To All of the Rihannahs of the World by Elaine Taylor Brown
If he hits you once
He’ll hit you twice
He’ll beat you again and again
He’ll cry and he’ll swear that
He would not dare
But soon you will see
Your scars back they will be
You must love yourself
Or you may visit your death
Heaven for the Sinner by Genesse Castillo
How did it start you might ask?
The story began when I was 16.
3 years after my Mom died.
This was also the age I lost my
virginity.
Quickly lured into the lust I felt inside.
Which was why I had so much PRIDE.
Waiting on His Will by Diamond Jones
“Dear God: Today I find myself burdened by loneliness and wallowing in my singleness. I know you aim to use my desire to be in an intimate relationship with a man as a means to deepen my relationship with you. Help me to find peace and contentment in my current situation and find my wholeness in you.”
On December 25, 2018, I wrote that prayer on a prayer card and placed it in my prayer box. It was my sign of surrender- surrendering my desires, surrendering my frustrations, and surrendering my doubts over to God.
God’s Timing by Doris Greenlee
I’m 68 years old, my sobriety date is Jan 18, 2019, and I’ve been sober for almost 4 years "one day at a time” by the grace of God. I thank Him for doing for me what I couldn’t do for myself. I started my drinking career (I say career because it was hard labor, any alcoholic in recovery will agree with me on that fact.) in my early 20s, drinking beer with ice in it because I didn’t like the way it tasted; however, I was not drinking it for the taste, I was drinking it for the “effect”.
From Death to Life by Marian Adejokun
My name is Marian Adejokun, I was diagnoized with a deadly, rare illness known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TENS) back in January 2011. I remember as if it was yesterday... I was at college and told my teacher my eyes were itching me from there I went home and informed my mom and she told me to call the doctor's office and I was told by the doctors to buy over-the-counter eye drops (Optrex). My mom administered the eye drops into my eyes and within 30 minutes, blisters started coming up under my feet and my whole body (pouring water on myself was excruciatingly painful).
My Supernatural Encounter with Jesus by Dakota Rhodes
I encountered Jesus in a supernatural way.
Before I get into specifics about that, let me tell you about myself prior to Jesus. As most people would say, they grew up knowing about God; I was one of them, but only until I was 14 years old, then my anxiety took a turn for the worse. I started to pray every night to Him, though at this point, I still didn’t really know God by any means.
God Saved me From Myself by Tamara South
Suicide in the United States is ranked third for young people aged 15 to 19. There is one suicide every 15.2 seconds. I am a suicide survivor. I have decided to tell my testimony to encourage someone who may not be feeling like there is hope in life. I want to let you know that God has you here for a purpose. I pray that you are inspired by my testimony, and that you choose to live and not die!
Grief by Ellie Fernandez
Like wide, firm hands being pressed deep into the skin on my chest, the pressure remains. My heart tender, my eyes wide, tears welling up from the depths of my being, forming and falling, forming and falling. Each tear rolling down my cheek, each telling a story of pain, sorrow, and each tear being captured by my father’s kind warm hands. Grief, the word that sends shivers down spines or puts knots in others’ throats. There are those kinds of people that meet grief with ‘at least’s,’ the silver lining of such pain, who haven’t learned the art of getting lowly, falling to your knees, and being messy as our Jesus so honestly does.
Purpose Redeemed by Rashida Weekes
Six years ago, I was in therapy, fighting for my life. My purpose versus my desires. Picture yourself playing tug-of-war with the enemy for your soul. The deal is, if you win, you’ll be free, but if you lose, you will have to live as a slave to your desires for the rest of your life. This was my life for nine years; it was like being on a rollercoaster with peaks and valleys of fire.
Mustard Seed Faith by Camille Jones
In Matthew 17:20, Jesus spoke of the mighty mustard seed: “…If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Faith is the seed. When planted, it produces a cycle of kingdom building and expansion through ministering to others and uniting faith. My husband and I are on a mission to plant seeds of faith and move mountains, all for the glory and kingdom of God.
Where I am now by Monica Theophilus
Friday, May 20th, 2016, was the day life as I knew it came crashing down before me. That day I was given a chance at living a life of salvation, freedom, peace, joy, and abundance. I recall the pain of rejection when my then-boyfriend of three years explained he wanted to break up. We were having problems in our relationship because I wanted to make things right with God and quit fornicating, but he did not share the same convictions. I had accepted the responsibility for changing a man when that was not my job, but I still wanted to make things work. However, God had a different plan for me.
Looking for Love Until it Found me by Tessa Hopman
Have you ever felt condemned or judged before? Let me tell you, my friend… That's not how Jesus sees you!
When I moved to America for my last year of high school, I was broken. I grew up in a household where I was made to feel too much and not enough at the same time. The sad thing is my parents didn't even do it on purpose! My dad was a workaholic, choosing work over his family, and my mom left when I was six, not realizing that she wasn't just leaving my workaholic dad; she was leaving me too.
A FREED Testimony by Michelle L. Early
I did not know at the time that God was writing my testimony.
As I laid on that bed, confessing to my mother everything that my brother had done, I did not know that God was still writing the words to His story in my life and that these words would set me free.
I was not Born to die by Yolanda Lugo
At 14 years old, life is just starting. High School, friends, and no “adult responsibilities.” I was dating a pretty popular kid in school, so I felt like I had made it! But why were thoughts of suicide such a reality? Why was walking into a street when cars were coming an invitation to “freedom?” With my arms raised high, hair flowing, how will this car hitting my body feel? Depression is real; it chased me and haunted me because it was my friend.
A LAMENTATION FOR THE HOMELESS BY ZOE PATRICIO
Earlier this year, I wrote a lamentation. Wow. It speaks to what we need… help. Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. My father is homeless. He is hopeless. He is suffering.
THE ROAD TO FREEDOM BY DEBORA SHANLEY
There was a part of my past that I kept out of my testimony for many years, and it increasingly burdened my heart as time went on. Until, in 2019, God gave me the courage to finally share it with the world, and the weight I had been carrying fell right off of me. The Lord has called me to write my story to encourage others with similar experiences, so I am currently working on a book in obedience to His direction.