Comments on: Testimonies http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:49:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pam Simmons http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-2/#comment-88438 Pam Simmons Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:17:28 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88438 I became a born again Christian at about age 6. I remember being touched by the sermon that Bro. Paul Waters gave and later at home told my parents that I wanted to be saved. Bro. Waters came to my house and prayed with me and Jesus came into my life. I strayed during my years of age 21 - 35. I dabbled with all sorts of worldly things. I was and am struggling with being a lesbian while also being a Christian. During the "straying" years - I acted on my lesbianism at about age 30. I had not done that before due to guilt feelings - I'm sure from my many years of hearing sermons on the topic. Sept. 11 changed everything for me. I realized AGAIN that God has a plan for all of us - including this great nation. I have since become once again involved with my salvation - Christ! My friends wonder what has happened to me - and when I tell them - they are shocked! One of my best friends called me a conservative, right wing, Republican Christian nut. I was proud of that! I am very politically active - my friends often say "I don't want to talk about politics". I pray for our country, our troops and mission and our President. I pray that I can continue to grow in Christ and I pray that I can continue to remain abstinent as well. Presently, I have no interest whatsoever in returning to the "gay" life. I do beleive I was born gay - I remember as a child (before kindergarten age) having feelings and attractions to females. However, through Christ, I can overcome those emotions and feelings and so far, so good. Pray for me! I became a born again Christian at about age 6. I remember being touched by the sermon that Bro. Paul Waters gave and later at home told my parents that I wanted to be saved. Bro. Waters came to my house and prayed with me and Jesus came into my life. I strayed during my years of age 21 – 35. I dabbled with all sorts of worldly things. I was and am struggling with being a lesbian while also being a Christian. During the “straying” years – I acted on my lesbianism at about age 30. I had not done that before due to guilt feelings – I’m sure from my many years of hearing sermons on the topic. Sept. 11 changed everything for me. I realized AGAIN that God has a plan for all of us – including this great nation. I have since become once again involved with my salvation – Christ! My friends wonder what has happened to me – and when I tell them – they are shocked! One of my best friends called me a conservative, right wing, Republican Christian nut. I was proud of that! I am very politically active – my friends often say “I don’t want to talk about politics”. I pray for our country, our troops and mission and our President. I pray that I can continue to grow in Christ and I pray that I can continue to remain abstinent as well. Presently, I have no interest whatsoever in returning to the “gay” life. I do beleive I was born gay – I remember as a child (before kindergarten age) having feelings and attractions to females. However, through Christ, I can overcome those emotions and feelings and so far, so good. Pray for me!

]]> By: Kathleen http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-2/#comment-88398 Kathleen Wed, 04 Apr 2007 04:44:27 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88398 Whoops, take the period out from the end of the link and it should go to the right page: http://www.christiancomicsinternational.com/webb.html Sowwy! :-( Whoops, take the period out from the end of the link and it should go to the right page:
http://www.christiancomicsinternational.com/webb.html

Sowwy! :-(

]]> By: Kathleen http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-2/#comment-88397 Kathleen Wed, 04 Apr 2007 04:43:03 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88397 LaShawn, that is a powerful testimony. What a blessing you were given to share it in Today's Christian Woman. My testimony can be viewed online as well at: http://www.christiancomicsinternational.com/webb.html. I would only add that my hair's shorter than shown in the last panel, and I've aged a bit since then. ;-) LaShawn, that is a powerful testimony. What a blessing you were given to share it in Today’s Christian Woman.

My testimony can be viewed online as well at: http://www.christiancomicsinternational.com/webb.html. I would only add that my hair’s shorter than shown in the last panel, and I’ve aged a bit since then. ;-)

]]> By: Susannah http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-2/#comment-88393 Susannah Wed, 04 Apr 2007 03:27:01 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88393 I grew up in a Christian home, and have always trusted God's word. I remember riding home one night from church and praying a prayer of salvation in my heart, so that I would have assurance ever after that Jesus was my Lord and Savior. It's been (often slow) growth ever since that time! All attributable to God's mercy and grace and none to me. My husband has a more interesting conversion story. We've had our hills and valleys in life, but God has been so incredibly faithful and merciful to us! We would not be where we are right now without His frequent and direct intervention. Love you, LaShawn. Thank you for your bold, undaunted blogging and your dedication to the Lord. I grew up in a Christian home, and have always trusted God’s word. I remember riding home one night from church and praying a prayer of salvation in my heart, so that I would have assurance ever after that Jesus was my Lord and Savior. It’s been (often slow) growth ever since that time! All attributable to God’s mercy and grace and none to me. My husband has a more interesting conversion story. We’ve had our hills and valleys in life, but God has been so incredibly faithful and merciful to us! We would not be where we are right now without His frequent and direct intervention.

Love you, LaShawn. Thank you for your bold, undaunted blogging and your dedication to the Lord.

]]> By: Michael http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-2/#comment-88331 Michael Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:18:37 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88331 I had a narcissism problem. A psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem. This also lead to heavy drinking, little discipline, and pursuit of as many women as I could seduce. It was quite fun for the first 10 years. haha. But the second 10 opened my eyes. I saw myself as the old letch still trying to chase women. And dying young like my forefathers due to bad lifestyles. Basically I came to the end of the road and had nowhere else to go. I figured out that there would always be one more woman whom I would want; one more nice pair of shoes; one more big bottle of bourbon to drink. I knew that these things would never fill the hole in me. A friend had been setting a great example for me of how to be a real Christian. This person actually lived by the words that she spoke. I was much impressed. So I got down on my knees one spring day and asked for forgiveness of my sins and for the help and comfort that Jesus Christ said He would give me. I could not really believe that He would take my burdens from me. But I trusted that He would. I immediately felt a warm blanket wrap around me. Things have not always been easy since that day. Many people mistakenly think that Christians have it made. What they may not know is that the Devil will attack you immediately when you leave his service. Your old life will call you. But most of the time I have lived in peace and satisfaction, both of which had always eluded me before I became born again. I have really enjoyed my walk with Him. As I mature as a Christian many things make sense to me now. I laugh ruefully at my old ways and feel sympathy for people who are living like I used to live. I want to make one point that is really important. I was surrounded by many Christians my whole life. I do not recall even one of them trying to save me. They were too shy or scared or polite to help me. I may have rejected them anyway but I think a Christian should always try to spread the Gospel! I do my best, no matter how nervous I am or how much I hate rejection, to tell people about the awesomeness of Salvation. Amen. I had a narcissism problem. A psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem. This also lead to heavy drinking, little discipline, and pursuit of as many women as I could seduce.

It was quite fun for the first 10 years. haha. But the second 10 opened my eyes. I saw myself as the old letch still trying to chase women. And dying young like my forefathers due to bad lifestyles. Basically I came to the end of the road and had nowhere else to go. I figured out that there would always be one more woman whom I would want; one more nice pair of shoes; one more big bottle of bourbon to drink. I knew that these things would never fill the hole in me.

A friend had been setting a great example for me of how to be a real Christian. This person actually lived by the words that she spoke. I was much impressed.

So I got down on my knees one spring day and asked for forgiveness of my sins and for the help and comfort that Jesus Christ said He would give me. I could not really believe that He would take my burdens from me. But I trusted that He would. I immediately felt a warm blanket wrap around me.

Things have not always been easy since that day. Many people mistakenly think that Christians have it made. What they may not know is that the Devil will attack you immediately when you leave his service. Your old life will call you.

But most of the time I have lived in peace and satisfaction, both of which had always eluded me before I became born again. I have really enjoyed my walk with Him. As I mature as a Christian many things make sense to me now. I laugh ruefully at my old ways and feel sympathy for people who are living like I used to live.

I want to make one point that is really important. I was surrounded by many Christians my whole life. I do not recall even one of them trying to save me. They were too shy or scared or polite to help me. I may have rejected them anyway but I think a Christian should always try to spread the Gospel! I do my best, no matter how nervous I am or how much I hate rejection, to tell people about the awesomeness of Salvation.
Amen.

]]> By: Finn http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-2/#comment-88327 Finn Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:18:51 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88327 I grew up in a household that was very conservatively Christian. We attended churches (often non-denominational ones) that believed the scriptures and many a Saturday morning was spent in Bible study with our dad, listening to him go on and on as we munched on cheesy eggs, home fries, bacon, sausage, toast and juice. (I would often doze off, or catch a glimpse just over my father's shoulder of my friends playing outside). "Wake up," my father would say, eyeing me closely, and the little boy sin in my heart. I've never really doubted in terms of faith or intellect that Jesus is who he says he is, and that I am in the state I am in. And there have been moments along the way that assured me that prayers do get answered, and that Jesus does exist, and that God loves us. The moment I kind of mark as my actually affirming what I grew up with was when I was on a teen retreat when I was about 9 or so. People were getting baptized and I was afraid to, but felt like it was something I really needed to do. They took us out to the bay--which was actually called Conscience Bay in Setauket Long Island- and I got dipped under. I felt relieved actually, and not necessarily of sin, being so young. But it just felt like that in doing what I didn't have to do, but felt compelled to do, I was one step closer to independently defining myself as a follower of Christ. Now since then, I've had temptations, and even hoped I would be tempted more... you know, naked women falling into my lap and such. But despite my struggles and the fact that I have not been God's best tool, I've never doubted him, or the power of Jesus. Once, when young, I was having a nightmare, and one that I would get repeatedly. I remember trying to call out to my parents, but my words came out all slow and it was really hard to move my mouth. Then I thought, "Let me call Jesus" and began to say his name. Suddenly I heard a voice in my ear say, "Don't say that name". I continued to say it, and woke up from the nightmare. I grew up in a household that was very conservatively Christian. We attended churches (often non-denominational ones) that believed the scriptures and many a Saturday morning was spent in Bible study with our dad, listening to him go on and on as we munched on cheesy eggs, home fries, bacon, sausage, toast and juice. (I would often doze off, or catch a glimpse just over my father’s shoulder of my friends playing outside).
“Wake up,” my father would say, eyeing me closely, and the little boy sin in my heart.

I’ve never really doubted in terms of faith or intellect that Jesus is who he says he is, and that I am in the state I am in. And there have been moments along the way that assured me that prayers do get answered, and that Jesus does exist, and that God loves us.

The moment I kind of mark as my actually affirming what I grew up with was when I was on a teen retreat when I was about 9 or so. People were getting baptized and I was afraid to, but felt like it was something I really needed to do.

They took us out to the bay–which was actually called Conscience Bay in Setauket Long Island- and I got dipped under. I felt relieved actually, and not necessarily of sin, being so young.

But it just felt like that in doing what I didn’t have to do, but felt compelled to do, I was one step closer to independently defining myself as a follower of Christ.

Now since then, I’ve had temptations, and even hoped I would be tempted more… you know, naked women falling into my lap and such. But despite my struggles and the fact that I have not been God’s best tool, I’ve never doubted him, or the power of Jesus.

Once, when young, I was having a nightmare, and one that I would get repeatedly. I remember trying to call out to my parents, but my words came out all slow and it was really hard to move my mouth. Then I thought, “Let me call Jesus” and began to say his name. Suddenly I heard a voice in my ear say, “Don’t say that name”. I continued to say it, and woke up from the nightmare.

]]> By: Greg Laurich http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-2/#comment-88321 Greg Laurich Mon, 02 Apr 2007 15:23:38 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88321 My big event really cemented my faith in Jesus. In January 2003 I lost the job I had held since 2000. Then to make matters worse, they challenged my unemployment so I spend a few weeks not getting any benefits at all. I had used up most of my savings in 1999 when I had gotten laid off from my previous job so there was literally no cushion for my family and I. We were down literally to our last $11.00 when God began to work his way. Three rebate checks that were not supposed to show up until March all arrived at the same time. Then our church found out about our predicament and gave us 3 $100 gift cards for the local grocery store. And then finally a letter arrived from the government saying that my employer had given no reason for terminating my employment and that not only was I approved for my benefits but that this ruling would be put in their file and would come up every time they fought someones unemployment. I've never forgotten how God worked in one of the darkest times in my life and I know that He will never abandon my family. Isiah 40:31 My big event really cemented my faith in Jesus. In January 2003 I lost the job I had held since 2000. Then to make matters worse, they challenged my unemployment so I spend a few weeks not getting any benefits at all. I had used up most of my savings in 1999 when I had gotten laid off from my previous job so there was literally no cushion for my family and I. We were down literally to our last $11.00 when God began to work his way. Three rebate checks that were not supposed to show up until March all arrived at the same time. Then our church found out about our predicament and gave us 3 $100 gift cards for the local grocery store. And then finally a letter arrived from the government saying that my employer had given no reason for terminating my employment and that not only was I approved for my benefits but that this ruling would be put in their file and would come up every time they fought someones unemployment.

I’ve never forgotten how God worked in one of the darkest times in my life and I know that He will never abandon my family.

Isiah 40:31

]]> By: Common Grounds Online http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-2/#comment-88319 Common Grounds Online Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:38:50 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88319 <strong>La Shawn Barber's Story of Coming to Faith in Jesus...</strong> La Shawn Barber is considered one of the uber bloggers. She has run a largely political blog for several years and become one of the high traffic sites in the blog realm. I met her at a blogger meet up... La Shawn Barber’s Story of Coming to Faith in Jesus…

La Shawn Barber is considered one of the uber bloggers. She has run a largely political blog for several years and become one of the high traffic sites in the blog realm. I met her at a blogger meet up…

]]> By: Diana http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-1/#comment-88311 Diana Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:47:26 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88311 I was raised in an Atheist home by very loving highly educated science oriented parents. The only faith I was taught to have was faith in myself. On the surface this might sound like a positive belief, but living my life based on my will led me to be bankrupt morally and spiritually. From a very young age I tried to fill the gaping hole in my soul with drugs and alcohol. After twenty years of this pattern, I was a full blown alcoholic by the age of 33. In rehab, I realized that I was out of solutions, so I gave up and asked God (if he was there) to help me. Amazing as it sounds, I felt peace for the first time in my life and it continues to this day. At first, I approached "religion" as research to see which one best fit me. How arrogant! As soon I began to read the bible, I understood God's Grace and the miracle of his Son Jesus Christ. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't marvel at the complete love of our Savior. I am certainly not an expert on the bible or Christainity, but I do know that Jesus is living in my heart and for that I am so profoundly grateful. I was raised in an Atheist home by very loving highly educated science oriented parents. The only faith I was taught to have was faith in myself. On the surface this might sound like a positive belief, but living my life based on my will led me to be bankrupt morally and spiritually. From a very young age I tried to fill the gaping hole in my soul with drugs and alcohol. After twenty years of this pattern, I was a full blown alcoholic by the age of 33. In rehab, I realized that I was out of solutions, so I gave up and asked God (if he was there) to help me. Amazing as it sounds, I felt peace for the first time in my life and it continues to this day. At first, I approached “religion” as research to see which one best fit me. How arrogant! As soon I began to read the bible, I understood God’s Grace and the miracle of his Son Jesus Christ. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t marvel at the complete love of our Savior. I am certainly not an expert on the bible or Christainity, but I do know that Jesus is living in my heart and for that I am so profoundly grateful.

]]> By: Maggie's Farm http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-1/#comment-88304 Maggie's Farm Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:44:21 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88304 <strong>Monday Morning Links...</strong> From our friend Lubos, on Iran:The internal politics of Iran is much more complex and non-uniform than one would a priori expect. That makes all things difficult. Moreover, the Iranian government is extremely good in manipulating stupid people which in... Monday Morning Links…

From our friend Lubos, on Iran:The internal politics of Iran is much more complex and non-uniform than one would a priori expect. That makes all things difficult. Moreover, the Iranian government is extremely good in manipulating stupid people which in…

]]> By: Michele http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-1/#comment-88290 Michele Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:14:59 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88290 Oh, I actually got saved during a series of meetings geared to kids at my church with an evangelistic speaker named Ernie Rogers at Bethel Assemly of God Church in Glendale, California, btw. I don't remember any striking difference at the time, to be honest. But I was saved. But I wanted y'all to hear how God truly grew me up finally as an adult in my mid-40's through that illness. Oh, I actually got saved during a series of meetings geared to kids at my church with an evangelistic speaker named Ernie Rogers at Bethel Assemly of God Church in Glendale, California, btw. I don’t remember any striking difference at the time, to be honest. But I was saved. But I wanted y’all to hear how God truly grew me up finally as an adult in my mid-40′s through that illness.

]]> By: Michele http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-1/#comment-88289 Michele Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:58:28 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88289 Was raised in an Assemblies of God church. Got saved at 10 yrs. old. Cruised along for many years on that. But I did not realize how a heartbreak at 17 would affect me later on. Long story short, I got very sick at age 34 with many allergies to many things and it completely ruined my life. No medical help worked at all. It wasn't until I went to Pleasant Valley Church in Georgia where they have a week-long class on what the Bible says about healing that God used my illness (he DIDN'T GIVE IT TO ME--just making that clear) to draw him closer to him and really open up to me what my christian walk could look like and how much better spiritually it could be. I'd had a pleasant life before that---until I got sick and sicker. But Pleasant Valley Church just broke it wide open for me and I'll never go back to where I was before that. This is just TOO good where I'm at and what I've learned. Oh yah--and God began to heal me that week. I'm still recovering, but I started to see small improvement that very week in Georgia and just kept trusting God over the next several months and watched as he continued to improve my immune system. He also grew my right leg out 1/4" a few months later during prayer a few months after I returned from Georgoia. He has also healed my damaged equilibrium, greatly lessened certain allergies and I can at least go to church again--praise God! I look foward to more healing. God is soooooo good. Was raised in an Assemblies of God church. Got saved at 10 yrs. old. Cruised along for many years on that. But I did not realize how a heartbreak at 17 would affect me later on. Long story short, I got very sick at age 34 with many allergies to many things and it completely ruined my life. No medical help worked at all. It wasn’t until I went to Pleasant Valley Church in Georgia where they have a week-long class on what the Bible says about healing that God used my illness (he DIDN’T GIVE IT TO ME–just making that clear) to draw him closer to him and really open up to me what my christian walk could look like and how much better spiritually it could be. I’d had a pleasant life before that—until I got sick and sicker. But Pleasant Valley Church just broke it wide open for me and I’ll never go back to where I was before that. This is just TOO good where I’m at and what I’ve learned. Oh yah–and God began to heal me that week. I’m still recovering, but I started to see small improvement that very week in Georgia and just kept trusting God over the next several months and watched as he continued to improve my immune system. He also grew my right leg out 1/4″ a few months later during prayer a few months after I returned from Georgoia. He has also healed my damaged equilibrium, greatly lessened certain allergies and I can at least go to church again–praise God! I look foward to more healing. God is soooooo good.

]]> By: Carl http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-1/#comment-88269 Carl Sun, 01 Apr 2007 03:24:22 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88269 Earlier this evening, I was in the production booth sitting in with the director for a passion play put on by North Florida Baptist Church (http://www.nflchurch.com/). This was a major production. Even though I had read the finals days of Jesus and even had heard them preached often over the years I can honestly say that this theatrical re-enactment moved me deeply. If a church is performing something like this, I really urge you to attend a performance. It's wonderful. Earlier this evening, I was in the production booth sitting in with the director for a passion play put on by North Florida Baptist Church (http://www.nflchurch.com/). This was a major production. Even though I had read the finals days of Jesus and even had heard them preached often over the years I can honestly say that this theatrical re-enactment moved me deeply. If a church is performing something like this, I really urge you to attend a performance. It’s wonderful.

]]> By: She Lives http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-1/#comment-88268 She Lives Sun, 01 Apr 2007 02:27:59 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88268 <strong>She Wrecks the Train...</strong> At Graced by Christ, Heather is beginning a series. She's starting us off today by asking us to post our testimonies. I don't share my testimony often. No good reason other than God hasn't called me to share it often.... She Wrecks the Train…

At Graced by Christ, Heather is beginning a series. She’s starting us off today by asking us to post our testimonies. I don’t share my testimony often. No good reason other than God hasn’t called me to share it often….

]]> By: jennifer http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/comment-page-1/#comment-88264 jennifer Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:37:21 +0000 http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2007/03/29/testimonies/#comment-88264 My husband's testimony is amazing and it is on his blog at quillofbill.blogspot.com. He has three post, just read the one called Salvation. It truly is an amazing transformation of a cop into a Christian. My husband’s testimony is amazing and it is on his blog at quillofbill.blogspot.com. He has three post, just read the one called Salvation. It truly is an amazing transformation of a cop into a Christian.

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