For the last 6 months I was taking an “Understanding God” class in which Faith Temple Church, http://www.faithtemple.net, offers and I can say my life has changed.  The class itself presented a challenge to me due to the cold winter early mornings and late night homework sessions.  However, I can say I am extremely happy that I remained dedicated to building a solid foundation that has left me wanting and craving more.

Towards the end of the class we were asked to write our testimonies about what the class has done for us, our experience with each foundation stone in which we covered , and how our life has changed since taking the class.  As I wrote my testimony about the class, I wrote from my heart and was completely open with regards to everything the class has taught me and how The Lord was working within my heart and life.  I wrote my testimony not thinking it would ever go beyond the group leader’s hands but then a few days before the banquet I was asked to read my testimony aloud in front of everyone.  Anyone who knows me knows that public speaking is a fear of mine but now that I think about it….a week or so prior someone in the choir gave me a scripture to read after practice, Psalm 27:1, look how God works 🙂

I never knew how hard it would be to openly speak about your personal journey and what The Lord has done for you PERSONALLY until I did it.  The fear of putting my personal life out there for all to see, the thought of going back to that place of hurt in front of a room full of strangers, but then the JOY of being able to say I overcame my situation while learning so much more than I expected.

As I stood up there so many emotions were flowing through me and the tears were streaming down my face.  My eyes were so full of tears that I could barely see, I had to stop talking several times, and there were times when I felt like I just could not do it and I actually verbally said it.  But through all of it everyone in the room was so kind and patient with me.  Once I was done and the banquet was over, Mrs. Chennetta said “your testimony was for someone here” so that right there made me feel a lot better (I was still FULL of emotion) because if you have read through my blogs or know me personally, you would know my want is to help others through my words and / or experiences.

So, with that being said, I am posting my testimony for all to see.  Hopefully through my testimony you will see HIS greatness, how HE cares for His children, how He only want the best for you.  I truly believe that a foundation with The Lord has been laid and NOTHING or NO ONE is going to take me from it.  

I pray that your spiritual eyes are opened and you see HIM.   

                Walking into Catechism I did not know what to expect.  I came into the class feeling completely BROKEN and I didn’t know what this class was going to be like or how it would change my life.

Now when I say broken I mean COMPLETELY BROKEN (from my own point of view).  I had someone who I thought I could trust basically take advantage of my kind heart and steal thousands of dollars from me in which I had to pay the bank back.  SO not only was I out of the little money I did have saved up but now I had to pay the bank back the thousands of extra dollars that was withdrawn from my account.   I had bills that were paid coming back NSF, including my mortgage.  I had no money for food and I had no one to turn to because I am such a private person.  Even the one person that was closest to me was not there for me in the way that I expected her to be.  So I had hit my rock bottom and I knew there was nowhere else to turn but to God.  So the week prior (January 10) I had received Salvation and turned my life over to The Lord and was told about the Catechism class and how it would be good for me to join.  Not knowing how I would pay for the class I was a little on the fence but then I was told that they would accept my payment in installments, so that is what I did.

Every Sunday we would go over the 66 books of the Bible, The Ten Commandments, the Foundation Stones, the Student Confession, and the Apostles’ Creed.  As we recited this information it was being etched into my heart.  All of this is GREAT and AMAZING information to learn and know and have instilled into your life HOWEVER the one line “I have self-worth and value because Jesus loves me and that makes me somebody” really touched me and helped me because I was feeling so very low at the time.  I was mad at myself as well as the guy who did this to me and truly felt like a fool for trusting someone who could do this to not only me but my kids because I am responsible for them; so this affected them as well.

As the class continued on I was actually learning so very much about The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit and I was shocked at myself because of my dedication to this class.  I had even let go of my full-time school schedule because I could not handle work, school, kids, and now Catechism all at once.  I felt that my focus had to be on this class and learning about my Father, so that is what I did.  I put all of my focus on Him and I feel that this was the best thing for me to do.  During the class and even outside of the class I was learning about who He is and the importance of trusting Him.  This class enhanced my curiosity so I started reading His Word more than just the daily verses but I didn’t stop at that I got a study Bible that would break down different verses so that I had a good understanding of what I was reading.  I started asking other believers questions to help me break certain things down on top of researching different things for better understanding.  But inside I still had a slight feeling of discouragement and hurt.  So I thought to myself, what do I have to do to break this feeling.  But then as we proceeded on with the class we were discussing the things God sees as sin. So I started to dismiss some of the things that I felt was causing me to sin or what was sin. And I started to feel better little by little.  And then I was inspired to start writing.  I started a blog focused on Him and long behold I started to feel a little more at peace.

And then came the Water Baptism.  Walking into the baptism I did not know what to expect BUT I was excited.  As I stood there praising and worshiping with the other candidates for baptism I started to watch the trees sway back and forth.  I sang and swayed back and forth with them not knowing that the Holy Spirit can come in the form of wind as well.  So I definitely believe and felt that even without me knowing His presence was definitely in the building.  I walked up the stairs to the little tub and sat down on the seat, Pastor Mark said “you look like you are readyJ” then he said a short prayer and dumped me under.  As I rose back up from the water I felt that everything of my past was left in that water and I came up a new person under God.  He cleansed me of my sin and past and now I was free to live according to His will.  I felt vibrant and covered by His love, grace, and mercy.  Mrs. Laverne told me when I got out, “you are glowing.”  That was an AWESOME experience in which I was so proud of myself for taking the step to accomplish.

As the class continued on, I started to learn about the Holy Spirit.  I can admit before we started learning about the Holy Spirit I didn’t know much about Him and that caused me to doubt His existence.  But then during catechism, I learned that He is real and He was sent to us by the Father and Son as our comforter and He lives within me.  I am still learning about Him today but I can now say that HE IS REAL and He will check me when I need to be checked.  After learning about Him it was time for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  So once more I was standing in line praising and worshiping.  Mrs. Laverne came over to pray with me.  As we were praying something happened and a wall was shattered.  Tears started flowing from my eyes, sobs came out my mouth, and then something hit me and it was powerful.  My cries got harder and my mouth was moving faster than normal and unfamiliar words were coming out my mouth and they seemed to be non-stop.  I felt weak and I have lost control over my body (my knees started to get weak – slowly but surely I was kneeling down to the floor) and mouth.  It seemed like I could hear several of the pastor’s voices in the room praying for me.  This went on for I don’t know how long then it subsided and Pastor Genny asked me “how do you feel” and I responded “overwhelmed” because I never experienced anything like that before.  I am use to being in control of my mouth, body, and tears but at that moment I had lost ALL CONTROL.  Mrs. Laverne said to me “you just spoke in tongues” so from that moment on I KNEW THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REAL.

Catechism and Faith Temple has changed my life forever.  I am a true believer of God and I am and will continue to live my life according to His will.  I have made major changes in my life and they can be seen by everyone.  I am not the person I use to be.  I AM A CHILD OF GOD and He is my head and I will do as He tells me to do.  I no longer live by my will because my will have now become HIS will.  This class has taught and is continuing to teach me about his love, grace, and mercy.  Every day I feel as if I am being drawn closer and closer to Him and for that I am FOREVER grateful to all of the teachers of the class as well as the group leaders.  They have taught me so much and I am excited to continue to learn about the Lord.

~Livingwithpurpose720