Martha's Testimony

Dear Friend,

You don't know me but there's something important I need to share with you. You see, so many people wonder, as I did, if God is real. My parents had told me all my life that God was real but I couldn't grasp it myself. When I was eighteen I got married and within four years had two children. I started living what I thought was life. It wasn't long before great troubles came and married life became hard to live. I thought things wouldn't get better and I almost gave up believing they would.

During those hard times my mother told me God could help me. She had served Him for many years, but I couldn't see Him or understand Him as she did. My life took a turn for the worse when my marriage fell apart. I was separated from my husband and left to raise two young children alone. Again I heard those words in my mind God can help. I was so hurt and confused and felt so alone but those sweet words came back again and again to my mind. I began to cry in the night when my children were asleep, "God if you are really real, please help me." Many nights I would cry myself to sleep.

One Sunday morning I got up and for some reason I wanted to go to church. I remembered that a friend of mine was pastor at a church in town, so I got ready and went there. To my surprise he had left and another pastor and his family were there. I remember sitting down and all I could do was weep and I didn't know why. It was as though I had been on a long journey and was finally home. I felt so safe there. I went straight to my mothers house and told her, "Mama if there's a feeling like you've finally come home, that's how I felt there today."

I began going each week to hear the Pastor preach and little by little hope began to build inside of me. Just as I began to feel loved again I faced another crisis that completely broke me inside. That same night I was suppose to attend church and I almost didn't go. I thought they would all know that I'd been crying, but I went anyway. When I got there everyone welcomed me, as always, so lovingly. I listened to the word of God preached and then an altar call was given. I didn't think about it, I just got up and went. The hurt I felt was so strong and the need for help overwhelmed me. Not with words, but with my heart, I reached out and God's son Jesus interceded for me before the Father. Salvation was granted through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. The love of God rushed in and I felt so much hurt rushing out. It's so hard to explain, but maybe someday I can tell all that happened. There and then I was born again, released from sin and darkness into real life and hope.

If you had told me that night that my life would begin again, a fresh new start, I would have thought you were crazy. Yet, my life was changed in a moment from hopelessness to all hope. I felt as though I had been washed, and you see I really had been. The blood of Jesus washed all those hurts and sins away.

Today I know the God my parents always told me about is truly real. You see, when you reach out to God, he will reach to you always. The one thing you must be ready to reach for is the truth and when you search for truth, you always find God and his Son Jesus. I look back and see how God began to draw me to a place where He would deal with me and set me free. I couldn't see it then, but now I look back and see the love and mercy of God toward me and it's for you too.

We both have someone in common, Almighty God, creator of the heavens and earth, creator of all mankind. He wanted to save all mankind, so because of His great love and mercy He sent His son Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sins. Sin brought me to where I was, but Jesus brought me to where God longs for all of us to be, with Him. God loves you so much, and so do I. You may say, but you don't know me. No, I don't know your face, but by prayer and God's word I can't help but love you. I can do this because God has shown me His great love for you. I'm praying that you will begin searching for the truth. I pray that everyone that reads this testimony will find the love that God is so willing to give.

I'm so glad I received His love and mercy. Begin to search and cry out to God for help and He will bring you to where He can help you. Ask Him and He will draw you to a place of safety in His Son. I didn't write this letter of testimony to gather people to a building, but there is a place where people will love you and reveal God's love to you.

My desire is to let you know that the truth of God's word will free you from anything if you will receive it; I know first hand how it feel's to be bound up and I know how it feel's to be free and content. The freedom I have in Christ is what I truly desire for you also.