A Story of A Champion

Although this is a Christian girl site, we thought this would be a great story to share. It is a cross post from Consecrated to Him from 10/30/08.

Let me introduce you to my brother in law and brother in the Lord. He is living proof that our God is still in the business of doing miracles. After a 15 year drug addiction he has been delivered by God and is now completely sold out to Jesus. He is a JESUS FREAK!! I asked him to share his story and his experience from this weekend. I give you Mike Colon.. A story of a champion.

My name is Mike Colon and I am 30 years of age. This weekend I was blessed to have an opportunity to go into the prisons with the Bill Glass Prison Ministry WOC. Before I explain the awesome experience I had I figured I should give my testimony so you can understand just how big our God is.

My early childhood was pretty normal, grew up in a family with parents, an older brother, and a younger brother. We had a typical American Puerto Rican family. We lived in a nice home, had family vacations and grew up very close to our extended family. I was always a model student, played lots of sports and was actively involved in music in school. When I was going into the 8th grade we moved from New Jersey to Hollywood, FL and the transition really started my downward spiral. Within just a couple months of moving to Florida I was hanging with the wrong crowd, skipping school and started smoking marijuana. It was in my freshman year of high school when I just started living for the flesh.

My days started and ended with drugs, I was always late to class, grades fell and the things that were once important in my life didn’t matter anymore. It’s to no surprise that soon enough marijuana was not enough. My school was in a very “upper-class” neighborhood but that just meant drugs were easier to find. I started doing a lot of LSD and cocaine. By the time I was a junior I had gotten arrested several times and had gotten one of my girlfriends pregnant. I dropped out of high school in my senior year with 2 children and started selling drugs. I was seeking every possible fleshy way of filling the void that was empty this whole time.

From this point on in my life I was a “functioning” drug addict… I always had good jobs and even got my GED and was in college for pre-med/nursing. It wasn’t until recently that I realized even though I denied God as a young adult (I even went as far as considering myself agnostic) God always protected me. I continued on this path of destruction, always justifying my actions because I had a job and a family. In the years to follow I dropped out of college and continued living crazy. In that time I met my wife… about 8 years ago.

Our lifestyles were identical. We partied and did drugs routinely; I was a terrible boyfriend and a bad father. We had 2 beautiful daughters that I never appreciated until recently. And before I realized it I found myself deeply addicted to oxycontin and other pain killers.

In early December 2007, my older brother and his wife basically did an intervention on me and I went to a detox facility. Before entering the detox center, I was given a book called “Lose That Man and Let Him Go” by Bishop TD Jakes. This was the beginning of the end of my previous life. On my detox bed I prayed to God and asked him to help me change my life and I promised that if He did this I would dedicate my life to the Gospel.

Well, here I am! I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior on December 19, 2007 at Calvary Chapel Ft.Lauderdale and have never looked back. The addictions, the strongholds and the person I had been were instantly and miraculously gone. Our God, the Ultimate Redeemer, changed what many thought was the unchangeable… ME.

Since being born again, I’ve married my loving wife. God’s miracles didn’t just stop at me; they also impacted my wife… The change God has done in her life is just a whole other story. I’ve redeemed my relationship with my kids and I have dedicated my life to the Gospel. I am now actively involved in my Church and various ministries including the prison ministry event this past weekend.

I have to start by saying this weekend was AWESOME. I kinda expected to have a blessed weekend doing Kingdom work but never expected to be this fulfilled. This was my very first prison ministry event and I was really concerned that I wasn’t going to be ready. After praying over and over, God comforted me and explained that I didn’t need to be “prepared” I just needed to trust God and He would do the rest. Talk about a “conduit”. I truly felt God’s presence in the prison and I knew the words I spoke were the words of our heavenly Father. This experience was confirmation to me that God has a bigger plan for me and I could almost relate to the joy the Apostles must have felt leading people to know Jesus.

There were several incredible experiences I had this weekend doing Gods work but my best experience was at Dade Correctional Facility. After the guest speaker concluded his testimony he asked the inmates to take a look around to see the volunteers who were there to help talk to them about God. I noticed an inmate acting very “hardcore” just a couple feet in front of me (I mean what can we expect of these guys, they are in prison). But when he began looking around we caught eyes and to my surprise, standing in front of me was one of my best friends from middle and high school. When we caught eyes, immediately the “hardcore” image disappeared and in front of me was a very lost, broken individual, screaming for help. At this point I knew why God sent me to that particular prison, we talked for a little while and he proceeded to tell me he needed to change and he knew by my very presence that Jesus was the way. He pretty much said, “If God can change you, I know he can change me.” My heart screamed “THANK YOU JESUS!” and I was privileged to lead my once very carnal best friend to the love of our Almighty Savior, Jesus! Seeing my old friend and leading him to the Lord was incredible and took the cake!

This weekend helped me realize that we are all ministers in the Body of Christ and we are called to spread the Good News. I was able to lead a total of 16-18 once lost men to Christ this weekend and I am confident God will help them change. One of the guest speakers said this weekend we “increased the enrollment in Heaven and decreased the enrollment in hell.” The Bible says angels in heaven rejoice when just one sinner repents. Could you imagine the party in heaven this weekend… Hallelujah and thank you Jesus for this ministry. It has changed me!

Light Up the Room

Written by Trophy of Grace
Cross Post from Consecrated to Him

“You are the world’s light-a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16

While I was shopping this past Christmas I found a beautiful mosaic candle holder. Its red and gold with two gold crosses on the front and on the back. I just had to get a closer look so I took it into my hands. As I held it I heard the Holy Spirit say,

“This candle holder is just like the believers. You are covered in the blood of Jesus and marked by the Holy Spirit with His mark. Your life was shattered into pieces and then I came and put the pieces back together for you. You are sealed with the Holy Spirit. You are beautiful and have become a beautiful mosaic that I have put my light in. When you are full of my Spirit you brighten the room and provide light and direction for others to find their way to Me.”

When I saw the price I just had to have it. As soon as I got home I immediately took this unique candle holder up to my bedroom where it would be safe from our many children. I put the candles in it and turned off the lights so that I could see its beauty. Just as I expected the cross gleamed in the darkness of my room. I couldn’t take my eyes of it. I just had to smile at the thought of being like this beautiful mosaic candle holder lighting up the darkness.

As believers I think that one of our hearts desires is to want to be the light in the darkness, to be the light in a dark room, in a dark world. We should honestly ask ourselves, “Do I bring light to what ever room I’m in with words of life and encouragement? Am I the light in my family, at my job, or at my school? Do others know that I belong to Christ? Does my walk match my talk?

You can tell if others know that you belong to Christ and see your light because they act different when you enter the room. Maybe they don’t curse as much, or apologize when they do, dirty conversations will stop when you walk in, and they respect the Holy Spirit in you. When you are around they want to act right or be good.

Our Lord has said that we are the world’s light-a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all. Our Lord wants us to let everyone that comes into contact with us see the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We must be careful not to hide our light. We are hiding our light when we:

Stay quiet when we know we should speak the Truth. Don’t be scared to speak the Word of God. He has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. Remember that not everyone will receive what you have to say, but you have to trust the Lord’s promise that His Word never returns void, but it will accomplish all that He sent it out for, it will prosper. (2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 55:11)

Compromise the Word of God and go along with the rest of the world. We are supposed to be different than the world. Our ways, thoughts, and desires should line up with the Word of God. If we look the same and act the same as the rest of the world then how will those who need Christ know that we are different? When unbelievers see us walking in love, caring for the needs of others, and speaking truth and life they will know that we are different and will be drawn to the Love that is in us. When we compromise they will think that we are no different then they are, lost in sin.

Give into sin. We are no longer slaves to sin. When you are deadened to sin you are freed from all its allure and its power over you. So then we should not allow ourselves to get caught up in the former things that use to keep us in bondage or ensnared by new sinful practices. No one who has become part of God’s family makes a practice of sinning, for Christ, God’s Son, holds him securely and the devil cannot get his hands on him. (Romans 6:6-7, 1 John 5:18)

Don’t share the Gospel with the many lost souls around us. We have been commissioned by Jesus Christ to share the Gospel with the world. It is not just the job of our pastor or the missionaries. You can not financially support some missionaries or your church and say that you have done your part. You are not to go to church to get full of the Word just to become a fatter Christian. Exercise by sharing the Gospel with others. The Lord will give you the Words to speak. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Ignore the needs of others. But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won’t help him-how can God’s love be within him? Let us stop saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. (1 John 3:17-18, Isaiah 58:10—11)

You are the light of this world. Don’t hide your light share it with others! Let your light shine! Light up the room!! Light up the world!! This is God’s will for our lives.

Happy New Year from Consecrated to Him

Written by: Trophy of Grace

Cross Post from Consecrated to Him

Start this New Year off by rejoicing in our Lord. Rejoice because He is faithful to us. Praise Him because His mercy and grace endures forever. Lift up the name of Jesus because He continuously shows us His kindness and intercedes on our behalf. Shout for joy because we have a new year to keep fighting the good fight of faith. This year will surely be better than the last.

I am so excited to see what the Lord will unveil this year. What new revelations will I receive? How much more of His plan will He show me? How much more will I grow and be transformed? How will He choose to use me?

Every new year we have here on this earth is another year of opportunity to grow in the knowledge of Christ and help win souls for the kingdom of heaven. If there is any resolution or promise that is made this year let it be that we promise not to let the Word of God depart from our mouth; but that we will meditate on it day and night, so that we may be careful to do everything that is written in it. Then we will be prosperous and successful. If we promise to do this then everything else will fall into place. (Joshua 1:8)

As we draw closer to the Lord He will draw closer to us. As we read His Word and meditate on it Christ will be more and more at home in our hearts, He will be living in us as we trust Him. Our roots will begin to go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and we may be able to feel and understand, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is. We will experience this love for ourselves, though it is so great that we will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it.

This year I pray that we will grow up in the Word and continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in the faith, and overflow with thankfulness. May we live our lives worthy of the Lord and may we please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. Then we will be equipped to fulfill the Great Commission our Lord gave to His disciple and to us all.

“He told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you, and be sure of this-that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

So let your roots grow down deep into the Word this year and allow the Lord to continue the good work that He has started in your life. You have no idea the good things that He has prepared for you this year. He has so much He wants to show you and pour into you. Your cup will overflow so that you can pour into others. So rejoice and expect our Lord to reveal more of Himself and His love to you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

It's All About A Relationship

Written by Trophy of Grace

True followers of Christ understand that Jesus died in our place for our sins and because of the blood that was shed at Calvary we now have right standing with God. We are made righteous with God because of what Christ Jesus did. We can now go boldly before the throne of God so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. We now have the opportunity to have a real relationship with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. (1 Peter 1:18-19, Isaiah 53:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:16)

Do you really understand what that means? Christianity is NOT about religion or about being religious. Christianity is all about having a relationship with the Almighty God! It’s about spending time with Jesus through reading the Word, prayer, and fellowshipping with other believers resulting in becoming more like Christ.
Don’t let anyone complicate the simplicity of Christianity. It helps me to always remember the following things:

Ø We are all sinners and guilty of breaking God’s laws. The wages of our sin is death. (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 59:2, Romans 6:23)

Ø If we believe in Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord we will receive forgiveness for our sins and be saved from hell, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.( John 3:36, John 11:25-26, Psalm 50:22, Psalm 25:18, Luke 15:10, Romans 10:9, Matthew 22:12-13, Matthew 24: 50-51, Luke 13:27-28)

Ø We are sons and daughters of God Almighty. He is our Heavenly Father who is always watching over us and constantly thinking good thoughts towards us. He has good plans for our lives. He is our Helper and our Deliverer. We can put all our trust in Him because He cares for us. (Romans 8:14, Galatians We 4:5-7, 1 John 3:2, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Peter 3:12, Psalm 139:17-18, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Psalm 27:8-10, Psalm 37:39-40, Psalm 54:5, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 4:5, Psalm 2:12, Psalm 84:12, Proverbs 30:5, 1 Peter 5:7)

Ø The Holy Spirit lives in us and we are the temple of God. We are called to live holy and clean lives. We are to be living testimonies for others to read. (Ephesians 2:22; 1 John 3:24; 4:13, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Ø The Word of God is what renews our minds and changes us so that we become doers of the Word and not just hearers. Our bible needs to be our best friend. It has all the answers and comfort we need. (Romans 12:2, James 1:22, 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:50, Romans 14:4, Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 119:165)

Ø We are no longer slaves to sin. The temptations in our life are no different from what others experience. God is faithful and will not allow the temptation to be more than we can stand. When we are tempted, he will show us a way out so that we can endure. (Romans 6, 1 Corinthians 10:13)

Ø All we need to do is seek God first and everything else will follow. We will change and our circumstances change as a result of seeking God’s face and spending time with Him. We’ll never be perfect until we get to heaven, but that’s still our goal. (Matthew 6:33, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:10-14)

Our Heavenly Father will continue the good work He started in us. He is going to be working on us daily if we allow Him to. God is our Heavenly Father who is constantly teaching us principles for living. He is preparing us daily for war against the enemy. He gives us tests and rewards. He is loving and protective over us. Our Heavenly Father will also discipline and chastise us. You are in a relationship with the Creator of Heaven and Earth because of Jesus’ loving sacrifice. Meditate on that daily. (Isaiah 55:11, Philippians 1:6, Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:7-13)

So don’t be burdened by the idea of a religion. Take heart knowing that the Almighty God is your Heavenly Father who just wants to love and teach you. Allow Him to truly be Lord over your life and you will see that Jesus is truly The Way, The Truth, and The Life. (John 14:6)


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