The Power of Our Testimony

We all have a testimony… situations we’ve experienced and how God has brought us through to the other side. Have you thought about how your testimony could help encourage someone else who is currently facing thier own battles?

Recently I was sharing with a few hundred people about how I tried to commit suicide a month after graduating from high school in 1992. I shared my thoughts during that dark time in my life and how I felt there was no future waiting for me, how I felt alone in my struggles. Then I shared how God brought me through (Lord, you didn’t allow me to die last night, so you must have a plan for me. I want it) and has given me a life beyond what I thought possible - not just for me - but for every person’s life I been blessed to impact as a result of living to see a new day. It was a great moment of encouragement for many who were there.

Are you working your dream Career?

I asked a friend a while back, if money were no object what job would you be working?
After thinking about it for a few minutes, he gave this surprising response: “If I didn’t need to work to pay my bills, I’d be working in the Hospitality field.” He then went on to describe a wonderful idea that made me excited! But here he was working a job in a completely different and unrelated field.

If money were no object, what job would you work?

This could be a great question to wrestle with. We get so caught up in working jobs just to pay the bills… often because we may not know the necessary steps to getting to that job we would love to work. Believe it or not - there are people in the world who actually get paid to DO WHAT THEY LOVE.

Are You Happy With God Alone?

Are you happy with Me alone?
If I never granted another personal wish
All your dreams and aspirations inside
Never to be seen and glorified.

Watching others receive blessings from Me
Their smiles and laughter… their tears of joy
While your dreams run away from you
Like sand slipping through your fingers.

Are you happy with Me alone?
If I never said “I love you” again
Which doesn’t mean that I don’t
But could you withstand My silence?

As I used you to only bless others
While your dreams, I knocked by the wayside
Could you trust Me as I stand
Wanting you to commit your very life to Me
Your living essence to Me and to Me alone.

Are you happy with Me alone?
If I allowed every possession to be taken
Like I allowed in My servant Job’s situation
With only your life intact?

Unknown Fear

I know you’re out there
I’ve felt you most of my life…
Lurking around the corners and in the shadows
Slithering your way into my mind.
For so long you’ve kept me running
Running away from where I was supposed to be
Running away from things I was supposed to see
You kept me so afraid that I missed so many opportunities.
You were always unknown… but somehow I knew who you were.
“What if I can’t do it?” You’d whisper in my ear.
“What if I fail?”
I used to buy into your manipulating suggestions
And your downright bullying
Anytime I tried to press through.
I remember how I used to feel… so afraid
Like I couldn’t do anything but fail.
I felt so inadequate… so small
Unprepared.
Vulnerable… naked.
Yes. I remember how you used to make me feel
Like I was supposed to live my whole life in you…
Fear.
You lied to me! But that’s what you do.
Never would I have guessed in a thousand lifetimes
That it is really you who are afraid.
Terrified of me – That I would fulfill the exact purpose
For which I was created.

Suicide

“Why did you create me God? You did such a terrible job!”

For most of my life I hated the fact that I was brown skinned, too thin, wore glasses, not popular. I hated that my dad was a preacher and I wanted a different mother. I wanted a different life altogether, yet people envied me. I smiled on the outside, but inside I was dying. No, my life was not miserable. I did have two parents at home who loved me and I had friends… But inside I just couldn’t get with myself. I just couldn’t get past myself. The longer I lived the more I didn’t know who I was.

What About Your Dreams?
Don’t you ever think about the future that’s filled with possibilities?
Have you ever pictured in your mind, the coming day’s light?
The day’s light shines on your dreams:
The light of recognition - the light of realization
What about your dreams?

Do you choose not to dream to avoid the off chance
That it might not come true?
Are you afraid of broken promises? Is this what you do?

What about your dreams?
Is it stupid to dream of a future when you’re trying
To make it through today?
When you’re just trying to overcome the struggles you must face.

With no dream for tomorrow can you really survive?
Something within you slowly dies…
With no joy in the morning will tonight draw you away?
What about your dreams?

From the book: Transition: Breaking Through the Barriers, Pg. 73
Written by Allen Paul Weaver III
Published by: IUniverse June 2006