Shell’s Testimony
I had always known there was a God, but July 23, 1980 was the day I began to relate to Jesus as my Savior. It sounds like funny language, but I knew I needed help. Psalm 18 is very precious to me.
16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. 18 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me. 19 He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.I have heard it said that our testimony is the love story of our lives. This makes sense because we are not brought into a religion – but a relationship. I had spent many years trying to fill a need to be accepted and belong. The harder I tried the worse I made things. Even after that wonderful day in 1980 when I met Jesus – the story repeats itself. I still have a tendency to try to improve myself and He graciously waits until I turn fully to Him once more.
The older I get – the more I find that I can absolutely fall into His arms – I am absolutely head over heels in love with the One who knows me better than I know myself and my passion is to introduce as many people as I can to this wonderful relationship. I admire the Apostle Paul with his passion for others to know God personally – to not add anything to what He has done for us.
Message Version -
Galatians 31 You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.
2-4Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!
5-6Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don’t these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God.
