"Learning to Breathe Again"- Tammy Trent

Saline Abortion Survivor: Gianna Jessen

Gianna Jessen speaks at Queen's Hall, Parliament House, Victoria (Australia), on the eve of the debate to decriminalize abortion in Victoria.

Death Is Not Dying: A Faith that Saves

“Cancer does not define me. Neither does being a wife or a mother. All these things are part of who I am, but they do not define me. What defines me is my relationship with Jesus.”

On March 4, 2009, what started out as a small talk to a women's group at her church grew into an event attended by 600 women from around Vancouver, giving Rachel an opportunity to share about her hope in the midst of terminal cancer. She shares a piece of her heart in her testimony of discovering God for who He truly is in the process. Too often in life we make the focus on ourselves [our innate sinful nature], when it truly should be on God and glorifying Him.  This requires learning to ‘Die to self’ daily by putting to death the deeds of the flesh. Rachel Barkey (nee Sawer) went home to be with the Lord on July 2, 2009 at 37 years of age.

"If all is well in our world, our view of God is unchallenged. He is good, He’s loving, He’s fair. But when things start to go eerie: that is when our true view of God is revealed. We think that God is not good, or that He is unjust. Or that He is not in control because hurricanes destroy whole cities, children are mistreated and abused. Wars break out and innocent people are killed, or women get cancer and die leaving their children without a mother and their husbands heartbroken. We try to fit God into who we want Him to be, rather than seeking Him for who He really is.”

Steve Lawson addresses this issue in his book “Made In Our Image”: 

“Our most rudimentary problem is that we do not fully comprehend who He is. Our thoughts about Him have become very unclear, fuzzy, and oblique. The results of this distorted view of deity is that it leaves everything else out of focus as well. Whenever we lose a right view of God, everything else gets out of perspective. Essentially, our view of God will inform our view of everything else. It will be the lens through which we perceive reality. And it will shape our thoughts, world view, attitudes, and perceptions. When our view of God is erroneous, our view of other things will be erroneous by default.”

Rachel concludes with this statement:

“In His providence, God has used the tough things in my life to draw me closer to Him. To show me His great love, and to teach me many things. I have learned that I am not perfect, and I have the scars to prove it: 13 of them. And they serve as a physical reminder of a spiritual reality that I can never be perfect on my own: I need a Savior. I have learned that the greatest evidence of God’s love is seen when I stand at the foot of the cross. He took my shame upon Himself and rescued me. I have learned that being a Christian is not just hope for the future, although it is most definitely that, but that it is the joy of knowing and trusting in a God who is loving and faithful no matter what the circumstances. So when I say that ‘Death is not Dying’, death will not kill my soul it is eternal just like yours, it is just this physical body that will die, but even it will be raised again, just like Jesus, and it will be better than the one I have now. Like everything, it will be better, because God is going to make everything new. And I know this Why? Because I know God, I know myself, I know the Gospel, and I know my purpose. I know I have a faith that saves, because my faith is in Jesus alone.”
To learn more about Rachel's journey or Watch the event video, visit: [Deathisnotdying.com]
[Click on either link above to watch video]

An Act of Mercy - Victoria Ruvolo

On November 13, 2004, Victoria Ruvolo was returning to her Long Island home at night from her niece’s vocal recital when her life was suddenly changed in the blink of an eye. A group of six teenagers stole a credit card and recklessly decided to go on a joyride as well as a shopping spree. One of the infamous items purchased was a 20 pound frozen turkey of which; one teen [Ryan Cushing] thought it may be amusing to hurl the projectile out of the moving car into oncoming traffic. The turkey smashed through Ruvolo’s windshield, bending the steering wheel before breaking every bone on impact, which nearly killed Victoria and left her unconscious. If her companion in the passenger seat had not been present to pull the car off the road and render aid, it could have easily become a death weapon. 

In her impact statement, Victoria stated: "If I had been alone in the car that night, I would have died. It upsets me that at the cost of my life, not one of the teenagers had the guts or decency to come back or call 911. This haunts me. I wouldn't leave an animal to suffer on the side of the road, let alone my fellow man."

As a result, she suffered severe injuries from a caved in esophagus requiring a tracheotomy (tube to breathe), both cheeks and jaw bone completely shattered, a fractured left eye socket, and partial brain damage. This required several months of reconstructive surgery as well rehabilitation. Approximately one month later, Ruvolo awakened from her medically induced coma with no recollection of the incident. However, family members eventually filled her in with the details of the tragic event. Numerous as well doctors told Ruvolo it was a miracle she was alive.

On Monday August 15, 2005, Victoria met face to face with her assailant in the courtroom for the first time. If indicted on a charge of first-degree assault and other offenses, Mr. Cushing could have faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Instead, the Suffolk County district attorney Thomas Spota agreed to a plea bargain only at Ms. Ruvolo’s insistence on a lenient sentence. Ryan Cushing pleaded guilty and served the minimum of six months behind bars, followed by five years of probation, of which included psychological counseling and public service. 

Before Monday’s sentencing, Mr. Cushing handed Ms. Ruvolo an envelope which contained a handwritten four-page apology letter. On his way out of the courtroom, Ryan choked up a verbal apology as he embraced Ms. Ruvolo while crying profusely. Victoria in return held him tightly, stroked his face, and patted his back as he continued to sob with remorse for a few minutes. "It's O.K., its O.K." Ruvolo stated while patting his back and exchanging whispered advice. She then offered him reassuring words as she continued to comfort him…“I forgive you...I just want your life to be the best it can be.” New York Times referred to this event as “A Moment of Grace.” 

"Despite all the fear and the pain, I have learned from this horrific experience, and I have much to be thankful for... Each day when I wake up, I thank God simply because I am alive. I sincerely hope you have also learned from this awful experience, Ryan. There is no room for vengeance in my life, and I do not believe a long, hard prison term would do you, me, or society any good."

Although Ruvolo received a settlement from the civil suit, she continues to work as a manger at a collection agency and also began volunteering with the Suffolk County probation department. Victoria, despite facing rehabilitation, multiple surgeries with titanium bolts and plates securing her fractured skull, and criticism from others choose to forgive her assailant Ryan Cushing. She stated in a recent interview with New York Times: "If I hadn't let go of that anger, I'd be consumed by this need for revenge," said Ruvolo, now 50. "Forgiving him helps me move on."

Would you have responded the way Victoria Ruvolo did to her attacker? On very rare occasions, we encounter people such as this woman who are willing to forgive the trespasses wrongfully done by others. Many times people will say ‘I forgive,’ but their actions clearly show otherwise in their refusal to show mercy in return. [Colossians 3:12-14]

You see, Mercy is compassion in action. Whenever Jesus saw a multitude, encountered individuals or a crowd; He was moved with compassion which called for action. As a result He would administer healing, cast out demons, address or teach people...but most of all, sinless and blameless...He bore ALL of my sins on the cross [past, present, and future] ...a debt you and I could never pay on our own.

Victoria was the victim of a random act of violence [or in other words, a prank gone wrong], which could have easily happened to anyone. However, instead of dwelling on what she had lost, she chose to focus on what she had gained from the incident and find strength from the blessings in her life."God gave me a second chance at life, and I passed it on," she says of her largess toward her assailant."I truly appreciate the preciousness of life," Ruvolo told Good Morning America. "Every day when I wake up, I truly thank God for giving me another day, that I could see the beauty of everything."

If she could forgive Ryan Cushing for what he did, can't we forgive our friends or enemies for much less heinous crimes? Check out [Matthew 18:21-35]

'From Catholic to Holy Ghost'- Bro Joseph Conroy

Bro Joesph Conroy

I was browsing through the web one day and stumbled across the testimony of this man. I realized later on that nothing is accidental especially when it comes to God, and I simply enjoyed listening to it!


Bro. Joseph Conroy is a missionary to the Middle East. About two years ago, he shared his testimony at Victory Tabernacle, Burbank CA, about his long journey in seeking the Lords face until he found Him. He uses humor and vivid descriptions to take his audience through his personal journey of life growing up Catholic in Chicago. I could relate to certain parts of his testimony within my own journey in seeking God and the desperation I faced. It states in Jeremiah 29:12-13: "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart," which was proven true in both my life and Bro. Joseph Conroy. "...For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."


By posting this testimony it is not my intention, nor the website's to insult Catholics or people of other religions, but as Bro. Conroy says in his testimony: “I just want you know what life was like inside this thick head, what the world looked like to me.” I understand that everyone will not agree with some of the things mentioned in this audio, but this is simply meant to testify of the Lord's goodness in this mans life and I hope that will be taken into consideration when listening to it.This testimony may be long, but it was definitely worth listening to!

The audio can be found at the following link: Click Here 

 "But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material listed above. Copyright © 2006 - 2010 Words Of Testimony | Info [at] WordsOfTestimony.com 

John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace

This is the Amazing song which has my testimony behind it, along with several others. John Newton wrote the original lyrics to the song after encountering and receiving God’s Amazing Grace. I love hearing other’s testimonies and would encourage anyone to read a brief story of John Newton, then William Wilberforce; one man who crossed paths with Newton and became an abolitionist.

John Newton was the captain of a slave trade ship he owned. One night during a voyage home, his ship encountered a violent storm of which he attempted to steer through and would have initially sunk. This marked the beginning of a long journey for Newton as his eyes  became open. “He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him.” Now read the lyrics:

"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see… 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear. The hour I first believed…Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home."

Although the beginning of the song describes John Newtown’s spiritual blindness before he came to Christ: ‘I was once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see,’ …Ironically towards the end of his life, Newton was faced with physical blindness struggling to read even text.  However, he continued to preach the Word of God for 43 years until old age at his Church in Olney, Buckinghamshire England. Shortly before passing away in 1807 at the age of eighty-two; Newton exclaimed: “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour."

What is grace? It’s is an unmerited gift from God of His love and mercy that we are unworthy of and can never boast apart from it. A good question to ask is: “Have I received God’s grace,” because once you do, you will have a life TRANSFORMATION and a heart change that will FOREVER impact your perspective of things. The next time you stand to sing this hymn in Church, if you have encountered God’s saving grace…Sing this song like you mean it and bear witness! :) His loving grace has captivated my heart and set me free. ♥

Ten Days of Testimonies

Well, what can I say? For those who do not know me…I love hearing others testimony’s! It is always an encouragement to hear what God has done in several individuals lives as well as my own. There is power in ones testimony which ultimately gives God all the glory when we declare of His goodness in our lives. Recently, after listening to several individuals testimonies, I felt the need to share a few testimonies that have inspired me during my walk with God. I pray that these testimonies will touch the lives of those who read it, and a lesson will be gained from it as well. There are many more testimonies I have come across, but these are the ones which came to mind as I was writing. On January 1st 2011, I will share a personal testimony of something God has done in my life.

God Bless and Enjoy!

***When I first began this blog, the Lord put it on my heart at the time was to write 10 days of testimony's counting down until the new year began. I didn't get a chance to post all 10 of those testimonies as you can see, so I have included them in future posts throughout the page. All of the testimonies I post on my blog can be found under the labeled section titled: "Testimonies."***