Jeremy's Testimony

When I came to Buffalo, I was entering a very turbulent time in my life.  I wasn’t really passionate about getting a PhD.  My father had passed away suddenly, and I really didn’t like living here.  I went to church, but I didn’t really know Jesus.  I knew a lot about Him, but I never committed my life to Him.  When I realized that I hadn’t surrendered my life totally to Jesus, I was scared and frustrated, because all this time I had been deceiving myself.  I thought I knew Jesus, but in reality, I was lost.  While driving to work one day, I asked Jesus to come into my heart.  I wanted to live my life right before Him from that day on. 

Through His Word the Lord showed me that I had a wrong attitude at my work.  “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  Colossians 3:22-24.  He also showed me through His Word that He was using these difficult experiences to change me and that I need to stop feeling sorry for myself.  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  James 1:2-4. 

After I started making the Lord and His will a priority in my life, He decided that I was ready to marry.  The Lord brought Cara into my life to be my wife.  We have had many opportunities to serve the Lord together.  Through one of those opportunities the Lord introduced me to my future boss.  In God’s awesome timing, He brought my PhD experience to a close.  As God says in His Word, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1.

All the praise and glory goes to my awesome God, Jesus Christ, who has given me grace and strength to get to this day!  For I could not have done it without Him!  I definitely do not deserve it!  I want to thank my family and friends for being patient and supportive both morally and financially!  I especially want to thank my wife, Cara, for her love, support, and for taking such good care of me!  “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers6:24-26

Jeremy graduated on May 11, 2006 with a Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Biochemistry, Roswell Park Cancer Institute from the Graduate School of the State University of New York at Buffalo, NY.  The title of his dissertation: "Centrosomally Localized EV15 is a Novel GTPASE activator of the Small GTPASE RAB11 and May Play Crucial Roles in Cytokinesis and Neuroblastoma Development"

 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