TEST TO TESTIMONY: PERSONAL STORIES OF FAITH, REDEMPTION, RECOVERY AND HEALING
Nothing is more beautiful than to see a little girl who sees Jesus in need of help and says "oh no Jesus needs help" and then tries to take up the cross. Just the pure innocence of a child.
A little redemption for the suffering human soul 😊 The older man was paused at the top of an escalator and a few people started gathering waiting to get on. It was clear he was feeling unsure and this young man offered the simplest kindness: an out-reached arm and a "can I help you on, sir?" He quietly started to explain to the young man that he had gotten stuck on an escalator once and was a little scared. The young man gently offered an assurance, they looked at each other eye to eye for just a moment and the older man accepted his arm. Everyone else remained patient. So, so sweet to witness!
In about an hour, the evening news will air and we'll be reminded of division, race wars, political mud-slinging, shootings and other heartaches. But today, violence, race, age, politics and other social lines were blurred and one person simply helped another. I wanted to hug both of them. Whoever this young man is, YOUR FAMILY RAISED YOU RIGHT! THANK YOU! So, please look for the silver linings - as I was so fortunate to witness this evening ♥️
In about an hour, the evening news will air and we'll be reminded of division, race wars, political mud-slinging, shootings and other heartaches. But today, violence, race, age, politics and other social lines were blurred and one person simply helped another. I wanted to hug both of them. Whoever this young man is, YOUR FAMILY RAISED YOU RIGHT! THANK YOU! So, please look for the silver linings - as I was so fortunate to witness this evening ♥️
Bowls of spaghetti
I have always been one to cook and invite others over to eat. When my kids were young and there was a cousin or freind over I would feed them all. It has carried over to my adulthood in that I often do holiday meals at my house and everone brings a dish.
I have often wondered what my Godly gift is. We all have them and I could never seem to put my finger on which ability stood out in my life.
I used to cook spaghetti at least once a every week or two when my children were young so there was always spaghetti with homemade sauce around. The spaghetti was chopped up and served in a bowl so little ones could scoop it up on thier spoon making it easy to eat. If there was an extra cousin or freind over they were offed a bowl of spaghetti with my kids.
I have recently had a couple of adults who shared bowls of spaghetti at my house to mention their memory of it to me. It seems it had left them with a positive view of their relationship with my family.
Sometimes we think we are doing nothing that is valuable but I would like to say that a simple act of love can make a big difference in a life. These little acts of love and kindness can have a big impact. You may not see the influence today but rest assured it does not go unnoticed.
I just wanted to share this to remind us all that reaching out to someone and sharing love and compassion can have a huge impact.
I have a new generation of kids in my life. My five grandchildren have a special place in my heart and I want to have a positive impact on them and any of of thier friends who end up eating at my table or passing through my home.
I guess one of my gifts is offering some food with a side dish of love.
Luke 14:13
I have always been one to cook and invite others over to eat. When my kids were young and there was a cousin or freind over I would feed them all. It has carried over to my adulthood in that I often do holiday meals at my house and everone brings a dish.
I have often wondered what my Godly gift is. We all have them and I could never seem to put my finger on which ability stood out in my life.
I used to cook spaghetti at least once a every week or two when my children were young so there was always spaghetti with homemade sauce around. The spaghetti was chopped up and served in a bowl so little ones could scoop it up on thier spoon making it easy to eat. If there was an extra cousin or freind over they were offed a bowl of spaghetti with my kids.
I have recently had a couple of adults who shared bowls of spaghetti at my house to mention their memory of it to me. It seems it had left them with a positive view of their relationship with my family.
Sometimes we think we are doing nothing that is valuable but I would like to say that a simple act of love can make a big difference in a life. These little acts of love and kindness can have a big impact. You may not see the influence today but rest assured it does not go unnoticed.
I just wanted to share this to remind us all that reaching out to someone and sharing love and compassion can have a huge impact.
I have a new generation of kids in my life. My five grandchildren have a special place in my heart and I want to have a positive impact on them and any of of thier friends who end up eating at my table or passing through my home.
I guess one of my gifts is offering some food with a side dish of love.
Luke 14:13
Kirk Cameron:
I held a real rainbow in my hand this morning...really! This was more exciting to me than finding a four-leafed clover as a little kid! This Lord's Day, bows of magnificent light, streaming banners of brilliant color, shone through my wife's office window and a glass shelf onto the wooden floor. I sat on the floor and held in my hand, a vibrant symbol of God's unending love for you and me, created after a time of great darkness and despair on the earth. This filled me with a real sense of hope for our future. So, even though we may not be able to catch flying stars with nets, we can hold beautiful rainbows in our hands, trusting in God's faithful promises to us and to our children. Consider sharing this with your friends and family today as a symbol of peace and hope for the future, and of your unending love and faithfulness to them.
I held a real rainbow in my hand this morning...really! This was more exciting to me than finding a four-leafed clover as a little kid! This Lord's Day, bows of magnificent light, streaming banners of brilliant color, shone through my wife's office window and a glass shelf onto the wooden floor. I sat on the floor and held in my hand, a vibrant symbol of God's unending love for you and me, created after a time of great darkness and despair on the earth. This filled me with a real sense of hope for our future. So, even though we may not be able to catch flying stars with nets, we can hold beautiful rainbows in our hands, trusting in God's faithful promises to us and to our children. Consider sharing this with your friends and family today as a symbol of peace and hope for the future, and of your unending love and faithfulness to them.
"I bowed my head and began to weep and pray with the kind of honesty that only comes when we are at the end of all our strength. I know the Bible says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, but I just can't seem to believe it. Every time I turn to You, my first impulse is fear!
I give up. I can't do this on my own. Will You please heal my heart?
Over the next year, God did for me what I had been utterly helpless to do on my own. He revolutionized my image of Him.
One of the stories that meant the most to me on my journey was the story many of us know by the title, The Prodigal Son, found in Luke 15:11-32. I discovered that in the Middle Eastern Church the story goes by another name: The Story of the Running Father. The difference in the title reflects important cultural knowledge that the people to whom Jesus spoke would have known...” - Sherri Gragg
Read the rest of today’s devotion from Sherri by clicking the link: http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/the-story-of-the-running-father/
I've put $3 worth of gas in my tank before and I've put $80 in my tank. I've asked for rides and given rides. I've had a house full of food and I've been without food. I've given people clothes. I've been given clothes. I've been in stores cashing out with no worries and I've also had to add it up and put it back. I've had my rent paid in full and I've had to pay it late too. I've given money and I too have had to ask for it. We all have highs and lows in life, some certainly more than others, but we're all just trying to make it. No one is better than anyone else, and I pity those who think that they are. No matter how big your house is, how new your car is, or how much money sits in your bank account - our graves will be the same size.
Stay humble.
AMEN
Praise Report: Evangelist/Singer Carman posted on Facebook that the cancer is gone!!
He wrote:
"They took tests P.E.T., MRI, Bone biopsies etc and could find NO trace of Cancer."
And quoted from his new song:
"The roads been a long one, It's always been a fight, but God had my back, deep into the night. He's been my "Plan-A", now everyone can see, I'm livin for The Lord and there's "No Plan-B" Can I get an Amen ?!?
Your prayers worked! We serve a healer. Let's show God our appreciation for this miracle --
He wrote:
"They took tests P.E.T., MRI, Bone biopsies etc and could find NO trace of Cancer."
And quoted from his new song:
"The roads been a long one, It's always been a fight, but God had my back, deep into the night. He's been my "Plan-A", now everyone can see, I'm livin for The Lord and there's "No Plan-B" Can I get an Amen ?!?
Your prayers worked! We serve a healer. Let's show God our appreciation for this miracle --
TESTIMONY TIME!
In 2014, I graduated college in Alabama with a Bachelor's degree. Unfortunately, I was unable to land a job post-graduation and had no choice but to move back home to Connecticut with my parents. My plan was to acquire a full-time job in CT but that plan had also failed. Unable to begin my career, my last known option was to become a server at a restaurant. I was so embarrassed that as a college graduate, I resulted in becoming a waitress.
For 8 months, I stayed at home waitressing and trying to figure out my next step. I then applied to grad school in 2015 and moved back to Alabama once I was accepted. I thought for sure that I would land a promising career post-graduation. However, it didn't work that way. After receiving my Master's in 2016, I was once again unable to successfully land a job. Heart broken and confused, I had to move back home for a second time to waitress again. I could not understand why my job hunt was a failure. I had TWO degrees!
And the devil was busy! The spirit of jealousy swarmed my heart after I watched my boyfriend land an amazing job with amazing pay before he even graduated undergrad. Constantly asking "how and why is it so easy for him?" "What did I do to displease God?" "He only has ONE degree! What on Earth am I doing wrong?" But I hid my jealousy and expressed to everyone how happy I was for him. Even though I was genuinely happy, I could not separate my shamefulness from the happiness.
My boyfriend moved across the country and I decided to follow in the coming months. So I thought, this is a growing city, I'll have no problem finding a job. Wrong! I applied to NUMEROUS jobs and the only thing I was able to get was an internship. DEEPLY ashamed, I told little-to-none that it wasn't a full-time job. Just that "I got a job." How would it look that a girl with a Master's was only able to get an internship?
Right before I moved, God spoke to me at my waitressing job and said "How could you have a testimony and be a blessing to others with no trials and tribulations?" At that moment, I received confirmation that all of these obstacles were for a reason! I just had to believe in my heart and stand on His word that my blessings will one day come.
Unfortunately, I still struggled with my faith when I moved away with my boyfriend. Worry filled my mind as I knew that in a couple of months, I'd reach the age where I could no longer be on my parent's insurance and my student loan payments would begin. An internship didn't provide insurance options, nor did I have supplemental income to pay back my loans.
But I decided to act on my insecurities and remain consistent in going to church every Sunday, praying and reading my bible every day. God said in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it shall be yours!" So I stood on that scripture. And one Sunday the pastor told the story of Joseph of how he praised God and was humbled in whatever he did: a slave, a servant, and a prisoner. When after 12 years, God made Joseph ruler over the land of Egypt.
I began to recognize that my issue was a lack of humility, too much pride, not having the right spirit, and feeling like I DESERVED something. God will not bless us with anything until we are spiritually ready! I had to really humble myself. And He also may not bless us at the current time because our blessing just isn't ready!
So I applied, and applied, and applied some more; approximately 15 applications a week were sent out! I would get phone calls and interviews, but the rejection was insurmountable. Finally one day I said, I QUIT! I simply could not wrap my head around why I was so unsuccessful in acquiring a full-time job. I cried, and I was angry with God. So angry that I just didn’t want to believe anymore.
I had my breakdown on Friday, January 13, 2017 and that following Sunday my boyfriend and I were invited to a new church. DO YOU KNOW that the pastor preached about the Israelites and the wall of Jericho. God instructed them to walk around the wall seven times, and on the seventh time, walk around seven more times! God could’ve knocked down that wall in a matter of seconds. But it’s all about us obeying God, believing in Him, and knowing that His word is ALWAYS true. The pastor also said that God places us through difficult situations to have an awesome testimony. He said our shout wouldn’t be as loud on day 1, 2, or 3 as it would be on day 7! The pastor said “YOUR DAY SEVEN IS COMING!” I cried my eyes out and shouted to the Lord because He loved me so much to bring me to that church and hear that revelation. My eyes flooded with tears when they sang "don’t give up on God because He won’t give up on you. HE’S ABLE!
I share this to say that three weeks after I heard that teaching, less than a month away from my 26th birthday, and three years later after first graduating college, I was blessed with a full-time job in direct relation to my Master’s degree with full benefits. They offered me the job the same day I interviewed with the company. Tears fall down my eyes from being so thankful. I am so blessed to have gone through this situation, not only because it has made me a stronger person, but a better Christian. James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
I give this testimony to any college student, college graduate, single-parent, laid-off employee, unemployed person, financially burdened, or whatever situation you face! Just keep the faith and stand on His word! God is good! Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Praise Him through the good and the bad and KNOW that He will never leave you nor forsake you. No matter how dim the circumstances may seem, your blessing shall surely come!
In 2014, I graduated college in Alabama with a Bachelor's degree. Unfortunately, I was unable to land a job post-graduation and had no choice but to move back home to Connecticut with my parents. My plan was to acquire a full-time job in CT but that plan had also failed. Unable to begin my career, my last known option was to become a server at a restaurant. I was so embarrassed that as a college graduate, I resulted in becoming a waitress.
For 8 months, I stayed at home waitressing and trying to figure out my next step. I then applied to grad school in 2015 and moved back to Alabama once I was accepted. I thought for sure that I would land a promising career post-graduation. However, it didn't work that way. After receiving my Master's in 2016, I was once again unable to successfully land a job. Heart broken and confused, I had to move back home for a second time to waitress again. I could not understand why my job hunt was a failure. I had TWO degrees!
And the devil was busy! The spirit of jealousy swarmed my heart after I watched my boyfriend land an amazing job with amazing pay before he even graduated undergrad. Constantly asking "how and why is it so easy for him?" "What did I do to displease God?" "He only has ONE degree! What on Earth am I doing wrong?" But I hid my jealousy and expressed to everyone how happy I was for him. Even though I was genuinely happy, I could not separate my shamefulness from the happiness.
My boyfriend moved across the country and I decided to follow in the coming months. So I thought, this is a growing city, I'll have no problem finding a job. Wrong! I applied to NUMEROUS jobs and the only thing I was able to get was an internship. DEEPLY ashamed, I told little-to-none that it wasn't a full-time job. Just that "I got a job." How would it look that a girl with a Master's was only able to get an internship?
Right before I moved, God spoke to me at my waitressing job and said "How could you have a testimony and be a blessing to others with no trials and tribulations?" At that moment, I received confirmation that all of these obstacles were for a reason! I just had to believe in my heart and stand on His word that my blessings will one day come.
Unfortunately, I still struggled with my faith when I moved away with my boyfriend. Worry filled my mind as I knew that in a couple of months, I'd reach the age where I could no longer be on my parent's insurance and my student loan payments would begin. An internship didn't provide insurance options, nor did I have supplemental income to pay back my loans.
But I decided to act on my insecurities and remain consistent in going to church every Sunday, praying and reading my bible every day. God said in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it shall be yours!" So I stood on that scripture. And one Sunday the pastor told the story of Joseph of how he praised God and was humbled in whatever he did: a slave, a servant, and a prisoner. When after 12 years, God made Joseph ruler over the land of Egypt.
I began to recognize that my issue was a lack of humility, too much pride, not having the right spirit, and feeling like I DESERVED something. God will not bless us with anything until we are spiritually ready! I had to really humble myself. And He also may not bless us at the current time because our blessing just isn't ready!
So I applied, and applied, and applied some more; approximately 15 applications a week were sent out! I would get phone calls and interviews, but the rejection was insurmountable. Finally one day I said, I QUIT! I simply could not wrap my head around why I was so unsuccessful in acquiring a full-time job. I cried, and I was angry with God. So angry that I just didn’t want to believe anymore.
I had my breakdown on Friday, January 13, 2017 and that following Sunday my boyfriend and I were invited to a new church. DO YOU KNOW that the pastor preached about the Israelites and the wall of Jericho. God instructed them to walk around the wall seven times, and on the seventh time, walk around seven more times! God could’ve knocked down that wall in a matter of seconds. But it’s all about us obeying God, believing in Him, and knowing that His word is ALWAYS true. The pastor also said that God places us through difficult situations to have an awesome testimony. He said our shout wouldn’t be as loud on day 1, 2, or 3 as it would be on day 7! The pastor said “YOUR DAY SEVEN IS COMING!” I cried my eyes out and shouted to the Lord because He loved me so much to bring me to that church and hear that revelation. My eyes flooded with tears when they sang "don’t give up on God because He won’t give up on you. HE’S ABLE!
I share this to say that three weeks after I heard that teaching, less than a month away from my 26th birthday, and three years later after first graduating college, I was blessed with a full-time job in direct relation to my Master’s degree with full benefits. They offered me the job the same day I interviewed with the company. Tears fall down my eyes from being so thankful. I am so blessed to have gone through this situation, not only because it has made me a stronger person, but a better Christian. James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
I give this testimony to any college student, college graduate, single-parent, laid-off employee, unemployed person, financially burdened, or whatever situation you face! Just keep the faith and stand on His word! God is good! Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Praise Him through the good and the bad and KNOW that He will never leave you nor forsake you. No matter how dim the circumstances may seem, your blessing shall surely come!
Kerry Ann Foster:
Forty years ago today, I was born seven weeks premature at a time when babies that early normally didn't survive. The doctors ️predicted I'd be a brain damaged vegetable and a burden on my family my entire life.
The doctor told my dad that the best thing to do would be to pray that I would die. My Dad told the doctor that if he could pray that I would die, that he could pray that I would live and be healthy.
And I did.
Today I am thankful that the doctors aren't always right, that we have a great big God who hears us and answers our prayer, and that we can rest in His strength and not our own.
I don't have to know all the answers or have the grand plan, because His plans for us are always better then the plans we have four ourselves.
Here's to the first forty years. The next forty are going to be a blast!
So let it go, my soul, and trust in Him, the waves and wind still know His name.
#fosterfamilyadventure
#imnotoverthehillimjustgettingstarted
Forty years ago today, I was born seven weeks premature at a time when babies that early normally didn't survive. The doctors ️predicted I'd be a brain damaged vegetable and a burden on my family my entire life.
The doctor told my dad that the best thing to do would be to pray that I would die. My Dad told the doctor that if he could pray that I would die, that he could pray that I would live and be healthy.
And I did.
Today I am thankful that the doctors aren't always right, that we have a great big God who hears us and answers our prayer, and that we can rest in His strength and not our own.
I don't have to know all the answers or have the grand plan, because His plans for us are always better then the plans we have four ourselves.
Here's to the first forty years. The next forty are going to be a blast!
So let it go, my soul, and trust in Him, the waves and wind still know His name.
#fosterfamilyadventure
#imnotoverthehillimjustgettingstarted
PERSONAL TESTIMONIES:
https://www.facebook.com/pursuedbyGOD/videos/160752887918576/
https://www.facebook.com/pursuedbyGOD/videos/160752887918576/
~ Rewrite Your Story~
Change your thoughts and
God will change your life!
Discern whose voice you're
believing.
You have three voices to choose
from my friend.
1. Jesus is worry-free, encouraging,
full of hope, joy, peace, love,
and laughter.
2. That thief is negative, accusing, full of doubt and is ALWAYS a lie. His lies are often 99% truth, listen wisely.
3. Your voice is the product of the information you read,
listen to and believe.
Fill up with Gods truth, His word,
His promises. Look around you
for what IS working, and thank
God throughout your day.
Like my Page & Visit,
We're Doing Life With Jesus!
#LivePowerful #Truth #Instinct #Discernment #Change #Joy
We Are, Abundantly Blessed...
Traci Brickhouse
Change your thoughts and
God will change your life!
Discern whose voice you're
believing.
You have three voices to choose
from my friend.
1. Jesus is worry-free, encouraging,
full of hope, joy, peace, love,
and laughter.
2. That thief is negative, accusing, full of doubt and is ALWAYS a lie. His lies are often 99% truth, listen wisely.
3. Your voice is the product of the information you read,
listen to and believe.
Fill up with Gods truth, His word,
His promises. Look around you
for what IS working, and thank
God throughout your day.
Like my Page & Visit,
We're Doing Life With Jesus!
#LivePowerful #Truth #Instinct #Discernment #Change #Joy
We Are, Abundantly Blessed...
Traci Brickhouse