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Testimonies and other Daily Observations

Discussion in 'Free-For-All Archives' started by Singer, Aug 9, 2003.

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  1. Singer

    Singer New Member

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    Would anyone like to share either simple or complex testimonies, reasons to
    praise God, thoughts, revelations, insights or observations of either themselves
    or others...?

    It is always interesting to hear of others thoughts, pursuits and revelations.

    As an example:

    Scene in Cafe in small town Nebraska, Aug 9, 2003

    My wife and I are performing in a danceband that will do the honors tonite
    for a 45th Anniv. of a happily married Catholic couple. They have four sons
    and two daughters who hired us for the event. Today, as we sat for coffee at the
    ''round table'' to hear the daily news (not gossip [​IMG] ...), we were accompanied
    by one of their sons. The banker, a devout Catholic was seated next to me...
    (he's some kind of influence in the local Catholic Church...reads responses or
    somesuch). The son of the couple had asked about the dance and I requested
    that they have the hall unlocked at 7 pm for us to set up. He said "Good, I need
    an excuse to get out of church tonite, so I'll tell them (family) that I need to help
    you set up your equipment and have the hall opened". He then said "I'm not too
    much into this church thing anyhow".

    The banker was as quiet as a mouse and the uncommitted " Wesleyan by birth"
    next to me did not offer his wisdom either.

    Observation :

    This 40 yr old son of a dedicated Catholic couple did not reveal any interest in
    church nor a desire to be involved. I imagine he was baptised as an infant and
    he definitely went through Catechism and all the confirmations and necessities of
    the RCC to become a "completed christian" as they say. I'm not a Catholic nor
    a churchgoer, but I imagine I could "hang in there" in a bible conversation
    longer than he could.

    Second Observation:

    Those men were all acquaintances and/or friends of mine and I dared not attack
    their faith OR their church in that setting.

    Third Observation:

    It is easier to attack someone or their church on internet
    :D

    Fourth Observation:

    I did not use the opportunity to witness for Christ .....a lesson for me to improve
    my tactics.

    Thanks for Sharing yours.

    Singer
     
    #1 Singer, Aug 9, 2003
  2. MikeS

    MikeS New Member

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    Great idea for a thread, Singer. Nice and flexible, too!

    Being back with God and the Church now for something over a year, I am still struck every single day about how completely different life is when you're "lost" vs. when you're "found." Every sight and sound has different meaning, every person takes on a new significance, every thought exists in a different universe.

    In the past I could go a month or a year without thinking about God. Now I measure the time in minutes. There was never a "stroke of lightning," but God has slowly enveloped my life, my thoughts, my actions. I see now that I was living in the shadowlands, and now I'm finally living in the real world.

    And yet, with all that, I'm still sinning against the God I have grown to know and love. It makes me sad and angry at the same time. Some sinful behaviors I turned off like a switch, while others hang on like barnacles. It's distressing, but I have to keep fighting, keep picking myself up and asking for forgiveness, keep asking for God's grace so that I may decrease and He may increase.

    How true the words of Augustine: You have made us for Yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You. Thank you, dear Father, for bringing me home!
     
    #2 MikeS, Aug 9, 2003
  3. Ray Berrian

    Ray Berrian New Member

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    Here is my human way of trying to serve Christ today. After visiting my daughter Tara and her husband Chris and son Jesse near Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania we drove home and ate at China Moon. Tasty and not too fatening. Before I left I gave the two men who served us a copy of a small book that I wrote titled, "Salvation." I had a page at the conclusion of the book that offered a suggested prayer to receive Christ and to follow Him from this day forward. The prayer was highlighted and earmarked, as it were, so they could easily turn to it. I suggested, if they were so moved, to offer this prayer to the Lord and invite Him into their lives. Previously, I talked to the one man in his thirties and he told me his brother was a Baptist and had talked to him about matters of faith. Hopefully, this book will be used in bringing these men to Christ. I would welcome everyone's prayers offered to the Lord that they might come to know and love Him as I do. I seldom feel very successful in witnessing but my prayer to God is that some how, some way, this will touch there inner soul.
     
    #3 Ray Berrian, Aug 10, 2003
  4. MEE

    MEE <img src=/me3.jpg>

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    Don't have time to say 'all' that I'd like, but the Lord has been so good.

    For example, two weeks ago Sunday night, we baptized seventy-one men, women, and children, in the name of Jesus Christ. Most have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in tongues.

    We have had numerous healings and miracles, from the Lord. Our church keeps growing like nothing I've seen before.

    There is such an annointing, from God, that you can just walk into the sanctuary and feel His presence.

    Our God is so wonderful! [​IMG] Can't wait to get back to the worship service tonight.

    Also, I wish I could put into words what all of the above is really like, but there isn't any way to explain it. One would just have to be in attendance to appreciate the reality of it all.

    MEE [​IMG]
     
    #4 MEE, Aug 10, 2003
  5. Singer

    Singer New Member

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    MikeS,
    I too feel that this ''homecoming'' that you represent is the longing of our spirit
    that is not satisfied until it unites with the creator God. The syndrome is represented
    with the term ''getting right with God'' or "making peace with our Maker" that we
    hear alot of. I've also heard of it as the "God Void" that is not satisfied until one accepts
    Jesus Christ. We know that this works from the changed lives that we experience when
    this is done. We now have the desire and the reason to serve God, and the void is
    filled.

    Ray,
    Don't think that your witnessing is going unanswered as the bible tells us that God's
    Word will not come back void. We may never see the final harvest, but then we've
    done our part in planting or cultivating the seed. We live in faith that God will use
    our meager attempts for His Glory.....and thus we continue on.

    MEE,
    I've felt His presence many times too and it is encouraging that others do also. Critics
    willl remind us not to rely on feelings, but I'm sure we're not prevented from experiencing
    God's goodness in this manner. We enjoy the physical senses of taste, sight, feel etc.......
    so why not also enjoy His spiritual senses. Godspeed to your church.
     
    #5 Singer, Aug 10, 2003
  6. MikeS

    MikeS New Member

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    Well, I sure wasn't expecting to be back here so soon, but I have just tonight been given a gift beyond price!

    For background, I do an hour of Eucharistic Adoration every Sunday night, from 11PM to midnight, and I've been doing this for about a year. So today out of a clear blue sky my 10-year-old son asked if he could go with me tonight. Now this is a boy who has never seemed to give much thought to God, and has in fact been having quite a problem with lying and sneaking.

    Anyway, comes time to leave and he still wanted to go, so we headed out to the chapel. When we got there I talked to him a little bit about the Eucharist, and told him just to open his heart and talk with God; then I left him to his own devices. Oh me of little faith, I really thought he would get bored and get nothing out of it! Help my unbelief, Lord! Instead, as we drove home, he told me how amazing it was that everything he thought about, the logic just came to him (that's how he worded it as best as I can remember). He also told me he'd like to come back. My little boy had clearly heard and responded to the loving entreaties of God, and had undergone a conversion of heart. And I had been allowed to witness it and be a part of it.

    Some days it seems there is no limit to the gifts of God! I guess those are the days when I see most clearly! Thank you once again, my dear, precious Lord!
     
    #6 MikeS, Aug 11, 2003
  7. Singer

    Singer New Member

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    Praise God !!

    See how He speaks to hearts...!!! (Referring to Mike's son)

    Only a week ago we were visited by our son in law's father who has been
    associated with the Mormon church to some extent during his adult
    years. We, of course, are the grandfather's of our 7 month old, Lily. As he
    held her hand in his and remarked of the size difference, he said "Now just look
    at this and know that her hand will grow in proportion and become the size of an
    adult's hand.........AND THEN TELL ME THERE IS NO GOD ?? " He
    went on to share amazing stories and mysteries that could only be resolved
    with the realization that there is a Creator/God.

    This.....from a man who, like me, is not a churchgoer, but has made that basic
    and necessary connection in his spirit that there is a creator. He is now prepared
    to also accept the fact that Jesus Christ is also real and has done a wondrous work
    on the cross and is able to influence us daily. His connection to the Mormon
    Church ( what those within refer to as the "one true church'') did not seem to
    make a difference to his testimony. He is merely being spoken to; in his spirit;
    by the spirit of God. He may or may not become a churchgoer of any denom.

    Yes Mike, God is speaking to your little boy. "Proverbs 22:6
    " Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it".

    *Look for signs of that God awareness....it will touch on every person at some point
    in their lives.
     
    #7 Singer, Aug 11, 2003
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