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Everyone has a story. When we boil it all down, our story is as simple as it is profound. Recently, during the Mariners Church Easter services, we watched several people from our church family share their stories using the front and back of a piece of cardboard. On one side: fear, and doubt. And on the other: victory and freedom.
What would you write? As “Easter people” our stories are “Easter stories” — having been brought from death to life.
So here’s YOUR chance to do the same. Write, in 10 words or less, the front and back of your “cardboard” in the comment section for this post. After we get a chance to take a look, we’ll share them on this site. We recognize the deeply personal and spiritual nature of these stories and want to maintain the safety of these stories. So, names will be hidden and emails will not be published.
Click the ADD A COMMENT button in the lower right of this page.
Questioned my father’s love for me.
Finding my TRUE FATHER’s love.
built a shack of shame and lies…
living in truth and freedom
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. Joyless song
Moving by HIS strength. Singing HIS joy.
Pursuing MY OWN DESIRES. Headstrong and stubborn.
Following GOD’S lead. Dependent on Jesus.
Violence. Guilt. ANOREXIA. CRUSHES. Humiliation. Abuse.
Freedom. Safety. GOD conquers. Love. Forgiveness.
LOST in DEPRESSION and Self-Loathing.
FOUND ACCEPTANCE in Jesus!
Molested as a child. Felt abandoned
God will NEVER abandon me!
For 45 years felt fatherless.
Now loved and cherished by Heavenly FATHER.
Broken. Single Mom. Relying on OWN strength.
RESTORED. Relying on GOD’s strength.
Born with one arm. Embarrassed, withdrawn.
Living out loud with Jesus.
Self-Criticism and SHAME
Found, Forgiven, FREED
Filled with ALCOHOL, SEX, AND PILLS for 7 years
Now… filled with the LORD for 10 MONTHS. NEVER going back.
husband: No Love. No God.
wife: Marriage stumbling, almost failing.
husband: GOD CAUGHT US.
wife: Now, celebrating almost 40 years.
Only wanted Jesus to keep me out of Hell…
Now, JESUS is my LIFE!
SANG for pride, selfishness, and industry acceptance.
Now, I sing for the one TRUE LIVING GOD.
Neglect ABUSE drugs rape
Embraced and rescued by Jesus.
Abused and demeaned by family. UNLOVED.
HIS righteousness is my WORTHINESS
Depression. Guilt. Deteriorating marriage.
Peace, Joy, revitalized marriage through Jesus.
Emptiness and doubt.
Changed heart, struggles calmed.
Addicted to FANTASY and PORNOGRAPHY.
Discovering HONESTY and TRUE INTIMACY
Diagnosed with epilepsy at 6 months old.
Found healing through Jesus. No medicine or seizures in 25 years.
Sought approval of men to make me whole.
Surrending DAILY to GOD who LOVES ME unconditionally.
Abused by father. Attempted suicide to escape.
Alive because GOD is my loving father!
Deceived by Satan’s lies and trickery.
Standing FIRM and living b y the word of TRUTH
Abandoned. Broken. Fed the void.
A new creation. 30lbs lighter now that God’s love is filling me.
Pregnant at 16. Chose abortion.
Now, empowering teen moms in THEIR journey
As a teenager was told would NEVER have kids.
Gave BIRTH 3 weeks ago to Katelyn Faith.
ANGRY insecure UNFAITHFUL.
Loving. TRUSTWORTHY. At peace.
Disowned multiple times by earthly family.
Embraced by GOD and HIS family.
Feeling WORTHLESS and UGLY.
I am HIS MASTERPIECE!!!
Feeling alone, empty, forgotten
Trusting in God’s mercy and guidance!
There is no reason live.
I am ALIVE! I am Alive! I am Alive!
Felt I was living w/o father figure.
Found that Jesus has and always be MY father figure!
before i was feeling alone not knowing who i was
now when i finally know jesus i know and im proud
Too much stuff, caught up in needing more, buying more, having more.
Content and happy! Paid off my credit card. Cut it up. Trying to Live.Simply.
Get Lost and bitter
Guide and Set me Free.
Abused~Rejected~Betrayed by husband. Devastating Sadness. Brokenhearted.
Cherished~Accepted~Redeemed by Jesus. Joy of the Lord. Everlasting Love.
Controlled by the ways of “The World”
Now I know that only God is in control!
Car accident at 17 - best friend died while I survived.
Blessed with second chance to be a blessing for others.
Just going through life and surviving
Joy-filled and strengthened by His Love, His Spirit and a Peace that only He can provide
broken family, no father, never seeing my true purpose
finding my true purpose through Christ, he is my father, I can do anything through him
Repeatedly told I will never be good enough & believing it.
Grace. Love. Strenth. Joy!
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy: Thought HE had completly left me this Easter.
But then, I heard your Song and now I feel no Pain!
Abandoned by my parents.
Adopted into God’s Family.
Chose my way, couldn’t steer
Riding down God’s highway windows down
Sought acceptance through Sex.
Finding acceptance through God.
Not mattering or fitting in with anyone in the big world.
Feeling God’s UNCONDITIONAL LOVE and knowing that I belong and are cared for by Him.
Coming out to my family in 2008
Legally Marring my partner in California
My daily life’s challenges living with ADHD as an adult
With GOD in my life, I live my life as me and share my love, happiness and joy with others. GOD does not judge people or me. He just loves all and holds our hands through each of our life’s journeys.
toldi had probable malignancy……..prayed for healing.first biopsy.NOCANCER….2nd biopsy….NO CANCER
Jan 2008
Buried in overwhelming credit card debt.
Oct 2008
the Lord Provides…debts PAID IN FULL!
Battled Alcohol and Drugs for 16 years
Through Christ Free of Addicitions for 18 years
Never enough always wanting more.
All my “NEEDS” are met. My cup runneth over!
Fear, Anxiety, and God’s not going to protect me…
I belong to Jesus and He will always have my back!
Terrified when diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.
Completely Healed by the Grace of God.
lost in anger, rage, and looking for happiness in drugs.
found in Gods grace, peace, and abundant love
Stalled out, caught up and afraid to confront my trials.
I am now looking to Jesus to lead the way.
Diagnosed with cancer in 2008
Cancer-free in 2009 and singing my song! God is my healer.
Emotionally abused and sexually humiliated by ex-boyfriend….Angry and Confused.
Letting go and letting God heal my hurts.
Seeking self worth in dead end relationships and living in the past
A content heart with a bright future because I have an eternal relationship with Jesus.
Ran from God, Resisted and Resented Religion.
Pointing to God!!!
Gave up my family for my selfish desires.
Asking God to help me get them back and this time I AM LISTENING.
Lived by my own rules and left a trail of broken marriages
Accepted God’s grace and found true joy in what is real and true
WANTED a life
had to lose my life
to find it
Single Mom struggling and wanting to be loved. Was getting married this weekend. Mr.Wrong walked away and My x-husband walked back in after leaving 12 Years ago
Following God’s wishes………for me amd my children. God is within me and my home
Perfectionist and Control Freak
Surrendered to a PERFECT SAVIOR who is in ABSOLUTE CONTROL of my life
NOBODY LOVES ME, OR EVEN CARES…
…but GOD DOES, and that’s all I care about anymore
Molested as a child. Scared. Broken. Depressed. Ran to escape.
RESCUED by JESUS. Peace. Safe.
Divorced,Bankrupt and disillusioned
The God of more than enough came to my rescue. Now Blessed beyond my wildest dreams.
betrayed, abused, abandoned, shattered into million pieces by ex-husband
happy, content, moving on all because of God’s faithfulness
Tormented everywhere daily for a long season. The battles causing great despair almost to the point of death.
Finding inexpressible peace in the midst of the battle through the power of His might and the comfort of His unfailing love.
Angry Victim
Humble Servant
alone
found in You
Will lose my job of 22 years in July.
GOD will PROVIDE, of this I AM SURE!
Victim
Conqueror
Was selfish, insecure and betrayed my wife by walking out on our marriage. Tried to ignore God.
God kept after me. Finally woke up, reconciled my marriage and experiencing real security in my Heavenly Father.
abused, raped, addicted, beaten, single mom, frightened, angry
Freed from the pain because of Jesus!
Molested as a child, physically abused, raped, didn’t love myself, didn’t want to live.
Saved by a loving God who rescued me from myself and showed me that I am worth loving.
Hurt by my divorced, alcoholic, drug addicted mother & father. Felt alone during most of my life’s struggles and unloved.
Seeking God’s truth for my life and trusting him everyday with hopes of a brighter future.
Shunned by Jehovah’s Witness father and his entire family after joining Mariners.
I’m happier at Mariners and it’s my new home!
Worry about things that i have no control over. stress is shown with sleepless nights and yelling at family for no reason…..
let God take my life and guide me to the place he wants me to be…
Parkinson’s disease threatened my will to live…
There is purpose to my life as I find strength in the shadow of God’s wings.
3 DUI’s, drunk and alone with no God.
Found God, got sober (5 1/2 yrs) & now happily married!