in my brother about 2-5 years ago got wanting to know if I was saved,and eventually after asking the men in my church privately about how to know if you are saved, they said things like,"it's a knowing thing" and "if you were forced into baptism or being saved then you probably aren't",
so I started thinking on it and after much longing to change,I asked GOD to save my soul right in my own bed room humbly with tears in my eyes(which for me is saying something because in the past I hardly ever got emotional let alone cry/weep)accepting Jesus as my saviour and then I too noticed the sinful behaviours around me in others and the sinful ways I had been indulging in or partaking in,and gradually more and more wanted to learn what was right to do in the bible,and it dramatically changed where I was living because my relative kicked me out over that they were upset noticing that my doing right for God,was messing with their,I'll do what I want lifestyle(fornication of flesh with whoever they could find to be with them) and there after I moved back in with a relative,and in time I was willingly baptized in lake concord(up in dandridge,a lake)by my brother's pastor(my cousin) with ironically my uncles standing alongside side me and him,and then in time I felt like doing whatever I could for God,and learning lots from the holy spirit by reading the bible alongside the holy spirit,I'm glad to know John that you too have come out from the trench of sins by way of God!

Thanks for sharing Joe. Must've been pretty memorable being baptized in a lake, by your cousin nonetheless .

I liked your testimony, it will help other people in their walk with Christ Jesus.

Yep and I still remember it clearly,some people were on a boat watching,my cousin shouted loudly and clearly,then I went under the water after he preached a little,I came back up and I walked out of the lake by myself,up the hill to the vehicle I was riding in,it was a great feeling!

Thank you, I hope so!