"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives to the death." Revelation 12:11

Cary's Testimony

Testimony:           Up until the time I entered the military at the age of 22, I was an Atheist.  My family did not serve God and although our lives were not crazy as some might expect we all lived our life as pagan non-believers.  In fact, at the age of 23 I was in the Army and found myself saying, "There is no God" and the Bible is a good way to live and written by man to control your life".  I lived my life by what seemed to be right because everyone else was doing it.  I worked for my father and felt he paid me too little - so I enlisted in the Army.  The military was good to me and I went through the ranks quickly, but it was a "set up".  My pride grew and I grew increasingly rebellious towards God!  However, one August day I was called to war!  It was 1990 and Iraq was the destination.  I was lonely and scared.  Now, I might have been able to deal with this, but all my strength and wisdom was in me and that was never sufficient.  It wasn't until I cried out weeping for days when God made His presence known in my life.  In the desert, I was invited to a tent revival given by the Army Chaplain.  There I gave my life over to Jesus, Yes to the same God that I had denied His existence.  I began to feverishly desire Him and to consume His word like a fire.  Everyday after this experience I felt His presence and my life was turned upside down.  I was new!  Soon, it came time for me to return and when I came home I was still yet a novice at this Christian walk and I allowed this to pull me away from my God.  So I was once again living in sin. Hurting from my loneliness, I began again to call out to God.  I began to  "church hop" in search of a good life (not a strong relationship with God).  So, once again, I stepped back into the pagan world, but God came after me!  He never let me go! His love is like no other. He will leave the 99 to search out the one and bring him back into the sheepfold. I remember about 26 years ago being told the excitement would wear off.  To this day, just the name of Jesus changes everything, I could be having the worst day and one thought of Jesus wipes it all away!

The Bible says: "The zeal for thy house has eaten me up!" "He who is forgiven the most will love the most!" Have your way Lord and be glorified in my life!  I couldn't ask for anything better.

If you haven't asked Jesus to come into your heart, today is the day of salvation. Don't put it off for a better day, because that day may never come. Open your heart and ask him into your life by believing that he died for your sins and was raised from the grave and confess him to be your Lord and savior today! Your life will never be the same!

Now, by God's grace I am 28 years wiser, and much more mature as He has equipped me and trained me to rely only on Him.  Jesus, now, is number one and He has restored all that the devil has stolen from me.  Today I am blessed to be strengthened in Jesus and Jesus is truly "Lord of my life" and not merely a fictional character as I was brought up to believe.  Jesus is my life and now I can truly say as Paul the apostle stated: 

"In Him we live and move and have our being".

Praise be to Jesus Christ our Lord!                               

The devil is defeated by the blood of the lamb and the word of this testimony!