I've been wanting to put testimonies from different people from church on here and so this is from Donna!
“I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
Despite always having the dream of becoming a nurse, moving to Baltimore, and working at Johns Hopkins, I know I didn’t have anything to do with it actually happening. As I look back, I know it was God Who opened the doors to make it happen. A large part of the reason I moved to Baltimore was because I was desperate for more. More joy, more out of life, more GOD. I didn’t believe that the Christian life was supposed to be boring and/or predictable (which is what my life was at the time). God is neither of those things!
People talk about "life-changing" experiences...mine was the day I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. My life was drastically changed that day. I had become a Christian in July of 1996 and that, although it helped to mold my life and was the greatest thing that could happen to me, wasn’t so much a life-changing experience. I was already living a “good” life. I was brought up in a Christian family with amazing parents who love God and set wonderful examples for me.
Starting to come to this church here and being taught about the Holy Spirit was a new experience for me but somehow, I felt like this was the “more” that I was longing for and 2 months after I came here, several of my friends came over and prayed for me to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
I felt like, for the first time in my life I didn’t have to work hard to feel joyful. The Bible took on new meaning for me. I don’t know what I was—or wasn’t—reading before, but I was able to read and believe that Jesus meant what He said when He said "These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them (Mark 16:17-18)" I started seeing God work in big ways. Ways that I never saw before—because I never needed Him so much before.
One of my favorite songs to sing here at our church goes like this, "Through You the blind will see, through You the mute will sing, through You the dead will rise, through You all hearts will praise, through You all darkness flees, through You my heart screams 'I am free...I am free to run, I am free to dance, I am free to live for You. I AM FREE." And truly, for the first time ever in my life, I am free. Free from religion, free in every area of life. And I know that there’s no turning back.
There were a lot of people who were expecting me to come to Baltimore and “lose it,” go off the deep end, etc…I’m so happy to say that I have lost it. I’ve lost depression, I’ve lost religion, and I’ve lost despair. In it’s stead I’ve gained joy, peace, and Jesus! And I have “gone off the deep end.” I believe in “crazy” things. I believe in miracles. I believe in God’s will being done on earth just like it is in Heaven…
I’ve always had life but now I have abundant life. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
