Thursday, March 19, 2015

My "Boring" Testimony ;)

Happy Thursday, everyone!  This post has been sitting in my drafts folder for a super long time - and isn't at all what I had planned for today... but it was laid on my heart yesterday that the time to to actually finish and share it was now and that if I was waiting for a "perfect time" it was likely never going to happen.  So I opened up the draft, and with some hesitation, wrote like a crazy person and here we are...

We all love a great testimony.  A dramatic retelling of how God reached into the worst of situations and pulled someone out and into his arms of salvation.  You know the ones.... recollections of drug and alcohol abuse, promiscuity, financial ruin, broken homes, lies and deceit.  Stories full of pain where God's healing power is easily seen.  Stories that give you goosebumps and stick in your memory.  They're the testimonies that could be made into a movie, shared in one of those videos they play during a worship service or would go "viral" on Facebook.  They're emotional and gripping and powerful.

I've always been hesitant to share my testimony because it is none of those things and somehow doesn't seem "good enough". 

I was raised in a loving, nuclear home.  We did devotions after dinner, sang in the Children's choir and weren't allowed to watch The Simpsons :)  I never drank, did drugs or had pre-marital sex.  I had "good" friends, saw Newsboys in concert a few different times and looked forward to youth group on Sundays.  Sure, there was some teen angst and adolescent drama thrown in there - but 99% of the time my life was pretty much carefree.  I accepted Christ into my heart quietly at a church camp when I was in the fifth grade.  After a service one night, I prayed with a counselor and then shared my decision with the girls in my cabin.  The foundation for my decision to accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior was the time, effort and energy poured into me by numerous adults who led Sunday School classes, Bible studies, choir practice and Girl Scout meetings.  Family members and friends who lived out their lives in such a way that the love of Christ shone through them.

What I've come to realize is that even though my testimony may lack that dramatic "before and after" story - it's not lacking in Christ's love for me.  Just because I was saved as an elementary schooler at Church camp instead of at a "rock bottom" point in my early adulthood doesn't make my story any less powerful or important.

I've always been a little envious of other's dramatic testimonies and how powerful they can be (that sounds ridiculous!) and have been hesitant to share my own since it seems super lame and boring, but what I've come to realize is that my salvation story is amazing because God saved me from all of the consequences and long term effects of what makes others peoples stories so exciting.  I know my sin is just as significant as anyone else's, but I'm so grateful that God prepared and spared me from having to experience a lot of regrets in my life decisions.

I'm sharing today because I want to encourage all of you with "boring" testimonies to not be hesitant to share what He's done for you... because it's amazing.  Are people banging down my door dying to hear my story and turn it into a made-for-TV movie?  Most definitely not :)  But it won't reach anyone if I keep it a secret.  

I also want to encourage those of you without a testimony yet... there doesn't have to be some big "event" to catapult you into the arms of Jesus (thank, goodness!).  Decisions to live for Him can come at any time and if you ever have a question about how to do that or what that means I'd love to give you some verses to read.  My prayer is that we can all set our anchors firmly in him and establish that relationship NOW so when the storms come (and they will) our testimony will include a chapter of how having that relationship with Him carried us through.

Happy Thursday, Friends!

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think" - Ephesians 3:20

65 comments :

  1. Your testimony is perfect because it's exactly how God planned it for you! Thank you for sharing this! XOXO

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  2. Thank you so much for this. I've been struggling trying to create my own testimony and my own strong relationship with God. Growing up I didn't get all those opportunities because my family wasn't overly religious, now into early adulthood I'm trying to find what that is and what finding God feels like. I needed to hear this today to keep me on track!

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    1. I would encourage you to continue to pursue Christ and allow Him to pursue you. You don't want to be religious, you want to love Jesus!!! Praying for you!

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  3. My favorite post to date. Love you sweet friend. xo

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  4. Andrea - that there is a powerful testimony no matter what you think! I always felt bad because I didn't have bells and whistles on my own as well but for you....to have grown up in such a loving, caring, Christ centered home makes girls like me weep. I didn't have that (exactly) but I knew Jesus Christ and just having that to rely on made the world of difference. Tell your story! Over and over! It is wonderful. Praise be to God.

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  5. Thank you for being brave enough to share your beautiful story. Mine is similarly "boring" and I too am grateful and amazed at god's goodness. As a mom, I pray that my children would also run to Jesus early in their lives and never look back!

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  6. Loved reading your testimony! Have you found a daily devotionalol that your kids enjoy?

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  7. This post hit home with me. I internally struggle with the same thing about my testimony not being impactful enough. Thank you for sharing your heart and reminding me of all the Lord has spared me from.

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  8. Love this, Andrea! I feel the same way - like my own testimony of becoming a Christian at age 7 after being brought up in a Godly home was similarly boring. However, we have all sinned and fallen short (and will continue to do so), so for me, Christ's unfailing love and redemption is the amazing part of my story! Thank you for sharing today. I think it will touch more hearts than you know!

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  9. Thank you Thank you! Just want I needed to read this morning! I've felt so similar over the course of my life!!!

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  10. Thank you for this! I have always felt the same way....like I always apologize before I share my own "boring" testimony. You have given me a fresh outlook this morning. God bless you for your faithfulness to Him!

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  11. Love you! Your "boring"'testimony is perfect and powerful on its own. Great post!! :)

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  12. One of the favorite things I have ever read. Thanks for sharing

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  13. Thank you for sharing this! Your testimony is still encouraging, even if you find it 'boring.' I love that you grew up in such a loving home and had a special relationship with God from an early age. I didn't exactly have that but wish I would have! You are truly an inspiration :-)

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  14. Thanks for sharing. I loved hearing your story.

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  15. I think your story is beautiful! Be proud girl :)

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  16. Love your blog....great post today!!! I too have a very similar testimony. Thanks for that reminder that no matter how Jesus found us....the important part is HE found us!!!! Boring or dramatic...doesn't matter!!! Thanks again for your daily inspiration....truly a blessing!!!

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  17. Like you, I don't have a dramatic crisis to point to, but an accumulation of problems is making things difficult for me right now. Thank you for the beautiful reminder of where my priorities should be.

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  18. Andrea thank you for sharing your wonderful testimony. NOT "BORING" AT ALL! The Lord wants all of His children to come to Him and let Him be their Savior. Some will come easily and more quietly, and some will do it in a "flash and bang" method. He works in many ways, both subtly and blatantly.

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  19. Love your testimony! Every testimony shows God's faithfulness and love for His children. We have our testimony because it is ours. People can argue the Bible and religion with you but your testimony is your story of what God has done in your life and cannot be refuted. Thank you for this post!

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  20. I've always felt the same way about my testimony. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  21. As always, your authenticity and gentle strength make this post so moving. In my opinion, it is the little, daily offerings of love that bring Christ to the world. It reminds me of my favorite quote from St. Francis- "Preach the gospel at all times, and when absolutely necessary, use words."

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  22. I'd love to read the verses you suggest! I feel like everyone has such a strong connection with Him and I've never felt that. Which makes me question my connection even more.

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    1. Elizabeth. I am praying Jesus makes you fall in love with Him!!! There is nothing like it!!!

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  23. Love the heart of this post today. We are meant to share our redemption stories, and our redemption stories are His redemption story. My own is not unlike yours, God quietly doing His work in my heart and life through the faithfulness of others from a young age. The lack of dramatic events doesn't lesson the significance or impact of sharing it. He intends for us to go into the world to simply let others know how He has and is working in us. Faith comes from hearing (or reading) the word and He has prepared the heart of someone who will read this today.

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  24. Thanks for sharing your testimony. It's not boring at all. I know exactly what you mean about being a little envious of the dramatic change that some people have in their testimony.

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  25. Your testimony is very much a mirror of my own! Thanks for sharing this wonderful story!

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  26. Love that you shared your testimony. I look forward to reading your blog everyday!

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  27. For those of us " church girls " who accepted Christ at a young age, our testimonies can seem less than dramatic.
    But the real testimony comes in living it out daily through our families, friends and workplace. You are doing that
    friend, and that's exactly what God had planned for you! Thanks for sharing!

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  28. Awww...I love your testimony!! Mine is very similar. What I love about it though is that now I get to be one of those teachers and mentors that pours my life and my heart into children each day (I teach at a private Christian school) with the hopes that maybe, somehow, something I say or do will plant a seed in their heart and they will come to accept Christ at a young age and be protected from ending up with a dramatic testimony! :)

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  29. Thank you for sharing!! My pastor talked about "boring" testimonies a couple of weeks ago, and said that they are a blessing. The Lord shielded you from a lot of the nasty in life. We all have our own struggles, and each is significant. The most important part is that we can do nothing apart from Christ. That's what makes all testimonies powerful!

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  30. Thank you for sharing this. Like you, I grew up in a nuclear family, went to Sunday School and Church Camp and God has just always been in my life. I don't have any dramatic falls from grace or rock bottoms. Ephesians 3:20 is my most favourite verse :)

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  31. Hi again Andrea... after commenting previously on your post, I remembered 2 country songs that I thought you might like to listen to - you can find on YouTube (if you can, read the lyrics). They speak of how the Lord works in His powerful, miraculous ways. "3 Wooden Crosses" by Randy Travis, and "The Little Girl" by John Michael Montgomery. I find the words very powerful.

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  32. I appreciate your faithful obedience. I have a similar testimony, grew up in a Christian home, married a minister, work in the church, and sometimes have wondered if my life speaks "loudly enough" to reach anyone. It does! Believe me, it does. You are a blessing.

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  33. I was 20 when I was captured by grace and Jesus and was always a bit envious of those who grew up knowing Christ, as silly as that sounds. Im so thankful to be able to provide that for my children now. Thanks for sharing your heart.

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  34. Beautiful! I am a pastor's daughter and was raised in church, so I know exactly what you mean! There is nothing more beautiful than realizing and accepting the grace and love of Jesus, no matter how it happens! You are awesome & I truly am so thankful that I found your blog!

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  35. I love this and I totally agree that all testimonies are important and special!!

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  36. Absolutely, positively 100% agree! We are all under the dark curse of sin and e transformation from dark to light is exciting, GOOD news regardless of when it happened or what carnage from sin lays on the road that led us there! I, too have a simple testimony of faith when I was in Kindergarten and struggled for years with not feeling as though it sounded dramatic enough. But the heart change I went through was every bit as dramatic! I now pray for my own children to have the same simple testimonies and that God would keep them from e life dominating sins that often come when conversion happens later in life. Thanks for sharing your story!!

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  37. My prayer for MANY years has been that my testimony remains "boring" like you described. God has redeemed us all in one way or another!

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  38. This is not the slightest bit of a "boring" testimony- your spirit and heart touch sooo many lives every day and make so many strive to live a more faith-filled life. Your devotion to God through your testimony is actually more inspiring than some of the majorly drama-filled testimonies because you DIDN'T go through any major life-changing rock bottom event that caused you to turn to Him to love Him and serve Him- you have known all along that is the way you wanted to live your life and you stuck to it. Proud of you for posting this!!! xoxo

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  39. I like your story. It is refreshing. You are doing it right and laying the ground for your children who will become great role models in their futures as our next generation.

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  40. Thank-you for ths today! I opened your blog right when I needed to read this!!

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  41. Your testimony is beautiful!!!

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  42. Love this. Thank you for sharing!

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  43. Every testimony is special and amazing because it's the story of how you humble yourself and give it all to God. Great post!

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  44. Thanks so much for sharing! I've been thinking about doing a post like this b/c I don't think I've actually blogged about it yet either. My testimony is much like yours and I've felt some of things you mentioned, but like you, I'm so thankful I was spared so much heartache that can come with a "dramatic" testimony. God's grace is so amazing... no matter how we come to realize we need it! So thankful for it!

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  45. Thanks for sharing this!!! It's very inspiring.
    :)

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  46. I LOVE this!! This is pretty much spot on my exact same testimony. And I seriously thank God from all that He has spared me from. Praying my girls have this exact same testimony!!! (By the way this is Lindsay from @love_blooms_here on ig 😉)

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  47. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful testimony, you are an inspiration, I am working towards making my own journey to God and trying to create the environment that my children will find their journey with God easier then mine as I grew up in avert anti religious family and my husband is a non believer yet I know that God is there for me, you and your family are an inspiration :-)

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  48. Andrea! This is sooooooo beautifully written! I hung on every single word and was nodding my head in agreement at all of it! Love you!

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  49. Thank you for sharing that. I randomly came across your blog today and I think it was so I could read this post. I have felt exactly how you felt, and I love what you said about be thankful about all God has spared you from. That is such a fantastic perspective. Your testimony has definitely touched my soul! Thank you.

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  50. My dear--that's beautiful, for the beauty is in the glorious salvation message! I, too, have often looked back on my salvation story and felt it was boring..75 years ago, as a little girl of 8, I crept downstairs long after I had been put to bed, crawled onto my Daddy's lap, and told him of all of my fears about dying or being left behind should the Lord return and gently and patiently he listened, explained, and I became part of the redeemed!

    I can say, with the hymn writer of old, "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before". Life has been full of ups and downs, sorrows and disappointments which I could not have lived through without the Lord Jesus Christ in my life.

    Thanks for your precious testimony which took me on a trip down memory lane!

    Blessings

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  51. Love this! Thanks for sharing! I too always feel like I have a "boring" testimony but you are so right, it is fabulous because He saved me and that in itself is amazing!!!

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  52. This is amazing! So encouraging and so true :) I have felt the same way before about my testimony and this is very encouraging. :) Thank you Andrea! Even though I don't know you, I see the purity of Christ in you and in the way you live. You are such a light for Him!

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  53. U always think my testimony is boring too. But this is exactly what I needed to hear and in perfect timing. :) God is Good.

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  54. I don't know if I've ever met someone with such a similar testimony as me including not being able to watch The Simpsons! I too have to remind myself that my testimony is just as powerful as more dramatic journeys. Thanks for sharing! It is an encouragement!

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  55. Your testimony is perfect. Thank you for showing your love for God. <3

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  56. Absolutely loved this. God has a special plan for us all. I am so glad this was His testimony for you. I love the part about how God saved you from a lot of bad things by accepting Him young. I too accepted him young and have never thought of it exactly that way. I absolutely love thag. This is so so true. It is wonderful and something to be said to keep on keep on in the Christian walk. Thanks for sharing your heart. These are always my favorite posts. Xoxoxo

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  57. Thank you so much for this. God is so intentional and I've been struggling with the decision to share my testimony with our youth on Sunday nights. So many kids and adults have experienced so much worse, and while my life hasn't been perfect, I haven't suffered the pain I feel most of them have. But this is God speaking to me, telling me it's still a testimony, it's what He has chosen for me, and there is a purpose! There are many kids that will be able to relate to mine, just how I can relate to yours! Thank you for sharing! God is so good!

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  58. Thank you for sharing this! We are leading our Newlywed Class through a study of Ephesians and have challenged them all to be prepared to tell their story. And the best way to be prepared is to share with those in a safe space. Each Sunday this month we have had our class share their testimonies. They have all been "boring" but there is such beauty in those stories - it's testimonies of faithfulness, of brokenness in the every day, of gratefulness and love. HE makes our stories compelling and real. Thanks again for sharing!

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