Christian Testimonies » Forgiveness

The Prodigal Son: A Time for Everything

A Child of God — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:05:14 +0000

Although I have been growing up in church all my life, I never really personally believed in God until I was entering grade five. The time I first accepted Christ into my life was during a summer bible camp they were doing a play on the prodigal son how the son did so many horrendous things to his father taking all his father’s fortune and leaving home, once he spent all his money he was in the dumps, feeding pigs and as poor as he has ever been. One day after many years he mustered up all his courage to go home back to his father, carrying with him years’ worth of guilt and shame, wishing that his father would forgive him. When his father saw him, they had an emotional reunion, he ran up to his son with open arms with tears and welcomed him home. His father was not angry but was happy that his son finally comes home. At the end of the skit, one of the leaders asked us to whether we wanted to be like the son, and be loved by this father who would forgive us no matter what we have done. I said yes and he invited us to say a prayer on the backstage, and on that day I accepted Christ into my life.

Even to this day, I still remember why I put up my hand, how I felt at that time. Before I met Christ, I was very self-confident of myself, but there were things I was going through which I felt no one really understood. I felt like I was doing a lot of things I was not supposed to but it was going out control, I want to change but I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t know how to love, to respect, or to say even the simplest words like sorry and thank you. I was lost; I felt people don’t understand, or know what they say or do has a very big impact on the kid. Or whether they ever considered what we really knew and felt as a kid. On the way, home back I prayed another prayer; I prayed to the lord to take complete control of my life and he did.

From then on, my life toke a major turn; at school I began to stop fooling around, and do my homework. While I stopped being the person I was, along the way I lost a lot of friends. Over time I became really scared, and afraid of other people. But because of that I placed God even more before me. For five years I spent a very difficult time battling myself a hope to change for the better, and all that time I was holding back a lot of tears and hiding a lot of pain. How every week i can feel tears coming down every time i approached the bridge from the church entrance. How I could never open my mouth to speak. All of this was beyond my control. But even then I knew that God was with me. I was thankful that God showed me what it was like to feel alone, to feel completely dependent on God, so that I was able to see how other people must have felt, the people who were unseen, those who were alone and what they needed most. From then, I started to appreciate even littlest things in life from the gracious meals to the simplest hello from another. I was thankful for all the precious people he has placed in my life, because of them I never once felt alone at school. When I went on walks, and see the trees and the sky I wondered at his creation, silently amazed by it and gave thanks for it. I walked in every part of this church alone, and I am not afraid to walk alone in the dark. I went to places where no one could find me and silently played piano, whatever comes out I played and it gave me a peace that stills my heart at the midst of everything that’s is happening. I am thankful for the gifts he has given that were there to settle my heart. If you wondered what it means for God to speak to you, sometimes it’s the wisdom he gives you, the insights you would have never imagined yourself to understand. All of it comes from God alone, it is never from us. All of this is a part of me that has been kept a secret for all my life only between me and God. It is not something I can verbalize well, just because he has done too much for me.

I remember there was countless times I made prayers to lord; if you were to give me strength, and opportunity to serve, help me so that I can give my best to you. One of the most memorable promises I have made to God is whenever you give me strength, I will give everything to care and love for the people around me so that they will never feel sad or alone.

Here is the turning point in my life, God answered my prayers. He gave me the opportunity to serve in AWANA. I do not know why but the moment I stepped into this place God removed me of all my fear and he gave me strength. Then I knew God wants me to be here. There are children here and every one of them is different, each child have their own worries and needs, and if I could help to know each one of them personally, let them feel loved and know that they are cared for; they could see God’s Love.

This year is my fourth year serving in AWANA; I am blessed and overjoyed each time I am with this great big family where everyone cares for one another. Even now, every little thing still matters; it may be holding the hand of a child, their smiles and their laughter, hearing them call out your name and running up to you with a great big hug. I have come to love everyone in AWANA and everyone in this church. When I see the kind of love that we have for one another; it says that God is with us, and it really encourages me to love one another not just as a friend but as fellow brothers and sisters. Sometimes I even feel that I am over blessed by God on everything he has given me now. I learned the importance of a Church, family and how it can grow if there is love and support for one another. The privilege to serve is a gift from God; whenever I am serving God and working for his purpose, I can truly do all things through Christ. My past is like nothing in comparison to the present and what God has more me in the future, by knowing so it gives me more hope than anything else. I am thankful for the past, for life and the experiences it brings that shape us to be the people you have prepared us to be. All those years were like training years from the lord so that I could prepare myself to serve with the heart I have today.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance

Psalm 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

Psalm 126:2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

No matter where we are in life, what we are facing. There is a time for everything; God has a plan for every one of us. So do not worry, if we trust in our heavenly Father, he will protect us, bless us, forgive us and provide for us, because His love is greater than any sadness we will ever face.

By: Shirley

Scarred for Life

A Child of God — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:31:27 +0000

There I was in the church sitting in the pew. My hands start to sweat as I was very fidgety. I couldn’t stop looking at others as they stood up with there hands lifted up toward God giving Him praise. Not only that, it felt like there was a beam of light shining right on my forehead. I hesitated for a while and then I stood up and ended up in the middle isle, heading toward the altar to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior. The preacher spoke and asks me to repeat the words of repentance, forgiveness, and acceptance. And then I was saved. Until then, my cousin was the only one that I knew was saved in the family. I was so excited and knew Jesus was living inside me. That week seemed to be different and was looking up. I was now more prepared to face life.

The following week, Mom had prepared Labor Day Celebration all week long coordinating with family about food, entertainment and games. This was the best time of the summer before school started back. We would really have a good time and stay up late in the celebration. Once it was over, it was time to go back to school. This was my first year in Junior High School. I laid in bed giggling and cheesing about the time we had. I also thought about the first day at school of who I would meet, classes I would attend, and how much fun I would have. Eventually I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

Suddenly, I heard my mother screaming. I jumped up and ran in her room and seen a man of slender build, towering over my mother in the dark with a knife in his hand. Immediately, I said, “Jesus!” and he turned around and start chasing after me with his knife. My mother then tried to fight him off of me from the rear. He then turned around and went back stabbing my mother. Everything was happening so fast. I ran away and ended up in the closet. I didn’t know too much about prayer but I began to talk to Him. I said, “Jesus, help me, Jesus, help me, I want to live, I don’t want to die.” I said this continuously for at least five to ten minutes while hearing my mother scream and fighting off this attacker. After the prayer I received enough peace to now get help. By this time my mother was in the dining room fighting off the burglar. I began to sneak down the hallway to see what was going on. I noticed the phone on the floor at the end of the hallway. So I picked it up and tried and tried to dial for help but there was no dial tone. Eventually the burglar noticed me and he charged at me with his knife and started stabbing on me with all his might and power. He stabbed me approximately thirty-nine times in the face, back, neck, arm and foot. My mother getting up from her injuries ran after him to get him away form me. He threw her off and went back and forth stabbing my mother and me until there was no movement and it was quite.

There I was lying on the floor in my own pool of blood looking at my mother from across the living room. I had my eyes open the whole time as if I were dead. My mother stopped moving and all you could hear were the sounds of the knife going in and out of my mother’s body over and over again. Even though she was dead, he stabbed a few more times just to ensure it was over. There was nothing else I could do but just lay there and watch. It seemed so unreal as if it was a movie or a bad dream but this was the reality of my life being a new believer. I was so close to death that no one believed I was going to overcome the physical, mental and spiritual scar it caused. Even though I was eleven years old as a Christian, the devil attempted to destroy my very existence of living life. Since he couldn’t kill me, he tried to kill my spirit. Other family and friends could only do and believe so much for me to live but I had to believe and trust in God that I would live even though I had been scarred. I had to fight and push even when I wanted to quit.

After the hospital experience, I battled within myself and felt like God forsook me. I had a lot of bitterness and un-forgiveness and didn’t realize it until situations that dealt with my scarred areas of hurt and pain occurred. At times I would be very insecure and scared to be at home by myself, always looking out the window late at night making sure no one was there. At school kids would ridicule me because of my scars. They would put me down. It began to build a wall of hurt and pain that I wouldn’t let anyone in to help.

When I was sixteen I was tired of life and was ready to run away, give up and go some where away from everybody. So I went to school and got into a fight. Faculty discussed sending me to juvenile detention and expelling me from the school district. I was mentally having a nervous break down and didn’t know how to explain it. My Aunt was scared for me and knew I needed to get away. She decided that I needed to go visit my big brother who was in the US Army. Once I visited, my Aunt felt that it was better that I stayed with him. Because of that decision, it changed my outlook on life.

I began to go to church again and I accepted Jesus Christ back into my heart. Since then, God began to heal, deliver, and put me back together again. I can not take the credit. I know for a fact it was God! I can now say, “I forgive the man that killed my mother and stabbed me.” My scars have produced a conviction to live with purpose. For this reason I am determined to empower, encourage and inspire others that they too can overcome and make something out of their lives. Eventually I wrote my first book entitled, “Scarred for Life: Stabbed thirsty-nine times and forgave (scarred2live.com).” Yet it may be difficult, as long as we believe and trust in God, all things are possible! Matt 19:26 KJV But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

My goal is to reach as many people that have been scarred one way or another to let them know if I can overcome my tragedy, they can too. So what ever it takes to get the word out, I am willing to do it through speaking, writing books, etc.. I am grateful to be alive and I must allow my mother’s life to live with in me. God bless you and don’t let anything stop you from fulfilling your purpose in Christ Jesus!

By: Fredric A. Almond

Better Days!

A Child of God — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:02:53 +0000

Through my years of adolescence I was lost and confused. I would look at my life and wonder why our Heavenly Father placed me in such a stressful situation. No father, a single parent that works her butt off to complain about bills, no house to call my own, friends interested in senseless activities, etc. I would sometimes cry, use drugs as an temporary escape, let anger take over and destroy things. Anything to release that built-up frustration inside. Not realizing at that moment I was faithless, didn’t pray often, and had a lack of instruction.

At this point my relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ was not so great. He was definitely there for me, but i was not so much there for him. I was lost in the world and needed to change my perspective of life. One day, thanks to God, a friend of mine urged me to attend a bible study class. I agreed, and the following Wednesday I found myself in a room with about seven other teenagers such as myself discussing the miracles of God (hallelujah). Although feeling pain deep down inside, I maintained my composure. You would probably think i was a happy person without any worries.

At the end of class as I was walking to the front door of the house, the bible study lady approached me and told me that she had a message to tell me from God himself. I was astound. I didn’t even know it was possible for a person to receive messages from our Heavenly Father to relinquish that message to me. My ears where open and I was ready to hear this message that would open my eyes forever.

She spoke, the Holy Spirit spoke, words of God where running through my brain. My message was that I needed to forgive our Father for putting me through such tribulations. God knew my situation was a tough one, but to forgive God? I always thought we should ask to be forgiven (which we should always do), but to forgive God himself. I was confused for a second, but then realized the significance to my message.
God didn’t have to put me in such a situation, but he did. I needed to endure all the pain I witnessed throughout the years of growing up. It all started to make sense. This is how God shaped me. He put me through rough times in-order to make me stronger. In-order to make me greater of a man, to see truth, understanding, wisdom, etc. I quickly forgave Him and my mentality towards life soon changed. The harder your pass, the greater your future.

Now except being confused and frustrated, I’ am now happy and filled with faith. Just because I realized that my unfortunate past was to benefit me, doesn’t mean that I’m out of it. I’ am still in the same situation but now i have this outstanding confidence that my future will be great. It’s not easy sometimes. I must continue to keep my faith, I must put my trust in the Lord, I must be obedient to the words of Jesus, I must be diligent to the will of God, I must pray.

I don’t regret a second of my life. Life is good. Jesus truly saves us from our sins. Our will on earth, as it is in heaven is great. Without hard times we wouldn’t realized the many good times.

I thank God for the many blessing I have. For those people who feel down and troubled, lift your head up. Smile. Everything happens for a reason, there’s better days to come. Pray, simply ask for understanding and guidance. Jesus loves you, show your love for him. I declared blessings upon everyone who reads this. Let God be with you. In Jesus name Amen!

By: Jed Seemungal

The Unconditional Mercy of God

A Child of God — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:45:09 +0000

My name is Paul Silwamba from Zambia, aged 17. Long me and my family had a very tough time. Even though my parents were believers,they argued a lot and we suffered instead. However God has helped us and has forgiven them both.

I was about three when my parents split up. Fights still continued and they usually used to go to courts together with me and my brother.my when they came to terms that my mom was to keep us and my father would be supporting us with needs and also come and take us for visits. However my mother became a business woman after she got sucked from her workplace as a police officer. She never was at home as she moved from town to town as well as visiting other countries. My father took advantage of this and would come at home and argue with my auntie in violence then he would take us away to his home.

I knew he loved us but never cared for us. He would go in the morning around 06:00am and come back at 24:00pm when we didn’t have any meal not even breakfast. To make matters worse he locked us outside the house as we starved. I was only five to six years. The worst thing that he liked doing is to beat us. Even though we were young, he beat us like old people and our skin would become swollen. Our friends considered him to be mad. We used to sleep on doormats were there were chicken droppings we usually used to get sick.

My father seemed not to care. One time he even beat me when I was very sick of malaria after loosing something. I had never understood my father even were he took the money after getting paid. He bought us no clothes my mother did everything. He was very selfish. I even thought he had us in his heart.

The other thing is that he loved church very much and offered a lot to church. Church people loved him. However he was still something else in him. My brother had ulcers but he cared less. He used to cry almost everyday. Even after we left him and went to my mother, he continued bothering her. My mother then shifted and went to another town with us. She joined politics and became an ambassador in Nigeria. She taught us the word of God and to love our father.

My brother still doesn’t want him but I have forgiven him and pray for the lord to bless him and forgive him and I know he will. God has now blessed us with things and we children are finished with high school only three are remaining. God loves us and many more things have happened.

By: Paul Silwamba

Adulterous Relationship

A Child of God — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:41:20 +0000

I just want to share what God has done in my life with everyone. Recently I met a guy and we quickly became friends. He mentioned to me that he is married and because I was uncomfortable spending time with him he told me that he spoke to his wife about me and she is fine with us being friends and that she even wanted to meet me. And, since we were only “just” friends anyway I didn’t see anything wrong with us just hanging out once every couple weeks. But the Lord spoke to me several times in my dreams, warning me that something was terribly wrong.

I was in spiritual turmoil for the past months over the dreams I was having but thought they couldn’t have been about my new friendship. That is until two days ago when I discovered his wife didn’t know anything about me at all and that he was actually sneaking to see me.

Moreover, his intentions for me were for our relationship to develop into much more than just kicks and giggles. In shock and anguish over my sin I quickly ran to my saviour Jesus Christ and asked him to deliver me from this guilt and this unholy friendship that must end immediately. And to thank my Almighty Father for his great wisdom, mercy and loving kindness towards me. For protecting me from the enemy and for keeping me from being further influenced into some adulterous relationship.

I know now that God is the only friend and companion I’ll ever need. He will never deceive me. He is the love of my life and he gives complete rest to my soul. Glory to him in the highest, through Jesus Christ his son. Hallelujah!

By: Sim

God’s Servant

Homosexuality Forgiven

A Child of God — Thu, 27 May 2010 01:01:30 +0000

Satan has set out to destroy me from a very young age by molestation, childhood curiosity and homosexuality. I became sexuality active at age seven and it caused me to feel un-lovable, un-clean, un-worthy, un-desirable and I felt like I never fit in anywhere.

I actually think that the molestation started long before I was seven by my uncle who had later in life found out he had messed up mind about sex. I had spent a lot of time with my uncle and his wife when I was a child and I truly think that he did things to me then. I loved my uncle and when I realized that he was doing things to me I thought this was they way you showed love.

My father passed when I was seven and my mother rented a room to a family friend to help him out and to help make some extra money. We did not have a lot and my mother was raising my teenage brother, two of my sisters and myself and she didn’t work out side the home because she had to take care of us.

On day I found myself in this mans bedroom and the molestation by him started from there and it lasted through my teenage years. Satan used this man to try to destroy me for the rest of my life. Because I wanted attention and to be close to a male to fill the void of not having a father I was being used by him to meet his needs sexually. Again by doing these thing I thought this was they way you got the attention you needed.

From here I found myself doing things with my playmates & childhood friends my own age.

When I was around the age 10 a family moved into the neighborhood that had three sons ages 10 to 13 and the youngest which was my age we became friends and things started happening between us and then there were others a well. Satan had gotten a hold of me and I felt that I was doomed forever. None of these guys were really my friends it became what I could do for them. This stuff went on for years with these guys until we were all out of school and a couple even longer. But I was the bad one because I had fallen into homosexuality.

But through all this time that I was growing up the family friend that was sexually molesting me started calling me names and all then all the guys started calling me names and that just drove my unworthiness even deeper. It came to a point to where if I knew that none of these guys were really my friends and all of them were making fun of me. I did like girls and i even had a couple girl friends as a teenager but the homosexuality had such a hold on me I couldn’t get free. I didn’t know how to get free from it. I used to beg God to take it away from me but I didn’t know how to let it go and let him work in me. Satan would always lie to me and tell me God didn’t love me and I would believe the lie over and over.

If you were a homosexual you were going to die and go to hell because God didn’t want you. Every preacher I ever heard mention homosexuality condemned you to hell.

When I was nineteen I met a very special woman and we started seeing each other we started living together and we were planning to get married but I was living a lie i could not stop the feelings and desires I was having and I had to tell her about my homosexuality and I did but she still wanted to get married and we did. I tried to walk away from homosexuality but it just came right back at me. You see i was trying to do it on my own. Always trying to do it on my own. But I had to leave because I could not live a double life. So after a little over a year of marriage I walked away. I didn’t immediately go back into the life style but I did fall back soon after. I was 21 when I divorced my wife.

I then found myself going out partying with other homosexuals at bars and clubs in Greensboro having little flings with other guys but never have been able to be committed to a long term relationship with anyone.

At this time in my life I was making excuses and lying to myself saying that God made me and God does not make mistakes so I was born this way all the time knowing I was lying to myself.

You see I had been to church from my childhood, in my teenage year and as an adult and I knew homosexuality was wrong the problem was I had not had the right teaching to know that if I let God take control he could do what I could not do and that is change me. I thought I had to change myself and get my life straightened out before I could go back to church.

So I continued on down my path of destruction and I let Satan lead me around from place to place always feeling depressed, lonely unfulfilled, unworthy and never really fitting in anywhere.

In the eighties around 1985/86 I met a guy who was one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Always happy joyful and seems so full of life and we had a very brief relationship and decided that we would rather be friends. Shortly after so I assume our relationship ended he contacted AIDS and in 1988 he died due to complications from the AIDS virus. I often wondered and ask God why he took him and not me. I was always unhappy I didn’t really feel worthy of being in a relationship because of my early sexuality. I couldn’t understand why God would want to keep me and take him.

I know now that God did not take him it was Satan that robbed him of his life and he was trying to do the same thing to me. During this time I had met another woman and I was going back to church and we were planning to get married and again it didn’t work out. I still didn’t know how to let God work in me to change me so again I was out and gone.

God has protected me for so many years and has kept me safe from so much harm. I don’t deserve the mercy and the grace that He has shown me. The love and protection that He has bestowed upon me through out my life. The only thing I can think of is when I was 5&6 years old a family that was our neighbors used to take me to church and it was a spirit filled church and there was a calling placed on my life then in the early sixties.

God has protected me to bring me to this place where I am supposed to reach out to anyone that is hurting from sexual abuse to let them know that there is a God that loves them and He loves them right where they are and He is reaching down to pick you up and love you and heal you of all the hurt and pain that you have ever felt. God wants to restore you and give back to you everything that has been stolen from you in your life.

So Satan had won it seemed like I was entering into my late forties and I still didn’t know how to get out. I had to take a step of faith not even knowing that that was what I was doing and return to God and ask Him to forgive me from my past. God directed me to a church where I met a pastor who told me it did not matter where I had been or what I had done and that I did not need to tell him anything about my past because the one who need to know already knew everything about me and He was willing to open His arms and receive me just like I was and to forgive me of all my sins.

Six years have past sense I met this pastor and God has been working in me and though it has been some tough road it has been worth every minute of it. Last year in 2009 Satan tried his best to get me to turn away from God and run as far as i could away from my church. But I kept asking him where would I go? what church would I run to because I didn’t know of another church where I would be feed the way I am being feed. I told him that going back out into the world was not an option because there is nothing to go to out there.

God is calling the church into restoration and he is preparing us to go to battle to take back what Satan has stolen from us. god is call us to help everyone that is crying out for help to show them that He love them the same way He loves us and He wants to do the same thing for you that He has done for me.

God is no respecter of person and what he has done for me he will do for you. There is not a need so deep that He can not meet it. There is not a hurt so deep that He can not heal it. All any of us has to do is:

First: Admit to God that you have a problem.

Second: Admit to God that you can not change or solve your problem.

Third: Give it to God and let Him take control of it.

Forth: Yield one hundred percent to God and let Him heal you and restore you to a whole and complete person.

Fifth: Confess the love and forgiveness God has given you and walk in the righteousness of Jesus Christ because of who He is you are righteous, you are pure, you are clean, you as white as snow with out spot or blemish.

Submitted By: Dean

Forgiven From Forty Years of Bondage

A Child of God — Thu, 27 May 2010 00:36:52 +0000

Satan had set out from a very young age to destroy me by childhood curiosities to molestation and on to homosexuality in my teenage and adult life.

I was seven years old in 1964 when I lost my father to cancer. Shortly after his passing is when I remember the men that I was looking up to to fill the emptiness I had were sexuality taking advantage of me. My uncle who I would later in life learn was really messed up when it came to sex was the one I think I was the first molest by. I don’t have a clear memory of him making me do things to him other than touching but he did do other things to me. I know that I spent a lot of time with him and my aunt when I was young. Things could have actually started with him at an even earlier age than I remember.

Submitted by: James D

From Rebellious to Radical: A Halloween Story

msladyni — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:32:13 +0000

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The Bible is very clear about the destiny of the devil. Revelations 20:10 says “Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur…. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Notice that before he was tossed into the lake of fire, the Bible says that the enemy had deceived “them”. Who are them? The world. The devil is fully aware of his fate of doom, and consequently, he’s focused his attention on trying to take with him as many people as he can because he is a true hater. He hates God with a passion, and since he cannot defeat God, he goes after God’s most prized possession – man.

What I am about to share with you is actually a research paper I had written 10 years ago, back in 1999. The paper is titled, “The Origins of Halloween” and was put together as a result of a research I had conducted about this “holiday”. As with many other children, I was told by my Grandma, who was an evangelist, that Halloween was a day for Satan and this festival was not glorifying God. I had been cautioned to stay away from it, and even as a child I had strong convictions against Halloween after my Grandma explained this to me.

A lot of times we as people tend to go along with the majority, asking little to no questions. Many traditions, whether bad or good, often goes without being questioned on its origins or the real truth behind the tradition. I believe the general consensus is that if you’re celebrating this day in the spirit of fun, then it’s fine. But it’s not, especially in the eyes of God. The Bible tells us repeatedly to disassociate with all things of darkness, and Halloween glamorize, commercialize and even exalts darkness. Making matters worse is that we even have Christians who think that it’s OK to participate in the Day of the Dead or All Souls Day, as known to other cultures. I know many years ago I tried to adopt this way of thinking during my years of rebellion and backsliding. I will share my testimony with you as briefly as I can so you can go ahead and read the report.

About a year prior to writing this report (1998), I decided to throw my youngest son a Birthday Halloween party. I thought it was fine because I was doing it in the spirit of fun, and I thought the kids would enjoy it especially since we’ve never had a Halloween party before. I decided to go all out and it took me weeks to prepare for the party. And I was totally stoked. I had family coming into to town to be a part of the party. I had these different costumes and accessories for myself, husband and kids. However, in all of my preparation, I kept hearing this inner voice saying to me, “Don’t do this Naima. You know you’re NOT to do this.” This began once I decided to have the party and continued throughout the preparation process and onto the day of the party. Each time I heard this, I’d conveniently brush it off because I was determined to have this party.

I continued to plan and prepare for the party. I purchased and made costumes for everyone and was shopping in all the party stores for props. I even went as far as to go to a Botanica, a “religious” store, to purchase black candles, weird jewelry to go with my costume along with strange items to help set the mood for the party. Looking back now I see how incredibly low I had sunk in sin; so low as to betray my God in such a blatantly rebellious and disrespectful way. I am humbled and thankful for God’s mercy and grace!

The day before the event, as I was hanging up the cobwebs, I heard it again, “Naima, do not have this party” and had a strong sense that God did not want me to do this, but again, being rebellious at the time, I brushed it off and tried to forget about it. I tried to minimize the severity of my sins and rationalize or rather rational-lies that I wasn’t really doing wrong since I was doing this in the spirit of just having a good time. It’s amazing how we can rational-lies our wrongs.

On the day of the party, a lot of odd things took place within my household. First, my body was all of a sudden under the weather, but I was determined to push through it. Another thing is that my house was in disarray and utter chaos. This wasn’t the usual chaos that comes with planning a party or event. There was adversity and confusion in the air. My children and my nieces and nephews couldn’t seem to get along, which then brought tension between me and my sister. Yet, I was still determined to have this party. I focused on having everything set for that night and continued to resist the inner voice warning me against the party as well as the strong sense that I was doing something really wrong in the eyes of God.

As the day went on I felt increasingly worst from what I thought to be a cold so right before the party I had several shots of vodka—straight! By the time the party started, I was drunk but still somewhat functional. The house was turned into a tomb of terror and we even had eerie music playing in the background, mixed in with regular music so that everyone could dance. My husband and I were together at the time and we were dancing together along with everyone else. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, both children and adults. And then it happened. All of a sudden I went down for a split second and got right back up, having bumped into the edge of one of my living room sofas. I’m not sure if my leg gave out momentarily or if I tripped, but either way, I went down; however, I got back up so quick that hardly anyone noticed. When I got back up I felt the need to sit down for a while so I told my husband that I was going to sit down in our bedroom for a while, then I encouraged him to continue having fun. I went into my bedroom and sat on the bed, thinking to myself I just need a few and I’ll be fine. I remember thinking to myself, “Wow, I am sweating really badly”, but I think I was too drunk to even wipe my face.

My husband decided to go into the kitchen to get himself something to drink but something within him told him to go check on me. When he opened the door he looked at me in shock and said, “Goodness, Babe, you’re bleeding!” I was like, “Really?” I had a gaping hole right above my right eye and didn’t even know it, and the perfuse sweating I was experiencing was actually blood running down my face. My husband tried to control the bleeding then he called my father-in-law and we all rode to the hospital. Once I reached the hospital and laid on the gurney, I passed out; then woke up at the time they were finished. My husband assured me that they did a good job in stitching me and that he was with me the whole time. I don’t think the reality of it all hit me yet. I requested he help me off the gurney so I could go to the bathroom. After using the bathroom and as I was washing my hands, I had seen where they had stitched me. I stopped what I was doing and stood gazing in the mirror, still heavily intoxicated, saying aloud to myself, “I have stitches on my face.” I repeated this several times. Reality finally set in. My mouth hit the floor and I was just surprised to see my face, and the fact that my skin tone is somewhat light made the black stitches stand out. I felt like Frankenstein. I know that’s a little melodramatic but back then that’s how I felt; as I was conceited and so incredibly vain. Consequently, I was more concerned with how my face looked rather than grateful that I was even alive or saddened at the fact that I had greatly defied God—at least not initially. Interestingly enough, though I was still very intoxicated, I knew without one shred of doubt that everything I experienced that day was a direct result of my disobedience and rebellion. I then became remorseful and grateful that I was spared from what could’ve ended really badly. Needless to say, I never tried doing that again.

That is my personal testimony. I was so incredibly rebellious and self-centered back then and by the grace and mercy of God A LOT has changed since then. I am NO longer the same person neither am I in that place. Halleluiah! The Bible says he who the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36); and Naima is free indeed. I am completely sold out to Christ and my life is lived consecrated onto God. I cannot express my gratitude to Christ for loving me and not letting me go. I am happy to report that I am absolutely, hands down, crazy in love with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am sure I may have ridiculers who would like to judge what I’ve just shared. To them I encourage to read Luke 7:36-50, the story about the sinful woman who anointed Jesus feet with expensive perfume after cleansing His feet with her tears and hair. The religious people judged Jesus for allowing such a sinful woman touch Him, and Jesus responds:

Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

Halleluiah!

The Origins of Halloween

Introduction

Witches, Vampires, and bats are major icons of the holiday many love to celebrate. Like everything else, Halloween has origins, but because of tradition, many people have simply ignored questions about the peculiar day. Once learned, the origins of this greatly observed holiday may disturb a lot of people.

Origins

Halloween can be traced directly back to Samhain, the ancient Celtic harvest festival honoring the lord of the dead. The Celts, a tribal people who inhabited most of Western and Central Europe in the first millennium BC, practice a pagan religion know as Druidism. As Druids, they were well versed in astrology, magic, and the mysterious powers of the plants and animals.

Samhain, now called Halloween, began at sundown on October 31 and extended into the following day. According to the Druids, the spirits of those who had died in the preceding year roamed the earth on Samhain evening. They lit bonfires and sacrificed fruits and vegetables, hoping to win the favor of the spirits of the deceased and to avoid their punishments. Along with the bonfires at sacred hilltop sites, they would perform rituals, often involving animal and human sacrifices, especially children, to honor Druid deities. On Samhain, it was believed by the Druids to be the day when the sun’s power waned, and the strength of the gods of darkness, winter, and the underworld grew great.

By the end of the 1^st century AD, the Holy Roman Empire had conquered most of the Celtic lands. In process of incorporating the Celts into their empire, the Romans adapted and absorbed some Celtic traditions as part of their own pagan and Catholic religious observances. In Britain, Romans blended local Samhain customs with their own pagan harvest festival honoring Pomona, goddess of fruit trees. Pure Celtic influences lingered longer on the western fringes of Europe, especially in area that were never brought firmly under Roman control, such as Ireland, Scotland, and the Bretagne region people converted to Christianity during the early Middle Ages, a period that lasted from the 5^th to the 15^th century. The Roman Catholic Church often incorporated modified versions of the older religious traditions in order to win converts. For examples, Pope Gregory IV sought to replace Samhain with All Saints Day in 835. All Souls’ Day, closer in spirit to Samhain and modern Halloween, was first instituted at a French monastery in 998 and quickly spread throughout Europe. Folk observances liked to these Christian holidays, including Halloween, thus preserved many of the ancient Celtic customs associated with Samhain. Thought it was renamed from Samhain to All Saints’ Day to All Hallows’ Day to Halloween, it still holds association to its origin.

Closing Remarks

Please let it be known that none of the information given was from a personal perspective; but that all information was based on a variety of books and encyclopedias that can easily be obtained at your local library. The purpose of this article is to educate people about a holiday that holds dark origins—both then and now.

Sources:

The Columbia Encyclopedia -5^th Edition
The Encyclopedia Americana- International Edition –Vol. 13
Man, Myth, and Magic- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Mythology , Religion, and the Unknown – Vol. 3
Holidays, Festivals, and Celebration of the World Dictionary -2^nd Edition- Edited by Helene Henderson and Sue Ellen Thompson
The book of Festivals – Marguerite Ickis
The Book of Holidays-J. Walker McSpadden
Compton’s Encyclopedia- Volume 10
Curious Customs- The Stories Behind 296 Popu8lar American Rituals – by Tad Tuleja
Celtic Myths and Legends
Early American Life – October 1 Charles Squire
Celtic Sacred Landscapes by Nigel Pennick
Microsoft Encarta Encyclodia992-v23 n5 p60
Halloween’s Unholy Origins – by Julia Vitulio- Martin in Knight Ridder/ Tribune News

Service, Oct. 27, 1998 n300 p 1027k838

Holiday Symbols 1998- Edited by Sue Ellen Thompson

Delivered from the Hurt of Abuse and the Scars of Sin

A Child of God — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:25:01 +0000

My Testimony of God’s Amazing Grace

By: Shelia Holcomb

Before I begin my testimony I feel it is important to give you some information on my childhood, so you will be better able to understand some of the decisions I made in my life, however good or bad they may have been. But every decision I have made during my lifetime good or bad is what has brought me to where I am now and I am very thankful for the mountains and the valleys.

When I was born my mother was only fifteen years old and now years later and after I went through the process of forgiving her and working through many things, I am now able to look at her life through her eyes to try to better understand how she must have felt. Someone gave me this advice when I was really struggling with all of this, I was told that maybe I could forgive easier if I try to see her life through her eyes and not the eyes of a hurt child, “you know what?” it worked, I can understand her more clearly now. She was not mature enough to take care of herself much less a baby. So she would send me here and there to whomever would willing to take me at that particular time, most of the time it was my grandmother, several times throughout my life she would decide that she wanted me back and she would come and uproot me again. I never really knew any stability in my life [although my grandmother tried] and I always felt as if no one really loved me or wanted me.

Then at the age of nine she came and got me and took me away from my grandmother which, really at this point of my life, was the only mother I had ever known and I was very attached to her. Anyway, my mother came and took me to Illinois where she lived, by this time she had remarried and she had two more children by her new husband. He hated me and the only reason I could figure out was simply that I was not his child. Now this was not my fault, although I did blame myself for many years. He started just physically abusing me, but at the age of nine that changed, he raped me and this abuse went on until I was thirteen and I finally told my mother [even though he threatened me that if I ever told anyone he would kill me and my grandmother], she didn’t believe me either, actually no one believed me. Finally I just let it drop and I buried all of those feelings of anger and hate for years, that has now all been dealt with and forgiven and now it is all under the precious blood of Jesus, I have even forgiven him for what he did to me in the Lord’s strength not my own. Praise God! I told my mother that I wanted to go back to Memphis to live with my grandmother and she consented just because she felt I was causing so much trouble and she did not want to be bothered.

Now my grandmother was now also remarried and I resented him for taking her away from me too. You must remember I was only a child and I felt like she was all I had and now I had lost her too. I was very hateful to him and caused so many problems, he was very kind and loving to me but I just could not accept what he was offering to me. My grandmother finally after a long struggle went to the courts and told the judge that I was out of control and they just could not handle me any longer, so they removed me and placed me in a foster home, the home I went to was wonderful, but at that time I could not see things clearly, all I could see was that the only person who should love me had now turned her back on me as well, I just wanted my grandmother so, I ran away. The courts then really called my bluff, so as a ward of the State of Tennessee I was placed in a Catholic all girls reform school for three and a half years, even our pet Saint Bernard was female LOL. Now as I look back, I can honestly say it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. But at that time all I could see was that I was totally alone, unloved and unwanted in this great big world.

Now I will jump ahead some. In 1987 I lost my three children to their father [not in the courts he just merely took them and left the state without my knowledge or consent] and I totally lost it. I turned heavily to alcohol and eventually that turned into crack and cocaine. By this time I had lost everything including my dignity as I had turned to prostitution to support my drug habit. I was arrested several times on various charges, but I was never convicted and I never served any time, I know that God was taking care of me even back then in my sin, He saw what I would be one day in Him. I give GOD all the PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY for all that I am today and all that I will be.

The drugs and my roaming had taken me too many places but on December 20, 1990 I came across a man that told me about Jesus and how He could deliver me and make my life an example to others. I had not eaten in a couple of days and he asked me if I was hungry, so he took me to a restaurant and bought me something to eat. The entire time he shared about Jesus Christ with me. He told me Christ could and would set me free if I was willing, and how He (Jesus), would give me a new life without all the pain and turmoil I was living in. Of course being a Christian does not eliminate us from pain, trials and tribulation but with Christ in our hearts He will give us the strength to overcome and withstand even in the worst times. I began sharing my life story with this man and he still said Jesus is the answer, and boy was he right. Right there I gave my heart to the Lord and I decided to live for Him and serve Him for the rest of my life.

I began singing at the age of five, but I had destroyed my voice through drug abuse, I just abused the gifts that God had given me. So I prayed and told the Lord that if He would heal and restore my voice I would use this gift for His glory for the rest of my life. Now, God has done exceedingly and abundantly above all that I could ask or think. The songs that I sing and others that I have written they are all His I am only an instrument holding the pen. It does not matter where you are, Christ will come to you and meet you if, you are willing to let your life go and let Him be God of and in your life.
I have had so many miracles in my Christian life as I am a walking miracle myself. But one of these miracles of a physical healing really stands out to me and I would like to share this with you as well. Around 2001 I was diagnosed with an incurable bowel condition, the doctors were not really sure what it was exactly, but they had come to the conclusion that with ulcers all through my body and many in my bowel system, they said they wanted to do surgery and remove a part of my bowel. My reply was that I wanted to get prayer for this and that I believed that God was going to heal me and I would not need the surgery at all. They went ahead and scheduled me for another scope the following week, just a few days after Christmas. Then on Christmas Eve I placed a long distance call to a minister friend of mine and asked him to pray for me, he said no problem but he would need to call me back in a few minutes. While waiting for him to call back I surrounded myself with God’s word and actually knelt on the Bible to show God that I believed His word and was claiming His promise of healing. When my friend called me back I knelt on the bible said, “Pray”. When he prayed for me the fire of God hit me and went through me, I had such a peace come over me. I went over to my bed and fell asleep (now Adam was put into a deep sleep in Genesis when God removed the rib to create woman) God did the same for me as I lay there sleeping He performed surgery on me to heal my body. I slept for seventeen hours and when I woke the bleeding had stopped and so had the pain, I knew without a doubt that I was healed by the precious hand of the Great Physician. I was on about $400.00 worth of medicine a month and I went into the kitchen and threw it all in the trash. I did go back for the scope when I was scheduled and the doctors were amazed there were no ulcers anywhere and I just praised God for His healing power.

I am now an ordained minister and I love and serve God with all that I have. I know God has called me into the ministry to help others overcome and learn and grow in Him. I am also now a southern gospel singer\songwriter. The Lord has blessed me and I will continue on this road He has placed me on for my desire is only to serve Him. I will travel anywhere I am invited to give my testimony or to sing or both. God is wonderful and it is to His glory that I am writing this, if one soul is reached in anyway then this is worth everything.

As far as my family and children I thought I would just share this information on my children as our family continues to grow. And this is how my relationship is now with my children and grandchildren.
My oldest daughter, Chrystina’h is married to Adam; they have three beautiful children, one boy Attisyn is 8, Charysma’h is 4 and Kaelyn is 2. They live in Ontario, Canada and I am now living in Canada very close to them and I am enjoying it very much.

My son is my middle child, Jackson he is divorced and living in Mississippi he has four children Benjamin 7, Raygen who is 5, Larissa is 3, and Rayne who is 2.

My youngest child, Karina’h is married to Josh, she two daughters Alissa 8, Jasmine 8, Alexis 7, they have a son Brayson who was born in May 2007 and we are very excited that they have a new addition Jayden born May 2009. They also live in Mississippi.

Again I cannot stress enough that this is for the glory of God that I am here and that my life is what it is today, for without Christ I am nothing, but through Him I am a joint heir with Jesus Christ. He is our Deliverer, Savior, Helper, and Healer and any problem we may have is never too great or to small for Him, we just have to take it to Him and leave it at His feet and in His care. I thank God with all my heart because I know without a doubt that His power is still healing, still saving and still delivering. He is good all the time. I have made my mistakes but His grace is sufficient. God loves us and if we truly repent and confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If I can help anyone out there, please contact me with the information provided below and I will do my best to help in anyway I can. If you have questions about loved ones who may be on drugs or other addictions I will try to answer your questions, if I do not know the answer I will do my best to find the answer for you. If you have loved ones that you need prayer for I will gladly join you in agreeing for that person for the Kingdom, just email me with the information so I can be in prayer daily for you and/or your family members and/or friends. Please always remember we are human and we will make mistakes but just confess to God those mistakes and get them under the blood of Jesus as soon as possible, God still loves us and He will help us in all of our situations. He will always come down to our level and help us to reach up to His level no matter what you call out His name for; He is there and WILL HELP YOU!

GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL. I GIVE FULL PERMISSION TO ANYONE WHO CAN USE THIS TESTIMONY TO COPY IT AND GIVE IT OUT OR TO SHARE IT PUBLICALLY, BUT PLEASE GIVE ALL THE GLORY AND PRAISE TO GOD. THANK YOU. I AM YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST JESUS.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 and he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

If any of you wish to contact me, please feel free to do with the following information:
Shelia Holcomb
hisgraceissufficientrev@live.com
http://www.runboard.com/bgodshandinmineministries

The Hand Of God , And a disobedient child …

prettypaige — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:34:41 +0000

Today I woke up and professed my love for the lord. I also asked the lord to show me why I loved him so much. I then I had a vision of Christ nailed to the cross. I said, “ I love you God, for Jesus Christ my Lord and savior”. I Began rejoicing, and carried on with my day. Less than an hour later as im driving the busy highways on my route to work, an episode of my life replayed in my mind.

On New Years Eve, a friend and I attended a devilish celebration in hollywood california. Oh how good our flesh felt to be amongst these celebrity spirits of lust, alcohol, drugs, worldly music and temptation. We danced and pranced in the presence of the Devils spirit’s. His faithful servants gave us food, alcohol, gifts and the best chronic the doctor could prescribe.

As the party came to a close, my friend and I continued on to entice the hearts of men, with our walk, talk, seductive attire and behavior. I selfishly vowed to myself to be home by sunrise, only because it was uncomfortable to try and sleep while the sun was coming up.

How we laughed, smiled and glorified such a wonderful dark evening. As soon as we reached the car, the reality of driving home set in. All of a sudden, friend became more intoxicated then she had been all night. So driving than became my responsibility.

Gas, Coffee and a loud Sinful songs was all I thought I needed to get home safely. An extremely thick fog fell to the ground out of know where; making it nearly impossible to see 10 feet into my traveling future. I pushed the petal to the floor as I drove the hollywood freeway south bound, to the 10 eastward. The loud music wasn’t keeping my eyes from becoming extra heavy. Friend wasn’t awake to excite me about the journey of our night. The coffee just made me sleepy. I began to drift in and out of a conscience and unconscious alertness. I was so tiered, it seemed almost impossible to keep my eyes open.It wasn’t long before I was sleep behind the wheel of my car. Something scared me! Something shook me up! I opened my eyes and gasped for a deep breath of air. Jerked my steering wheel to the right to dodge an over turned car sitting belly up. That car seemed to just be sitting there waiting on our impact followed by explosion. There was no hazard light blinking, or flair lights going . Know one was even around, except a mighty God who kept his hand on a disobedient child. A Mighty God, who never sleeps nor slumbers.

That night friend and I were speared, only through the good grace and mercy of the Lord my God. Im here today as a living testament of God, his love & mercy is so real. I wish I could tell you; I went to church that Sunday and turned my life over completely, but it didn’t happen that way. However, ever time I read this testament or speak of it to someone else, I indeed know why I love My GOD !!! Where would I be if GOD decided to wonder out of my life, as I wondered away from him? How many hearts would I have hurt based on my disobedience and selfishness?

It was proposed to me , to asked GOD, “WHY DO I LOVE YOU LORD” ? It was surely advised to be prepared for a heavy vision or word from him. I thanked my Lucky stars that early morning. I went home happy that beat the sunrise and happy that I cheated death (So I thought). Up until the day I wrote this, did I realize I was cheating GOD and Myself, and the Devil was surly out to cheat me. What a revelation! It brought tears to my eyes. I found a knew wisdom & knowledge here at “LIFE WAY CHURCH”. Everyday I thank GOD for such a deliverance. GOD is worthy of all the praise and priority in my life. I encourage you to ask GOD to reveal why you should love him ? You’ll see life differently. It will never look and feel the same again !!!

PRAISE GOD

Adelene-Paige Henderson

New Member of LIFE WAY CHURCH

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