Pembury Baptist Church

The Promiseland Plus team last Sunday morning used the testimonies of those who answered the question 'What Difference Has Jesus Made in Your Life?' to show the many ways Jesus works in His people and guides them.  Many have said how encouraging they found these personal experiences so here we publish them in full for your ongoing support and blessing.  Thank you to all those who gave their time to submit these wonderful stories and thank God for the way He has used them.

'Whenever I am not sure whether what I'm doing or thinking is right I ask 'What would Jesus think if he was right here now?'  Jesus' life gives me an example to follow. He shows me what God's character is really like. He shows me how much God really loves me, is prepared to forgive all my stupidity and will still welcome me.  Jesus shows me resurrection life.'

'It would be easier to answer what Jesus has not done!  Healed my mind. Healed my emotions. Healed my confidence. Healed my knee. Blessed me with a wife. Blessing my finances.  Made / making my life whole with eternal meaning/purpose. Freed/freeing me from lies / bondages.  Gives my life eternal perspective.  Intimate relationship with God.  Directs my paths/ decisions.  Fills me with joy.  Governs my life.  Last but not least: eternal life, Heaven is gonna be so cool, can’t wait!'

'He brings a sense of peace at times when no one or nothing else can.  At the time of my Mum’s death I found it helpful to visualise Jesus standing between heaven and earth, one hand holding mine and his other hand holding my Mum’s. I know that He is with me now and forever.'

'The knowledge that I can trust someone to guide my life. That I don’t have to worry about big decisions in my life because I know that he knows and will show me the right way. That even tough I’ve made awful mistakes in my life, Jesus can and does turn everything to good when I hand it to him. That I have a wonderful friend and protector for life and beyond. That my life will be completely fulfilling in his hands and he has taken me from a life in which I was struggling for purpose, in to a life full of purpose.'

'He has created lots of wonderful friendships with people who are unlike anyone I have ever met before! He has broken off lies that were spoken over my life and helped me to achieve things I didn’t think I was capable of. He is my father, my brother and my friend.'

'Jesus has made a HUGE difference in my life, without him i would have gone completely off the rails and i would been a nasty person to be around but with his help i try to be jesus like and through this im a better person. everyday is a jesus day and it if jesus wasnt in my life i would be so lost!'

'Jesus has made my life worth living – His resurrection has freed me from death and made me alive. Before Jesus was emptiness, and little meaning. After Jesus came into my heart, there is fulfilment, and the knowledge that I am eternally whole before God and that I have a purpose. I know that He will never let me down neither will He ever let me go.'

'I guess the big difference is in hard times of which I have had a few... failing Uni. Finals and resitting, trying for many years to get pregnant, death of friends/family and most recently our family managing with unemployment 3 times in the last 7 years. In the hard times Jesus is my rock, He is my hope that despite all the tough things He looks after me and takes care of me, comforts my sadness and above all, because of my faith I have Christian friends who hold me up and support me, love me and care for me.'

'Jesus has given me friendship I can trust and rely upon. I don’t have to bottle up issues, I can always speak to him about my worries and concerns, knowing he listens. He has made me to be conscious of my behaviour and be commited to doing good and what is right by the help of his Holy Spirit (work in progress). I love him and he has made me to love myself! And others around me. He has helped me to become better at relationship with others. I have come to know of my imperfections and his grace toward me, allowing me to know of others’ imperfection and be gracious toward them. I am a happy person because of the joy and riches of knowing him.'

'How to begin ?! Jesus has been so incredible. As I look back and see my awkward beginnings in the faith 45 years ago I can see He was guiding me and encouraging me,even though I was often disobedient and far from him. He has NEVER let me go and has dealt with my ‘stuff’ I have so much more confidence now, I used to be very shy and avoided situations where I felt exposed. He has dealt with my fears and insecurities and led me into areas of ministry I would never have thought possible 30 years ago. I used to feel really guilty that I wasn’t ‘good’ enough, but I know Jesus loves me just as I am and I know I am forgiven. I KNOW I can utterly trust Him and can testify that when life is tough, as right now, He comes really close. I can feel His love and care right now, as I push closer to Him. When Life is tough and painful, the only safe place to go is to Jesus. I used to hold on to situations, believing if I was in control, it would all be ok. I have learnt to let go and give all my worries and anxieties to God.  That’s the biggest difference...I have experienced His love and care in almost direct proportion to asking Him and allowing Him to be Lord in my life and to seek to be closer to Him.  I don’t know where I would be without Jesus..He really does give peace and hope in hard times.'

'Helped me in so many ways – True friend forever – always there for me in good and bad times.  Provider – with a sense of humour when the job I finally secured was not only in a sector which I thought was impossible to enter without a prior lifetime in it, and then in a very high building which I did not want to enter.  Children – our wonderful children are purely an answer to prayer and a “God thing” – He loves children and we did too but we thought we would never have any of our own and now we have the most fantastic children and we thank Jesus each and every day for them.  Free Life Coach – who needs to spend money going to a life coach! We have one with us all the time asking us the right questions and we know the answer required and although we have own choice “we really know what the right answer should be” each and every time.  Never alone.  A beautiful wife who led me to Jesus – I am sure he sent her my way and our paths crossed more than once, and it was not easy, but I saw who my soulmate should be.  Peace even in the tough times – learning to trust and lean into him when times are tough.  He has come through for me in so many ways and at so many times it is hard to see when in the thick of it but looking back you can see his influence and help.'

'Knowing Jesus has meant that I now have a contentment or ‘happiness’ in life that I had always wanted, I see God’s Blessings instead of problems and fears and have a future and a present that are secure in His hands. I could go on and on… what a King!'

Praise God for His wonderful works to the children of men!