How to start? I guess its that I've had a sense of God from the time I was little as far back as I can remember. Then at the age of 16 a friends mother talked to me about Jesus and "lead me to the Lord" meaning I said the sinners prayer and went on my merry way living a life of sin, with a consciences about it, but non the less unable to stop sinning.
Then in my late 20's I had an unusual experience and I became very repentant or grieved or ashamed (or all of the above) about my life. I "rededicated my life to the Lord" and entered the church. I was in the church for about 12 years. A couple of different ones. First a Baptist church then a Evangelical Free church and then a Charismatic church. I did women's bible study for eight solid years, but I felt like I was still spiritually starving, and I was! All those years of church and bible study did teach me one very useful thing though and that was to ask God to give me a hunger for the truth that I somehow new I was not getting. So through a process of a few years, God brought me out and it was a painful process I won't go into.
I began to study the Word on my own, wholly dependant on the Spirit of God to teach me. For the lack of a better way to say it I began to hone in on the spiritual aspect of the Scriptures and I knew God was showing me things I had not known or been taught before. At times I would be very frustrated, but I know now it was because of all the idols of the heart that I had been taught and latched on to that just didn't jive with the Truth of the Word.
I would pray and ask God to give me understanding. I wanted so desperately to understand what I was not understanding and so I would pray for the truth no matter what the truth was, no matter the cost. I was hungry and thirsting for the Truth! I also would ask God to send me a "Paul the apostle kind of teacher" to help me see what I was not seeing. Boy did I get my prayer answered and then some. I understand that God could of taken the blinders off any way He wanted, but He chose to do it through bibletruths.com.
I can't remember how I first happened on to the site, but I know now it was God answering my prayers, that He had me praying in the first place. The first thing I read was Lazarus and the Rich Man. It made more sense to me than any other explanation of that parable I had ever heard before. Well I chewed on that for awhile and moved on. I read the letters to Kennedy and Hagee. Then the Lake of Fire Series. Whoa, I mean Whoa!!! My house built upon the sand came crashing down. "A stone was cast and fell upon me, Bitter water made to drink, Hidden idols ground to powder, Given ears to hear and eyes to see, Now I stand upon this stone, To trust and lean on Christ alone, To be purified by His pure Light, In Christ alone my spirit takes flight.
As the true gospel of the kingdom was (and still is) being presented to me I can truly say my heart is being pierced through by the double edged spiritual sword of the Word to the dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow and to the discerning of the thoughts and intents of my heart. A circumcision made without hands cutting out all those hidden idols of the heart! "and a sword will pierce your own soul -to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2:35
I believe the Lord was preparing me for the Truth of His Word that whole time alone with Him in the wilderness and indeed in my whole life so far. I am so overjoyed and grateful and humbled to receive the Truth and to be partakers with you all in the Truth. I am learning (hearing and seeing) so much and have so much to learn. I just can't stop praying "Come Lord Jesus ,Come". The Spirit and the bride say, "Come". And let the one who hears say, "Come". And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. Revelation 22:17
Sorry the short version of my testimony is so long winded. Also I want you to know I am praying along with you for the healing of Mr. L Ray Smith (my Paul kind of teacher) according to the good and perfect will of the Father.
In the grace of the Lord Jesus, Crystal
" Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2Corinthians 3:17-18
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Topic: A short version of my testimony. (Read 5992 times)