My Testimony --:Part 2

56:120723

My Testimony

Part 2

   God was starting some special within me, I no longer had a thirst for booze, as that thirst had been replaced by a thirst for Christ Jesus my Lord. I felt like nothing I had ever felt before, and it was good. All the dark days were gone, where ever I went my bible, that adopted Grandma had bought and signed. I slept with it under my pillow, where I went it came with. Whilst Grandma Peggy was not an actual blood relation, she came a lot onto the ward with COPD and struck up a friendship from there, we would often have days out, she was a soft hearted and kind lady.

   I had not had much luck in finding that special lady with whom I could create a family, and share those intimate moments in life. I had read about an Asian Guy who wrote all the things he wanted in life, and put the details in his Bible. So changing the details into a description of my perfect woman on to a piece of paper prayed over the page, then put it into 1 Corinthians 13, which tells in detail what Christ feel love is all about, then say to God it was over to Him. I would go where like minded Christians would be, so that we would be equally yoked. . . 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers” … It took till we went to an AOG gathering for teaching the next April (1999)till I met Betty. During the 5 days I was there I went classes teaching us how to pray more effectively. On the Wednesday I went to an extra meeting where like minded gathered to pray for Northern Ireland and the republic too. I went along with Margaret, whom I told you of in Part 1, when the meeting had finished and we stood up she turned to see an old friend called Bob Edgar. Who happened to be with him, yep Betty. To this date Betty can me how was sat where in the room, and yet has no recollection of me, even though introduced to each other by Margaret & Bob. OK, time to reach for the bucket for this next bit, as you may well have seen these romantic photo’s of a couple where the outside of the photo is all blurred and rest is in a soft focus, well that is how I was shown Betty by God. That was enough of a hint for me, that was on the Wednesday.

   I did not see her again till the Friday afternoon, I on my way out of the camp for a walk to may be take some photo’s. Well just as I am heading towards the gate, who should be coming back in, yep Betty. Now most of you have some of the elaborate goal celebrations some footballers do, back flips and so forth. Well whilst trying be calm & cool, inside I was doing all sorts yes .. yes .. yes. Stopping I said hi, you remember us meeting on Wednesday afternoon with Bob & Margaret? Whilst not remembering because me say these 2 people she accepted what I was telling her. Betty has her own testimony leading up to this point that only she can tell, which is even more remarkable. Anyhow we spent the next couple of hours talking & walking, as this was the last day before I returned to Torquay and Betty back Northern Ireland. We met in the last meeting that night and spent till the wee hours talking.

   So we met on the 21st of April 1999, everyday we spent hours on the phone, mostly in the evening from 9pm on, so much so it became a standing joke that anyone calling us knew to call before then or forget it. This happened everyday, we would also write letters a couple of times a week as well. Betty came over to Torquay in the beginning of June and I proposed. My family had their doubts but once they knew of me selling all of my records to purchase a ring, they quietened down a little-bit, as they all knew NO-ONE touched my records. I then travelled in the first week of August to meet her family and formally asked her parents for Bettys hand in marriage, only for Betty’s mum said what about the rest of her.

   Betty moved over to Torquay in the 3rd week of August of 1999, yep the same year. In fact when worked our you’ll find it 6 months exactly from the date we met to our Wedding day on 6th November ‘99. . .

...since this time God has in so many ways through our lives they too many to count. Needless to say we have been blessed.

   I hope this has let to know the author of this blog more. As it nice to know whom it is I keep coming back to read. So thank you for coming back each time. Gods peace Love & hope be with you now and always.

56:120723

My Testimony

   Whilst this story may be sounding like many a Testimony, it’s personal to me. After all these years I have seen, that I have never shared with you all what/who led me to give my life to Jesus. Also I’ ll share certain moments that can only show how God moved at that moment.

   So like all history you need to know the key factors that led up to me being on my knees. I first heard from God, I now understand it was Him, when I was around 11/12 years old, but just dismissed the notion as foolishness, and so carried on with growing up. When I was young loved music and had those I liked and those not. After leaving School I got into my local night club, in Milton Keynes, very quickly found that I going 5 nights a week. Buying music when I could afford. I was slowly building up a collection, until I moved to the south coast and lived with my sister. Her boss wanted someone to play some music in his bar she recommended me, this was the first time I worked the music desk and I was hooked.

   After I few months I was DJing in their club, after a couple of years I jumped at the chance of going to Hamburg, this was in the May of 1990 – so just after the wall came down. Whilst the I had a fiancee, but that broke down, which was a mess and so sort solace in the bottle, within 3mths I was drinking like a fish, from a person who hardy drank.

   After returning home to stay in my parents hotel, then bounced around a lot for a few years living here and there till got my own place. Still not happy, I then embarked on a relationship with a lady who had a young daughter, whom both of which I loved a lot, and thought this is it paradise. Then boom whilst looking after her daughter one night I discovered she was having an affair. This shattered me like a pain of glass, into a thousand bits. Oh boy did the bottle get hit hard, This happened right on Christmas , it was whilst visiting my parents that a member of the family mid-Christmas morning said to me ‘so fish how many have you had?’ Which pushed me further down that dark rabbit hole.

   It was just after New Years celebration, I wondered what was there in the coming in the New Year to be happy about, NOTHING from what I could see. In all the years since my childhood I had not heard God calling me, instead there was just silence, until that night I found myself walking along Torquay sea front heading to a place called Berry-Head (some 5 miles round the bay). It was wild weather, but just as I was walking past a phone, yes they were a thing still then, when there it was again – Gods voice. I can only think I had not heard of our Lord till then because of a song by CeCe Winans where she sang about someone who would not receive God because they were not on their knees yet, meaning it was the only way of them hearing God’s voice, like me. . .

#CeCe Winans:- Album: Alabaster box

Song: He’s not on his knees yet

(This song will tell you more. Having had many years of love of lots of different music from Queen through to Opera. Favourite songs like Jerry Rafferty:- Baker Street, to Christian songs now When the music fades, meaning everything else goes away you (Jesus Christ) will always be there. I still love my music but now I praise God for all His done, is doing and going to do for us)… Yes I said ‘US’, meaning Betty & Me. God directed my feet to the phone booth and before I knew what was happening I was calling the Samaritans, telling them of what I was going to do. I still don’t know how long I talking to them? Suddenly I was back home in my apartment, in the morning I called my Doctor, and told him I could not go home, as I had booze & tabs waiting for me, so we talked and I sign myself into a secure until for 3days. To this day my parents never knew what had transpired. Once back home I remembered I knew of a guy that went to a local Church in Torquay, so I knocked his door and asked if I can come with him and his family that next Sunday, as I needed solace from the Church, he had agreed.

   It transpired after a short while a lady was just going to start an ‘Alpha-Course’, (this link is for the UK but I’m sure there will be one close to you in your country, just copy and paste Alpha-Course, and should pop up near to you. . . https://alpha.org.uk/) She put me in touch with a wonderful couple call Graham & Margaret, who ran a group for those of above a certain age, called ‘Cameo’. She would call often, to try and get me to meet the group and come to her Church. Eventually I made it to Living Water Church, in spite of the devil trying to stop me from going, every time she invited me, and on the 1st of May 1998 in the evening I gave my heart to Christ Jesus.

   As I walked through the doors that evening It felt like I had just been freed. Just like a Shire horse being let loose in a field after all it’s restrictive harnesses were removed, when they run and jump and kick, because of the freedom they feel. What I remember the most from that evening was that at the end Mike Symonds gave an ‘alter call’, asking is there anyone wishing to give their hearts to the Lord Jesus. Paster Mike had not finished giving the call, I shot out of my chair past Graham & Margaret and down the front of the Church, like a regular jack-in-the-box.

    I must admit I was never one for being able to save, how things have changed praise God, I was that on fire for God saving me when the next baptismal service in June came around I wanted nothing more than to go through the waters. At this time Mum & Dad were living just out side Midhurst I Sussex, I wanted them to come and be witness, as it was a good distance I said I would pick them up in the morning, and run the home after in the evening. There was just one drawback being being able to afford this. I was down to my last pound which was to feed me for the month, as well as lighting/heating & fuel for the car for the moth. So as the offering plate came around I prayed to God asked for His help, citing. . . Ephesians 2:7 “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” … I found I never had to do a proper food shop until mid September, or with draw money from the bank at the same time, that following week I spoke to my bank manger, he wrote of all my debt and gave me a fresh start, praise God.

Part 2 will follow next week show at every turn how Jesus Christ has had influence in my life up to today, so stay tuned.

God peace and blessings be upon you your family and friends.