Yesterday's message was really good, based on Acts 1:8. It was about sharing your testimony of what you 'were' to how your life was changed when you surrendered your life to Jesus. I've shared my testimony a few times, but I always feel awkward doing so. Why? Because you share personal things and some things I just don't like to share. I don't like who I was then, because I did a lot of things that I really didn't understand what was wrong. Although I was raised in the church, what I lived at home was totally different and I thought that was a normal family. We were far from normal. It wasn't until I divorced, remarried, and moved out here, that my life changed. It took someone teaching me, through discipleship, helping me understand how I should live as a Christian. It took a good preacher, under whom I learned more about living for Jesus, and not for the world. There are four preachers who made a big impact on my life.
Pastor Dave - our three-piece suit pastor - brought me back to Jesus. He taught the Bible and what it meant in such a way that I understood. Pastor Don - our sport coat pastor - he taught me that it was ok to be 'casual' for church. I had been brought up that men wore suits and women wore dresses or skirts/blouses - all dressed up. Pastor Don showed me that God loves us no matter what we wear to church. Pastor Gerald - our worship pastor - taught me how to worship. Singing hymns was easy; that is what I was raised with. But when they switched to comtempory and choruses - I really struggled. But through it all, Pastor Gerald brought me into the presence of God and taught me how to worship. Pastor Steve - my dearest friend and mentor - he taught me about grace. I didn't understand what grace was; I had heard the word used, but never really understood it. Until I received grace. I didn't deserve it. But when he asked me "haven't you ever heard about grace"?, I never knew what it was, but I joyfully received it and understood what it was. I will be forever indebted to him for that. Ah, but there is also a fifth pastor who made a difference in my life,. Pastor Lori. She taught discipleship and I sat under her teaching for a year, and I learned so much on how to live for Jesus. I learned what it meant to tithe; how to have a personal relationship with Him, and how to pray. I taught discipleship myself for a few years for it changed my life. I would encourage everyone to take a discipleship class for it will definitely change your life and give you knowledge of how to live for Jesus.
Acts 1:8 (NKJV): "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."
We are to share our testimony of what Jesus did for us. Without going into details, I would say, I was raised in the church, backslid, lived my own life the way I wanted to, found Jesus, received forgiveness, and from then on have walked with Him. Yes, I still make mistakes; but His grace is sufficient and helps me to find my way to forgiveness and grace through Him. Hallelujah! I'm still a mess most of the time, but God, in His great mercy, holds me in the palm of His hand and helps me through each day.
Ephesians 2:2-10 (NKJV): "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince ofthe power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, jast as the others. But God, who is rich in percy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
Four points Pastor Pat shared as he challenged us to share our testimony this week - Be Honest. Be Open. Be Transparent. Be Kind.
I thank God that what I WAS iswhat I am NO MORE. By His grace, I was rescued from that life and daily walk with Him. He makes all the difference in my life. When I think of what my life could have been like had I continued in the downward spiral as I was, I know that only by God's grace could I be forgiven, and set free from the bondage of sin I was living in.
God had so much more for me than what I had. All I had to do was surrender, and let God take over. Best decision I ever made. God has blessed me beyond measure - perhaps not in financial ways, but in family and friends. The best part? He welcomed me with open arms, like a Shepherd finding His lost sheep, and gathered me into His arms.
God's grace. There is nothing like it. All you have to do is ask for it.
Blessings!
