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Another Special Life in Christ
These testimony lives are not stories of "role models". Jesus is the
role model!
These are lives wonderfully touched & changed by Jesus!
Shelia Holcomb:
(Shelia sent me this testimony in a 21 March 2003
e-mail, and her story reminds me of some others on this website...see list #1 & list #2.
Before I
begin my testimony I feel it is important to give you some information on my childhood, so you will
be better able to understand some of the decisions I made in my life, however stupid they may have
been. But every decision I have made during my lifetime, good or bad, is what has brought me
to where I am now; and I am very thankful for the mountains and the valleys.
When I was born, my mother was only fifteen years old. And now, years
later and after I went through the process of forgiving her and working through many things, I am
now able to look at her life through her eyes to try to better understand how she must have felt.
Someone gave me this advice when I was really struggling with all of this: I was told that maybe I
could forgive easier if I try to see her life through her eyes and not the eyes of a hurt child.
You know what...it worked! I can understand her more clearly now. She was not mature enough to take
care of herself, much less a baby. So, she would send me here and there to whomever would be
willing to take me at that particular time. Most of the time it was my grandmother. Several times
throughout my life she would decide that she wanted me back, and she would come and uproot me
again. I never really knew any stability in my life, and I always felt as if no one really
loved me or wanted me.
Then, at the age of nine, she came and got me and took me away from
my grandmother which, really at this point of my life, was the only mother I had ever known; and I
was very attached to her. Anyway, my mother came and took me to Illinois, where she lived. By
this time she had remarried, and she had two more children by her new husband. He hated me,
and the only reason I could figure out was simply that I was not his child. Now this was not
my fault, although I did blame myself for many years. He started out just physically abusing
me; but, at the age of nine, that changed. He raped me, and this abuse went on until I was
thirteen; and I finally told my mother. She didn’t believe me; actually, no one believed me.
Finally I just let it drop, and I buried all of those feelings of anger and hate for years. That
has now all been dealt with and forgiven; and now it is all under the precious blood of Jesus,
Praise God! I told my mother that I wanted to go back to Memphis to live with my grandmother,
and she consented just because she felt I was causing so much trouble (and she did not want to be
bothered).
By then, my grandmother was now also remarried; and I resented
him for taking her away from me too. You must remember: I was only a child, and I felt like
she was all I had; and now I had lost her too. I was very hateful to him and caused so many
problems. But he was very kind and loving to me; but I just could not accept what he was offering
to me. My grandmother...finally after a long struggle...went to the courts and told the judge
that I was out of control and that they just could not handle me any longer. So they removed me and
placed me in a foster home. The home I went to was wonderful; but, at that time, I could not see
things clearly. All I could see was that the only person who really should love me had now turned
her back on me, as well. I just wanted my grandmother; so, I ran away. The courts then really
called my bluff! So, as a ward of the State of Tennessee, I was placed in a Catholic all-girls
reform school for three and a half years. Now, as I look back, I can honestly say it was one
of the best things that ever happened to me. But, at that time, all I could see was that I
was totally alone, unloved, and unwanted in this great big world.
Now I will jump ahead some. In 1987, I lost my three children
to their father; and I totally lost it. I turned heavily to alcohol; and, eventually, that
turned into crack and cocaine. By this time I had lost everything, including my dignity...as
I had turned to prostitution to support my drug habit. I was arrested several times on
various charges, but I was never convicted; and I never served any time. I know that God was taking
care of me. Even back then in my sin, He saw what I would be one day in Him. I give GOD all
the PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY for all that I am today...and all that I will be.
Jesus comes onto the scene
The drugs
and my roaming had taken me to many places. But, on December 20, 1990, I came across a man that
told me about Jesus and how He could deliver me and make my life an example to others. I had
not eaten in a couple of days, and he asked me if I was hungry. So he took me to a restaurant and
bought me something to eat. The entire time he shared about Jesus Christ with me. He
told me Christ could and would set me free if I was willing, and how He (Jesus) would give me a new
life without all the pain and turmoil I was living in. Of course, being a Christian does not
eliminate us from pain, trials, and tribulation; but, with Christ in our hearts, He will give us
the strength to overcome and withstand even in the worst times. I began sharing my life story
with this man, and he still said Jesus is the answer; and boy was he right! Right then &
there I gave my heart to the Lord, and I decided to live for Him and serve Him for the rest of my
life.
Though I had sung for many years, I had destroyed my voice through
drug abuse...I just abused the gifts that God had given me. So I prayed and told the Lord
that, if He would heal and restore my voice, I would use this gift for His glory for the rest of my
life. Now, God has done exceedingly and abundantly above all that I could ask or think.
The songs that I sing (and others that I have written) are all His; I am only an instrument holding
the pen. It does not matter where you are, Christ will come to you and meet you, if you are
willing to let your life go and let Him be God of (and in) your life.
I have had so many miracles in my Christian life! I am a walking
miracle myself. One of these miracles really stands out to me, and I would like to share this
with you as well.
Medical miracle healing: About four or five years ago, I was
diagnosed with an incurable bowel condition. The doctors were not real sure what it was exactly,
but they had come to the conclusion that, with ulcers all through my body and many in my bowel
system, they said they wanted to do surgery and remove some of the bowel. My reply was that I
wanted to get prayer for this and that I believed that God was going to heal me and that I would
not need the surgery at all. They went ahead and scheduled me for another scope the following
week, just a few days after Christmas. Then, on Christmas Eve, I placed a long distance call
to a minister friend of mine and asked him to pray for me. He said, "No problem" (but that he would
need to call me back in a few minutes). While waiting for him to call back, I got about ten
bibles and placed them opened on the floor in a circle and with one opened in the middle of the
circle. When he called me back, I knelt on the bible in the middle and said, "Pray!”
When he prayed for me, the fire of God hit me and went through me. I had such a peace come over
me. I went over to my bed and fell asleep (now Adam was put into a deep sleep...according to
Genesis...when God removed the rib to create woman). In a sense, God did something similar for me.
As I lay there sleeping, He performed surgery on me to heal my body. I slept for seventeen
hours; and, when I woke, the bleeding had stopped and so had the pain. I knew without a doubt that
I was healed by the precious hand of the Master. I was on about $400.00 worth of medicine a
month, and I went into the kitchen and threw it all in the trash. I did go back for the scope
when I was scheduled, and the doctors were amazed there were no ulcers anywhere, and I just praised
God for His healing power. See other faith & health information [here].
I am now an ordained minister, and I am married to a wonderful man
who is also a minister. We know God has put us together for a ministry, and we are enjoying
serving the Lord together. I am now a southern gospel singer\songwriter. The Lord has
blessed me, and I will continue on this road He has placed me on; for my desire is only to serve
Him. I will travel anywhere I am invited to give my testimony or to sing or both. God
is wonderful, and it is to His glory that I am writing this. If one soul is reached in any way,
then this is worth everything.
Again, I cannot stress enough that this is for the glory of God that
I am here and that my life is what it is today; for, without Christ, we are nothing. But, through
Him, we are joint heirs with Him. He is our Deliverer, Savior, Helper, and Healer; and any
problem we may have is never too great for Him to help us. We just have to take it to Him and leave
it at His feet and in His care. I thank God for His power is still healing...still saving and
still delivering. He is good all the time. I have made my mistakes, but His grace is
sufficient. God loves us; and, if we truly repent and confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we can help anyone out there, please contact us at the information
provided below; and we will do our best to help in any way we can. If you have questions
about loved ones who may be on drugs or other addictions, we will try to answer your questions. If
we do not know, we will do our best to find the answer for you. If you have loved ones that
you need prayer for, we will gladly join you in agreeing to pray for that person for the
Kingdom. Please always remember that we are all human, and we will all make mistakes. But
just confess to God those mistakes and get them under the blood of Jesus as soon as possible. God
still loves us, and He will help us in all of our situations.
So many have
asked me about my children: they are all very close to me, now...even though they live far from me.
My oldest daughter is in Canada with her husband and their son. My baby girl is in Memphis, Tenn.;
and she has two little girls that are beautiful. And my son is in Miss. with his wife, and they
have a son and another one on the way. My husband and I also have several adopted children, and one
lives here in Texas by us and plans to marry (she does have a 6 year old son who keeps us all on
our toes). I just wanted to let everyone know that when God restores He does a great
job.
GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL. I GIVE FULL PERMISSION TO ANYONE
WHO CAN USE THIS TESTIMONY TO COPY IT AND GIVE IT OUT OR TO SHARE IT PUBLICLY, BUT PLEASE GIVE ALL
THE GLORY AND PRAISE TO GOD. THANK-YOU. WE ARE YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER IN CHRIST
JESUS.
Jerry & Shelia Holcomb, Palestine, Texas
Feel free to email us at:
rainbow1@imws.net
http://rainbowoftexas.org
***give me your comments about this
page***
(posted 26 March 2003)
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You have just read a very brief example of the
powerful, supernatural transformation of a person's life which is possible through the
acceptance of Jesus as your savior. Are you tired of life as it now is for you? He will
accept you just as you are right this second! Consider accepting Jesus now
[check it
out]!
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