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I don't know about all of you, but I love hearing people's testimonies. No testimony is every too short or too long and each have their own unique important and meaning! I love reading how people came to God, or things that have made them stronger in their faith, etc.! Now is your chance to post those here if you feel comfortable doing so!

Here is mine (sorry if it is a bit long):

I grew up going to a church with my family and as a child, things were much more chill, and we woke up, got baths, ate breakfast, got dressed, and walked down the street to where the church was. I had a few friends there and enjoyed that and drawing during the sermons more than anything else. When I got older and tried to listen to the sermons, it was okay and then I listened to more and it confused me because all the men in the church who have been there for more than a year and/or have become a true member of the church were the only one's allowed to preach. It seemed like they all believed different things and I was so lost and confused. For a while as a teenager, I was depressed, and thought of suicide, but could never hurt myself. I also was involved in a couple mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally abusive relationships that felt near impossible to get out of. For a year, I didn't want to smile, talk to my friends, or chill with the family. All I wanted to do is be on the computer and video games, avoiding the fact that reality was passing me by. I thought something was wrong with my faith and that I was a no-good sinner. I was never into drinking, drugs, or any of the stuff other kids called "awesome" that was immoral or wrong. I was forced to go to church by my family unless I was sick and had to stay home, which was more often than not. Sometimes, people would give me a rough time for missing church (mostly my parents), and it would stress me out. I remember so many people over the years left that church and now a days it's nearly empty because people move, get excommunicated, or choose to go to another church. I didn't necessarily agree with everything they said so I didn't know where I stood, especially since the church seemed to have an excuse for their man-made doctrine.

When I was 19 (almost 20) I met a guy that turned my life upside down. He seemed to be so secure in his faith and I ended up falling in love with him because he listened to me, thought outside of the box when it came to the scripture and didn't sugar coat things for me, but also had more love for me and for others than words can describe. After we got married that same year we had met, he truly told me everything he believed and told me why my church's beliefs were only half correct, while others were completely wrong. He was able to do something I'd never seen before - use the Bible including historical contexts of original meanings of the words and the culture during those times to explain things to me. I cried because I just didn't know and felt so filthy inside, but when that first tear hit the floor, I felt God's grace rain down on me and lift the heavy burden's off of my shoulders. My husband led me onto the right path and I've been so hooked on the Bible ever since, and feel more secure in life than I did in the past. I'm learning something different every day as a new Christian. After asking for forgiveness, I've turned it all around.

I left the church I grew up in because of the things they did that weren't Biblically right and because of the way they treated people who had committed certain sins, or were excommunicated just because they did things the church didn't like. They didn't consider "women" part of the "true" church and I didn't agree with that, either. I now have a rough relationship with my family - especially my parents. My aunts and uncles accept me more quickly than my own parents do during this time. I thought at one time I made up with my parents and we just had different beliefs, but were still truly family. However, they learned information about my husband and his family that they didn't like, and they ignored me more. I was kicked off of my insurance plan and they offered to allow me onto theirs because it wouldn't cost me anything and then texted me the day the paperwork was due saying that I wasn't eligible because I wasn't on my husband's work insurance (when the insurances are totally different programs and we denied my husband's benefits because they were more than we could afford). My parents turned me down knowing that I have pre-existing medical conditions and other problems that require some money to take care of. They have honestly hurt me pretty bad, but God has helped me get by with my expenses. We were able to pay my last doctor's visit, and the doctor signed a paper where I could apply to a program that provided cheaper medication for low-income patients. Praise the Lord!

I truly feel the calling in my life is to become a preacher and hopefully start a church with my husband one day. I'm truly excited just thinking about being able to help others and to spread the word! The path may not be easy to get there, but I will follow it because it is what God is calling me to do. I know all things are possible through him! Especially since when my parents find out what I want to be, they may never feel like talking to me again because they are strongly against women preaching and consider it "sinful" and think all women preachers are going to be thrown into the lake of fire just because they're women. It will be a hard thing to overcome emotionally, but with God, I know I can do it!

It's awesome to hear testimonies smile anyone else willing to share theirs? No testimony is ever too long or too small!

Couldn't agree more smile

Thanks for sharing smile your testimony is not too common. I believe every testimony is different and unique in its' own way ^_^ that's good that you knew that God was always there for you because he indeed will be.

heh, lets see, when i was born i had two rare heart conditions the doctors gave me a 10% chance to survive because they have never seen the two heart conditions together as well as saying that if i did live i'd live to be 7, within the first 3 or 5 months i died about 3 times and had a stroke that killed a part of my brain, mostly the part that deals with math, social skills and other things i am unsure of. The stroke also took out my right eye, leaving me legally blind with minimal vision and knocking it to the right, so i see to the right of me. Growing up i never knew my birth father, he ran off on my mom and my younger brother. Growing up i had 2 different step dads, one who was in and out of jail, and one who beat me cause, well. i dont know. but i also had to deal with my moms selfishness. My mom and i used to get along, but once i started to get beat (roughly from elementary school to my sophomore year of high school, during this time i went to time i went to church, though i never wanted to go because i felt God abandoned me because of how long the beatings went, and just had hate for people as well as thought and believe God didnt exist. when i was at my freshmen year of high school i felt that no one loved me and turned to porn (still struggling with it). I eventually fed up with getting beat, and turning to porn i broke down and cried to God, asking him that if he was there to help me, and if he was real and did help'd me that i'd believe in him. i also told him that i had didnt know where to turn. during this time i became friends with a guy who was a very religious christian, and we got to hanging out and now are best friend, back on track. After i asked God for help within 3 weeks my step dad put my through dry wall and i hit a support beam and couldnt get out because i was in pain, after my mom found me and helped me out i told her to do something about it or i will, and if i did she wouldnt like it. then my step dad decided to hit me for telling my mom what happened so i locked myself in my room and called the cops, then my mom came in and i handed her the phone and told her the cops are on the line, and to deal with him. within years we moved from my step dads house to a woman shelter and then to a house, from there me and my mom clashed at every turn, then we moved to my mom's friends place in some desert place, we lived in a mobile home, i had forgotten my promise to God and by this time i stopped praying, and all around gave up, i closed up and just hated everything, i hated waking in the morning, i hated that God let us be in this position, I hated my mom and how she said she'd 'get us out of here' but wouldnt take us to our grandmothers, i hated how she controlled my life, so i made my life as boring as possible and did nothing, i even hated my brothers, all but one, my baby brother who i couldnt hate, If it wasnt for him i know i would have just done things i would regret. One day i was just walking around the back yard (thats what i was forced to call home when two guys came up to me (we were near a bus stop) the day was burning hot and they asked if i had some water. I had anger in me from them asking me anything, but i felt something inside and i blurted out, 'yeah sure give me one moment.' and i walked to the mobile home and grabbed a cup and filled it with water. I then brought it to them and apologized for it being in a cup and not a water bottle, though they didnt mind. After they drank the water they smiled and said 'God bless you.' and waited for the bus. I was kinda upset they said it but i smiled as i walked off, happy i help'd some one. Eventually we moved near my grandma, a good mile or 2 away, still i was upset at my mom. then one day i ran from my mom's house and now live with my grandma. Though i cant recall the exact day i re-gave my life back to God. But i know it doesnt matter now, Now i fully believe in God. I went to the local high school and graduated and received my diploma (i thank God for letting me graduate cause i am horrible in school) I now feel that me and God are way closer then we used to be about 5 or 6 years ago (heh bad at math) i feel i mad major progress, as well as thank God for allowing me to defy doctors (i am 21, soon to be 22. i was supposed to die by what the doctors said 13 years ago. but i live all thanks to God.). Now i give my live to God, asking him to help me live by his word. ^_^ i think i am doing well. (edited because my memory sucks, i left out a chunk)

wow! That was a really awesome and touching testimony.
All thanks to God for allowing him to have you here with us.
Struggling with math myself, and I work as a salesman at a gas station. Who would have thought. Grandmothers can be a blessing. I am glad you have a safe place, and that you have Christian friends. That really helps.

Heh i am glad to, without them i know for sure i would have fallen and been a serial killer by now. When i lived with my mom i loathed every day, wanting to just stay in my room and when i was forced to have interactions with her i had to keep my anger hidden from her and force my self to be nice. I couldnt understand how could some one who was a parent be so horrible to her child.

heh ok, and if i was a normal person i would sleep well, heh though i am an insomniac and a narcoleptic. Basically i cant sleep when i want and when i do sleep it usually is during the day and against my will