Gil’s Testimony

Looking back on years past and knowing where I am today, my life has always been one with the Lord.   BUT all through my early years I did not really realize it.   Not until around age 40, living in Bowie Maryland, did I finally come to recognize God’s Hand on me.   After two years of attending a prayer group every Saturday night, I took the step and asked Jesus to come into my life and baptize me with the Holy Spirit (being born again – John 3:1-21) - - - and HE (Jesus) did do that very thing.   This was NOT a big explosive experience but a very gentle, loving, hugging one.

I KNEW this time, when the Lord touched me that HE was real and came to live in and with me.   BUT, even after being “born again”, I still had my times of trouble with depression, doubts and attacks by Satan.   I learned through years of receiving Bible teachings, much personal reading and studying that when a person turns their life over to the Lord, after living a life where they focused only on their own life -- Satan does not easily turn loose!   I had to be extremely persistent and faithful in my walk with the Lord.   As time passed, I became stronger in the Lord as HE was with me and carried me through the many walks on rocky shores and through rough waters.   Even now, I am still growing in the Lord each day but I would not trade one moment of my growth in the Lord for anything that the world can offer me.   Being a “born again” Christian, I believe in using all the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the fullest as HE determines for me.    

Going back to prior years before age 40, I can look back and see where my life took a decidedly different turn starting around the years 1957-1958.   I was attending a Lutheran (Missouri Synod) Church in Torrance, California.   There was a prayer group that met each week at church where they prayed for many things and people – physical, emotional and spiritual healings were very evident – peoples lives were changed, healings from cancer and other diseases and the church flourished spiritually and in numbers.

I remember them telling me that they were praying for me emotionally and spiritually.   When I graduated from college they gave me a party and gave me a little statue of a “hobo” (I have it even today).   That statue represented exactly how I felt in those days and they all knew it.   I accepted the statue and the party and went on my way … not really knowing the people or feeling the affect of their prayers …and still not realizing the Lord was with me.

As time passed, I lost all contact with the church as I moved to Houston, then to Philadelphia with General Electric.  G.E. lost a large contract and I was scheduled for lay off – but was assured by an upper manager of continued employment with G.E. and that he knew someone at Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland that would hire me.  

It was while in Maryland during fall of 1972, that the Lord really changed my life and I thank the praying people in Torrance, California for the beginning of this real turn around in my life with the Lord.   In January 1976, I was transferred back to G.E., Valley Forge and began coming to Centennial that summer.

As you read this testimony, look back on your life AND YOU WILL SEE the Lord guiding you in a specific direction - - - All you need to do is allow yourself to look through eyes opened by the Holy Spirit.

 How about you? Do you have a testimony of turning your life over to Christ, or a witness story about how God increased your faith?  Put it in Patty’s narthex mailbox or e mail to: pattykissinger@centenniallutheran.org

Note:  Have you just read this testimony and want to respond to the author – send me your reply and I’ll see that they get it!  Blessings, Patty