Give_me_Jesus
06-12-2008, 06:50 PM
Hey guys, I'm Miranda..and I want to share my testimony!
I guess I'll start at the top.
When I was born, my mom passed away. I was premature, and there were some birth complications. When I was almost 5 my daddy passed away from a heart attack due to alcholism. Between their deaths, I had gone to live with my grandma when I was around 2.
I was raised in church. Ever since I've been with my grandma I've gone to the same church. But, in 2002, my pastor at that time (Wayne) died suddenly in a 4-wheeling accident. He was my father figure at the time..and his death tore me apart. I was only like nine at the time. When the new pastor came to take his place, I began to be bitter and angry, because the new pastor wasnt Wayne.
After awhile, I stopped going to church. In sixth grade, I really backslid. I stumbled into pornography, and was addicted to it for quite some time. I would go to the mall a lot, and made lots of friends who worked there. I tried to fill the void in my heart with them, and with the things they sold (like clothes), but it didnt work.
In 8th grade, things started getting worse. I continued to fill so empty. I would argue a lot with my aunt and with other family members. I was so angry, bitter, and downright hateful. My grand-mother let me borrow her credit card to get Christmas presents that year. She forgot i had it. In an attempt to once again fill the emptiness, I charged so much stuff on it. I ended up with a 12.000 dollar bill.
Finally, during the summer of my 8th grade year, I went on a mission trip with my church. Which was very strange, cause I hadn't been to church that much within the past 3 years. But, I still found myself on this trip. I was teriffied to go, I had to get a tetanus shot before I could leave, and I remember praying, God, if you want me on this trip, don't let it hurt. I went on the trip.
We went to Biloxi, Mississippi where Hurricane Katrina had hit the year before. I'm not sure what I saw or did on that trip..but my life was changed because of it. I didn't know it at the time, but during that week, I found out what it was like to hunger for God and to hear Him speak.
Later on that same year in September, my church did something called a Lay Witness Mission. It's where you have team members come from around the state to work with your church. It's sorta like a revival/retreat. And on the saturday night of that LWM, the youth did something called a service of sacrifice. We had some hammers, nails, paper hearts, and a wooden cross. We had to nail things to the cross..pretty much whatever God lead us to nail there. I just sat there and cried. Finally I got up and nailed a few things to the cross. I sat back down, and knew I hadn't been living the way God wanted me to. So, I went up to the altar where my youth leader was and asked him 'What do I do if I want to give my life back to Christ?' And he said, 'You know this doesn't end here, right?' I answered yes. Then we went into a different room and prayed. (I had already asked Jesus to be my Saviour when I was like..7) That night, I re-dedicated my life to Him. And nothing has been the same.
Also, I was baptized on July 8,2007...which was awesome..and was right after KingsFest..wooo, Jeremy Camp! =)
Now, I'm about to head out on a mission trip to Peru to share the love of Jesus. And to let others in on the One who saved me...He can save them too!
Thanks for reading! I love you all, and so does Jesus!
In Christ,
Miranda
I guess I'll start at the top.
When I was born, my mom passed away. I was premature, and there were some birth complications. When I was almost 5 my daddy passed away from a heart attack due to alcholism. Between their deaths, I had gone to live with my grandma when I was around 2.
I was raised in church. Ever since I've been with my grandma I've gone to the same church. But, in 2002, my pastor at that time (Wayne) died suddenly in a 4-wheeling accident. He was my father figure at the time..and his death tore me apart. I was only like nine at the time. When the new pastor came to take his place, I began to be bitter and angry, because the new pastor wasnt Wayne.
After awhile, I stopped going to church. In sixth grade, I really backslid. I stumbled into pornography, and was addicted to it for quite some time. I would go to the mall a lot, and made lots of friends who worked there. I tried to fill the void in my heart with them, and with the things they sold (like clothes), but it didnt work.
In 8th grade, things started getting worse. I continued to fill so empty. I would argue a lot with my aunt and with other family members. I was so angry, bitter, and downright hateful. My grand-mother let me borrow her credit card to get Christmas presents that year. She forgot i had it. In an attempt to once again fill the emptiness, I charged so much stuff on it. I ended up with a 12.000 dollar bill.
Finally, during the summer of my 8th grade year, I went on a mission trip with my church. Which was very strange, cause I hadn't been to church that much within the past 3 years. But, I still found myself on this trip. I was teriffied to go, I had to get a tetanus shot before I could leave, and I remember praying, God, if you want me on this trip, don't let it hurt. I went on the trip.
We went to Biloxi, Mississippi where Hurricane Katrina had hit the year before. I'm not sure what I saw or did on that trip..but my life was changed because of it. I didn't know it at the time, but during that week, I found out what it was like to hunger for God and to hear Him speak.
Later on that same year in September, my church did something called a Lay Witness Mission. It's where you have team members come from around the state to work with your church. It's sorta like a revival/retreat. And on the saturday night of that LWM, the youth did something called a service of sacrifice. We had some hammers, nails, paper hearts, and a wooden cross. We had to nail things to the cross..pretty much whatever God lead us to nail there. I just sat there and cried. Finally I got up and nailed a few things to the cross. I sat back down, and knew I hadn't been living the way God wanted me to. So, I went up to the altar where my youth leader was and asked him 'What do I do if I want to give my life back to Christ?' And he said, 'You know this doesn't end here, right?' I answered yes. Then we went into a different room and prayed. (I had already asked Jesus to be my Saviour when I was like..7) That night, I re-dedicated my life to Him. And nothing has been the same.
Also, I was baptized on July 8,2007...which was awesome..and was right after KingsFest..wooo, Jeremy Camp! =)
Now, I'm about to head out on a mission trip to Peru to share the love of Jesus. And to let others in on the One who saved me...He can save them too!
Thanks for reading! I love you all, and so does Jesus!
In Christ,
Miranda