-
The Story Of Your Life
February 27, 2010 - Comments (52)We have a major announcement about Matthew’s next album to share with you all! You have an opportunity to inspire a song with The Story Of Your Life. Visit http://www.matthewwest.com/story-of-your-life for all the news and info on how you can get involved in Matthew’s next project!
This is your album, this is your story, this is your life – this is THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE!
POSTED BY:
Matthew West
52 comments
Comment
Sat 27/2/10, 7:20 am
I came from Christian parents but strayed when a married an unbeliever. Not just that an unbleiver but at he was a drinker and “my faith was weak” . I had our first son but everything was bad from the begining because of husbands drinking. He would come home and we would argue and still my faith was weak. There were many nights I would sit alone in the dark and cry because I felt so sad an so alone. Soon another son came and life was not much better. I to began to stray being brought down lower and lower and away from My Christ. I to began to go out and stray neglecting my sons trying to fill the pain of the emptyness I had inside . I met other men and began a relationship. I had a third son . Our marriage and lives were a wreck. My husband would get home and I would leave to go out with my girlfriends to end up in the arms of another man. I did not care anymore about anything and I endangered my own life with all the situations I put myself in. I must have made my my Christ cry in seeing all the pain I was causing to myself and my sons. The final straw was when I had been out with another man and my husband came home and I was not there. Later that morning when I finaly came home we had the worst,horrible fight where I know I saw the devil in his eyes because my husband wanted to kill me and I did not care if I would die. That day my sons and I left my husband becuse I could not take our lives anymore. My life did not get much beter because there was no job, no house, no car, no anything and no faith. Many days the poverty we were living was unbelievable. We had nothing but a tiny bit of will I could muster to help my sons keep going. One day in December of 96 while at my church , I cried and let all the pain come in but I promised the Lord that day that I would change my life for my sons sake becasue I did not want them to keep suffering and much less to be lost without my Christ. I made new years resolutin that I would go back to church to save my sons. I have to this date kept that promise and my life has completely come back to my saving Faith. My faith is so strong that now I can talk to others, especially mothers with children, to let them know that his faith will save you from any pain. Do not give up on my Christ because he is always there and especialy when all you feel is pain. He is the one who always cares and never wants you to feel alone, do not give up he knows your pain. I can tell all the single moms out there that you are never alone, The Lord will be your partner just alow him in becasue he to is a son and knows how important it is for you to have a loving partner in raising children in his Glorys name.
Sat 27/2/10, 1:39 pm
Hey Matthew! I tried to post my story on the website but I don’t think it submitted. I tried to do it again, but the submit button disappeared!! :O (Lol…hope you don’t get a million of my stories!) So I’m posting it here, if you don’t mind…I don’t have Twitter so if you see this, can you let me know if you got my story?
I am fourteen years old and ever since I can remember, I wanted to be famous. First, I wanted to be an actress. Then, I wanted to be a writer. And then finally, I wanted to be a singer. The singer dream still lives on…I hope to be one someday. But until today, I thought being a famous singer or writer was the only way to be famous. I sometimes thought that the little things didn’t really count in the world. I know they do, especially to people that care about you, but it seems like the world doesn’t notice those things. And the world probably doesn’t. So this morning, I woke up today, asking, “How can I make a difference?” This afternoon, I was helping my 4 and 8 year old neighbors build a snowman. They were so excited that I was helping them and they were even more excited when the snowman got to be my height. As I was walking home, I realized that I AM making a difference in my life. I am being a role model for my little neighbors. I listen to them, talk to them, and teach them. It may not seem much in the world’s eyes, but it is a big deal in my eyes. I am glad God showed me this and I feel sorry that I wasted my time thinking the other way. You don’t have to be famous to make a difference in your life or someone else’s.
Sorry if you get a lot of this story!!
-Molly
Sat 27/2/10, 3:55 pm
Yes I tried to submit my story the same way Molly did! For the past few years, I have battled God about what He has in store for my future. The feelings of loneliness, dryness, fear, confusion, uncertainty, “going through the motions” and even mental depression has bound me spiritually. It has come to a point where I don’t even understand the point in prayer if God already has His mind made up with what He’s going to do in my life. I started to write mostly praise/worship music late last year to express these feelings. There’s ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I can fully express everything under 250 words so maybe this would help:
Verse 1
You’ve been by my side
Even when I could not feel You
You dried my every tear
Though I could not sense your presence
Yet again I’m in a drought
But You promised me abundance
I look for it, with the hopes of showered blessings
Chorus:
Rain in My Famine
I long to hear Your voice
I seek your face
Extend your love and grace
Rain in My Famine
I delight to do Your will
You’re my strength, my hope, my shield
Lord I’m waiting
Rain in My Famine
Verse 1 repeated
Chorus repeated
Bridge
Why art thou far from me?
God don’t hide thy face forever!
For I am poor and needy
Yet Lord You think of me
Repeat Chorus
I think this is a great thing you’re doing Mr. West! Hope my story can influence you to write something on people like me going through a dry place!
Sat 27/2/10, 4:16 pm
In 2007, I moved from my home town to a little town called Pekin, IL, and it was here that I finally heard from God that my 20 year walk of sorrows was finally over and my walk of blessings was starting. In 2009, after 5 spinal surgeries and many proceedures on my back, the Lord asked me to give Him everything. He asked me some pretty spasific things to do. The first was to come off of 10 years on methadone and percocet for my spinal pain. I did it in less than three weeks without going into withdrawal but was in terrific pain. He also asked me to write my life story. On March 21st I awoke in tears early in the morning. Every song that came on the radio brought fresh tears. While I was praying that afternoon the Spirit of God took all my spinal pain away and I agreed to write my story for Him, including all the terrible times of my life. There was one song that hit me hard and it was your song, The Motions. That was my life! I was only going through the motions of my faith for a very long time. Since then, God has indeed blessed me above and beyond anything that I would have ever dreamed. I now have that all consuming passion that you wrote about in your song. I met you last year in Peoria, IL and hope to meet you again and hopefully, I will be able to hand you my book.
Love in Jesus,
Marianne Hume
Sat 27/2/10, 8:26 pm
I’m seventeen. I have Asperger’s Syndrome; a mild form of autism.
I was extremely shy, socially awkward, and had the grace of a clown.
I was the oddball, the wallflower, the outsider looking in. I never really fit in. People always wondered why I was so quiet. I was quiet because I had nothing to say…well, nothing that would have gotten me funny looks or the cold shoulder. So, I kept my mouth shut because I felt like if I spoke my mind, the world would point and laugh. I was suffering in silence. I rarely went to church because I was afraid that they’d laugh at me, too.
I’ve seen God’s grace and mercy. He sent His only Son into this world who knows everything about me, catches me when I fall, embraces me when I cry, and loves me for who I am. He opened my eyes, breathed new life into my soul, and helped me discover my own voice. He taught me that everyone in this world has a story and a song worth singing. So, raise your voice and sing. Don’t ever lower your voice just ’cause you’re afraid of what others think. It doesn’t matter if you sing in tune or off-key.
The most beautiful voice is one that is lifted to the Lord.
A beautiful voice is honest, passionate, rejoicing, patient, kind, gentle, hopeful, faithful, humble, and strong.
A voice that sings praises to Jesus is the sweetest sound.
Sun 28/2/10, 8:31 pm
My story is a story of overcoming the pain of living with verbal abuse.It’s the story of a million women who always hear they’re never good enough. In my first marriage to a very verbally abusive husband…I tried to please him doing anything I knew that would make him happy.Trouble was it was never good enough.If I did everything he asked for,he’d always find something else.The only good things that came out of that 27 year marriage were my 2 sons,Joshua and Jacob,and the things God taught me about hiding myself in Him in worship and intercession.In my most painful season I asked the Lord how He ever lived through all the rejection He faced while He walked the earth.His quick reply was “Because I knew My Father’s Love”. I thought…ok …I know that Love…I can do this.
I have since remarried a Christian man,who was struggling with his own life of rejection.Because I hate broken relationships so much,I’ve helped him find a son that he had not seen in 24 years.They recently reunited after 24 years of not seeing each other.My husband is an ex-Marine,a hero from the Vietnam war.He has a huge warriors heart and I love it.I’ve finally gotten to feel what marriage was meant to be.I have only gotten where I am today by tucking in to the arms that love me best and learning about His warriors heart for me.In His Love~Linda
Sun 28/2/10, 8:50 pm
Well I grew up in a Christian home. I still live with my mom and dad. They’re still raising me well and I love them so so much. I also have been raised on Christian music all my life. I never listen to any secular cds or anything like that. I try to be the best influence I can on people, but it gets so hard when people are nothing like you at all. Even Christians: I mean they believe in God and stuff, but alot of them listen to secular music along with some Christian music. I just don’t understand their lifestyle really. I thought it was supposed to be ALL about God and not just a relationship with Him (even thought that’s a major priority). Sometimes I wonder why God made me the way I am, yet still I love Him more than I could ever love any person. It’s difficult to explain but I wish I could just go out and bring more people to Christ, but I’m a really shy guy. Guess I’ll have to keep praying more. But I have total faith in God, even through the rough times. And I have Him to thank for bringing me out of a real dark period in my life with the addictions I had. Nothing like smoking, drinking, etc. But just a struggle that I’ve had for almost 10 years. And for over a month I’ve quit doing it, so I’m so thankful to God for helping me. Faith does work! I also have to say that the song “The Moment of Truth” has really helped me out of that addiction. The line “You’ve got your hand on a habit and you can’t seem to let it go. It used to be your escape, now it’s out of control.” THAT line is exactly what I’ve been doing for a long time. I never have really given it all to Him, the One and Only! That song has helped me out of the habit. The song “Safe and Sound” has reassured me that God is with me always. Even if it doesn’t seem right. Even if things don’t seem to be going the way they should logically go, He is still with me and will never leave me. Anyway, thank you for being a real inspiration to me. God has used you to inspire me to do better. I really hope you use this testimony in a song for someone else out there. Some people think it’s the lost struggle more. I contend it’s the saved who need the most help, so we can help others. And it’s not even about our struggle with sin sometimes. Alot of times actually, we just need to get out of our comfort zones and seek Him and do His will. Sitting around, pretending everything’s alright doesn’t help anything. It’s time to get on our knees, pray, read the Word, have a relationship with God, and the rest falls into place. God bless you Matthew!
Mon 1/3/10, 6:25 am
Hey! I tried the link but the submit button kept disappearing. I hope it’s ok if i post it below.
Thanks!
Right out of college I was hired onto a church staff. I got to serve, speak, lead, and see God working in the hearts of youth. I knew I was fulfilling my ministry calling and living within my passion. As times got tough at the church I began to get burnout and let my guard down and gave into a temptation that led to me being let go from the church. My ministry was taken away. I had no source of income. I had been living in church housing so I had to find somewhere to live. I was 600 miles from my closest family member. I felt very ashamed over what I had done and was dealing with a lot of guilt.
It took a lot of desperate time and long nights with God for me to deal with what I was feeling and to see myself as worthy of restoration. I cut myself off from many people and most media as none of it appealed to me and I was desperate to be made right by God so I could be used by Him again. I needed to feel whole and forgiven. It took several months (and I actually wrote a book about it) by I truly believe God brought me back and restored me to a place of passion and intimacy I would not have been able to reach had this not happened. What I did wasn’t God’s will, but He used it to grow me.
Mon 1/3/10, 10:34 am
Your link disappeared when I tried submitting my story so I posted it here. This is one of my stories in 250 words.
As a child, love was earned. Grew up a loyal perfectionist. To medicate my self-loathing I became a raging alcoholic. Had 3 children. Abused the first. Jealous of the second. The third, born addicted to alcohol. Ended up in a battered woman’s shelter. Hit rock bottom and met Jesus. Believed I was worthless. Approached Jesus through “necessity” of relationship rather than desire for fellowship. Spent next 14 years trying to earn His love. Built a children’s church program; was a Pastor’s secretary; attended Bible College; danced on worship team. Still couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact: I deserved Jesus’ love. I would beg Him to keep me in His presence, sitting at His feet as a dog sits at his master’s. Told Him He didn’t have to look at me or acknowledge me, just let me sit on the floor at His feet. One Sunday I made that request again. That time, God vehemently said, “No!” He showed me a vision: With one hand, He picked me up off the floor, pulled me into His arms and said, “This is where I want you; not on the floor, you are to sit in my lap.” At that moment, I comprehended the fierceness of my Father’s love. There, in His lap, he broke me open. A piece of my soul, fractured since childhood, was finally healed. Words can’t describe how it felt to release the torturous pain into His hands and exchange it for a crown of my Father’s love.
Mon 1/3/10, 1:00 pm
My story begins July 4th, 2003. I discovered I was pregnant with my third child. My husband and I already had 2 girls. Two days before Thanksgiving we discovered we were finally blessed with a son. Then on February 13th, 2004 our world was turned upside down! The nurse tried for over an hour to get a heartbeat. When the dr finally got to the hospital, he could not find one either. Our soon was born sleeping. He had went to live with Jesus. His umbillical cord was not formed correctly. A blood clot got stuck. This was the beginning of very rough months, days and hours ahead of us. Dealing with all the emotions, and trying to heal from having a baby. Wow! What a blow. Each time I get to tell his story helps me, and I hope that it has helped other’s who are also greiving the loss of a child. I know he is waiting for us and saving us a place. Each day I live is one day closer to being with my precious little boy.
Mon 1/3/10, 1:49 pm
My testimony in the form of a Love Letter to Jesus:
My dearest Love,
I love You with all that I am; my heart, my soul, and my body. I know that I am Yours even when I disappoint You…and I seem to do that a lot. I am so very sorry. Please forgive me. I can’t say that I won’t ever disappoint You again because we both know that I am only human. I love You so much for being my one true Friend in life, for trying so hard to keep me headed in the right direction; yet having the love and patience to not give up on me, though it seems my own family has.
I love You for being the rock in my life, the only stable thing that I know will always be there for me. I love You for all the times You have come to me when I didn’t have the strength to call for You; times when You simply came to me and cradled me in Your loving arms.
I love You for all the wonderful lessons I have learned in life, some very difficult, but You stayed by my side and helped me through it all.
Together we have celebrated lessons learned, beautiful days filled with sunshine and the sounds of nature; the sound of the pounding surf, the roll of thunder and the brilliant flashes of lightening across the sky.
We have shared the miracle of life as we watched our children and grandchildren enter this world.
I love You for being mine, for teaching me the ways of love. I cherish our time alone as You love me in a way that no one else ever could. The intimacy we share is unlike any other love. When I am not with You I am incomplete. My heart yearns for You until we are alone together again, when I may once again bask in Your heavenly glory. H. Lovely 2006
(previously printed in Journezine, on-line magazine. A Heart of God International Ministry)
Mon 1/3/10, 5:23 pm
I remember my fifth grade year. I was on the stage, waiting to hear the word that I had to spell to win the school spelling bee. “Azure,” the moderator said. I had never heard the word before in my life and took a wild guess. This five letter word was nothing compared to the 45 letter word, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, which I knew at the age of six. So I spelled the word, and waited for the “ding!” of the bell. It never rang, but I heard the voice of the moderator say, “Give a hand for the champion of the spelling bee!”
15 days later, I stood in a familiar position battling head-to-head with a female who was equally good. She slipped on a word, and I spelled that word and another word for another sweet success. Ironically, the winning word was “praline.” That made it a really sweet success! Later on, in Bloomington, I was on yet another stage and had to spell the word macramé, a type of craft that is similar to crocheting. I misspelled it, spelling it machrome. I was ready for my revenge the next year, when a devastating headline came, fresh from the press. It read: “Spelling Bee is H-I-S-T-O-R-Y.” I was mad! Life goes on, though. I am currently the star of my Jr. High Scholastic Bowl team, and we are currently undefeated. That’s the story of my life. God Bless! BTW, Matthew- you are amazing! Keep up the good work!
Tue 2/3/10, 12:02 am
i tried to submit my story but i dnt see a”submit” button?! here it is in all it’s glory. all the misspelled, abbreviated and semi punctuated words and phrases that make up my original story. its; scattered but its real and from the heart. just like me! god bless and ejoy! please email me if u recievd it and if you have time! i’ll be praying for u while u take the tme to bless people with more wonderful inspiring music and this time about them. even if u dont choose my particular story i’m glad to be apart of it and cant wait to hear what God puts in your heart to write!…………
so, i was born and thats when it all began!! the story of my life is hard to sum up in only a few characters but its been full of love lots of pain, sorrow anger & every other emotion! ive been wounded, jaded, loved and even hated. from when i can remember and what everyone remembers me is by my voice. by singing! memories of me sitting on my front pourch as a kid singing at the top of my lungs “this is the day that the lord has made” i was pretty much born in my church! every sunday. childrens church, childrens chior, youth group and so on! I WAS BORN TO LOVE THE LORD! I WAS BORN to PRAISE HIM! ive always been a loving person a trusting person and had a great walk with GOD in highschool and times of pressure i never gave in! i was teased bcuz of it. bcuz i trusted i was walked all over. no one ever wanted me around cuz i was good and they fet uncomfortable w/me around cuz what they did was wrong. i felt left out, like i wasnt cool enough and on weekends while everyone was out i was home alone. instead of friday nite football games i was at friday nite youth! i was hurt alot bak then bcuz i chose to have a walk with god. even as i grew older i stil held on to those beliefs and my love for Jesus. i went to church w/out my parents. never needed a boyfriend and i never felt empty. i grew up and was takn care of me and my family. i had a covenet with god and tithed and all was well…it seems like a pretty picture but lets go bak to church every sunday morning b4 church w/my parents arguing as we’re getn ready, fighting yelling cursing and me jst turning on the radio to christian music to drown it out & remind them that we were christians. i’m the middle child of 5. it was hard. and lets not 4get the back sliding here &there w/mom and dad and the physical and verbal abuse. my parents were young. they didnt kno any better and the devil jst wants to destroy. then there is the the sexual abuse by the neighbor who went to my church. i blocked this out for awhile. but in all i stayed strong. im a free spirit and very adventurous. i moved away to Hawaii and met a man and thats when it all begins. the very strong independent god fearin beautiful Vanessa that was, was no more. i met a man and fell “in love” he tore me apart. destroyed me and broke me. he hurt me s much i thought i couldnt make it thru the nite he cheated and betrayed me. i tried to commit suicide and was in the icu for a few days! i hurt my family and was so selfish. i swore it wouldnt happen again. i fell but i got bak up like i always do. since i was 18 i have been working and supporting my family. i am in debt to my ears bcuz my dad got loans in my name. everything i do is for them and i get nothing frm them. my brother goes on drug n drinking binges n steals my car and money. my sister steals my valuables and pawns them and not 1 thank you just a remark about how selfish i am when i can’t give them money. all of my money went to pay our house when my dad got sick! he was sick for 5 yrs and we lost our house and thats when my family fell apart. my parents split up and my dad spent a year in the hospital! he almost left us 3 times. he had 4 feet of intestine removed, skin graphs and not to mention his stroke. all of this while i was with another man who ripped me apart too. betrayed me and used me and wasted me up! i was the only one of my family who would drive every weekend 4 hours to visit my dad! when he got out it was me who was there with my dad at that altar in our church! me by is side and he says that i am a very big reason of why he is still here. i played music for him i prayed with him sat there with him and sang to him! all while broken bcz of another betrayl by a man! i wanted to die again! but my dad said to fight bcuz if he’s fighting when he wanted to give up and die that i had to fight so i did, AGAIN! i got bak up like i always do. death has always been a big factor in my life from losing friends to family members. since i was 13 i have been trying to kill myself. ive skipped some parts but all i can say is that there was alot of pain. but i stay strong and even when i think i dont have anymore faith, there it is just shining thru. ive been down and out for the count and even now as i face some though things, financially, legally and with my family God is jst showing himself to me. he’s showing so much grace and mercy and forgivness its unbelievable and i sometimes feel so undeserving. as i look bak at my life and all the hurt and betrayl i see that God was always there. he never left me and he jst showed me how strong he is and how strong i am. all ive ever done my whole life was trust love forgive and give. never asked for anything. i always complained and asked “when wil it be my turn”?? when will someone do for me”? when will i be loved? when? when? when”? well that time is now! im strong and ready and i will not let the devil destroy me. i must be that much of a threat to him. so this is my story and i’m sticking to it and i to had a vision of something like this happening. that there would be a song written about my life a testimony for everyone to hear and know that God is real and he never leaves us and all we have to do is trust and keep our faith and pray. he’s right there man! all we have to do is reachout cuz he’s waiting! its so simple! jst lay our burdens down at the crss and let him fight our battles. because no weapon fromed against me shall prosper! i will not let that devil destroy me bcuz i am bought with the blood of Jesus! PRAISE GOD FOR MY LIFE MY FAMILY, LOVE AND FORGIVNESS!
Tue 2/3/10, 5:11 am
please see
http://diaryofayouthpastorswife.blogspot.com/
or
http://www.starfish4haiti.com/
for more information, but here is the short version….
It all starts and ends with James 1:27 which says “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Our family’s life was turned upside when God spoke to us through this verse about 6 years ago. Our journey down the adoption road began with this verse and God has built our family’s life’s work and ministry on that verse.
We first visited the island of Haiti in March 2005. I didn’t know if we would EVER recover from all the things God revealed to us during that trip. Our comfortable life was turned upside down by everything we saw and experienced there. Thankfully, we never did “get over” it… God began to change our entire life goals from that point on. After we saw what we saw with our own eyes, we were morally obligated to change and “recovery” was not an option. Princess Diana had it right when she said: “You can’t comfort the afflicted without afflicting the comfortable.” God changed our comfortable life forever during first precious those days we spent in Haiti. We realized that proof of our love for Christ was not best reflected in merely going to church, singing praise songs, going to bible study and prayer meetings, or teaching a Sunday school class (although those things are vitally important), but in genuinely loving and serving the sick, the poor, the weak, and the marginalized. I used to be able to ignore those statistics of extreme poverty but once the numbers have faces and stories associated with them… it haunted us. We began to feel a unique calling and burden for the Haitian people.
This calling has led us to adopt three precious Haitian orphans and our family is currently in the process of becoming full time missionaries to Haiti (prior to the recent earthquake).
Tue 2/3/10, 12:50 pm
When I was 3 my parents got divorced. He moved to New York. It’s been me and my mom for the past 13 years. I’ve been saved for 3 years… My dad always said he wanted to be in my life. I waited and waited for him but he never came. He’s supposed to be paying child support for us, but he was hiding so we never got that money. My aunt called us 2 years ago to tell us that my dad moved to Vegas in order to start over, which makes no sense considering he has a DRINKING and GAMBLING problem. He found a job and started paying child support again. I found his email address, got up the courage to email him. He said his famous line “Not a day going by that I’m not thinking of you.” I said “okay. Why haven’t you been in my life?” I’m 16 now, and haven’t seen him in about 8 years. I’ve been talking with my youth pastor about this, and he’s been helping me out. HE TOLD ME TO FIND THE POSITIVES IN EVERY SITUATION. I am still having such a hard time, but I just keep praying for God’s help. Inspite of all this (plus so much more with my brother, uncle, mom, friends and school), I know God is always there for me even when others aren’t. He will comfort me through my pain. He loves me and I hold on to the fact that He’s coming back and that’s enough for me.
Wed 3/3/10, 3:11 pm
And Then You Move
There have been days when the pain is too hard to bear,
When silence & sadness follows me everywhere
But that’s not because You haven’t called
I’ve looked to everyone but the Greatest of All
And then You move,
And show me You’re there,
Your grace & Your love,
Takes on my pain to bear.
You never have left,
You always are near,
It’s in my own strength,
these problems I try to bear.
And then You move,
And tell me so soft,
These problems of mine,
Jesus paid on the cross.
You gave us Your Son,
Who took all our sin,
He gave His own life,
In You true life begins.
Some days in this life,
the battle looks lost,
But then in that moment,
You show me the cross.
And Then You move,
And my heart grows still.
I feel Your sweet touch,
And see Your perfect will
That You have ordained,
And predestined our lives,
And it’s with Your mercy & love,
These days we’ll survive.
And then You move,
And show me this life,
To walk here in love,
And never in strife.
For when that day comes,
And You take us all home,
You’ll still be the One,
Sitting on the Throne.
And then my heart moves,
And my voice to You sing,
Abba Father,
You are the King of all Kings.
You have placed us here,
Only for a season,
To proclaim here on earth,
That You are the reason,
To live life in joy,
& trade in this sorrow,
And stay in Your Word,
And prepared for tomorrow.
So if I seem weary,
And the days seem so long,
It’s to You I’ll draw near,
And in You become strong.
Written by: Kristi Cole
December 3, 2008
I was having a day filled with much sorrow and heartache over the pain my brother and his wife were/are feeling over the loss of their son at 15 months old. It was a pain so intense that all I could do was cry. As those abundance of tears fell and my heart began to cry out to God, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I broke out my journal, and started to write. (And Then You Move). As I wrote, God pulled on my heart & told me, He was moving. He was/is working. He told me to trust in Him. Stay in His Word. Draw near to Him. Look for Him. He is with me every day. What an incredibly sensitive, caring, loving, nurturing, forgiving, patient God we serve. I am humbled & so thankful to be a child of His! Thank You Lord that even though I may not understand some things in life, You are always in control! May we find hope in Your word and may our soul’s be restored…may this fire refine us to become more and more like You. Thank You for the words of this song
Wed 3/3/10, 3:15 pm
Our Faithful God ~ Billy Graham
The amazing Billy Graham wrote a short note in a book I recently picked up regarding our prayers and God’s answers to them ~ excerpt from “God’s Love For You ~ Hope & Encouragement For Life” ~
“One of the most frequent questions people ask me concerns unanswered prayers. “God must be deaf,” someone bluntly wrote me. “My prayers never get above the ceiling,” another wrote. But GOD knows what is best for us, and we need to LEARN to TRUST HIM for the outcome. Sometimes God answers “Yes” when we ask Him for something. But sometimes His answer is “Not Yet”, or even “No”. And sometimes His answer is simply, “TRUST ME, EVEN IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND”.’
“Ruth’s father, Dr. Bell, always kept a list of people for whom he was praying. After his death Ruth found one of his prayer lists (“Mostly illegible”, she commented; “you know how doctors write”) On it was a specific concern about one of our children. Not until five years AFTER his death was that prayer answered ~ a VIVID reminder of God’s faithfulness in answering prayer according to HIS TIMETABLE, not ours”
(emphasis in above excerpt is mine)
I have a myriad of stories from my own life’s journey where God has indeed answered prayers according to His timetable. When I was 23 weeks along with the twins pregnancy and one of the twins was diagnosed with having a dilated ventricle in her brain and water/blood on her brain ~ we prayed and prayed!! Upon their arrival, which was a heart wrenching 9 weeks early, the situation in her brain increased in severity. While in the NICU in Plano, Texas we were counseled by different therapist on Little “M”‘s condition that would more than likely lead to cerebral palsy and her not being able to walk or talk.
Three months after they came home, we returned to Presbyterian Hospital in Plano Texas for a follow up scan on her little brain ~ a long 2 hour drive from where we were living at the time in Tyler. The drive there was painful to my heart. My sweet Little “M” did not respond like her twin to stimulation. She had the “lights out” look on her precious face since birth…a blank stare.
As we drove home, I found myself asking God “Why my baby”? We almost lost her twice in the NICU. Once we were told that we could lose her in the next 24 hours due to Necrotizing Entercolitis ~ a very serious and often deadly condition that preemies get. God answered our prayers and saved her life!!
As we continued our drive home we came upon a HORRIBLE storm. The sky turned black, the winds began to blow, blinding rain and hail the size of golf balls started to pummel the van. Just then the phone rang and it was Dr. Barret, our pediatrician in Tyler. The radiologist had called him with the results. They were amazed almost to the point of questioning if they had scanned the right twin. The dilation in her brain returned to normal and all traces of blood and water had resolved!!! It was/is a miracle.
SEVEN months….SEVEN LONG MONTHS after her diagnosis…God healed her. Today, she is a walking talking running joy filled two year old who seems to know the blessing God bestowed upon her and her precious life.
I want to remind them, as well as myself, that God hears our every prayer. He will carry each and every one of us through the valley. The Lord is our Shepherd!
~ Psalm 23 ~
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
God loves me. God loves you! We are HIS children. As parents, which one of us would not provide the absolute BEST for our children ~ would we settle to provide for them less? God wouldn’t either and though in the valley it can be hard to remember that….together we can encourage each other.
I love each and every one of you!!
In His Grip!!!!
Kristi
(For full post go to http://dkkmacole.blogspot.com/2009/12/our-faithful-god-billy-graham.html )
Wed 3/3/10, 3:49 pm
“The North Face of God” by Ken Gire…along with The Scriptures…this book carried me through a valley to the base of a mountain the size of Everest. The endless questions of why life has been so tough for the past four years consumed every part of my life. I couldn’t understand how a God that was a loving God was not answering my cries. I suffered two miscarriages….complications with twin pregnancy…premature birth of those miracles…the most tragic death of my nephew at 15 months old while in the church nursery….I wanted…I NEEDED….answers to “go on”…. His silence during that time…crippling. I felt abandoned by Him…I’m just being honest…but I did NOT understand how one person could continue to go through valley after valley while loving and serving God. Yes, I began to question with great intensity this Almighty Powerful Lord God whose Word says “I am near to the broken hearted”….”near” ….. I didn’t see Him “near”…. But something changed one day…. I stopped looking and started to listen….it was there….it was then that I felt the brush of His wings holding me ever so tightly to His chest. He knew that answers to the questions I had, would never make sense to me while I am on this earth. He was drawing me near and holding me….holding me and protecting me. His Word clearly states that while we are on this earth, we will suffer many hardships, but His promise to be with us and never leave us is what we have to hold on to. Letting go…it’s hard to do….but every shard of my life and my heart, He is using for His glory….He is gently placing them just as He wants them to be…so that being a vessel for Him in drawing those who have hurt into the only Love that can heal…the balm of His love….there is no other….nothing can restore what the enemy has tried to break other than God….look at my life….I promise, He is there…and He cares….His love abounds in us everywhere…there isn’t a moment there isn’t a time…when He isn’t holding you “He says ‘You are Mine”…. So when the clouds roll in and the days seem dark…when you wonder what to do to mend a heart…look to His promises, look to his ways…Live in His timeline and do all that He says….I promise in time, the restoration begins…but completion only comes, when He calls us to Him.
I still ache with pain too deep for words to express….but I cling, minute by minute right now to Him, who in all ways makes things right….I will not let the devil take my faith, hope, and strength in God away….til my death…I will fight the good fight until I see the face of my Savior….
Kristi Rhodes Cole
Wed 3/3/10, 8:52 pm
Tonight I am just sitting in awe of my Savior and the truly amazing grace that He gives us. I have carried a huge load of resentment, hatred and rage toward my uncle since I was a child. He was always full of anger and bitterness and poisoned the relationships with everyone he came in contact with. He abused me and several others in my generation. His daughter, my cousin, grew up in our home and I consider her my sister. For years I struggled with addictions, depression and did anything I could to not feel the pain in my heart. I’ve now been sober for 18 months, and have been working the program of recovery, asking God to relieve me of the bondage of myself and my past.
My sister called me yesterday to tell me that my uncle was in intensive care, and she was trying to get in touch with our mom. She said, “I know you don’t care,” but I realized that I do care. I had only compassion for him. All the rage, all the hate, all the resentment was gone. I don’t know when it was taken from me, and I didn’t ask for it to be taken, but it is gone. Today, when she told me that he had died overnight, I felt peace. I could comfort her, and truly have mercy in my heart for this man who had caused such pain.
I will be singing for his funeral service on Saturday, and I know that this is ONLY through God’s amazing love and grace that I could feel this peace and be able to forgive.
Fri 5/3/10, 4:06 am
Dear Matthew,
I originally submitted this in another comments section, not quite knowing where the story submissions belonged.
My name is Glenda. I am the Mom of two beautiful children. My 20-year-old son, Aaron, is a junior at GA Tech, and is currently the President of Campus Crusade for Christ there. My 23-year-old daughter, Rebecca, was born with a form of Trisomy 13 (Patau Syndrome). Rebecca has been used of God to teach us, to ‘grow’ us; but, mostly, to bring us joy! Joy in the small things, an incredible capacity to forgive, and total trust in God are her strongest traits. Rebecca has had surgeries (major skull surgery, eye muscle surgery, and foot surgery). She is developmentally delayed but not nearly to the degree doctors would have almost surely predicted if I had allowed all of the prenatal testing available even 23 years ago. The prognosis given, most often, for parents carrying a child with any form of Patau Syndrome (even now) is “no hope” or “incompatible with life. The most frequent recommendation is abortion or early induction (delivery before the child can live outside of the womb). A visit to the website on which Rebecca’s story is shared (www.livingwithtrisomy13.org) shows that the almost 100 children on the Children and Adults Living With Trisomy 13 album are very compatible with life! Another album, called ‘Treasured Memories’ honors those children who came into their families’ lives (many lived brief earthly lives but some, much longer) and left an indelible memory, changed perspectives, an awareness that all children are truly a gift and are meant to be embraced, learned from, treasured!
Rebecca, though she can read and write, is still very much a little girl in most ways but has begun, over the past several years, to “blow me away” with her perspective on the things that really matter. As my sister, Gail, says, “Rebecca is developmentally delayed but spiritually astute.”
Rebecca loves praise and worship at church and knows every word of all but the newest choruses. I’ve asked her a few times what her favorite songs were and, as a result, had my eyes more fully opened as to what she truly understands. Her first choice was, “My life is in You, LORD. MY hope is in You, LORD. My strength is in You, LORD, in You, it’s in You!” Her most recent choice was one which says, “LORD, I offer my life to You. Everything I’ve been through, use it for Your glory. LORD, I offer my days to You, lifting my praise to You as a pleasing sacrifice. LORD, I offer You my life!”
The LORD gave me a song about Rebecca several years ago. May God use these stories to bless You with many songs with which to bless Him and others!
Warmest regards,
Glenda Parkman
Sat 6/3/10, 2:13 pm
Your song “Save a place for me” has impacted my life beyond imagination. April 7, 2007 my famliy’s lives changed forever. That was the day Megan,our youngest daughter, left this world and went to her Eternal home with Jesus. She was home at the ranch for Easter break and brought 2 friends with her from Trinity Bible College. The next day Megan was supposed to sing at church (Easter Sunday) Megan LIVED her christian walk,she was a leader in absolutely everything she did whether it was in church, work, atheletics, or even family. In her prayer journals she was continually praying for family, friends, teachers, pastors and her desire to know Christ more intimately.The hole she left in our lives is HUGE. Megan was my steel that sharpened me and encouraged my walk daily.Your song is my heart poured out in word. I hope we (my wife and I) will be able to meetyou as we’re planning to attend the concert in Spearfish, SD in April. I pray God’s inspiration on you as you go to the “cabin”.
Sat 6/3/10, 5:48 pm
It’s a quiet night as I sit here alone. The kids are still with Daddy and don’t get home until tomorrow. Then it will be four days of laughter giggles tears and screams….and I will love every moment of it. But right now, I sit here alone. Alone because the impact of this world was stronger than our faith in God, our faith in each other, and influences by extended family chipped away and pulled us apart. Monday, March 8 at 10:00 a.m. we appear before the judge….but I believe and serve a God that is mighty in His ways and I am praying and believing in a miracle. This house should be filled with laughter and love. This house should be filled with the five of us together as a family….but we are divided and that is just what the enemy wants. It’s been a tough 3 years for us ~ but by the grace and mercy of God, we traveled through every valley….and tonight, tonight I believe because I chose, that He can restore that which has been taken. It’s quiet here tonight and I don’t like it. Lord God, Jehovah Jireh, work in Your mighty ways
Sat 6/3/10, 5:51 pm
P.S. What seems to go not understood by so many is that…this choice to divorce… it doesn’t just impact “us”…. but the legacy for our children…it will be part of their story and I just don’t want to put their precious hearts through that!
Sun 7/3/10, 1:54 am
your song”save a place for me”is very beautiful song.you reminds me how Good is our GOD.you know what when i accept our Lord Jesus Christ in my heart many things have change in my life..I always happy to follow the will of GOD.and i am always available to serve him.now,i am happily married with the man who also follow our Lord Jesus Christ.more power to you and more good health to your family.God Bless you always!!
Fri 12/3/10, 2:37 pm
i am 30 yrs. old. Let me start by saying I am madly in love with Jesus, but I was raised in a satanic home. My parents raised my brother and I to believe in Satan and not God. On the weekends we would have to attend satanic rituals and meetings where I would be horribly abused and physically hurt. I am now away from all of that but they continue to follow me around and try to attack me and kill me. I put my life on the line when I became a Christian but to me Jesus gave His life for me that is the least I can do for Him. Everything I have seen and been through and around is totally worth it all because now I can share my life with others that might need to be encouraged. God Bless
Mon 15/3/10, 8:06 pm
Hey Matthew. I tred to submit a story before entering your site and i don’t think it posted.
I have attached a part of the rough draft of a chapter of my testimony that Im working on.
As a child I was homeless ( well we lived in a tent), I was left with an abusive grandmother, molested, called names, and tried to commit suicide. I was also taken to sunday school every sunday and introduced to Jesus. It was only because of jesus that I am alive today. The beatings stopped when I became strong enough to fight.
When I was 15 I dropped out of school. I sat and listened to Christian radio and read my bible for 6 months. I later worked for the same station. Making enough money, I bought a ticket to see MWS who encouraged me to go back to school. I did.
At 18 I graduated from college, but found myself pregnant. I could not go home to endure being called a whore. I had nowhere to go. I was lost and desperate so I had an abortion. That was a major changing point in my life. I didn’t want to live anymore. I felt like I had done the most unforgiveable thing. I had killed. I felt like God was no longer with me. I was on my own and could not confide in anyone for fear of being judged as unworthy as I was. It was not until I was 39 that I discovered that God still loved me. It was not until I had been married for 10 years, and being left for another woman ( I believe because I was not able to love anyone) that I learned what Love was. It was not for many years after when I joined a abortion recovery group at my church that I learned that I, yes even I, could be forgiven. I could open the flood gates and finally cry. I could finally be who God wanted me to be. I can finally say with all my heart ‘ here I am. whatever is left of me. use me.’
Testimony: by Kim Grady
excerpt from my book Im writing
Chapter 1
RUNNING
I am not a runner. Though it would do me some good, physically, running is very uncomfortable. I even own “ The complete book of running”, but I never caught onto it. Hiking, on the other hand, is a challenge. It used to be that the steeper the hill, the better the challenge, now, I enjoy looking at nature and breathing the fresh air.
At one time, running, however, was my coping mechanism. It still is sometimes. Running was my escape from situations in life that I could not deal with.
“ Kim! Get in here!” My grandmother would yell.
At that, I knew I must have done something wrong, like, in this case, walking on her unfinished plywood floors with my dirty cowboy boots. I didn’t want to answer. I wanted to run and hide, but I knew that if she had to look for me, it would be worse.
I went into the room and faced the woman I loved and hated.
It always started off with her yelling at me about my offense, and then I would get a swat several times on the bottom. The problem was that I had, by that point, been spanked several times a day for a long time and it simply didn’t hurt anymore. On that day, as others, something inside her snapped. Before then, when she would snap, she would take a belt or a switch (a young flexible stick) to me, if that didn’t hurt, she would use the metal buckle end on my bottom. Later on, she moved to hitting the back of my legs. That day, she grabbed a rusty wire hanger out of the closet and began hitting me across the back of the legs.
If you have never been hit with a wire hanger, it isn’t fun. As the hanger pushes in to the skin, the rust grabs a hold of the outer layer and pulls. Let’s just say that it is extremely painful, especially to a seven year old girl.
“ Help! Anyone! Please! Help me!” I screamed, hoping that someone would have wandered onto our isolated farm and would rush in to save me, but my crying out only made her more furious. The blows came harder and faster, striking wherever they landed.
“ Shut up or I’ll give you more!”
I backed into the corner of an unfinished plywood closet and sat down, pulling my knees to my chest and putting my arms over my face. The hanger began to dig into the top of my head, neck, arms, back and legs.
Then it happened. I gave up all my will to fight and I stopped crying for help. I could no longer feel the pain. The screams of rage began to fade away into the distance as I began to feel like I was floating into a white room. I could see myself being beaten in a corner, I could hear the screams of rage, “get up or I’ll give you another one! Get up you brat“, but I felt nothing.
And then the screaming stopped. Everything went silent.
I peered out from under my arms. She had a look of terror in her face, like the look someone might give if they thought in their rage that they killed their granddaughter. “ You’d better get out of here before I give you another’ she growled at me.
A burst of energy filled my body, and I bolted from the closet, dodging her attempts to strike me again. I ran as fast as I could, out of the door and down the trail toward the river. Then I dodged to the left into some old growth cedar trees to my hiding place.
My hiding place was an old growth tree that had fallen and broken into the shape of c. Giant ferns grew from and around the log, enclosing my shelter from the outside world. In that place, I would collapse on the ground in a fetal position. “ Please God!” I would sob, “ Take me to heaven to be with you! I can’t take this anymore! Let me die, NOW!”
I was during those times that I would feel God, lying behind me like a father holding an injured child. “ Not now.” A small voice would whisper, “ I have something great for you to do.”
“ Please, God! Please! Take my life! I don’t want to live anymore!”
“ Not now.”
A peace came over me as I cried myself out. Then I simply hid there quietly, watching the bugs wander through the rich soil in my hiding place.
The beatings did not stop for a long time. When I became too strong for my grandmother, my uncle took over that task.
As hard it was to relay the story to you, (floods of emotions came back as if it were yesterday instead of 33 years ago) I know that was a day that God cried with me. He saved me from the death I would have sought out, had he not been there. I am positive, like so many children today; I would have committed suicide had someone not told me about Jesus.
Yes, questions run through my head sometimes:
Why didn’t God stop it?
Why did I have to go through that?
How can a woman, who was a missionary to Columbia (and therefore a Christian) do that?
Was I really that bad?
First let me say that MY GOD is the creator of the Universe. He is the one who separated light from darkness. He set the stars in place. He was the one who prepared a hiding place for me, and He was the one who comforted me. I don’t blame God at all.
These are questions that develop from not accepting that God is God and he has given us the right to think and do as we wish. What people do not think about is how our actions affect others. That doesn’t make the beatings right, I am in no way condoning that, it just makes them so.
It’s what we, ourselves, do with the consequences of their actions on us that makes a difference. It’s where we run for comfort, and to be healed, that determines whose voice we will hear.
Over the years I have run to many gods. I have run to sex, smoking, cussing, and burying my head in music, but only one God has ever comforted and healed me, as when I was a child and teenager, laying in the fetal position, sobbing and begging for death until my tears ran dry.
Sometimes, when I get to garden, it reminds me of the smell of that hiding place that God prepared for me decades and possibly a century before I needed it.
When there seems to be no hope, God has, prepared a place for you to be alone with Him. He will comfort you. He is faithful that way. Run as fast as you can to Him.
Wed 17/3/10, 1:29 pm
My dad died when I was in the third grade. Since then, things have seemed to go wrong. But I have seen many things. My life is about faith. Faith that no matter what happens, God will guide my path and provide for my mom and me. But I still can’t help but wonder what God has in store for me. What am I meant to do? Why am I here? Those are the questions that cross my mind many times. But still I know I have to have faith that God will see me through to tomorrow. A friend of mine died recently; he was 13 years old. It could happen to anyone. It felt like a dream, still does. But I remind myself that he’ll be in heaven. My mom, my mom broke her back when she was in high school or something. But God healed it; the only proof that it was broken was burnt in a fire. Another thing I’ve seen is a gas gauge rise from empty to full. Even once, the printer was empty, so my mom took out the ink cartridge, shook it and then prayed. She put it back in and the computer said it was full. Sometimes I find myself hungry, but I know that I’ll have a meal sooner or later. God does provide for me and my mom. He has for the past 15 almost 16 years. Like I said before, my life is about faith, faith in God. Although every day gets harder. But praise the LORD, Jesus will return and take us home. So lets share our faith with others. Hallujah, let’s spread God’s love.
Wed 17/3/10, 1:31 pm
Btw I love your music. When there is song that I like, I memorize it. That’s why I’ve had people say to me how I know so many songs. But I just love to sing…
Wed 17/3/10, 6:48 pm
Hey Matthew…I also submitted my story/song, and think it went through, but I’m not really sure? I tried to chop things down to make it under 250 words, but when it submitted, I did not see a word count…so, I don’t know, but just wanted to make you sure have a chance to check it out. What you’re doing w/this album is so cool, as everyone has a story, testimony, or defining life moment that’s truly worth sharing – especially as belivers! May God continue to pour out His blessings and favor on your ministry, and on your songs. In Jesus’ Name – Amen : )
Thanks so much for your time, and I do apologize if my song/story is now posted in both places! In Christ, Kathi Holman
(V 1)
I wasn’t saved at an early age, but learned of the price Jesus had paid
4 all mankind, thru The Father, but searching 4 more, I didn’t bother.
I knew the story, but not the cost, which is why I know, I was lost.
(Ch 1)
I wasn’t serving, & felt undeserving, of all God had 2 give,
Just did my best, & forgot the rest, as I had a life 2 live.
(V 2)
Mom in heaven, when I was just 21, I ran back 2 church in search of God’s Son.
I felt comfort & peace, 4 almost a year, then was back in the world w/guilt & fear.
The knowledge of God was there in my head, but somehow my heart, couldn’t B lead to The Lord.
(Ch 1)
(V 3)
Then 1 day, I met a special man, the reason we met, was part of God’s plan.
An addict w/a brain, & a good heart, trying 2 give himself a new start.
He knew he couldn’t do it, all on his own, I offered my help; he wouldn’t B alone.
(B 1)
Recovery, books, meetings & plans, things people don’t often understand.
His request 4 me 2 go 2 church w/him, blew thru my mind like a rushing wind…
A mighty, rushing wind.
(Ch 2 mod)
“ “ – of all God had 4 me,
So I did my best to pass this test, of helping someone else 2 B free.
(V 4)
2gether we went 2 church the next week; feeling so out of place, I could hardly speak.
But the music was good; it touched my soul, so I opened my mind, & let it roll.
The message was preached in a way that was new, my friend got saved; what was I 2 do?
(Ch 2)
(V 5)
My friend was on fire w/God in his heart, in fact he’d made himself a new start!
He asked me 2 go back 2 church again; I had 2 go, I was his friend.
By the 3rd time we went, my hand was raised, by the grace of God, I was saved!
(Ch 3 mod)
I then began serving, but was still undeserving of all God had 4 me,
I’d passed the test & was doing my best; I knew God’s grace had set me free!
(V 6)
His recovery didn’t last very long, yet I found myself serving in song.
The news of his passing just blew my mind, but I knew God’s healing would come in time.
My heart was broken 4 family & friends, but I knew inside, this wasn’t the end.
I asked God 4 comfort, a sign from above; He showed me much more, than only His love.
I dropped 2 my knees on the grass that nite, & a shooting star told me Al was alright.
His name was written in The Lamb’s Book of Life; no more pain, no more strife.
(Ch 4 mod)
2day I’m still serving, yet am undeserving, of all God has in store-
My friend in need, was a God planted seed, which keeps me searching 4 more-
(B 2)
More knowledge, wisdom, His will & His plan, things people often don’t understand.
God is good, Al was there 4 a reason, even tho it was just 4 a season…
Thank U Al, Thank U Jesus, Amen (3x)
Wed 17/3/10, 7:02 pm
Okay…just figured out how to check the word count on my song/story, and it was 566 words – guess I went over by QUITE a bit! Sorry about that – I pray that doesn’t disqualify my submission! I really should’ve figured that out before I submitted it. Perhaps I will try and revise it to 250 words, and re-submitt, so I’ll have a better chance of you actually reading it.
Blessings from a Christian who loves to sing/write, and just serve The Lord!
PSALM 108:1 My heart is steadfast in you, O’ God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Thu 18/3/10, 8:05 pm
whoo boy. I missed the word count part. Ill try again.
Tue 23/3/10, 5:12 pm
I wrote u a story but I dont know if I did it too late. I hope that u get it anyways. I ned prayer for what I wrote to u about please pray for me and please email me if you get this message
Thu 25/3/10, 8:35 am
Not my story, but my husband. He is an unbelievable husband and father to our two girls. He is 34 years old. He had brain and spinal surgeries in 1996 for Syringomyelia (This is a disease that deterates his spinal cord over the years and he has chronic pain.) and Chiari Malformation (birth defect). We were just engaged when he had these surgeries. We married in 1998. We’ve had four children and two were miscarriages (can’t wait to meet them in Heaven!). Our girls are 8 and 11, now. They love their daddy. He takes them on Father/Daughter dates and hunting. Well back to my husband, he was diagnosed with rare agressive cancer in 2006. That was hard to take, Why Lord? But God saw him through every step of the way!!! People around the world were praying for my husband, we received over $14,000 ( I stay at home and we never worried about money, we even paid off a credit card.) Our friends and family helped out with our girls. I never knew what God had instore for my husband but I’m sure glad he still had plans for him :O). God is in control! My husband is the best. He brought me flowers the other day just because(and they were in a vase). I love him but I know he loves me more, when he steps out of bed every morning and goes to work. Cancer brought us back to God and each other. :O) I tried to submit on the other page and could not tell if you received it.
Sun 28/3/10, 5:52 pm
Your offer for people to share stories for your inspiration touched me to share my heart with a submission on your blog. Thank you for the opportunity; I know in my mother’s heart, one day my story will provide hope for other parents while bringing all the glory to Christ Jesus, who held us completely through it all!
Eastridge Church, Seattle is now on our list of places to visit while we’re in Seattle this June!
I thank you Matthew West!
Mon 29/3/10, 12:37 pm
This is only a part of my story in the life in which our Father has allowed me to live during this earth time…a story of love, seperation, divorce, reconcilliation, hate, revenge, back to love, hope and faith.
Marrying my husband, both of us twenty. The foundation in which I believed was built on the rock.
Saving myself for my soulmate, finally being with my best friend.
Little did I know the heartbrake this young man would bring to me…
Little did I understand the profound lesson in which God was teaching me…
He left me for all the wrongs I have..
begging like a dog for him to stay,
humiliated, my heart broken and crushed..his words full of anger and hate.
crying everyday, not sleeping at night what did I do wrong how can I make this right?
in a haze trying to see the light, hold on don’t give up, love never fails is what kept me going throught the night.
a phone call from a friend who had heard what he was doing, said Alissa let go, move on you need to divorce him.
he was with other women, my heart again shattered..a man that I love is in bed with another.
God reminded me of the love He has for us…we turn our backs on Him, the way my husband did to me.
He divorced His people (isreal) and through Christ they are reconciled…His love never ends/fails.
To experience what God experiences when humans don’t love him in return was a lesson I willl always treasure.
In Christ we have a new life and our love is not what the wolrd teaches nor does the world understand…
but my old nature was taking over me..
going out meeting other men, drinking, crying, all the bagge I carried w/ me.
I got papers to divorce, my x husband (in my mind I was no longer married to him),
after 4 mths. we meet up to sign and say goodbye, I forgive you, this is a lesson for you to learn…
He was crying and looked horrible yet I was confident and finally to him beautiful…
He didn’t want to do it…the damage had been done..I said sorry I’m done, it is time for you to fight if this is what you want.
We got back together my head not on right but holding on to God’s words, my far away light.
I got pregnant, we chose to work it out
BUT little did I know all the hate that would come out.
I hated him, sought revenge, looked right through him wanted our marriage to end (again).
Back to drinking going out w/ friends, the hurt we continued to cause eachother.
Everyone wants marriages to work and everyone loves to see a broken marriage brought together again..But no one tells you how hard it is to mend and heal from a wound that went so deep. I din’t have the tools to handle so I chose to drink and escape into my mind..dreaming and wanting another..the what ifs haunting me.
Went back to church because God brought a beautiful, non judging Christian women into my life and through her actions I was able to see how God can guide and direct to true healing. 12 years, 2 mor kids later God is healing our marriage..it is still hard but I cont. to go to my beautiful, loving Creator, Abba!!!
There is so much more to write about the healing process and all that God has done and continues to do..my old nature gets in the way all the time but God is always w/ us..wanting to heal and love us more everyday…that we may be a vessel to the unlovable (even if it is our spouse). Showing the world His love though our honest lives and not mouths.
Mon 29/3/10, 1:03 pm
I am just excited to have the opportunity for my testimony to be an inspiration to a song that could potentially inspire millions of people to come to know the most loving Christ that saves and cares for all who believe and even for those who dont! Just knowing that you are doing something like this gives all Christians hope that more people will see the true love that our God gives everyday and the true power of forgiveness! Though we are not worthy to be forgiven for some of the things we have done, we can stand firmly on the promise that God gave us to cast all our sins in the Sea of Forgetfulness never to be remembered again! And I can’t wait to stand in front of my God and have him open the Book of Eternal Life and read off my name! Though I made mistakes and sometimes still do…I know that the God I serve has forgiven me for them and loves me jsut the same as He did years ago when I fell so far away from Him!! I love all my brothers and sisters in Christ and wish that you all be Blessed as I have been!!! God Bless!!!
Mon 29/3/10, 8:29 pm
My whole life has been effected by drug use. I grew up without a father because he was murdered as a result of his addiction. Because i saw, first hand, the pain it caused, i began to resent anyone who had an intrest in drugs, because in my mind they choose this pleasure over their family. At the age of 13, i began to fall into alcohol. After a year of partying and seeing the distruction that was begining to repeat itself, i began to attend church. At 15 years old, Albany Community Church changed my life. Before we had an actual youth group, all the young people from church agreed to go on a trip (YWAM) in Tyler, TX. At the last minute a guy named Samuel Jennings decided to go. Through out the trip i fell in love with him. Come to find out he was my best friends cousin. My best friend Taylor’s family was the only family i’d ever felt truley accepted in, for once i felt like comone cared. Samuel and I began dating, but after 3 months he hid from everyone. Four months of praying everyday for him to come back, i recived a message saying he was sorry he couldn’t be around. I soon found out it was because he was a user. One saterday night i cried myself to sleep begging God to bring him back to sobriety, and the next morning i found Samuel sitting in the third row at church. That day he checked himself into rehab, and soon afterward got saved. He’s fallen since then, but so have i. Our church focuses on helping those with addictions. I once had a narrow outlook upon people who did drugs, but now i see, everyone pushes them away. If we don’t help them who will because they certaintly can not reach sobriety alone. My boyfriend was once a user. My father was absent throughout my life because he was a user. My best friends are in the rehab center next door to the church, because they were once users. I couldn’t ask for a better life. I have a 4.0, i run track, cross country, and also dance. I have a job, and at the age of 16 i’ve been through more then most, but i couldn’t be more content with my life. God has truley blessed me.
Thu 1/4/10, 12:33 pm
I am humbled to enter anything of mine for this, but the first song I ever wrote was in 1989 and it was about my life. I was a bus kid. Every Saturday the bus worker came by the two-bedroom grey block house with the cement floors and gave me a piece of bubble gum and a bus bulletin and invited me to come to church. One weekend, they were giving out goldfish, so in a kinda-sorta way I tell people I was “saved through a goldfish, but I was really saved through Jesus.”
I went by myself all those years of my childhood to church. I’d ask Daddy to go, but he would make excuses. He was a good man, but not a church-goer. Every week in children’s church they would ask if we wanted to request a prayer for somebody and I would raise my little hand and say, “Pray for my Daddy, he’s lost.”
Well, the Lord saved my mother during my teenage years, but she never would really attend chuch either as she had a group phobia.
Finally, after I had been grown and gone for years, Daddy started going to church. After my mother’s death, I saw Daddy baptized. Now my Daddy is the strongest Christian I know. He’s 71 years old now and going strong.
Please pray that something could happen with this song. I used to sing it in church a lot and I know it is special because GOD gave it to me.
Thu 1/4/10, 6:08 pm
just wanted to say that when the rain falls and the ice covers all, it’s just another beautifull day in every heart that the Lord has saved.
Sun 4/4/10, 7:58 pm
This is the story of how i met one of my best friends: Hailey Russell. It all began in November. I am homeschooled, but I went to a private Christian school last year, and made a lot of good friends, but I didnt have time to play tennis, which is what I do. Well, over Thanksgiving break, I had hoped I would get to see some of my friends, but I didnt. Well, a week earlier, I had gotten into this amazing tv show, a 50 episode series, so after dinner on Thanksgiving, I decided to go become a fan of it on facebook, even though I had only seen like 8 of the 50 episodes; in other words, not the best of ideas. Well, I was reading through some discussions, and this one girl basically spoiled one of the biggest plot-twists in the entire series. So I was devastated, in a way, but decided she had might as well spoil the rest for me. So I email, and ask her a couple of questions, and then thought of all the “bad people” on facebook, and added that I simply wanted the questions answered. Well, she said, “I dont care lol,” and sent me a friend request. Well, we started talking a lot, and we disvoerved we had a lot in common. We probably talked about 2-3 hours a day. There was only one problem: she went to a bording school(UNCSA) in Winston-Salem, NC. Well, eventually her parents, who live Wilmington I think, found out and made her delete our connection. Well, we talked on Gmail after that. However, from February 16-March 17, we didnt talk at all. I was devastated to say the least. Even though I knew that this friendship was so coincidental and so great that it had to be “orchestrated” by God, I started to doubt Him. I cried a lot, I was very depressed, and I just was going down a very bad path. Well, one night, at bible study, whatever we talked about was very encouraging, and I just had like a change of heart. As usual, God helped me realize something: that He loved me, and that He had blessed me with this great friend, and that in the end, I could trust Him to make it better. Well, the next Wednesday, after tennis practice, I was laying in my room, and I just suddenly thought, it wont be too long until i talk to her again. Well, sure enough, my best friend who was one of the few who knew about her, called me and said, “What would be the best thing I could tell you?” And it was that hailey was on. And I was so happy, I thought I was going to cry. I just felt like praising God all night long if I could have. It was definately a life changing eperience. I feel like He reached out to me when I was so depressed and just whispered in my ear “Dont for get about Me” or something like that. Becaue we all do fall down a path like that sometime, in different ways. And we have to remember that God is indeed watching over us, and that He loves us. And with such a friendship as this one, it really should prove for anyone that there are no coincidences in life, and that God has a plan for us all. The verse Jeremiah 29: 11is definately one of the best ones of this : For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you not to harm you. Plans for your future and growth. Well, this is most definately one of the most life changing eperiences that I have had, and I really hope you could put it into a song. It seems impossible from my viewpoint, but then again, nothing is impossible through God is it!
I havent really listened to many of your songs, but I am about to. When I heard about this, I was skeptical at first, but then I felt like I had to at least try, so others, if even just you, could further see the glory and wonders and miracles of God. All I really want is to hear this story in the form of a song. Im sure I would cry, but only because hailey means so much to me. In any case, thanks for reading, I hope I did this right haha, and Ill be praying that maybe something will come out of this, and for you as well as you are writing these songs and expressing the people’s experiences, and I will be sure to buy the album whenever it comes out. Thanks, and my God go with you!!! 
Sat 10/4/10, 1:49 pm
I want to summit the story of my mom. She is a magnificent woman in my life, and seeing her life and struggles has brought me closer to the Lord. My mom has always had health issues ever since she was young. As a child she was molested and saw younger siblings be sexually abused. When she was in her mid thirties she became pregnant with my twin brothers after already having five young children. She went into labor early and had a allergic reaction to the medicine the doctor put her on to keep her from going into labor. Her mouth swelled up and she could barely breath. It became so bad that the doctor told my dad he would have to choose my mom or the twins. Our doctor was a Christian and prayed by her side night and day during the whole process and she came out of it healthy and my brothers are now 16 and healthy, athletic, and very smart boys. When my mom was in her upper forties she found out she was a diabetic. When the doctor found this out, she should have been in a diabetic coma and somehow she was still her busy self raising seven children. She has been struggling with this for several years now however still strong. A few years after, she was losing blood and the doctors thought she had cancer. They had found a spot and told her she would have to be tested. However after a lot of prayer and faith, she went in for another check up that showed up perfect. It showed she was not losing blood and there was no spot. The doctors to this day still don’t understand how the results has changed, but we knew. It was God! This past summer at age 53, she found she would have to have open heart surgery. She had a heartattack sometime in the past, but did not know. I’m telling you my mom was a strong woman! I don’t know how she kept going, but she did. After having open heart surgery she has been in and out of the hospital several times. She is now scared to go back because she never knows when they will put her back in for yet another surgery. She has some rear disease that causes her to have several blockages and clots. She is a small woman around 5 ft tall, but she is mighty. She is the strongest woman I know and will not give up the fight! She trusts in the Lord and my trust and faith in the Lord has grown more than ever watching everything she has been through and knowing that she can still keep going! She still cooks big family meals for us and enjoys time with her children and grandchildren which she just became a grandma to three in the past year and a half! There is so many more stories I could tell about seeing the Lord work miracles in my mom and my family that I would love to share but can’t due to length. I do want you to know that my mom was a stay at home mom with seven children and only worked around holidays and only in the evenings when my dad could be home with us. She is currently looking for a job or trying for disability due to her doctor bills, but physically probably could not do it. I would appreciate prayers and believing in another miracle to heal her from this disease. They say she is a fifty three year old woman in a eighty year old woman’s body! Trust me she does not show her pain or hurt and she does not give up! Thanks for listening to the story of my mom and for prayers
Sun 11/4/10, 7:13 pm
I was sexually abused when I was young. One would think I am bitter, depressed, suicidal, and full of rage… and I was all of those things. I turned to drugs to numb the pain. I trudged through life, seeing counselors and attending 12 step meetings. I always felt within myself a stubborn determination to rise above my circumstances. I believe it was God alone Who instilled that characteristic in me. I became emotionally disabled due to the guilt and shame I felt, and I hit rock bottom. I cried out to God, Who reached down from Heaven and snatched me from the clutches of the enemy (I have a vivid picture of that image in my mind). I sought a Christian counselor who said something I’ll never forget – she said “all of the counseling you’ve had all your life has kept you alive, but you’ll never truly heal without Jesus”. I surrendered to Him, and am finally and forever free from the bondage of my past. Soon I will launch a healing ministry in my church. I know the God who loves us would never have allowed me to go through something so horrific without using it for my good. Now I can use it for His glory. These days I am honored to have experienced what I did so I can help others. I believe Jesus wants to heal us of the strongholds that keep us apart from Him so He can use us for His purpose.
Mon 12/4/10, 4:02 am
Toni,
My name is Glenda, and I was very moved by your story. I was just sitting here after reading it, and I believe that God gave me the following song for you.
Healed for His purposes
All of my pain used for His Glory
Freedom from everything Satan had
Purposed to keep me from God.
LORD, You are life to me
Only in You can I truly be free.
Loved by the Savior
All of my sins forgiven by Jesus
Freedom for everything my loving Father
Has planned for my life.
LORD, You are life to me
Only in You can I truly be free.
Mon 12/4/10, 4:40 pm
I was sexually abused and neglected as child but I have joy and peace now because of Jesus! My brother and I dreaded the mile walk home after school everyday but not because of the distance but because we knew after that walk we would be greeted by abuse. Which one of us would it be? We wondered but never spoke of it out loud. He always smelled like beer. And where was my mom? Who knows? PTA meeting or still working? She thought she was doing the best for us. Sometimes the abuse would happen at night and I’d pretend to sleep through it. I felt so alone and scared. Why didn’t my mom do anything I wondered. Is this normal? Even as a small child I knew it wasn’t right. My mother gave birth to my second sister. She brought joy to our family. The abuse stopped for awhile but soon returned after my beautiful baby sister died of SIDS. Everyone cried, I didn’t. Even as a small child I knew God held her in his arms and she was safe there. My brother lead me to the truth. He brought me with him to a church around the corner and every Sunday I found it to be a safe and peaceful place. I began to call on Jesus as my Heavenly Father. And still do! Being my Father on Earth and He is in Heaven really holds true. He is my Father. I find a safe place in Him and know he will never abandon me. My bio dad gave up his rights to me when I was 2 and my step dad sexually abused me for 5 1/2 years until I had the strength to say something. After my step dad’s conviction he went to jail a few years and I thought things would get better. The abuse stopped but my mom was left to support 3 children on her own. We moved from our house to an apartment. I remember feeling hungry a lot of the time at school and having to dig through piles of dirty clothes looking for something to wear then next day. I don’t remember my mom ever serving us a homemade meal. We ate whatever we could find in the fridge. Lots of Top Ramon and cereal. My mom stayed in touch with my step dad in jail. We went with her to visit a couple of times. Soon he got probation and eventually moved back in with us. I felt like my mother had choose him over her own children. My heart was broken again. I felt like my hands were tied and there was nothing I could do. By this time I was starting Jr. High. My step dad and I would fight often and it would get physical at times. I had so much anger I wanted him to die. I just didn’t understand how God could let me go through all of this. I kept saying Why Me? Finally I got my answer, why not you? I realized then that I was not alone and dealing with all of my pain and anger drew me closer to God. During my first year of Jr. high I made lots of friends for the first time and became active in my church youth group. I was happy and had hope for my future. I knew that even though my abuser still lived with me I was protected by God. I especially enjoyed youth group and church summer camp. That’s where I accepted Christ as my Savior. My life would never be the same. I trusted in God and knew it was only temporary. I always saw my life as two chapters. First being a child where you can’t control what’s occurring around you and second as an adult. I can now choose to have a life of happiness and peace. I believe that trusting in God all these years has turned into one blessing after another. I found my bio dad by chance some would say. The newspaper came to my mom’s work and needed the name of a boy in her class for their story. The newspaper man called and left a message for my mom to call her back. I rewrote the number he had give me on a clean piece of paper and accidentally read one of my numbers wrong leading me to write my bio dad’s number. By chance the reporter and him shared the same name. Is it by chance or God’s grace:) I have reconnected with him and have met his parents and brother and sister. I still keep in contact with then often. I am happily married to an amazing man. He has stood by my side and was there when I met my bio dad for the first time. We have been blessed with 4 beautiful children. After our third girl we thought we were done and knew a boy just wasn’t going to happen. I had always prayed for a son. I felt like it would help me to heal the anger I still held toward men. We had an appointment for my husband to get a vasectomy and to our surprise we got pregnant! I just knew it was the son I had prayed for. I had a dream the night before we found out about the story in the bible of Abraham and Sarah. I woke-up early that morning when it was still dark and I knew we were going to have a son. God was telling me. My husband woke-up and I couldn’t do anything until I took a test so I had him run out to the local drug store and sure enough it was positive. I told everyone about my dream and told them I knew it was a boy. At the sonogram when they showed it was a boy I cried and new it was a special gift from God for being faithful. I have been set free by the grace of God and have forgiven those who have hurt me. I know that I do not have to judge them for they will stand before our God one day and be judged. I live and let God! One day I will be able to thank my Heavenly Father face to face for his wonderful grace. He healed my heart where it was broken from years of abuse and neglect. He filled the void and showed me what love is and how a Father should be.
Mon 19/4/10, 4:43 pm
I appreciate others on here who have shared their stories of childhood sexual abuse. I also see how their heart has been healed.
Mine has not been…………
I’m still suffering today from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) for those that aren’t familiar with this term. I still have fear of the dark, sleepless nights, jump at noises. I started being raped, tortured in the most sadistic satanic way possible from age 3 to about 13. Then my stepfather continued to abuse me until I was around 18. then my uncle. It was every man in the family starting with my grandafather who was the leader, my father, his friends and members of the Jewish orthodox religious community from up the block.
How can God possibly heal me? how can he heal my brokenness? what was he doing during this time? Why didn’t he save me from this hell I had to go through and why I am going through this hell in my adulthood for years now trying to heal and put the pieces of my life back together, whatever is left of me which is not much right now.
I feel like all I have is tears, brokenness, deep, deep wounds inside in my heart and soul. Why haven’t I been healed? What’s wrong with me? has God forgotten me? I think maybe because I’ve done things over the years that I’m not proud of so God must hate me. and I’m being punished or something for the sins I’ve committed.
I have very very little faith right now. if I can’t hold onto God, then what do I have and I feel I can’t trust Him either.
Mon 19/4/10, 11:08 pm
Dori,
This is Katie. First I want to say I am sorry you are in so much pain right now. You are in the same spot as my step sister who was also abused. She is just now dealing with all the pain and shame that comes with abuse. In fact you’re going through a lot of what she is going through. PTDS. God has not forgotten you. You have to remember we live in a world of sin. God’s heart breaks for us also. You really need to work through your emotions, allow yourself to remember and then forgive. Yes, forgive. I had the hardest time forgiving my abuser. I wanted harm to be done toward him, how could I forgive him. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting but it truly sets YOU free. Refuse to let their sin define you and the rest of your life. I never seeked help but wished I had. Talk with someone. I’m sure at your church there will be a woman that can mentor you. For me talking about the abuse made it easier for me. And knowing you are not alone. 1 in 4 woman are abused. Healing takes time. It has taken me 15 years and I’m only 30. I am truly at peace and have been emotionally healed. Just lay your burdens at Gods feet. If you truly call upon Him you will feel his peace come over you. Just ask and you will recieve His grace. I will be praying for you. And know someone out there truly cares.
Tue 11/5/10, 1:45 am
I don’t want to be known by name. I’m lonely enough when I’m surronded by people who love me. God amazingly awesome grace…I have been given what people see as a “gift” when really…it’s the heaviest burden I have had to bear. But one I hope I can handle. Because there’s just too flipping much to do and eternity isn’t here yet.
Tue 11/5/10, 8:32 am
I know that your campaign for the story of your life cd ended but I just wanted to put my story up in hoping somehow you’ll read this Matthew.
Hey I’m Ivan and I’m 23, most of my i’ve been very well taught about God by my family and followed God throughout my life, and my family has taken the best of care for me during my teen years. About around 7th grade my parents pulled me from my school, Miami Lakes Christian Academy, due to problems my brothers had in that school, and placed me in another private school Called First Baptist school of hialeah. Apparently I was a bit different from the rest of the kids and I did do stuff to this day that was embarassing to me, but nothing offensive. But for some reason a few of the kids in my class and in the grade below me decided to pick on me. Almost everyday their was insults, cussing, and there were a few times it extended to physical activity, like throwing my lunch on the floor (which they claimed they didn’t know, but when you a guy actively grab it and throw it you tend to doubt that), Also slaming my head into the wall when I told them to stop messing with a girl in the class and by slamming my head I mean huge-head sized indention in the wall that’s still there when I visit. Even the girl who I tried to help laughed and joined in when they tried to make fun of my trying to stop them. Basically It got to the point that I couldn’t take it and actually day dreamed of killing these guys. But I didn’t want to, I wanted to be different and so at the end of eighth grade year the day before the last day of school, I had got one of those presentation boards that you use for science projects, and made a huge cardboard heart. I took pictures with everyone in my class including those who were mean to me that were still there, and pasted it on there and made it look nice with stuff around the edges and everything and I wrote on it. Basically, I said that to all of the people in the class I will miss them, and to all the guys who picked on me, if I did anything to offend them that might have started all of that I’m sorry. Basically, the heart was my way of telling them I forgive them. So the last day of school I brought it out to show the class and of course everyone was sad and everything but a funny thing happened… so were the people that we’re making fun of me… Infact, the ones that were still there gave me a genuine apology (one had got kicked out by then and some others didn’t get to see it as well) Even people I didn’t think did anything wrong came up to me and apologized. It was a pretty good day.
Basically my testimony is about love and forgiveness, and it’s ability to free people, and sometimes, it doesn’t just free the people who hurt, but sometimes it frees, impacts,and hopefully changes the people that do the hurting.
I really hope this gets into the cd somehow cause I really want those that didn’t get to see the heart to know I forgive them as well. Thanks for hearing me out. Here is a couple of bible verses.
Proverbs 25: 21-22
and Colossians 3:12-17
for anyone that wants to contact me or join me this has just inspired me to do a movement called “my cardboard heart”. A movement of forgiveness and love. email Me and I’ll tell you more about it. my email is brushfire2@hotmail.com Will be making a website and videos within the next year. tell me if you want to participate ok?
Tue 11/5/10, 9:15 pm
Well. I’m still listening to something I don’t understand. Someone. Music minsisters. And it makes me invincible. In Heaven Papa’s arms. Which are more tangible than…the arms that haven’t taught me what hugs are supposed to mean.
Sun 16/5/10, 9:38 pm
hi matthew, i was bummed to learn i was to late for my story, but gotta say a few things, the words to all your songs just touch me in a way thats bitter sweet to my life, im 56,going on 16, father was a evangelist, my mother virtuous, me & 5 brothers, lived in church literally, moved so much cause of my dads ministry, only went to the 7th grade, went to 17 different schools, always ended back at the same church, and 15 years never once did i hear the pastor of that church say that GOD was a GOD of LOVE, MERCY, COMPASSION, & GOD loves us just the way we are, we thought we were goin to hell everynight, years later 3 of us kids got into drugs, and everything you can imagine, jail, prostitution, cuz if i had to change for GOD to love me i couldnt do it, i always believed in GOD, prayed to him & could tell others what GOD could do for them but i just didnt think he would do it for me,i was so messed up, got busted 3 times for meth, looking at 20 years, laying on that cold jail cell floor i prayed & asked GOD to help me, i said if you get me out of this mess i promise to quit dealing & doin meth, GOD made a way where there was no way, ive been clean for 4 years, i still have issues with GOD but tryn to work it out, But “the motions” really moved me, i have 8 grand kids the oldest is 19 , hes going thru alot & likes hearing my stories, i just need alot of help tryn to understand GOD, i feel like my life is almost gone now,& i have nothing to show for it but some needle marks, & ive wasted all these years for what? i woke up & over half my life is gone, i cant let go of the past, the guilt is killing me, my walls are so thick, my faith seems so small, i dont know how to love me, thats my problem, thank you for your time God bless you matthew, you are a blessing thru your music, shee
Mon 17/5/10, 8:13 am
My story! I was raised in an amazing Christian family. My father was a pastor and I grew up under him and went to church every Sunday. So I thought I was a Christian. Not knowing that I was simply riding on my dad’s preacher coat tails. When I turned 18 and was going into my Sr yr of High School I found a common theme in my life. I didn’t know it until about a year ago, but my life moves to a verse, No, not now, I’ve got something better. I graduated my Sr. year and was going off to college on a football scholarship. In June of 2003 my dad had a major heart attack and was pretty much dead, but God had something to say to Him, NO, Not Now, I’ve got something better. I never understood what this meant, but then I heard it in a reference to prayer one night at a bible study last year. So I went on to college and played 5yrs of football and went on with my life. I had fallen so far away from God in college that my conscience was pretty much erased and my heart as hard as stone. In May of 2009 I was hit head on by a drunk driver, and all remember is waking up in the hospital with wires and tubes everywhere. Asking God is this was it. He said, No, Not Now, I’ve got something better. In September or 09 I enrolled into a 8 month bible institute where I found a love for God that is so amazing. I hunger and desire to be saturated in His word every day. I am now planning on attending Seminary this fall and though I’m not sure if I was to ask God if this is it, He would still say No, Not Now, I’ve got something better. So that’s the story of my life. Always waiting to see that Something Better! We serve an amazing God, may He bless and guide you in all your work for this CD. Luv in Christ Michael Rogers
Mon 19/9/11, 7:31 pm
Hi Matthew. I know this is kind of late but I didn’t even know about your project until the album already came out and I did an extensive research on it! I guess I could still tell my story if you wouldn’t mind. Actually, if you ever get this message, if you could reply it would be easier for me to tell. I am one of those people that is very shy about anything and especially to have people read my posts. If you get this message, please reply to my email (that is attached to this message). If you don’t, I understand that you’re busy just like everyone else. But I really have “Something to Say”. I am a 15 year old and I would like to get some of your advice or input concerning a career in singing. I have found that I have a great talent in singing and even writing. (I didn’t know where else to post this since I don’t have any accounts on any social networking sites, so I posted here.) Thank you for taking the time to read this. I really appreciate it. God bless and continue to write the meaningful songs you have written. I have been deeply touched. Thank you again. ~VC~