Telling Your Story.

When I read the incredible accounts of Biblical characters I am often left with a distinct sense of purpose… the same holds true when I hear the stories of modern people, whom hold their faith tightly and act boldly for the name of Christ.  There is something about our stories… God working in and through us… that ignites a passion within us.  It’s almost as though it awakens our hearts to the life God has breathed in our lungs.

We all have a story to tell, a journey to recount, about God’s redeeming love.  And your story is powerful, whether you realize it or not. The grace that runs through your veins is the same grace that ignited Abraham’s passion, and Moses, and David and hundreds upon thousands of other believers who’s stories still profess the power, love and faithfulness of our God.

So here is your chance to pass along your story about how God has changed you and who knows… maybe God will use it to change someone else.

Tell us your story below. (as a Reply)

8 Responses to “Telling Your Story.”

  1. Steven Freeberg  on May 22nd, 2008

    May 12, 2008

    Greetings-

    Today is cause for celebration, and I would like to share it with all of you. It is not because of anything I have done, rather it is because God is loving and faithful. And so today He gets credit for a miracle that occurred in my life.

    Last year I was suffering from Trigeminial Neuralgia, also known as Suicide Disease. The symptoms began as Bell’s palsy, which started in the fall of 2004. TN is the constriction of a cranial nerve, and is purported to be the most painful affliction known. To be brief, after trying painkillers such as Loritab, Fentanyl, Stadol, and others, the only relief came from Methadone. Eventually I was taking in excess of 150mg. daily. My life consisted of being bedridden, miserable, and intolerable. Our dogs wanted to bite me, and my family was ready to leave.

    After being healed of TN six weeks earlier I was still faced with an addiction to Methadone. This “medicine” so affected my “charisma” that I became persona non grata- I had no friends, mentally abused my family, had fractured my church relationships, and neglected my walk with God…life was all about me and my pain. The days were spent in bed, and having gained 100 pounds, I gradually began to resemble Jabba the Hut in appearance and demeanor. It was only after a conversation with Pastor and friend John Carmichael (who was courageous, loving, and “in-your-face”) that I realized I was about to be sifted as wheat, and the enemy was ready to take everything. My marriage, home, future, my very life was at risk of being lost. For someone who claimed to have a calling to serve God, things were looking like I was heading for the abyss…maybe God was lying to me. Or was I lying to God? My sense of reality had become so warped that the truth was unrecognizable. Despite having professed to be a Christian, I had become spiritually dead. I saw everything through a gray, dark, and hazy tunnel with no light at the end.

    So, now what?

    Duh.

    Remarkable things happen when we become desperate. Our Lord can get a lot done during these times, the times we leave the throne of our lives so He can take His rightful place and get things done. Perhaps it is because He is strongest when we are weak, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”( Cor. 1:25) I believe the only impenetrable wall that comes between us and God is our pride; that is what made Lucifer become Satan. And so that is why He couldn’t work (and still can’t sometimes) in my life. But at that moment, there wasn’t much pride left. So with a deflated ego, broken body, and nothing to lose I once again cried out to God to kill the dragon that I was chasing.
    The rest is somewhat unclear, but I do know that I didn’t want to continue to be what I had become. Perhaps God opened my eyes for me when I wouldn’t do it on my own. I do know that my wife Lisa was there through the three weeks of night sweats, crying, jumping legs, pains, nausea- through it all Lisa was selfless, Jesus with skin on. She was also justifiably apprehensive…the wounds I placed in her were deep. Her devotion to her God and family still amaze me.

    The fence mending continues to this day.

    So, a day became a week. A week became a month. A month became a year.

    I am clean, and getting healthier. I work out. I can see my toes now.

    My kids spend time with me. Lisa is still here. I have a new faith that things will work out to the glory of God.

    Worship has a new meaning as I use the musical gifts He gave to me. I am honored to be a conduit of the Holy Spirit in worship. I am always pleasantly surprised, amazed, and look forward to communing with others in one accord…He inhabits the praises of His people-

    “I will render praises to You,
    13 For You have delivered my soul from death.
    Have You not kept my feet from falling,
    That I may walk before God
    In the light of the living?”

    Psalm 56:12, 13

    Thank you, my Lord.

  2. MOMMABEAR  on June 28th, 2008

    you…thank you. we sneak in and sit down hoping that maybe we will find the strength we are looking for to grow our kids.we always look for signs,and when we first came to northside,we seen the parenty class about growing gods kids…i thought i was the only one who used that term.i have been in the worst of everything drugs,mental illness. this easter i realy understood jesus . i always wantted to know how to you know hes in your heart.with tears in his eyes my uncle said you wioll know.this easter i felt him running threw my veins with my blood just as the crystal meth had once before.. i have always beleived in god and i knew there was a jesus now i know jesus and thats pretty cool. my children have never had to see me sick,my oldest knew i was sick but she didnt know why. when i first startted to get clean.i shut out churches,this is the thing.i could relate to people from my age to 87 years old. a fisherman told his story and he got stuck in valdostia gorgia wow i did too.. i was on a different spiritual path until i met my jr.high crush and we got a cat a plant and 5 kids… not in that order.my sweetie is not like was i dont think he knows that being that low is possible. i need more than the moon that god made and the moons phases and drum cicles,hey i bet jeasus had drum drums.we are so new to this who9le thing. we realy like sneaking in and bleninding in. there is so much that iwant to share. there is a fear that i have. i read a big blue book everyday,and a little black one.it took me two years just to get people to leave me alone. i stay inmy little prison and its getting loney put i am scared to death of people,places. i bet this didnot make a bit of since.butto anyone outthere that is strugling with how to raise your kids that is not christians…what has the other stuff gotten you and your children?there is a way to change without being hung on stage.GOD YOU WOULDNOT LET ME DIE 51-54 TIMES IN ONE DAY, YOU GOT ME OUT OF THE CREDITCARDMACHINE SCANDLE YOU SAVED ME OVER AND OVER… WHAT IS YOUR WILL FOR ME. AND PLEASE IF I BLOGGED WRONG I DONT KNOW WHAT I AM DOING WITH A COMPUTER EITHER THIS IS MY FIRST ONE.GOD BLESS YOU AND MAYBE SOMEONE COULD TEACH ME HOW THIS BLOGG THING WORKS I THINK IT WOULD BE NEAT TO SHARE OUR PROMISES THAT ARE COMING TRUE AS WE INTER CHRISTIANHOOD BLESSEDBE TO YOU M.B.

  3. MOMMABEAR  on June 29th, 2008

    i re-read this and it’s like 4 different people are talking at once.and i didn’t even wish steve and his wonderful wife luck…which was what i meant to do in the first place.when i became spiritaully bankrupt and was filling my god hole with things besides god,my life was all about me too.we have learned that we can relate to alot of people.{which we used to call church people}church was great on fathers day, i ussally am very sad.all i needed was that harlely, and to me that was a symbol of my mentor being there. o.k well i realy wish i would have taken my meds yesterday thers no way to getthat upthere off is there? it could always be worse. oh ya we gave our last dollors today…he was embarresed because of how little it was, i came home and found 8 dollors in my jeans.thanks god m.b.

  4. Jim Veihl  on November 2nd, 2008

    RE:The Truth -n- Love:

    I thought I’d share a personal story that surfaced last weekend while up in Michigan with my family. Me and my family were eating a nice Chinese dinner when the conversation somehow migrated towards politics. I
    know these things usually never fair well and most always cause people to dig their heels in more so for once in my life I just listened (imagine that for a second). Then my sister and brother in-law directed the conversation to me. Who are you voting for?. I knew whether I wanted to be or not I was now included in their conversation. I proceeded to tell them who I was voting for and their next question with a very concerned look was why. At this moment instead of talking politics I chose to share truth and my story.

    I shared that even though I have chosen a candidate, I know that God never set government up to solve the world’s crisis’s it is supposed to be the call of the church (you and me) through our everyday decisions and actions based upon our beliefs. I then said that you know Beth and I had a failed adoption before we were able to adopt Elijah. It has been through these
    experiences and the stories of many other adoptive families that my convictions about how God feels about human life have led me to choose the candidate that I believe will do the most to help protect babies from being aborted.

    This got quite a response in relationship to my early comment about social issues being a decree issued by Jesus for the church to love your neighbor, the poor, the imprisoned, the widows etc… I followed up by speaking his language and said Rob if Michigan States Football coach (This is his favorite team) didn’t use every tool available to him to beat the opposing team how would you feel. I said although my candidate if elected alone may not be able to stop abortion. I feel as a follower of Christ I must do everything I can to put an end to abortion. I went on to say I feel obligated to defend my other brothers and sisters who may be aborted by
    using every tool I have available to protect their life, so my one vote is important.

    I don’t know if I changed his mind but the cool thing was I know I gave him truth and it is up to him to do with it what he may.

    It’s amazing how God can use everyday situations to allow us to insert truth through our experiences. Jim

  5. Sonya  on November 2nd, 2008

    Lost my husband in June of this year. I have lost 2 children one just 2 years ago. I have 4 beautiful boys that all remind me of their father each day. One of our children has special needs…Angelman Syndrome. When I lost my husband, best friend, wonderful father….I was at a loss where to turn. I had attended NS in the past and was somehow led to contact them due to the extreme grief my boys and I were experiencing. I was contacted immediately and directed as to the path in which would provide survival……I am so grateful to NS. I am only in my 4th session of the Grief Support Group…..Wade Thaxton leads our group….I am so thankful God has led him and his sweet Mother to assist families in our group past and future groups as well…..I feel so grateful and so blessed to have found a way….to begin….to become…..that Mom I was prior to losing my love…….while this will be a journey…..thru God and thru His providing….my boys and I a blanket of comfort….with NS ……we will continue to be the HEDGE family……one that Daddy….and my husband would be proud of…. Thank you God for Northside…..for their arms…..I feel my family has been saved……saved not in the terms of Christianity…while I am a Christian…..but saved to have the ability …to continue my faith and develop it more fully thru my new family. Northside. Thank you God…for a gift I had not yet opened.

    Sonya

  6. GENBEAR  on March 20th, 2009

    I HAD A TWIST IN MY STORY. MY BABY SISTER WAS SICK. WE BROGHT HER TO NORTSIDE AND I WAS SO SCARED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE A BAD TRIP BECAUSE THE PRODICAL SONS COULDVE TRIGGERED AN HULLINATION.I TRIED SE LIKE IT AND I DECIDED TO GIVEHER MY GREEN BABTIZIM PAPER WE HAD ALREADY TALKED TO TIM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.I WENT TO TALK TO HER ABOUT DOING IT .SHE TRIED TO GET UP AND LEAVE WITH ME AND A TUBE WAS HANING OUT OF HER STOMACE.SHE BEGGED ME NOT TO GO AND MY FAMILY WAS RUSHING ME OUT THE DOOR.SHE SIGNED A RELEASE FORM HIPPA AND THAT WAS ON A TUESDAY I WAS GOING TO MEET HER NURSE ON THE NEXT MONDAY. I GOT A PHONECALL SUNDAY SHE WENT I FEEL LIKE SINCE WE FOUGHT ME AND HER MONEY SUKER I THINK HE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. I LOOKED ON MY SHELVE AT HERGREEN PAPER.NOW THE REASON EVERYONE IS SAFE ISTHE LIGHT IN THIS DARKNESS IS MY SISTERS DAUGHTER.MY BABY NEICE LOVES THE LORD AND IS GOING TO GET BABTISED.THANK YOU GOD.SHE EVEN GOES TO OUR CHURCH. I PROMISED MY SISTER THAT I WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE FOR HER I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT SHE IS SUROUNDED BY LOVE AND GOOD PEOPLE MARY LOOKED AT MY CHILDREN LIKE PRINCESS DIANNA LOOKED AT CHILDREN WITHAN AWW AND WONDER THEIR EYES WERE THE SAME. I MISS YOU MARY

  7. Robert  on March 27th, 2009

    Well, I started off a strange child. I never let my parents read to me, liked to be alone, and had trouble wish school. I was molested somewhere around fourth and fifth grade. That really changed my life entirely. It was done by a “friend” and I have had trouble trusting ever since. I didn’t remember a lot of it till I was a teen. I got to high school and rebelled and became the tough guy. I went to church with my parents but didn’t want anything to do with it. I didn’t think I could trust a God that would let that happen to me. I soon got into the wrong stuff but stayed out of trouble. I graduated school and began going to collage. I also go into pain killers among other things and became an addict. I actually stopped for a year or so, on my own.

    In 1999 I was in a car wreck. I woke up in a field and it took me some time to figure out what had happened. The car flipped and threw me out. I tried to get up but couldn’t. I pleaded to God to help me and a quiet voice told me it was alright. I fell asleep and woke up later in the ambulance. I ended up with four broken vertebras, broken collar bone, nerve damage, and head trauma. I forgot how to write for a few days and forgot names but it came back. To this day I have some temper issues but over time, they get better.

    I thought that I had changed and I went back into the world doing just about the same things I use to do. I moved to Louisville and began a new life for myself. I lost a good friend of mine during that time and I kind of lost hope and got back into the drugs again. God must have had a plan for me even then because he began to work on me. I spent all my money and had to return to Fort Wayne to start again. During this time, the process of getting sober started. He began to help me get over my past hurts and pain so much that one day, I realized I didn’t even want to do drugs anymore.

    I moved back to southern Indiana and started yet again. I rededicated my life to God and he has been changing my life ever since. I got a job working with addicts shortly after moving back. I tried as much as I could (when the job let me) to tell others about my experience and that when God took away the hurt, there was no longer a reason to do drugs or alcohol. There were no more issues to cover up or hide from.

    I got married (which is a miracle in itself) to a wonderful woman that has had some tough times in her own history, but survived with God’s help as well. We have been married for three years now. I found out a few years ago that she kept a diary growing up. In it she pin points parts of her life when God laid it on her heart to pray for her “future husband.” Come to find out, those times were when I was struggling the most. It was either with the car wreck, addiction, or just during my teenage years.

    God is good and his plan spans through our whole life! Even when we make mistakes, God can turn it into good. I feel God has purpose left even for a retch like me. God bless you and I hope you got something out of this!

    Robert

  8. Cheri Ratliff  on April 12th, 2009

    I think with all the people loosing their jobs today we should have some help for them. A group or counseling. Do we offer anything like this?


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