Personal Testimony

Greetings friends, family, and brothers and sisters in the Lord.  I am posting early this week, I just can't wait till Sunday.  God is so good!  

PERSONAL TESTIMONY
All that Jesus gives to us, is given through Grace (Ephesians 2:8-10).  Jesus brings into our lives so many wonderful things, the most amazing is forgiveness through His Grace and Love.  Grace is such a wonderful gift; God giving us what we do not deserve and the fact is – grace is something we cannot earn.  The craziest thing to wrap my brain around is that I do nothing to earn God’s Grace.  Everything that I have, in Christ, today, tomorrow and into eternity I did nothing to earn it.  The healing both spiritually and physically, peace, comfort, love, joy, the ability to laugh in spite of circumstances, and so much more is all because Jesus fulfills all of life’s purposes. 

During the isolation, because of Covid-19, I became aware of something that had changed in my body.  I am sharing this with you in hopes of bringing encouragement to your life, not to make me look special, good or anything.  I share this that God would be glorified and that you would somehow, some way, have your faith strengthened today.

Father in heaven, thank you for the glory you have brought to my life. Oh God, help this encounter with you glorify you in all ways. (John 17:1, Romans 8:17, Romans 8:30).
 
In 1987, 33 years ago this July, I had a life altering accident.  After several surgeries, I found myself needing to start life over.  September 19, 1993, I gave my life to God, and Jesus became Lord (Master, Shepherd) of my life.  Many prayed for healing for my shoulder over the years and it never got any better.  I never gave up, thank you friends, for never giving up as well!
Thank you for all who prayed for me over the years, God is Faithful and Just in all He does.  Thank you for always standing beside me and never losing hope.  During these years God’s grace became sufficient for all my needs, the shoulder stopped getting worse and never got better.  I learned to live a life full of joy, peace, and was very content to be where God had me (still am for that matter).  I was fully confident in where God had me physically, His grace is sufficient for all things.
For many years I thought if I just had enough faith (some people even told me my faith was too weak to be healed); if I would just live to God’s potential (I was certain that I missed something); or perhaps if I just loved Him more the shoulder would get better.  The problem with these statements is “I.” What God does, does not depend on “me” or “I!” OK, it is time for me to proclaim to a watching world, my shoulder is pain free, it does not swell up when I use my chainsaw, the old hog of a rototiller, a shovel, or anything.  There are no longer the sympathetic nerve reactions of electrical shock, cold then hot, or stabbing pain… God, by His marvelous most amazing grace has for some reason healed my shoulder.  I noticed this about 5 weeks ago after spending time logging and working in my garden.  Thank you, God, all praise and glory to YOU!
God’s wonderful gift of grace has nothing to do with what I have to do or offer.  I must proclaim again: God healing my shoulder is not about the “I’s” in my life! it is completely about His purposes, His ways, His life, His will.  I can take no credit for what He has done in and with the life He has given to me.  I am healed in so many different ways; all glory and praise to God whose grace is sufficient for all our needs. 
All that we have is a free gift from God (Romans 4:15; 5:16; 6:23), His amazing grace! The great truths of Jesus our Prophet, Priest, and King is that He came as God and as man that all of humanity would have the same opportunity to spend eternity in heaven with Him.  Also, a wonderful truth is that Jesus is not just about eternity; He is also about life today. Given for us today, this very day, is the fullest life possible, a rich and satisfying life through Jesus (John 10:10).  This rich and satisfying life given, through Jesus, is for God to purpose in us His plans; the plans He has since time began (Ephesians 2:10).   The rich and satisfying life comes when the Holy Spirit fills us with Himself and produces in our lives those things that bring satisfaction and contentment in all of life’s situations.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 

As these fruits are produced in us, the glory of the Lord shines through us, so that the world comes to know God in and through our lives.  Holy Spirit, lead us, comfort us, fill us to over flowing that all these fruits are produced in us. Dear God, as you have poured your glory into our lives, help to glorify You! 

Even now as I get ready to post this for all to read, I am second guessing whether I should post this.  I wonder if I should have told anyone about this.  I don’t want to hurt anyone who has sought healing and are still suffering.  Why God, now after all these years?  Brother and Sister, my heart hurts for you to be fully restored and healed.  Most importantly, my heart is full of joy, peace, and love for you, that you would, through all of life’s circumstances, come to know God in the most personal, real, and practical ways.  That you would experience the ripening of the fruits of the Holy Spirit an bring glory to God through your life and that you would open up, every day, God’s gift of Grace and be filled to overflowing with a content and meaningful life. 

ALL PRAISE AND GLORY TO HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE; KING JESUS!