"God gives beauty for ashes"
Isaiah 61:3
I am one that truly believes one should tell of the goodness and power of God in their lives! That is such a tool for encouraging one another...so here we go..very much in part
Mark 5:19 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)19 But Yeshua would not permit it. Instead, he said to him, “Go home to your people, and tell them how much Adonai in his mercy has done for you.”
Pastor Deborah Covington
My Testimony - In Part
Have you ever had times that you didn't know where you belong? Times you questioned your own worth and why you were even here in the first place? Stripped of all self-esteem, and trust, zest for life. Oh the bitterness, the anger, the rage in some instances, pain, and yes, hatred. These are but a few of the emotions I am too familiar with. No, I am not a licensed Psychologist, I am just one that has learned all I know from life experience, not from books, and want to share that with you, in the hopes of encouraging and bringing just a little of Gods light into those dark and scary places.
This is my testimony to the power and unfailing love of God. Some may think this to be somewhat tasteless, but it is also reality, which is something we tend to forget after coming to Christ, we need to remember where we come from, in order to help others get where they are going.
At your darkest point, when you feel the most alone, God will show up and show off on your behalf if you will but cling to his hand, Glory to God! I had a wonderful childhood, unlike many, yet mine ended at age 17. At this point in time, we had decided to move away. South Texas was home to me many years, all my friends, my boyfriend, my home, my room, my school, everything familiar to me in my life, I felt it was being ripped away...It really hurt me. I tried to talk to my family, but I wasn’t heard...they didn't really "hear" me. Please, always listen to your kid’s there are times they need considered too, do you know what its like to desperately need someone to really hear you, but they won’t? When we got to Louisiana, my whole world went crazy! Within our first year there we lost 2 homes to fire. Work couldn’t be found.
I didn't even have my family like before, that too was ripped away, I felt. I tried to help just like I always had, trying to keep what little relationship we had together, in my eyes anyway. You see up until the point of moving, we (my mom) had always been very close, so I couldn't understand why this change all of a sudden, and it hurt me deeply.
Little did I know this was just the start of many a nightmare. I will be condensing a lot of this as there are many years to cover.. truly this has been a journey with God; for without him I would not be here. At 17 I was allowed to date a gentleman of age 22, just back from Vietnam; I thought it was wonderful, well it wasn’t, I was date raped resulting in pregnancy.
Beware young people, what’s outside doesn’t necessarily reflect the motives inside a person.
He picked me up about 7:00 to go to the fair, by 9:00 we were leaving , and he stopped by this bar, that was on the way, he wanted a cold beer to take with him, he told me to wait in the car, you are under age, I will bring you a pop back. I waited; he brought me a coke to drink in a to go cup, I drank it down. We pulled off, pulled up to a light about 3 blocks up, and folks I passed out, completely. I remember nothing, even to this day it is just a blank.
Could this be the mercy of God protecting me from more hurt? Oh yes, indeed.
Needless to say it was a horrific experience for a teenager! Then all he said when I came to was.. I have a cab on the way and I will ride with you, to make sure you get in the house ok" How cold and sick can a person be?
Let me ask you at this point, can you even imagine the hurt, the fear, and the shame that a 17 year old would feel? Have you ever felt this way, by your being violated? I wanted and was planning to save myself for my husband, when married. Again, I was ripped off. We do have a real enemy, and he does seek whom he can devour, but at this point I didn’t have the knowledge and upbringing in Messiah/Christ to really know how to handle all this.
Now the bitterness is beginning to build, I found out I could possibly be with child, but I was not certain at that point. We then moved away to Colorado, in order to keep him away from me, yes he was arrested on statutory rape charges, but it didn't help me, he made bail anyway. Pressure after pressure was on me, from every side, abortion, adoption, pressures from family, even doctors! I wanted to just run away, ever felt that way? When you just want to run and keep running!
I came to Christ, at 13, at a Billy Graham showing of the "Runaway" ironic isn't it, now that’s just what I wanted to do "Runaway". I truly believe God's hand was there even then, I truly do, even at that young age and so afraid, Yeshua/Jesus held my hand and gave me strength to endure what I had to.
I married in 1977 to a man that accepted my little one as his own; he was absolutely wonderful! That following March we had our first little one together and my husband was tickled and so excited! To put the icing on the cake, we had a beautiful little boy. We stayed in Colorado for a few years, and then my husband decided he wanted to take me to Montana, where he was from, so his family could meet me and the little grand baby. This was in 1979, 1980 rolls around, all is well. 1981, was another turning point in my life. My husband began drinking heavy and got into drugs, as well as pornography, sad thing was he wanted me to share that stuff with him also. I fell into the drinking and the drug scene for a little bit, to the point I had an extreme cocaine habit, sad to say. My husband had become extremely violent, I could just be standing at the stove cooking, and he would come up hitting me out of nowhere… He would knock me over chairs, beat my head into door knobs. He raped me 3 times during that marriage as well. I have never felt such hurt and pain, and oh the shame and fear that brought. We had been best friends before this! I couldn’t understand.
BUT GOD!
In 1982 I ran into some old party buddies at the grocery store. They recognized who I was and Kathy walked up and said " Deb! How in the world are you?" And, what happened to your face?" She invited me over to her house for lunch, which I thought, was great, I needed to get away a bit and my husband was at work. We go there, and the first thing I noticed was the picture's she had up. It was all Jesus! God used MY old party buddies to bring me back into his fold, Hallelujah! That day, right then and there I re-dedicated my life to Messiah/Christ and was filled with the Ruach HaKodeshHoly Spirit and was never the same again! Glory to God!
Something in me changed big time. I was also so afraid, so mousy, before this. But God put in me a boldness like I have never seen! I got home and went through the house and flushed ALL the drugs, burned all the porn and poured out the liquors and beer and waited on my husband to come home. When he did, of course the first thing he wanted was a beer. I told him, there is none, nor is there any drugs or porn in here. Oh yes, he got very angry, but I wasn’t afraid for the first time, I couldnt believe it, no fear!. I stood up to him, and said you will not touch me again, God is on my side and HE will fight my battles. He raised his hand to knock me down as always, but it was as if someone grabbed his arm, because although he tried, he couldn’t do it.
God is with us everywhere and in every circumstance, this is what all people need to know and realize. We must fully surrender to God, and he will part the Red Sea and lead us on to the other side Victoriously… HalleluYah! God has shown up on my behalf so many times… there is so much I want to share with you and prayerfully soon I will.
This is only a small part of my testimony and only a few of the times God has moved on my behalf to truly deliver and set free. There is so much more in between. God has given me the name of a book I am to write I believe called "Tattered and Torn" in which everything is revealed all to the Glory Of God! But yet, that seems to be something I just cant seem to do.. pray for me...
All in HIS timing, Thank You Father.
May God Bless And Keep You!
Copyright ©2008 Women Living For God A Sister Site to Living For God Ministries
Mark 5:19 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)19 But Yeshua would not permit it. Instead, he said to him, “Go home to your people, and tell them how much Adonai in his mercy has done for you.”
Pastor Deborah Covington
My Testimony - In Part
Have you ever had times that you didn't know where you belong? Times you questioned your own worth and why you were even here in the first place? Stripped of all self-esteem, and trust, zest for life. Oh the bitterness, the anger, the rage in some instances, pain, and yes, hatred. These are but a few of the emotions I am too familiar with. No, I am not a licensed Psychologist, I am just one that has learned all I know from life experience, not from books, and want to share that with you, in the hopes of encouraging and bringing just a little of Gods light into those dark and scary places.
This is my testimony to the power and unfailing love of God. Some may think this to be somewhat tasteless, but it is also reality, which is something we tend to forget after coming to Christ, we need to remember where we come from, in order to help others get where they are going.
At your darkest point, when you feel the most alone, God will show up and show off on your behalf if you will but cling to his hand, Glory to God! I had a wonderful childhood, unlike many, yet mine ended at age 17. At this point in time, we had decided to move away. South Texas was home to me many years, all my friends, my boyfriend, my home, my room, my school, everything familiar to me in my life, I felt it was being ripped away...It really hurt me. I tried to talk to my family, but I wasn’t heard...they didn't really "hear" me. Please, always listen to your kid’s there are times they need considered too, do you know what its like to desperately need someone to really hear you, but they won’t? When we got to Louisiana, my whole world went crazy! Within our first year there we lost 2 homes to fire. Work couldn’t be found.
I didn't even have my family like before, that too was ripped away, I felt. I tried to help just like I always had, trying to keep what little relationship we had together, in my eyes anyway. You see up until the point of moving, we (my mom) had always been very close, so I couldn't understand why this change all of a sudden, and it hurt me deeply.
Little did I know this was just the start of many a nightmare. I will be condensing a lot of this as there are many years to cover.. truly this has been a journey with God; for without him I would not be here. At 17 I was allowed to date a gentleman of age 22, just back from Vietnam; I thought it was wonderful, well it wasn’t, I was date raped resulting in pregnancy.
Beware young people, what’s outside doesn’t necessarily reflect the motives inside a person.
He picked me up about 7:00 to go to the fair, by 9:00 we were leaving , and he stopped by this bar, that was on the way, he wanted a cold beer to take with him, he told me to wait in the car, you are under age, I will bring you a pop back. I waited; he brought me a coke to drink in a to go cup, I drank it down. We pulled off, pulled up to a light about 3 blocks up, and folks I passed out, completely. I remember nothing, even to this day it is just a blank.
Could this be the mercy of God protecting me from more hurt? Oh yes, indeed.
Needless to say it was a horrific experience for a teenager! Then all he said when I came to was.. I have a cab on the way and I will ride with you, to make sure you get in the house ok" How cold and sick can a person be?
Let me ask you at this point, can you even imagine the hurt, the fear, and the shame that a 17 year old would feel? Have you ever felt this way, by your being violated? I wanted and was planning to save myself for my husband, when married. Again, I was ripped off. We do have a real enemy, and he does seek whom he can devour, but at this point I didn’t have the knowledge and upbringing in Messiah/Christ to really know how to handle all this.
Now the bitterness is beginning to build, I found out I could possibly be with child, but I was not certain at that point. We then moved away to Colorado, in order to keep him away from me, yes he was arrested on statutory rape charges, but it didn't help me, he made bail anyway. Pressure after pressure was on me, from every side, abortion, adoption, pressures from family, even doctors! I wanted to just run away, ever felt that way? When you just want to run and keep running!
I came to Christ, at 13, at a Billy Graham showing of the "Runaway" ironic isn't it, now that’s just what I wanted to do "Runaway". I truly believe God's hand was there even then, I truly do, even at that young age and so afraid, Yeshua/Jesus held my hand and gave me strength to endure what I had to.
I married in 1977 to a man that accepted my little one as his own; he was absolutely wonderful! That following March we had our first little one together and my husband was tickled and so excited! To put the icing on the cake, we had a beautiful little boy. We stayed in Colorado for a few years, and then my husband decided he wanted to take me to Montana, where he was from, so his family could meet me and the little grand baby. This was in 1979, 1980 rolls around, all is well. 1981, was another turning point in my life. My husband began drinking heavy and got into drugs, as well as pornography, sad thing was he wanted me to share that stuff with him also. I fell into the drinking and the drug scene for a little bit, to the point I had an extreme cocaine habit, sad to say. My husband had become extremely violent, I could just be standing at the stove cooking, and he would come up hitting me out of nowhere… He would knock me over chairs, beat my head into door knobs. He raped me 3 times during that marriage as well. I have never felt such hurt and pain, and oh the shame and fear that brought. We had been best friends before this! I couldn’t understand.
BUT GOD!
In 1982 I ran into some old party buddies at the grocery store. They recognized who I was and Kathy walked up and said " Deb! How in the world are you?" And, what happened to your face?" She invited me over to her house for lunch, which I thought, was great, I needed to get away a bit and my husband was at work. We go there, and the first thing I noticed was the picture's she had up. It was all Jesus! God used MY old party buddies to bring me back into his fold, Hallelujah! That day, right then and there I re-dedicated my life to Messiah/Christ and was filled with the Ruach HaKodeshHoly Spirit and was never the same again! Glory to God!
Something in me changed big time. I was also so afraid, so mousy, before this. But God put in me a boldness like I have never seen! I got home and went through the house and flushed ALL the drugs, burned all the porn and poured out the liquors and beer and waited on my husband to come home. When he did, of course the first thing he wanted was a beer. I told him, there is none, nor is there any drugs or porn in here. Oh yes, he got very angry, but I wasn’t afraid for the first time, I couldnt believe it, no fear!. I stood up to him, and said you will not touch me again, God is on my side and HE will fight my battles. He raised his hand to knock me down as always, but it was as if someone grabbed his arm, because although he tried, he couldn’t do it.
God is with us everywhere and in every circumstance, this is what all people need to know and realize. We must fully surrender to God, and he will part the Red Sea and lead us on to the other side Victoriously… HalleluYah! God has shown up on my behalf so many times… there is so much I want to share with you and prayerfully soon I will.
This is only a small part of my testimony and only a few of the times God has moved on my behalf to truly deliver and set free. There is so much more in between. God has given me the name of a book I am to write I believe called "Tattered and Torn" in which everything is revealed all to the Glory Of God! But yet, that seems to be something I just cant seem to do.. pray for me...
All in HIS timing, Thank You Father.
May God Bless And Keep You!
Copyright ©2008 Women Living For God A Sister Site to Living For God Ministries
Testimony 2
Janice Frame
Have you ever wondered if things would get better in your life? I have many, many times in the past. I came to Christ as a young girl, but grew up in a very abusive home. From the age of 15 to 18, I was molested. As a young adult I went totally against everything I was taught by my grandparents, whom I lived with for a season. I got into drinking, illicit sex, and later on got into drugs thinking it would help, but it didn't help at all.
I was married three times and while in those marriages I went through more abuse. If that was not enough I then chose to live with someone outside of marriage, knowing that it was not the right thing to do, this lasted for about five years; and at that point I moved from depressed to suicidal and gave up, not really caring about myself or anything.
I knew things were not good in my life for a very long time. I had drifted away from the Lord and had given Satan full reign in my life. I had chosen a life that was against God and I knew I was on a path to destruction and really didn't care one way or another back then. My body was falling apart, my health was on a down hill slide. I was hurting and did not care at all. I was living a lie. For a very long time I was out of touch with reality andGod. What brought it all to a head was the fact that I was alone and needed more in my life? I had lost my mom, who I thought was my security and stable point, but in reality she was "just my mom". The secure and stable one was God and I had turned on Him.
I remember one day meeting this lady online in a group I belonged to. Her name wasPastor Deborah Covington. She talked with me for long periods of time telling me how much God loved me and how He hated the choices I had made in my life. I started really listening to what she was saying. I finally began to care. One night while visiting with my sister in Michigan, I was talking to Pastor Covington on the computer she asked me if I thought it was time I rededicated my heart to the Lord? I immediately said YES!
The night of July 23, 2008, began a brand new life for me. A life with the Lord in it, a life filled with God's love. I had started to actually care about myself, and what went on in my life. I started taking care of myself again. Getting my life straight withthe Lord was the best thing I have ever done.
Today I know my life would be nothing without Him at the center of it. I started listening to what the Lord was saying to me. I was beginning to learn a lot of new things and a different ways to live and serve the Lord. I knew that in order for me to continue living for the Lord and getting my life back on track I had to move from where I was living. I moved away from where I grew up and went to live with Pastor Covington, as she opened her home to me.
From October 4,2008 I began a new life and a better life. I am so grateful for the Lord being a part of my life and sending the Holy Spirit to help and guide me. He also put Pastor Deborah in my life to teach and show me things the Lord wanted me to know. He never let's a chance go by to show me something new and exciting. For instance one day while walking and talking with the Lord He dropped into my spirit this word, He said "Janice had you not obeyed Me and moved away from your home when you did I would have lost you forever". To me this said a lot! We as His children need to obey His commands for us. Therefore He uses people like Pastor Deborah and other ministers to teach and guide me. He shows me many new and wonderful things everyday! We never stop learning.
Since I have been here I have lost over 100 pounds! I can walk up to 4 miles a day. I can stay up all day without needing a nap. I no longer take all the medications I was on, due to my blood pressure and blood sugar being level and normal. I have to give a big Thank you to the Lord for being in control of my life. I no longer get depressed and no longer in the same pain. I laugh more now than I have ever done in my life. I actually enjoy life now. It is all due to having the Lord in my life. He is the reason I am where I am today. I thank Him daily for what He has done in my life. I also thank Him for placing Pastor Deborah in myl ife. She is a true sister in the Lord. May He bless her many times over!
Thank you Father for giving me back my life and I thank Him for sending His son to die on the cross so that I might live.
Back to my original question, have you ever wondered if things would get better in your life? Well the day Iasked the Lord to be a part of my life; placing Him first in my life, was the day I knew things could only get better and better, never to be the same again. God's hand was not so short that Hecould not reach me where I was and He did! It was the beginning of a new life in Christ!He will reach out to you as well if you will only let Him. If you want your life to be filled with joy, health, happiness and all the good things you need, then you need to have the Lord Jesus Christ in your life. As you bring Him into your life and let Him lead and guide you, He will be the best friend, brother and Father you could ever have. He only wants what is best for you.
Janice Frame
Have you ever wondered if things would get better in your life? I have many, many times in the past. I came to Christ as a young girl, but grew up in a very abusive home. From the age of 15 to 18, I was molested. As a young adult I went totally against everything I was taught by my grandparents, whom I lived with for a season. I got into drinking, illicit sex, and later on got into drugs thinking it would help, but it didn't help at all.
I was married three times and while in those marriages I went through more abuse. If that was not enough I then chose to live with someone outside of marriage, knowing that it was not the right thing to do, this lasted for about five years; and at that point I moved from depressed to suicidal and gave up, not really caring about myself or anything.
I knew things were not good in my life for a very long time. I had drifted away from the Lord and had given Satan full reign in my life. I had chosen a life that was against God and I knew I was on a path to destruction and really didn't care one way or another back then. My body was falling apart, my health was on a down hill slide. I was hurting and did not care at all. I was living a lie. For a very long time I was out of touch with reality andGod. What brought it all to a head was the fact that I was alone and needed more in my life? I had lost my mom, who I thought was my security and stable point, but in reality she was "just my mom". The secure and stable one was God and I had turned on Him.
I remember one day meeting this lady online in a group I belonged to. Her name wasPastor Deborah Covington. She talked with me for long periods of time telling me how much God loved me and how He hated the choices I had made in my life. I started really listening to what she was saying. I finally began to care. One night while visiting with my sister in Michigan, I was talking to Pastor Covington on the computer she asked me if I thought it was time I rededicated my heart to the Lord? I immediately said YES!
The night of July 23, 2008, began a brand new life for me. A life with the Lord in it, a life filled with God's love. I had started to actually care about myself, and what went on in my life. I started taking care of myself again. Getting my life straight withthe Lord was the best thing I have ever done.
Today I know my life would be nothing without Him at the center of it. I started listening to what the Lord was saying to me. I was beginning to learn a lot of new things and a different ways to live and serve the Lord. I knew that in order for me to continue living for the Lord and getting my life back on track I had to move from where I was living. I moved away from where I grew up and went to live with Pastor Covington, as she opened her home to me.
From October 4,2008 I began a new life and a better life. I am so grateful for the Lord being a part of my life and sending the Holy Spirit to help and guide me. He also put Pastor Deborah in my life to teach and show me things the Lord wanted me to know. He never let's a chance go by to show me something new and exciting. For instance one day while walking and talking with the Lord He dropped into my spirit this word, He said "Janice had you not obeyed Me and moved away from your home when you did I would have lost you forever". To me this said a lot! We as His children need to obey His commands for us. Therefore He uses people like Pastor Deborah and other ministers to teach and guide me. He shows me many new and wonderful things everyday! We never stop learning.
Since I have been here I have lost over 100 pounds! I can walk up to 4 miles a day. I can stay up all day without needing a nap. I no longer take all the medications I was on, due to my blood pressure and blood sugar being level and normal. I have to give a big Thank you to the Lord for being in control of my life. I no longer get depressed and no longer in the same pain. I laugh more now than I have ever done in my life. I actually enjoy life now. It is all due to having the Lord in my life. He is the reason I am where I am today. I thank Him daily for what He has done in my life. I also thank Him for placing Pastor Deborah in myl ife. She is a true sister in the Lord. May He bless her many times over!
Thank you Father for giving me back my life and I thank Him for sending His son to die on the cross so that I might live.
Back to my original question, have you ever wondered if things would get better in your life? Well the day Iasked the Lord to be a part of my life; placing Him first in my life, was the day I knew things could only get better and better, never to be the same again. God's hand was not so short that Hecould not reach me where I was and He did! It was the beginning of a new life in Christ!He will reach out to you as well if you will only let Him. If you want your life to be filled with joy, health, happiness and all the good things you need, then you need to have the Lord Jesus Christ in your life. As you bring Him into your life and let Him lead and guide you, He will be the best friend, brother and Father you could ever have. He only wants what is best for you.