Words From The Wheel

Getting Back On Track

It’s testimony time! But first…

Hello everyone! I want to apologize for my lack of posts in the past couple of weeks. Hopefully, I have a schedule in place now that will keep me on track.

Hopefully 🙂

Now that fall weather is here, a lot of our busy schedule will calm down. We won’t be able to take anymore weekend visits to the lake to cook out. At least, not as many. And we won’t be as tempted to roam the outdoors.

No, fall brings a certain quietness that is welcomed after a long, hot summer. Fall is my favorite time of year and I’m really hoping for some measurable snowfall this winter!

What I Really Want To Say Is…

I just wanted to take a moment to write a quick post revealing my heart to you. I know that I’ve tried to be fairly transparent in past posts, but I’ve never really made things clear. And I know I’ve never really offered my testimony.

As most of you know, I am a Christian. I am completely unashamed of my faith and I believe that the Word of God is true, 100%, without a doubt.

But I have been convicted lately that I need to really begin to share my faith and my testimony. The love of God is my heart’s cry! And I just want everyone to know Him!

Besides, it is a very commandment of Jesus that we go and preach the gospel. The book of Revelation says that we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

But our testimony has to actually come out in words! Otherwise it’s just a nice thought with no sustenance and certainly no power to overcome!

Outlandish Conversion Stories

I guess one of the main reasons it’s been so hard for me to share my testimony is that I wasn’t miraculously converted. So it didn’t really even seem like I had a testimony in the first place.

Some people can captivate others with their stories. Some have come from years of drug abuse, mental illness, and so much more. And believe me, that’s a story worth telling and worth listening to!

Me? I was raised in the church. Being from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, it was a rare thing to not be in church. So I knew of the Lord from a very young age.

In fact, I was singing in the choir one time, holding my hymnal and singing right along with the choir. Suddenly, a hand came from somewhere behind me, took hold of the hymnal and flipped it right side up. Apparently, I knew the song so well, I didn’t even need the hymnal to be right side up 🙂 So, I was obviously part of the church long before I could read.

Leaving My First Love

I was saved at the age of 18 during a weekend Christian retreat called Chrysalis. For those familiar with it, you’ll understand. There is also an adult version of the retreat called Emmaus. If you’ve never been, I encourage you to attend whichever is appropriate for your age group, if possible. It’s an amazing experience!

At the time, and at that young age, I made quite the decision to change my life once and for all, giving it all to God. Shortly after graduation, I joined a bluegrass gospel band that I would tour with for several years after. My oldest son was born while I was with the group and I have fond memories of it.

After that ended, however, I somehow lost my way. During my time with the group, I had had a lady prophesy over me with tears and weeping, telling me not to leave my first love. If I had only known how prophetic that would be later to my testimony!

I did though. Leave my first love, that is. Your “first love” is that fiery feeling you get when you are first saved, and OH, if we could only hold onto it like we should! The Church, as a whole, would have a united testimony that would be hard to ignore!

My Heart Was Far From Him

Even though I wasn’t serving God like I had been in the beginning, I never stopped talking like it. It was the perfect scenario of honoring God with my lips, but my heart was far from Him. Of course, you couldn’t have told me that back then. Not only would I not have believed you, I wouldn’t have understood it anyway.

Paul speaks in the Word about new believers needing the milk of the Word, while the sincere meat of the Word was reserved for those who had grown in faith. Just like you wouldn’t feed an infant meat, because they would choke, so you can’t feed a new Christian strong Biblical Truths.

It would just choke them!

So I went on, talking the talk, but never walking the walk. I was like a seed that had fallen upon rocky ground. Any roots that had begun to develop soon died out. And without roots, or a good foundation, your faith cannot survive! And mine certainly didn’t.

Oh, I knew enough of the Word. Bible studies were a hobby of mine at the time and I was proud to finish them and claim the knowledge. But again, faith without works is dead.

Coming Through My Storm

Over those years, I walked myself into a lot of bad situations. There were drugs and there was alcohol. There was fighting. And there was a lot of self-hate and self-destruction too. Of course, I’m not proud of any of that, but having come through it to the other side, I’m certainly thankful that it’s over!

Several years ago, I began to see exactly what the Word meant. Suddenly, the Jesus in those pages came alive in my heart like never before and I realized that He had saved me from more than I would ever know or understand! I mean, how could I neglect so great a salvation? How could I turn away from the One who had hung on a tree and died for every sin I ever had or would commit? How could I NOT live my every moment on fire for Him?

My storm is a lot different than some. Then again, it’s very similar to many as well. However, it is mine. I own it, I’ve repented of it, and He was faithful to forgive! Hallelujah to the Lamb of God!

My Own Testimony

It may not be a miraculous story, but my story is mine, and let me tell you about it! And it doesn’t matter what your background is. It doesn’t matter if you were the chief of all sinners or one that kept it well hidden for years. It simply doesn’t matter.

Why?

Because no sin is any worse than another. Lying is just as bad is adultery, which is just as bad as murder, which is just as bad as gluttony… get it?

The fact is, sin – any sin – separates us from God and if we die in that condition, we will spend eternity in hell! Jesus saved me from that! Now, if that’s not a miraculous story, you tell me what is! Because knowing that I have access not only to the Throne Room of Heaven, but to an eternity IN Heaven with my Father is more than I deserve! And all through the shed blood of Jesus Christ! Praise His Name!

What He’s Done For Me, He Can Do For You!

The greatest news of all is that God is no respecter of persons! He doesn’t see any difference in us because we are all His creation. Jesus’ blood and the atonement it brings is available for everyone that seeks salvation!

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you repented and asked God to take control of your life? If not, you can start today, right now, where ever you are! And if you feel His tugging at your heart, please don’t wait. We just never know what tomorrow brings or even if we’ll wake up to see another day.

My brother died at the age of 31. Nobody expected it and I don’t know whether or not he had made his relationship with God sure. One of my best friends died at the age of 30, shot down in cold blood on her boyfriend’s front step. She and I had talked about her faith and her fear that she might not make it in.

See, youth is deceitful because it makes you think you’re invincible. But you’re not. If you are lost, don’t wait another day. Make things right with God because His love extends to us, even while we are sinners. It saves us right there in the middle of our mess and makes us new from the inside out.

Don’t Have Anyone To Pray With You?

If you are in a situation where you have no one to talk to about the Lord, please feel free to contact me. I am by no means an expert on anything, and I’m certainly no preacher. However, I can tell you what Jesus has done for me. And I can pray for you and with you. That I can do.

So I offer the invitation. If you are reading this on my website, there are links on the top and side of the page that tell you how to get in touch with me. On the other hand, if you are reading it through email, you should be able to click on the title of this post and it will take you to my website. If I don’t respond immediately, please understand and know that I will respond as soon as I see the message.

In the meantime, enjoy the following video. I pray it warms your heart!