Testimony
On Thursday, my pastor called and asked if I would give my testimony in front of the whole church Sunday night because there was going to be a communion service. They only do communion a few times a year to keep it special. I immediately said yes. When I hung up the phone, I was like "oh my gosh what did I just do!" The shyest person in the world is not meant to talk in front of the whole church!
I have been nervous since Thursday, and sick to my stomach the whole time. On Saturday I sat down and wrote it all out so I could take it up with me in case I got too nervous. I ended up being way to nervous, so I just read the whole thing. About half way through, my voice got all shaky, and I had to stop and take a big breath to calm myself down. Of course I took it right in the middle of a sentence and messed it up, but oh well.
Here is what I read so you can also hear my testimony:
I have wanted to be a scientist since I was 4 years old. My whole life I surrounded myself with textbooks and scientific journals. I found it easier to believe in science because it can demonstrate, whereas you just have to have faith in religion. Growing up my parents never took me to church, so I never had the opportunity to learn the great things about God.
In high school on a few occasions, I went with my best friend to church retreats, but I thought of it more as hanging out with my friend, not a religious experience. In college, I took two religion classes: Introduction to the Bible and Comparative Religions. It opened my eyes to a world I did not know, but I still did not have the desire to seek Christ.
After Steve and I were married, we talked about going to church, but were not active in looking for one. I knew I wanted to raise my children in a church to give them the opportunity I did not have. One Saturday morning we received an Orchard Church door hanger, and I told Steve we should go the next day. That was a huge step for me, because I had never had the desire to go to church. The Holy Spirit definitely had a part in that. We went that Sunday, and I loved it. We have been almost every weekend since.
After talking to Pastor Doug about my strong scientific background, he recommended the book “The Case for a Creator” by Lee Strobel. If it was not for this book, I do not know if I would be saved today. It really opened up my eyes that I could still be a scientist and have God in my life. They do not have to be at two ends of the spectrum.
On December 25, 2006, Steve and I went to Pastor Doug’s house for Christmas lunch. Doug and I started talking about where I was toward being saved. I told him how I thought I was ready, but I was not sure what I needed to do. Just saying, “okay, Jesus I believe in you and the reason you died” seemed too easy. Doug sat down with me and drew the picture that you have probably all seen where you and God are separated by sin. The picture really put everything into perspective for me. Doug asked me four simple questions, which I answered yes to all, and told me I was saved. I had such a strong physical feeling in my body at that moment, I think I would have fallen down if I had not been sitting.
I wanted to be saved because my whole life I have kind of felt like something was missing. After I got married, I thought I would feel whole, that I just needed a lifetime companion. When I still felt alone, I thought maybe going to church would help, that I needed something no one on this earth could give me. After my first visit to the Orchard Church, I kept saying to myself, “I want to be like these people, I want the relationship they have with God.” You can tell when someone is a good Christian, and I think this church is full of them. Now that I am saved, I feel whole; I just needed Jesus in my life!
This first communion means a lot to me. I have come so far in the last four months, from a nonbeliever to being here doing this. It is amazing how much God has changed my life in such a short amount of time. I am so excited to see my life change even more, and grow as a Christian.
~*~ Ashley ~*~
I have been nervous since Thursday, and sick to my stomach the whole time. On Saturday I sat down and wrote it all out so I could take it up with me in case I got too nervous. I ended up being way to nervous, so I just read the whole thing. About half way through, my voice got all shaky, and I had to stop and take a big breath to calm myself down. Of course I took it right in the middle of a sentence and messed it up, but oh well.
Here is what I read so you can also hear my testimony:
I have wanted to be a scientist since I was 4 years old. My whole life I surrounded myself with textbooks and scientific journals. I found it easier to believe in science because it can demonstrate, whereas you just have to have faith in religion. Growing up my parents never took me to church, so I never had the opportunity to learn the great things about God.
In high school on a few occasions, I went with my best friend to church retreats, but I thought of it more as hanging out with my friend, not a religious experience. In college, I took two religion classes: Introduction to the Bible and Comparative Religions. It opened my eyes to a world I did not know, but I still did not have the desire to seek Christ.
After Steve and I were married, we talked about going to church, but were not active in looking for one. I knew I wanted to raise my children in a church to give them the opportunity I did not have. One Saturday morning we received an Orchard Church door hanger, and I told Steve we should go the next day. That was a huge step for me, because I had never had the desire to go to church. The Holy Spirit definitely had a part in that. We went that Sunday, and I loved it. We have been almost every weekend since.
After talking to Pastor Doug about my strong scientific background, he recommended the book “The Case for a Creator” by Lee Strobel. If it was not for this book, I do not know if I would be saved today. It really opened up my eyes that I could still be a scientist and have God in my life. They do not have to be at two ends of the spectrum.
On December 25, 2006, Steve and I went to Pastor Doug’s house for Christmas lunch. Doug and I started talking about where I was toward being saved. I told him how I thought I was ready, but I was not sure what I needed to do. Just saying, “okay, Jesus I believe in you and the reason you died” seemed too easy. Doug sat down with me and drew the picture that you have probably all seen where you and God are separated by sin. The picture really put everything into perspective for me. Doug asked me four simple questions, which I answered yes to all, and told me I was saved. I had such a strong physical feeling in my body at that moment, I think I would have fallen down if I had not been sitting.
I wanted to be saved because my whole life I have kind of felt like something was missing. After I got married, I thought I would feel whole, that I just needed a lifetime companion. When I still felt alone, I thought maybe going to church would help, that I needed something no one on this earth could give me. After my first visit to the Orchard Church, I kept saying to myself, “I want to be like these people, I want the relationship they have with God.” You can tell when someone is a good Christian, and I think this church is full of them. Now that I am saved, I feel whole; I just needed Jesus in my life!
This first communion means a lot to me. I have come so far in the last four months, from a nonbeliever to being here doing this. It is amazing how much God has changed my life in such a short amount of time. I am so excited to see my life change even more, and grow as a Christian.
~*~ Ashley ~*~
posted by Steven and Ashley @ 7:41 PM
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