Testimonies (Part 1)

CajunsMisty
Moderator
Posts: 352
(1/22/04 10:16 am)
Reply | Edit | Del All Testimonies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post anything you wish to share about how you came to find God, returned to God, what God has done for you.

God bless you all

Edited by: CajunsMisty at: 1/22/04 10:19 am

blazr21
Sore Mouther
Posts: 436
(1/22/04 1:23 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del
Re: Testimonies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well you may have seen my wife post about my stroke, This is how I became to know CHRIST. See it will be 3 years this April that I had an accident at work (no warning at all) when i fell at 10:30am and found myself waking up at 7:30pm in the trauma center. I was working that day all was good and that's when my life changed, they told me i fell an the concrete and hit my head and went into a seizure, then was life-flighted to the hospital where i was told that I had a slow growing glioma tumor on the left frontal lobe of my brain. I lost it. Was scheduled for surgery 3 weeks later (craniotomy) well i went to 4 different neurosurgeons and they all said that i would need to go through further testing to rule out other things. Well after an (eeg,ekg,sleep study,arteriogram,mri with contrast,echo,dopler,PET's,and blood work) is when they said i had a brain stroke. Never thought i would be happy to see a brainstroke but the outcome was a better prognosis.while undergoing the arteriogram. It took 2 years or better to come up with this answer. Right after the accident I turned my life over to GOD's hands and let him have it all. I have to say they next day was a different day and for the better. I still can't work or drive, but I am being watched over, he is always with me at all times. I truly know this. Well can't think of anything else to say at this time, but "thank you for getting this forum started", maybe we can help one another, or maybe the lurkers that are afraid to go to a church.That would be great.

Praise the LORD, Don



CajunBass1
Mid-Atlantic Rally Moderator
Posts: 1154
(1/23/04 1:04 am)
Reply | Edit | Del
ezSupporter
Re: Testimonies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any doubt I had that the Lord was looking out for me, and had other plans for me vanished when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a couple of years ago at the age of 48.

I was having a problem that according to the doctors treating me was not a symptom of prostate cancer. My PCP referred me to a urologist because he was a bit stumped.

My PSA tests were all normal. (<.6) but the urologist said he wanted to take a biopsy "just to rule out" cancer. No problem.

He took the tests, sent me home with the assurance that "I'm almost sure it's not cancer". Guess what. He was wrong.

I got a call the next week, and "Dr.K", (I will not insult him by butchering the spelling of his name.) told me that I had beaten the odds, and did have it.

It didn't take long for me to elect to have surgery and remove the problem, so right after Christmas I went in, had the surgery and woke up in the hospital.

The next day Dr. K came in and told me "Guess what. We sent your prostate over to the lab, and they can't find any cancer in it". Oh GREAT.... The "Oh Well. I guess this means I won't get it at least".

Dr. K said he wanted to send the sample to a friend at Johns-Hopkins to let him have a look. About a week later he called me and said. "I heard from Johns-Hopkins. They did find a very small amount of cancer in your prostate that we sent to them, but the only place they found it was right in the tracks where the sample needle had gone."

Now. When you think of how they do that test, and you realize there is no way that the doctor had anything to do with just exactly where that needle hit, you have to believe that there was a higher power guiding it, or you have to believe in "dumb luck".


CajunsMisty
Moderator
Posts: 365
(1/23/04 10:35 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Testimonies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lord does indeed move in mysterious ways. Don, I'm sure that God will show you what He wants you to, what direction He wants you to go in. I know how I felt when they told me I couldn't work anymore, but God has had me "working" in other ways. I may not earn any money but I do indeed receive benefits, and with Gods help I manage to touch other peoples lives in some way (I don't realize it at the time, but they've told me afterward). We all have our "jobs" to do. We just need to open ourselves up and hear the instructions.



Rtriton02
Registered User
Posts: 3
(1/23/04 6:29 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del testimonies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First off I would like to say that this forum is one of the best ideas I have seen on BBC. As you all can see I do not posT much on here. However I come here 10 to 20 times a day. Guess you can say I might be a little shy. However talking about the good Lord and all his works is one thing I am not very shy about. This post may be a little long, and for that I am sorry. However I love to tell all that the good Lord has done for me and my family. I grew up in a christian home. My father was a preacher at the church we went to in Colorado. I was only 8yrs. old when I gave my life to Christ. Many would say that is too young to understand about that. I say not. The day I was saved I remember calling everyone I could just to tell them, "I gave my life to God". However I did not realize how much God was helping me until I was 10yrs. old. In March of '84 I was walking with my Mom into the bank. I had been having problems with my left leg. I told my mom that if the doctors would just take a picture of my knee, they would find what was wrong. So the next day my parents took me to the doctor, and there it was. I had a tumor in my leg. Two days later they removed it. It was not cancer. Thank the good Lord. Three months later I was having severe headaches. One day my older sister had taken me to a theme park. We got home and I got out of the car and passed out. I was rushed to the hospital and found out that I had a large "Pac-Man" in my head. This was the doctors exact words. LOL. Anyways come to find out that I had a brain tumor. And they had to remove it quick. They say I was within an hour of dieing. Kind of a lot for a 10yr old to handle. However I knew the good Lord would take care of me no matter what. Well in September of '84 my father took a job in Virginia. I fell as though that was one of the greatest things that had happened in my life. So here we are in Virginia now and I am 11 now and unable to play any sports and very limited to the things I was able to do. The doctors had to leave a small portion of the skull out, just in case they ever had to go in there again. I sit and think it must be nice to go outside and do the other things the other kids are doing. So one fine day I sat and asked the Lord, "What is it I can do God?" , "Why did you leave me here?". His answer came by way of my Dad. Dad says son lets go fishing. I had never been and only caught one fish that day. A James River Smallie. Thats all it took. Since then I have married and have one beautiful 3yr old girl. And the good Lord has showed me how I can work for him. Like many others on this board, my hopes are to become a Pro. God has showed me many ways to spread his word through my fishing. However no matter how far I make it, I know that it is God showing me the way. Once again I am sorry for this post being so long. However once I get started talking about God and his works in mine and my families lives I just can not stop.
Thanks for allowing us to now have a place to talk with others about God.

GOD BLESS ALL AND GOOD FISHING.
MARK

CajunBass1
Mid-Atlantic Rally Moderator
Posts: 1159
(1/24/04 9:02 am)
Reply | Edit | Del
ezSupporter
Re: testimonies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to the board Mark. There is never any need to apologize for a long post here You use the number of words it takes, to tell the story. It's we who are blessed to have the words of your testimony, praise the Lord you're here to give it.

That of course goes for everyone. This is the Lord's board. If he calls you to tell your story, don't worry about how long it, or if your spelling is perfect or if you think you've rambled. The Lord will tell you what he wants you to say if you ask him.

By the grace of God I have dealt with alcoholism. I have endured the affects of prison due to 3 DUI's, wrecked many vehicles, and nearly lost my children because of the affects alcohol had on me. The 19th of this month I celebrated my 8th yr sober and I owe it to the Lord above for each and every day I am able to face life and its trials without the presence of alcohol.Thank you Jesus one more time for another 24 hrs clean & sober, AMEN.

PRAISE THE LORD! for that Ray. That's great news.

Well, I'm new to this board and have enjoyed reading the many topics here. I enjoy bass fishing and that is what brought me to the BBC board in the beginning. Since discovering Increasin' Our Faith, I read it almost daily and today I feel I need to write a word or two.
I have been a Christian for over 30 years but haven't always lived like a Christian. I know that I probably speak for a lot of men when I say this. But I decided at some point in my life to make a change for the better and try to do a better job not focusing on what is best for ME. I decided to focus on the important things, the people who really matter the most and quality time with them.
In August 2004, I had a mild stroke while on the job and went through a bunch of tests the Dr. ordered and had some administered by a neurologist. My only symptom that anything had occured was my vision went bad....double....blurry. By the grace of the good Lord, after 3 weeks my vision returned slowly and I went back to work after one full month. Anyone who has experienced something dramatic like this knows about the thoughts that went through my mind. I decided that the Lord must have a plan for my life and it reinforced my decision not to be self indulged and to focus on the simple things in life because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Also, I try to keep a positive outlook on life with all it's negative influence and media coverage. When we pause and take a moment to look around us, it is a wonderful life with some wonderful people! http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif




Modified by bass4fun at 10:26 AM 4/1/2005

Welcome to the board James, and thanks for your testimony. I suspect that most of us have a similar story. I know mine is. It's amazing how God puts just the right person in our lives, at just the time we need them most. Praise the Lord that he is a God of second, and third, and so on chances.

First off, let me say that I'm not much of a speaker and haven't shared much with anyone in person. I have trouble telling people how I feel. Maybe this will help me make another step in the right direction and come out of "my shell" and be able to be more vocal about what the Lord has done for me.

I grew up in a Christian home. My dad is a preacher and you know what they say about PK's. I am now 33 yrs old, married and have a 5 yr. old daughter. I was saved when I was 8, baptized by my dad and everything was great until my teenage years. I guess that's when the rebelion kicked in. I hear people say how tough it is to be a preacher's kid and I'm not going to argue. Everyone is constantly watching you and when you slip, it gets thrown up in his face. But being a PK is no excuse for the choices I've made. I made my own decisions.

I won't bore you with all the details, but I got into the drinking and other things during high school and let it carry over into my college years. I had a full paid scholarship and dropped out after 2 yrs. What was I doing?

I got married at 20 and wasn't a very good role model husband for the first 12 yrs. The reason I say that is because first and foremost, I DIDN'T TAKE MY FAMILY TO CHURCH. Instead, I was drinking and I had grown a rather extensive vocabulary of words that I wish now that I had never heard before. There was nothing in my life visible to the world to show that I had been saved.

Last year, my wife started taking my daughter to church. And I'm ashamed of that, only because as the head of the family, I should have been taking them all along. It took my daughter (4 at that time) comming home from church on Sunday and telling me she learned about God for me to get off my lazy butt and start going to church. So, I go to church with them one Sunday and have been going ever since. It's been about a year now since we joined the church and in October of 2004, my daughter got saved. What a blessing being able to witness your own child being baptized and seeing the difference that God has made in their life. One day she was staring up at the sky and I asked her what she was doing, she said "I'm talking to God". It made me want to cry.

I have now been married for 13 yrs. to a wonderful wife who knows the Lord and has been supportive in everything I've done. I have a 5 yr. old daughter who knows the Lord, and talks to him daily. I have a roof over my head, a job, a healthy family, an ongoing growing relationship with my Savior and a wonderful church family..............and I don't deserve any of it. God has been so good to us.

Sorry for being a little long winded but I hope that someone reading this gets half the enjoyment I got out of being able to write it.

Chris, wonderful testimony! I believe that I was a lot like you when I was a teenager and a young adult getting married at age 20. You are a GOOD MAN because you recognized the need to make a positive change in your life and did it. It will have lasting effects on your wife and daughter in addition to yourself. GOD BLESS you Chris!

And all God's people said...


Amen!

As some of you know, I am a Marine currently stationed over-sea's. My testimony is not earth shattering but never the less it is true. I was not brought up in a Christian home so I never really knew God until I was an adult and when I became an adult I chose to ignore him. Anytime someone would address me about God I would turn them off. Last year, in October, I was talking with a fellow Marine (close friend now) and I truly felt the spirit of the Lord working on me. Setting their that evening I just knew that God was in that office with us. I turned my life over that day to our Savior Jesus Christ and have not looked back.

I do the best I can to grow in him every day and it brings me extreme joy to report that since then my wife and 3 of my 4 children have been saved, one of them today! All the Glory goes to God, he has truly turned my life around for the better! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif

And all the angels in heaven rejoiced on that glorious day.

To God be the glory.

AMEN!

An update...All of my Children have now been saved and Baptized..Glory be to God!!!

That is great news!

Praise the Lord!

I haven't been a member long . Got on this web sight because I love boats and fishing but above those I LOVE the Lord !! What a great place to met a bunch of really nice people. This forum is the best. The testimonies were touching to me, to hear what GOD is doing in other lives is great. I also accepted CHRIST at a young age then strayed when I got older. I have now given all of my life back over to CHRIST and things couldn't be better. I could never repay what he has done for me. I just live my life like he wants me to, and tell others about the grace of GOD every chance I get. My wife is also a christian and we try to raise our three daughters up in church and teach them about CHRIST like my christian parents did me. I have truly been blessed. Thank you LORD for all you have done for me.

AMEN Astro!!!

I just got out of hospital due to the grace of Our Lord and savior.

Saying thank you Lord in writing, already said it to you in private.

This a Awesome section to any web site glad to see it I am a new member.

George

early yrs in the church of god .late 50's early 60's
chaplin of a baptist after school club -youth for christ-1964-67
parents divorced in 69' and i blamed god.found the hippie movement,drugs,sex, and rock and roll music at 16,and also the humanist manifesto 1.
led a self indulged lifestyle for 30 yrs.me,me, me. this is my world and my world centers around me. if im happy its because of me,if i sad ,its because of me,you can only come into my world if i allow you to. that way i couldnt be hurt again.
16 yrs in a rocky wild marriage. bevorced in 87'.found my solemate in 91'.had my first and onlt child at 43 in 1995.
in 85' started my own business which after 22 yrs. i still run and own today.bought 55 acres for $ 44,000.00 and paid for it in full w/ cutting the pines off it in 93'
was a carpenter untill i started my video store and was able to build my own home on this 55ac. in 2000.
so, i owned my own successful business.i was debt free w/ expendable income.i owned my own home that i built on 44 ac. of debt free land.
i married my solemate and love of my life and had a beautifull daughterin 95'
what more could a man ask for .all the while i was a rank sinner.i woke up one morning and looked around at all that i had and was taking medication for DEPRESSION.what, what is this .what do i not have in my life to make me happy or at least content.GODS spirit spoke to me that morning.remember me,im whats missing from your life.ive let you have it your way for 30+ yrs. you and your self serving selfish ways.your an abomination to me .i want you to serve me,NOW, the same way you have served your self for all these yrs.
i told my wife i was going to church and i was going to the little holiness church i grew up in.she wouldnt go ,only because she didnt want to go to a holy roller church. those people are phoenatics.
i really didnt know what i was doing but i knew i had to go.sure enough the preacher, preached right to my sin, the conviction was so strong on me i wept sorely and wanted to go to the alter but was afraid.only afraid that i was going to have to give up the lifestyle i was comfortable in.i went home a sinner, but i told my wife im going back tonite.ive got to go to find out what this is about.that nite same thing the convicting and drawing power of gods holy spirit was to much for me to bear .i couldnt wait for alter call. i ran to the alter and begged god to forgive me of my sins and ways .and asked him to make me a new creature in christ.the weight of the sin i was carrying immediately lifted off my back and shoulders.the sin load was gone and so was all the guilt and all the worldliness,the drugs and alchol, and pornography, and pride and greed and self serving ways..... it was all gone never more to be remembered by god.
what a glorious feeling, my life was now complete.i could lay my head down on my pillow at night and rest in PEACE.the JOY came back into my life.the anger left.i dont have room to explain what that moment did for me.
that following wed. night my wife went to church w/ me and gave her life to god.we not only gave our life to god but committed to serving a wonderful savior and also accepted jesus as lord of our life.my daughter also embraced this holiness lifestyle and was saved and filled w/ the holy ghost at 10.joshua 20-5(i think)" but for me and my household we are going to serve the lord.")
since that day ive never taken another pill for depression, smoked another joint, drank another beer, watched another xxx rated movie.all for my lord jesus christ.
i thank him, i love him and i serve him and him alone.
it wasnt long after giving my life to jesus that i started teaching and preaching holiness and useing this testimony to reach the lost and i only share this today that someone who is lost w/o god or his son, or who is not living up to the standards that god requires may read this and committ or recommitt their lives to a caring loving, merciful,forgiving,BUT,righteous,holy, soveriegn god. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif

A men Mike. I look forward to wakeing up everyday and praiseing GOD all day long !! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif

Great testimony! Noticed your were from Lake Butler...I use to work over in Starke! Bunch of great places to fish and go to church in you neck of the woods.

I was reading over the posts here and felt led to post this. It's long and a two part story.

I have never known what it was like not to be in church. My mom took my sister and myself every time the doors were open. My dad, however, wouldn't go. I never new why but that was the way it was my entire childhood.
During the spring revival of 1982 this 10 year old boy found Jesus in a little country Baptist Church in Belk, Alabama. The joy I felt was indescribable. That night after church (it was a Tuesday night) we were eating supper and my mom told my dad what happened. He looked at me with a frown and began to tell me that I was too young to be saved and didn't understand what it was about. Without taking my eyes from my plate I said " Daddy I love you very much. You can keep me from going to church but you can't keep me from being saved." Nothing more was said.

The next night at church as the last song was ending I heard the outside door open. Yep you guessed it it was my dad and he didn't stop to sit with us he went straight to the alter and for about 20 minutes poured his heart out to God.

You see he was saved but had let bitterness enter his life over something that had happened at church before I was born. He apologized in front of the entire church and rededicated his life to Jesus. At that time the person with whom he had been bitter with also came to the alter and rededicated their life. That was the beginning of a revival that saw 9 more souls saved and countless rededications.

I claim no credit in this but give God all the glory for using a 10 year old boy to see his will be done.

Thank you for that story Tiny. What an inspiration that is.

What a great story. God knew what he was doing all the time. AMEN. I thank GOD he left the 99 sheep and came looking for the one who had went astray. Called out my name and I heard him and came running back. THANK YOU LORD!!!

Jeff

God is good
all the time
All the time
God is good.


Modified by ASTROCRAZY at 7:48 PM 11/20/2007

I had always made excuses not to go to church with my wife and daughter. Fishing tired ect.

At a very low point in my life, 4 month ago, i tried to come up with a way to kill myself. Ended up in the hospital and was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. They got me on meds and that seems to be working very well.

I talked with the minister from our church and told him that I worshiped the Lord in my own way. Well....God had a different idea in mind for me. One of my coworkers gave me a book to read. The Purpose Driven Life. I started reading it that night and 40 days later finished it. In the meantime, I started going to church every Sunday with the wife and daughter.

I cannot get enough of the want to learn more. The Lord has come back into my life and I have renewed my vow to give Him my life unconditionally. I am going to the morning service, Sunday school, the evening service, and have joined the adult drama team . I have shares my testimony with the guys and gals I work with and have been able to minister to a couple of the guys at work. one is coming to church with us now.

I never knew what people were talking about when they would say " We have an awesome God" Well, I do now. I have let the Lord come back into my life and I know with His love for me , and my love for Him, I have a wonderful life ahead of me. Both in this earthly vessel and the home He has prepared me for in Eternity.

Amen Hillbilly. It's amazing what God can do if we just let Him. Thanks for shareing.

Jeff




Modified by ASTROCRAZY at 6:51 PM 2/22/2009

My wife and I were pregnant with twins. One had problems and long story short, we lost one of our boys and our other son was 2 months premature. We all know the risks here, he was 4lbs at birth and had an extended hospital stay. The worst part is that due to a troubled delivery (emergency c section) caused him to have a stroke and he is missing nearly half his brain which controls half his body. Doctors were not very optimistic on his development and basically told us nobody knows how he will do, but prepare for the worst. He is now 2 1/2 and is smart as a whip. He is only affected physically and with continues therapy will learn to cope. the Lord was watching over him.....and me.

During this time a local church family gave us more support (prayers, money, food, about everything you could think of). We then realizes the Lord was giving us a message to return the favor. have been going to church regularly ever since.

A side story to this is that during pregnancy my mother was diagnosed with cancer in her kidneys. Surgery rid her of cancer, but triggered cerocis?sp of the liver. She had to stop drinking or she would die. She lost a ton of weight and was to the point where she was even halucagenic?sp. We kept telling her that she needed to get better for her grandson and eventually she did. She now has a clean bill of health after nearly dying. My dad (a heavy beer drinker) stopped drinking cold turkey and they have both been sober ever since. Now you should see my son with his grandma. It is like subconsiously he kept her alive and he knows it http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif

How many things can I be thankful for just in this story alone?

Thats a great story Derek, you will never regret living for the Lord. I couldn't imagine life without him. God bless you & your family.

Jeff http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/glasses.gif

i am just adding to this great site we all always come to that point when we all need some thing bigger than we are.pslams 91.read it please.seed time and harvest is your road to gods faver.there will always be seed time and harvest!plant a seed for your need.speak all things into exsistance,in jesus name amen.

The lord has been good to me, he has given me a beautiful daughter, a good wife. Its been about a year now since I quit using smokeless tobacco, he is the one who got me through it, and now he is given me a son who is going to be here around the end of june. Life is so much easier if you turn it over to him. Praise the lord! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif

There is always a reason how We find or get somewhere to share.
For me it was fishing lures. But here it is.
People say born again what's that and how do we know?

I ask the same question myself. I was going through alot in my life divorce , not seeing my kids or family. I found my famiily they accepted me as they always do.
I was alone and knelt down on the floor and said. Lord I have nothing What am I to do ? I heard thunder and lightning which no one heard. A voice that scared everything out of me saying GOOD NOW YOU ARE MINE. From then on my life changed. I met someone shortly after that started seeing my kids again. God helped let go of anger and hurt. That was 10 years ago Life isn't perfect but Christ paid that price for us. I am still with the great lady God gave me and a fantastic relationship with my Kids.

Maybe the lures was just a secondary action to something way bigger to share.
Thanks

I grew up in a strict Baptist church. My mother always made me go to church. It was the very traditional country Baptist church. Needless to say, I really didn't enjoy it. I was saved at a young age. Mainly because it was the right thing to do, not because I felt God calling me. I tried to live a good life growing up. Never really got into trouble and tried to do the right thing. I never really felt as if I was a Christian though. When I finally moved out at the age of 18, the only thing I could think about was no more church on Sunday mornings, Sunday night, or wednesday nights. The first weekend I was off at college, I remember wakeing up Sunday morning and thinking, Wow I don't have to get out of bed for church... I hate to admit it but then, it was a good feeling. I begin to hang out with the party crowd. I began to drink quite a bit and didn't think much about church. The only time I went to church was when I went home to visit. After a couple of years, a friend invited me to go to church with him. I thought what the heck, why not. Again, I didn't enjoy it at all. I was watching the clock and waiting for it to hit 12. well 12 came and church didn't stop. Church went on until 2:30 and I was about to go crazy. When we finally got out of church, I told myself never again... at least not that church. I finally finished college but didn't grow up any. I continued to drink quite a bit and still didn't return to church. Years passed and I moved from NC to TN (where my sister her husband and children live). I wanted to be close to them and wanted to see my nieces and nephew grow up. They invited me to their church one Sunday morning and I decided to go. To my surprise it wasn't half bad but I still felt out of place and uncomfortable. As time went on I slowly began to stop all the drinking and partying. It was getting REALLY old. I finally met a wonderful woman (who is my fiance). I was working at the Sheriff's Office third shift so i was having to work on the weekends. Early in our relationship, my fiance kept talking about this church she was going to. She would invite me every now and then and I would always decline with the excuse of being too tired. After a while, I finally agreed to go. The first Sunday morning i was AMAZED!!!! I never knew there was a curch like that. The worship service was awsome! The sermon was awsome and to top it all off, it was very entertaining. Never thought I would hear that comeing out of my mouth... I fell in love with it. I started to go every Sunday morning and was really starting to look forward to the services. After 1 year I still continue to go to that church. I still continue to try and grow spiritually (even though it is hard sometimes). I really do think that God put my fiance in my life, not only to be my wife but to help nudge me in the right direction. Sense then i feel that I have truely been born again.

I have always believed in god but never really went to church.I am trying to learn and follow know have 3 beautiful kids and a wife that is something special. To have put up with me and still is. I am fighting alcoholism I fight it everyday won't lie to ya I have to do something I can't live like this any more. If any of you been threw an addiction you know what I mean. If you don't mind send me some prayers I need them thanks.

Walter, addiction is something that is almost impossible to overcome by ourselves. But thank goodness we don't have to overcome it alone, God said we can come to Him with our burdens and He'll help us bear them. He is waiting with two open arms if we will just come to Him. You know what living for the world can do for you, give the Lord a try and see what He can do for you. You might just be amazed. I will keep you in my prayers. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/praying.gif

Jeff

Thank God, there are still some good people in this world!

Walter, Jesus tells us to come to him with our burdens, and exchange them for his, for his burdens are light, but He is strong enough to carry ours. I'm not going to blow smoke at you and tell you it's easy. You know it's not. You'll need help from your friends, your family, and from Jesus. They're all there waiting for you to turn to them in your hour of need.

Matthew 11:28-30

Ive been thinking about doing this for years.. timing just never seemed right .. and couldn't figure out how to do it and work full time job, most of all in a business that would need full time staffing?

Well back on the First Week if Jan got laid off as have many here and elsewhere.. Ive been looking every day for a job that would be comparable wages, even a lil less would work .. but nope nada nothin ..

I stood out on the porch one morning before dawn a few weeks ago .. and Prayed to God to help me .. please god give me direction on a new job or a career path anything.. my life's in your hands it always has been always will be and any thing you can do lead me into the right direction.. something along those lines I prayed.

Now some of you may think this is just coincidence , for the non believers .. but trust me, I pray regular .. but almost never for my self .. I pray for others and their situations, and for my family and country.. but the few times I have prayed for something I really needed, when the darkest clouds were hanging over my head , I pray not just for others but for my self .. and God has always provided what I needed .. maybe not what I wanted but what I needed.

So I prayed to god as I was saying , and I have been thinking like I said for some time now about starting a business..

A few days later .. I had dream about posting an ad on Craigslist to do boat repair .. so a few more days went by the dream kept coming back .. lil different every time but still post add on Craigslist .. so I did .. I had 22 calls in 4 hours.. but all wanted to know where my shop was .. er well don't have one just do it from home ..

Then a few days later .. I really began think about getting a shop .. but where and how ..I was going try to build a shop .. but no job and only the wife working, that wasn't gonna happen, and the zoning would not permit it anyway ..

So I was browsing craigslist later in my usual categories , boats, tools, computers .. and I accidentally or was it an accident? hit the office & commercial link, opps I thought then I see a post for $450 bldg shop office, I clicked on it .. it was perfect size and area .. 7 miles from home near the lake, and high traffic area .. and it even used to be a fiberglass repair shop, the guy retired a few yrs back .. and 450 per month no deposit or lease !!!! WOW that is cheap .. so I looked around to see if I could find anything comparable and for what price .. everything was 800 to 1500 per month but this lil jewel of a shop in the ruff.

Ok so now I found this building now what .. I don't have the capital to rent or turn lights on ! so I prayed some more again asking god for guidance

.. 2 days later after calling family members ( That was a waste of time lol ) Im starting to see it all slipping from my fingers

.. then I get a call from an old friend hadn't talked with him in about a month, and co worker from the company was laid off from .. he asks how Ive been etc .. then he says 2 words God Called ... what did you say , I asked ?

He said God er called me last night in a dream .. he showed me a picture of you on your knees .. so I decided to call you and see if your ok .. yea Im ok . .. But going nutz trying to figure out how to open my own boat repair business.. he then asked what I needed .. I need first months rent and deposit for electricity .. he said Ill be over in your way in about 40 mins I have some stuff to do up near your house
.. ya gonna be home ? Yea Ill be here .

. hour later he shows up with 1200 dollars and hands it to me .. I CAN'T take that ! You can and you will .. if you can pay it back fine .. if not that's fine too.. er uhh ok .. he then gets in his truck and leaves!

I called the owner of building , she said yes its still available , I paid her the rent and then went and paid the deposit on the electricity . Got business license etc all taken care of and liability insurance ..

And If you have ever wondered if God Answers Prayers ? Praying

You bet he does .. he certainly answered this one .. I pray that all of your prayers are answered too ..
God bless you all
If you need boat body work , seats, carpet etc etc and your near Chattanooga, TN area look me up my door will be open in 4 days!

Thank You God .. all things are possible in you!
http://www.northriverboatrestore.info/

I have been a member of BBC for a good while and go into it about 2 or 3 times a day. It has blessed me more than you will ever know. I have something on my heart this morning that I would like to share with everyone.
A little over 2 years ago my brother started having pain in both of his legs. The DR. here could not find anything that would be causing this much pain. Tried 3 or 4 different medicines with no results. One sunday morning he told his wife he just didn't feel like going to church he was hurting too much. She said no we are going to the hospital in Springfield. In a little over 3 hours, they found a blood clot in each leg and a mass in the middle of his chest on his lungs the size of your fist. It was cancer and the Dr. told him that she was sorry, but where it was, it was in-operable. That night about 25 members of the church along with the pastor went up and prayed with them most of the night. Next day the Dr. told him she was going to hit him hard the first 2 treatments then they would see if there was any change. After the second treatment they ran test to see if anything had changed. She told jim they would not have the results until he came back for the third treatment. On his return for that treatment the Dr. came in with a very puzzled look on her face. She said Richard I don't understand it but it is all gone. My brother looked at her and pointed up and said doc you have had some help. She told him that she believed that and that she had seen that happen before but on very few times. He had to take a few more treatments. And as of 2 weeks ago there is still no sign of it anywhere.
Thank you Lord for your LOVE and POWER. AMEN

Hi All,

New to the site. I have been reading through. I see many blessings here. I have a testimony had like to share with you.
12 years ago I married a woman who had three children. Her youngest lived with her, the other two lived with their dad. As time went on I tried to be a dad to the youngest ( Ashley). Her dad lived a few hours away. So he didn't see her too often. Ashley was a typical young girl who went to school and liked the typical things that schoolchildren liked. However because of my Christian background some of those things ( typically) met with some resistance (on my part). my wife and I would disagree about things like clothing, makeup, attitude, extracurricular activities. In an effort to win Ashley's heart I tried everything. Then one day I decided I would call on God. I went to Ashley and asked her if she could read her Bible. One verse every night and maybe tell me what it said to her. She told me she wouldn't be able to talk to me about it but that she could write it on paper. I told her that would be fine. As time went on it would be hit and miss. Some nights I would have a paper on my desk and sometimes I wouldn't. Then after a while I would have sometimes two or three papers on my desk. I noticed her attitude changed. And so did her mother. To the point that she argued with me about the way that Ashley was changing. The way she dressed. (no more tight clothes) No more makeup. No more weird music etc... Her mother threatened to go to Ashley's dad with this so that he could do something about it. Right in the middle of this turmoil Ashley's dad died. he contracted viral meningitis. He lasted seven days. When that happened a whole new responsibility was given over to me. God had placed Ashley in my keeping. After awhile Ashley and I committed to Bible studies Twice a week. The things at school became unimportant to Ashley as the things of God became more important. She told me one day that she wanted to call me dad; but that she thought it would be a little hard and weird. But she was going to try. She now calls me dad and daddy( head covering and all) she's my little girl. Because of my obedience to God Ashley came to Christ. but that's not the end of the story.
I was one of those guys who would come home from work and either watch TV or get on my computer and play games. ( what a waste of time). My daughter would be in her room listening to gospel messages from many different people or Hymn music on CDs that she would record. Many times she asked me to come and join her and I wouldn't because I was too busy wasting my time. See Ashley works for me in my office. One day as I entered my office I saw her sitting there toiling away at her work. She had been alone all day at the office. And at that moment the Lord opened my eyes. He made me realize that all that time that I had wasted on TV and my computer I had left her alone. I was being a dad to her in name only. God broke my heart right then and there. I went to my daughter and (with tears running down my face) I asked her forgiveness. She said "of course I forgive you Dad. I knew that there was not much I could say to change your mind. So I asked God to change it". As I look back, I see that God was able to use me to draw Ashley near. And later God used Ashley to draw me nearer. Two things: God's Word has power to change lives. And God answers prayers.

In his humble service....... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/praying.gif

My wife and I are Christians of a non denominational church and her sister recently died ( in april) and My wife said the next day she heard her say ,"he reigns Kathy , he really reigns. Tell me that doesn't give you goose pimple's WOW http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/praying.gif

Well this is sort of a testimony. Sunday my wife and I joined our new church. We have been visiting there for a couple of months, and really felt led to become members. For years she and I didn't go because I was raised pentecostal and she was raised southern baptist. After my divorce before I met my current wife of 12 years, I left my former church (her family attended) and didn't attend anywhere regularly. I did attend my childhood church on occasion where my Grandfather pastored but it was 40 miles away. So i wasn't going anywhere regularly. My wife who was raised baptist had no intention of going to a pentecostal church, and me being hard headed wasn't going baptist. So we just didn't attend church very often and we were both convicted for some time. A friend at work has been telling me about their new pastor at Ft. Green Baptist Church. He and I talked a lot and we had several other close friends at the church as well. We finally visited and loved the church, the spirit, and the church family. Our pastor is wonderful and I find out that before he went into the ministry he was an avid tournament angler. He and I just hit it off and I am thankful we found them, and set aside these denominational boundries. I got to take our pastor fishing a couple of weeks ago, and he can still fish. We had a great time and I am so thankful we found our new place of worship. I am glad that God still convicts us so we can see what we need to be doing. If you are not worshiping somewhere because of some small reason swallow your pride, and answer your convictions. I promise you will be so much more happy. God bless

first of all PRAISE GOD!!! we have a awesome GOD!! great testimonies!!!

i was a alcohic for 34 years,drug addictt for 34 years,at the height of my outlaw carrear,was arrested 15 times in one year,had 5 dwi's served 5 years in jail for weapons charge,in the court/jail system for 20 plus years,i destroyed 2 marriages and my familes lives trying to be someone i wasn't... i'm sure i'm leaving alot of stuff out but you'all get the picture, lowlife sinner....i'm 51 now have a hard time remember dates,approx. 4 years ago i went to a little church,no one lead me,the LORD CAME AND GOT ME!! i gave my life to JESUS, a moment that for ever changed my life,thank you JESUS,one day at work a couple people from church showed up,they said come outside we have something to show you.i looked inside their vehicle and said that's a nice bass guitar,they said you start tonight at 5:00,well i plugged that thing in and low and behold i can flat wear that thing out!!i never had a lesson,i believe it's a GOD given gift ! since then i have played with 2 great gospel bands 1 southern country gospel and 1 contempary gospel,played on tv,played bass for my freind that had a song that was in the top 10 in nashville,played events and in different states,truly blessed,i cannot thank JESUS enough,if your reading all these testimonies please, if you dont know JESUS ask him to be your lord and savior,a father that understands,one that will never forsake you,because he loves you,just the way you are,just give your life to him and live for ever!!

bass guitar,bass fishing,,thank you JESUS!!!