So I thought I'd take the time to properly give my testimony and to hear everyone else's testimonies. I have always loved sharing my own and even more so to hear them from others. I can remember as far back as about 5 -8 years old, I was going to church as a novelty act, only to go and have fun and play with other kids, the sermons bored me to tears, or Z's
. During this time however I had a dream that I look back on fondly as a precious gem from our Father. The dream or vision was as follows, I was in my bathroom and i stepped into the bathtub shower combo fully dressed with giant rubber mitts with no fingers on, carrying a bible into the bathtub where there was no water. A claymation face of Jesus appeared in the upper right hand corner of the shower-tub combo and He began to speak to me, but I couldn't hear Him. I saw a claymation scene take place on the wall in front of me of a war, and two towers falling. Shortly after this the dream ended, and naturally I took it to my pastor at the church where I attended AWANAS. I don't exactly remember his response to it, but it wasn't helpful so I shrugged it off. From then until now I can still recall that dream with vivid detail. Years pass and my novelty attitude towards the church and God and everything changes from apathetic to hostile. I held my grandfathers suicide against God and refused Him. So for years I ran from God, blaming Him for everything. When I was about 19 or 20 I had gotten myself in trouble with the law, ended up going to jail for marijuana, which didn't stop my self-destructive behaviors, I ended up going to prison for the very same. When i was released the first time I tried to go live with my parents in Texas while on probation in Missouri but my P.O wouldn't let me. So i ran from her too. Just as I was readying myself to go on the lamb from the law, I acknowledged God and asked Him "If I can keep myself on the straight and narrow will you allow me to stay on the run long enough for the statute of limitations to kick in and clear this up for me?" I had a feeling of assurance, like His answer was "Sure, go ahead" Needless to say I lasted two years before getting caught and sent back, I had messed up a lot while I was on the run, but it drew me closer to Him, closer to understanding more about Him. A year into being on the run I stayed at a ranch in Mathis, Texas where i began to suffer pains from kidney stones that i thought was a hernia, either way it caused me to fall to my knees and realize I am only a man, and I need my Father in Heaven. I admitted I was powerless, and broken, and asked for help When I got caught in Sinton, Texas January 12th 2014 I was placed in a padded cell because a voice told me to lead the Correctional Officers to believe I was suicidal when in fact I wasn't. I spent 2 days in there talking with God directly, I could hear Him. He asked me, "Son what will you do now?" my response was "God I don't know, I cant help myself" and He said again "What will you do now?" finally I said "I'll surrender, help me know you God, I want to know more about you" two days later I received the first and only hard copy of His word I have ever read cover to cover, front to back. I spent a year and 12 days in jail and prison growing closer to God. But that last day in the padded cell was where it all turned around for me. Incarceration couldn't stop the salvation of Jesus Christ for my life. The day they let me out of the padded cell and into general population men came around with bibles and were ministering, and providing inmates with the sinners prayer, they had bibles as well, I got the very last one they had. My first legitimate prayer, answered immediately. I stayed in that bible for 8 months, and was astounded by the fact that all the other times i had ever tried to read the bible i couldn't get past the genealogies. That day I got my bible i said the sinners prayer, from my heart. I had recited it before, but contrition and a meaningful heart makes a world of difference. I bawled my eyes out, i still tear up remembering it. Jesus Christ paid my sinful debt in full, and the burden of it was lifted when i accepted that. My time spent behind bars was no longer incarceration, it was an opportunity to learn and to teach what i learned. Jesus Christ didn't just save me with the salvation He gave to the world, He came in and fixed that broken man I used to be, and made me a new creature filled with the love of God. God bless all of you reading this, and those who arent
I know its a bit lengthy, TBH i left out a few details, my testimony is a lifelong one.
