The only way to get to Heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, you have to trust not in your actions to get you to Heaven, but in Jesus and the fact that Jesus Christ is God's One and Only Son and was sent to die on the cross as the ransom for our sins. And when you confess Jesus and accept Jesus, you are assured of an eternal home in Heaven. :)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (KJV)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9 (KJV)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
♥ My Personal Testimony ♥
My testimony is really very simple. As a matter of fact, when asked to share it before, I've even struggled with the thought that it was really...well, almost....boring. I mean there are people with interesting testimonies.....like being delivered from a life of drugs or alcohol and coming to Christ, or living a really immoral life or "rough" life before finding the Lord, and so on. I love to see and hear what God has done for people like that! To me, those are interesting testimonies! Mine sure didn't measure up to those on the interesting scale!
Some time ago, however, I really felt the quiet way God spoke to my heart saying, "You're not giving Me enough credit here." What He showed me was that while I didn't think it was that interesting or that great of a testimony, in the sense of bringing me out of something terrible or huge, with a list of things I've done or low places I've been, God has spared me those things and kept me. Because of Him, and coming to know Him at an early age, God has guided my steps.
Wow! I hadn't thought of it that way until that moment. And I know God showed me that. He also made me realize that my testimony is special, because it's mine; it's what He did for me. While some people may benefit from the kind of "interesting" testimonies that I spoke of, there are others who will benefit from a testimony such as mine. Who am I to decide that? All God requires from me is to share what He's done for me, and he'll take care of the rest. I was not giving God the credit due Him!
I became a Christian at the age of ten. And also let me plug in right here to say that I had a great childhood and wonderful parents, so no rough life before this at all. About this time in my life though, I had been listening intently in Sunday School and in church services, especially for a few weeks, feeling convicted with God impressing His Word upon my heart, and knowing I needed the Lord; that I wanted Him in my life. I remember thinking on it alot during those two weeks and wanting to make sure that I knew, without a doubt, that I would have a home in heaven. I was especially convicted after watching a movie, "A Thief in the Night". It was a movie about Jesus coming back and some folks were ready for Him and some weren't. I remember playing the piano and reflecting on that movie and I knew that I wasn't a Christian. I can still remember the song I was playing when I decided that I wasn't wasting anymore time. I knew I felt that tugging from the Lord, and I was going to do something about it! So just a few days later, that following Sunday (I didn't realize then that I could just have prayed right then and there), I could hardly wait for the invitational song to begin, Just As I Am. I think I almost ran down that aisle to the front. I especially remember besides just asking the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart, I prayed, "Lord I want you to plan my life." And he has. God has guided my path from the young age of ten (childhood years), through the teenage years (those years notoriously noted for being rebellious), into married life (putting Jason and me together), and into and throughout family life (blessing us with our children in three very different ways). He has spared me alot and kept me. And I want it to be known, that I am who I am, not because of anything I've done, but because I asked Christ into my life and He has guided my paths.
One of my very favorite verses in the Bible is Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."
To God be the glory!
♥ Faithful Fridays ♥
My daughter, Joy, wanted to do something (at the age of 10) in blogland to share her faith with others. I told her to think of what she wanted to do and we would get it started. She came up with Faithful Fridays. And so Faithful Fridays was born so that Christians could have one designated day (although, of course, as she pointed out, we shouldn't have to keep it to one day) a week to share something from their Christian Faith/Walk--a prayer request, answered prayer, Bible verse, song, poem, or just something God's laid on your heart.
♥ God Bless You!♥
Thank you for sharing your testimony!! It is so rare these days I go over to a blog and see KJV verses much less someone sharing their testimony. I am so excited to place your button on my blog and your daughter's button. I can't wait to share your daughter's page with my son who is 9. What an inspiration!!!
ReplyDeleteI just read your testimony and I wanted to say "Thank you" I got saved at the age of 9. My testimony is very similar to yours. I had a great childhood as well and did not have a rough background. No drugs or alcohol. And like you, my testimony is special because it is mine, and I have seen how God has moved in my life always! So grateful that I was kept from a lot of evil that is out there. Thank you Jesus!
ReplyDeleteDear Tammy, I am so blessed that the Lord led me to your testimony. I felt He wanted to let me know that I also have had His hand of protection through out my life, oh dont get me wrong I have had my sheare of trials and sorrows. But not the ones you mentioned but I always felt like I had nothing special. No big testimony. No big ministery ect, ect,
ReplyDeleteI cannot express everything that is on my heart because there isnot enough time or space. But the Lord knows my heart and I give it all to Him. The Lord bless you and your family .I pray I will meet you some day in eternity to have all that time to talk and share all that He has done and worship Him.
Hi Tammy, I sitting here reading all of story of how and why you have been call to Jesus Christ. I can only refect where god has brought me and how much he Love me. I too have had a beautiful life and my journey to the Lord has been up and down. I am now a minister's wife and in a place of not knowing my purpose or even if I am the right wife for such an awesome man of God. Many times I see myself in a place of tears or even if the word of God flows in me like it use to. I do thank God for his love and must especially for his Son Jesus Christ. I thank you for your story. Bless you.
ReplyDelete