Amazing testimate of God's love.. check it out

http://www.austinstone.org/resources/lifestories/melodyraines.htm

For the last few days, I unplugged myself from this electronic age and went camping with my friend out at Garner State Park. It was nice to turn off the cell phone, leave the computer at home and relax. Highlights of the trip included campfire conversations, hot cowboy coffee in the cold mornings, watching turkeys, and Nathan and me trying to catch small fish by scaring them into a net (didn’t work). This trip was a much-needed time to “refresh” myself. I spent some time in conversation with God. The scripture that I felt God kept pointing me back to during this time is 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

(Paul speaking)“So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Two things I am reminded of:

1. It’s all about our Lord and His sovereign grace.

2.We need a constant reminder of our imperfection, lest we take our focus off God’s grace and strength, the only true source of hope.

“Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!” (Chris Tomlin)

Last night, I had the opportunity to hear John Piper speak last night in College Station. He preached over 1 Corinthians 15:19, 30-32, 20. To read a summary of his sermon, go to

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2007/2072_Radical_Effects_of_the_Resurrection/

What impacted me the most was verse 19, "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." Basically, Paul says that the Christian life, without the truth of the resurrection of Christ, is one of a fool. If Christ was not raised from the dead, then our faith is in vain and we are a foolish people because our way of life does not maximize our earthly pleasure. The true Christian life is that of dieing to oneself and living for Christ, not a pursuit of earthly comfort and pleasure. I believe this concept goes right over the heads of many Christians.

Paul was called to suffer greatly for the sake of Christ, “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16). What has God asked of you?

oh, on a now serious note, I witnessed a city easter egg hunt at work yesterday. It was amazing to watch several hours of stuffing eggs and spreading them out over a field destroyed in less than two minutes. Those kids swarmed the field, it was interesting to watch. Also, I had the ?privilege? of watching the Capital Metro Bus rodeo. Interesting. I didn't know such a thing exsisted. The bus drivers compete in an obstacle course involving backing and serpentine obstacles. They gave me a shirt for attending.

I have been attending a connection group for Austin Stone. The purpose of the group is to help those interested in becoming partners of the church get connected with others and learn about the church in the process. Tonight, we were asked to write our testimony and share. So I figured I would share it with any readers I may have. This is a fairly condensed version, and I could go more in depth on many parts of this testimony, but this covers the basics for now. Of course, my testimony is a life long process of God's work in my life, so stay tuned for updates. But for now, here is what he has done thus far. Enjoy.

My condensed testimony

My story is a testimony of God’s grace and sovereignty over salvation. Throughout my life, even with all the “advantages” of a Christian upbringing, I have pursued worldly pleasures. Only through the grace of God and His divine intervention have I come to where I am now.

Being brought up in a Christian home, I attended church and a small private Christian school all four years of high school. One could say I was immersed within the Christian “culture” and had every advantage of hearing the gospel message. However, at the age of 16, I came to a point in my life where I started to question any belief I may have had. I felt I had allowed myself to fall under the umbrella of my parent’s beliefs and had not “adopted” the Christian religion for myself. I reached this conclusion during a Ken Freeman revival. Ken asked if anyone was unsure of where they were going after they die. I raised my hand. A girl approached and asked me specifically if I knew where I was going when I die. I said no. She asked if I would like to pray with her. Again, I said no. Later that night, back at home in my room alone, I realized the weight of what I was rejecting and prayed for God to take hold my life. But my struggles did not end here. During my senior year of high school, I was introduced to partying and alcohol.

However, I went on to graduate high school with a full scholarship to Norwich University, a private military college in Vermont. After my first semester at Norwich, I eagerly returned home with no intention of returning to Norwich. At 1 am New Years morning 2001, I went to a party with some friends. After a few drinks, I decided to go home. On my way home, I was pulled over for a broken taillight and then arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol as a minor. While, this event has had a lasting impact on my life, it was not an immediate turning point. I continued in my pursuit of worldly pleasures, alcohol and sex, continued until last year when the reality of wasting my life hit. On March 3rd of 2006, while away at swift water training weekend with coworkers, I was awaken at 2am in the morning to hear that a member of my fire department, and friend, had just been violently killed in a car accident involving alcohol. God used this event to open my eyes to the tragedy of wasting one’s life in the pursuit of worldly pleasures. Through my job in the fire service, I had seen many lives taken suddenly through events out of their own control. I had heard the elderly speak of how pointless their life of hard work had become when all they had to show for it is bad health in their retirement years. But now, it really began to sink in. God opened my eyes to the fragility of life and how little control any of us have over it. Last year, I read John Piper’s book Don’t Waste your Life. Through the words of John Piper, God has shown me that He is in total control and He has purposefully chosen to gift me with salvation, without any merit on my own part. My eternal perspective has been growing immensely since this moment. I feel my life has been forever changed. It’s comforting to know that my salvation rest in the free grace of God and not on any work or decision I have made on my own. God will prevail and in His glory I will find satisfaction and contentment.

I have made the decision to be baptized this month, and I am praying for God to continue to accomplish His will for my life. I am excited to know that wherever my life leads, God will continue to use me for His glory.

Well, today has been a much more fun, enjoyable day here at my part time job. We locked a co-worker in the bathroom with one of those stinkbombs you buy at a prank store. Unfortunately, the smell has now made it throughout the whole station, opps. Anyways, I am looking forward to next week, I am on vacation all week, which I am not sure what I am going to do with yet. I may possibly go to Colorado, the coast, or who knows. We shall see.