Testimony

This is Tracy's testimony, a beautiful praise to our Lord Jesus. 

As a child growing up on the island of Guam during the seventies, I found a little booklet entitled, "This Was Your Life" which told the story of a rich man who died. He stood before God who replayed the man's life and it was found that he had rejected Jesus Christ. God then banished him to the lake of fire. I was scared. The back of the booklet said that I needed to believe in Jesus in order to escape the flames of hell, so I prayed to God and asked him to save me. I didn't know exactly what I was doing. I just knew that I needed some help from God to stay out of hell. It was like following the instructions on the back of the cake mix--I wanted to go to heaven so I followed the instructions. I didn't understand that being saved is about having a relationship with Jesus Christ--but God met me where I was and, in time, he perfected my understanding.

I was not reared in a Christian family, but I went to church every once in a while, said a prayer before eating (sometimes, I guess, I do not think every time), and recited "Now I lay me down to sleep..." sometimes before going to bed. I'd pick up the Bible every once in a while, but I got sleepy or bored every time I tried to read it. I went through my life living like most other people in this world do. I had opportunities to pursue Jesus, but chose not to--Satan was my lord. 

Most of the things that I found fun and exciting, I now reject as unholy. I did what I wanted to, but was never completely comfortable with the wild life I was leading. I feel confident that the Lord took my prayer as a child and kept me from being completely sold out to Satan and never making it into God's kingdom.

During one semester in college I had an Anthropology course that said humans are descended from apes, a Philosophy teacher that said God does not exist, and a Humanities teacher that called the Bible a myth. For the first time in my life I was confused about God. Even though I didn't really read the Bible, I believed that God was somewhere in the background. These people were telling me that he did not exist. One day I wondered to myself, "Why do I believe in God? Is it because my parents told me about him?" I did not know that God heard me and that he was going to answer.

A few years later, I graduated from college and went to work. One day as I passed the desk of a co-worker, I saw a booklet entitled, "This Was Your Life" lying on her desk--the same tract that I found as a child in Guam almost 20 years earlier! It was like seeing an old friend. I asked if I could borrow it and she said yes. I greedily read it and eventually ordered other tracts for information. Soon after, I began to read the Bible like there was no tomorrow--the television in my apartment wasn't even plugged up, I was too busy reading God's word.

The Lord Jesus showed me a lot of things. First of all, he cares about me and everything about me. He desires to be my everything. He also showed me that he loves me and wants to be my Lord and companion. The Lord is holy--and I, as his child, should be holy too. I learned that a life of holiness is wonderfully fulfilling. Now that the Lovely One, Jesus Christ, is my Lord and my Saviour, why would I return back to the filth and vomit that I once had? I am not going back. God does not want anybody to go to hell, but he will not let you in heaven without repentance and faith in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ who is God manifested in the flesh.

When you make the wise decision of making Jesus Christ the Lord of your life (instead of yourself), he will save your soul. And as you read his word in faith, he will help you as you start obeying it and you will be transformed by the renewing of your mind and you will start proving that good and acceptable and perfect will of God--you will be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. As David said in Psalm 23, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." As a child of God, you are joint-heir to everything that the Creator of the universe has, yet you are to be the humblest and meekest of persons.

After I started to walk with the Lord Jesus, my life completely changed. One day an old acquaintance called me up. We were on the telephone about 30 to 45 seconds when she said, "Tracy, what happened? [Have] [y]ou been born-again or something?" I was glad to hear from her and I wasn't trying to sound differently so I was surprised by her comment. Can you see how God can change even your conversational style?

I used to think, "I'll serve God when I get old like Grandmama." I am so glad that that didn't happen! Why is it that we want to give all our good years to Satan and then give the leftovers to the Righteous One? I used to think that serving God would be such a bore. How wrong I was! My life is more exciting than ever--the Bible gives me work to do as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and as a wife, mother, and neighbor to my fellow man. I have made up my mind that I will NEVER go back to that wicked place I used to live. I will reprove it and see souls saved and walking with the Lord. I will live my life for the Lovely Jesus. In the best of times or the worst of times, I have no where else to go but him. Glory to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. How my God woos me to heaven--and every step of the way I know that one day my faith will be made sight.

Some famous people in this world have called Christians losers because Christians do not run to the same excess of riot with them. Christians no longer spend their time in the world's perversions like drugs, adultery, fornication, addictions, perverse language, evil imaginations, rebellion, lawlessness, pride, television, and their music and movies. Not because we are so good (we were once in the world, too), but because the Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed us from sin and as we read and obey his holy word, our desires actually change. When I sin, I certainly don't feel good about it and I try to avoid it everyday. I may be despised by people in this world, but I can say with the psalmist,

...I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10

If Jesus took a sinner like me and made me clean, he can do the same for anybody willing to repent their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Follow him. Repent, and believe the gospel. The following scripture has been placed on my heart of late:

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring up; do you not perceive? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. Isaiah 43:19, 21

I found this beautiful testimony this afternoon and it touched me because it is so similar to mine. If you wish to visit Tracy's website click here

Fixing our eyes on Jesus

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, our beautiful Saviour who died for us,  is something that I should do all the time. I'd like to say, yes I do that Time after time, I wish I had fixed my eyes on Jesus, our saviour full of compassion and gentleness and also our King. So why not?

1 - I get distracted. When an annoying situation arises, instead of giving the burden to my Lord straight away, I try to sort it out myself on my own efforts..needless to say that it does not take long to realise that it is not working and none of it will be sorted. In fact, time after time, the Lord has shown me that it's only when I quit and i ask him to help me that the mountain disappears, for His glory. Just like that, yes but let us not forget the timing! In the Lord 's timing!

This takes us to number 2.

I forget about the timing. Essential, crucial. The Lord's timing is not ours. Why? well because we are not living in our final Kingdom. Though we are heirs with Christ, we are still in the world. 

3 A question of faith. Have you noticed that on some matters, we do not have any doubt, whereas on others, we are not sure at all. At the same time, someone in your family or among your friends will feel very different about the same matter. Their faith will be stronger than ours. Why? They believe what they read in the Word of God, they take it in their hearts and it's theirs forever. Not only that, they share it with us. It is so encouraging to meet godly people like that. You can tell they are on the rock. What they say does not move and they can explain it to you. When they say, the Lord is moving in this area of my life or in this town, you believe them. The Lord is at work in your life. Do you know it? Are you aware that the Lord is moving people, He is transforming others and all you have to do is to respond.

If you were in the valley of shadows, wake up, look forward, the time is coming when beautiful things are going to happen in your life, in all areas of your life. Trust in Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. 

Have a blessed week-end in Jesus-Christ Amen.

Who is Jesus?

The Bible says
He’s the King of the Jews
He’s the King of Israel
He’s the King of Righteousness
He’s the King of the Ages
He’s the King of Heaven
He’s the King of Glory
He’s the King of Kings
and He is the Lord of Lords

Now that’s my King!
David says
The Heavens declare the glory of God
And the firmament showeth His handiwork
No means of measure can define His limitless love
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing

He’s enduringly strong
He’s entirely sincere
He’s eternally steadfast
He’s immortally graceful
He’s imperially powerful
He’s impartially merciful

That’s my King!
He’s God’s Son
He’s the sinners’ Saviour
He’s the centrepiece of civilisation
He stands alone in Himself
He’s august
He’s unique
He’s unparalleled
He’s unprecedented
He’s supreme
He’s pre-eminent
He’s the loftiest idea in literature
He’s the highest personality in philosophy
He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism
He’s the fundamental doctrine in true theology
He’s the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion

That’s my King!
He’s the miracle of the age
He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him
He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously
He supplies strength for the weak
He’s available for the tempted and the tried
He sympathises and He saves
He guards and He guides
He heals the sick
He cleansed the lepers
He forgives sinners
He discharges debtors
He delivers the captives
He defends the feeble
He blesses the young
He serves the unfortunate
He regards the aged
He rewards the diligent
And He beautifies the meek

Do you know Him?
My King is the key of knowledge
He’s the wellspring of wisdom
He’s the doorway of deliverance
He’s the pathway of peace
He’s the roadway of righteousness
He’s the highway of holiness
He’s the gateway of glory
He’s the master of the mighty
He’s the captain of the conquerors
He’s the head of the heroes
He’s the leader of the legislators
He’s the overseer of the overcomers
He’s the governor of governors
He’s the prince of princes
He’s the King of Kings
And He’s the Lord of Lords

That’s my King
That’s my King!
My King
His office is manifold
His promise is sure
His life is matchless
His goodness is limitless
His mercy is everlasting
His love never changes
His word is enough
His grace is sufficient
His reign is righteous
His yoke is easy
and His burden is light
I wish I could describe Him to you
He’s indescribable
He’s indescribable
He’s incomprehensible
He’s invincible
He’s irresistible
I’m trying to tell you
The heaven of heavens cannot contain Him
Let alone a man explain Him
You can’t get Him out of your mind
You can’t get Him off of your hands
You can’t outlive Him
And you can’t live without Him
The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him
but they found out they couldn’t stop Him
Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him
The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree
And Herod couldn’t kill Him
Death couldn’t handle Him
And the grave couldn’t hold Him

That’s my King!
He always has been
And He always will be
I’m talking about
He had no predecessor
and He’ll have no successor
There was nobody before Him
and there’ll be nobody after Him
You can’t impeach Him
and He’s not going to resign

That’s my King!
Praise the Lord
That’s my King
Thine is the Kingdom
And the power
And the glory
The glory is all His
Thine is the Kingdom
And the power
And the glory
For ever
And ever
And ever
And when you get through with all of the forevers
Then
Amen

How big is your faith?

How big is your faith in Jesus?
We read in Matthew 21:22 that Jesus-Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer says:
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. 
Here is the context

18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered them, Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain,‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Have a blessed evening in the name of Jesus. N.