The testimony of Angie
Greensboro NC
My marriage of many
years had just ended. Both my husband and I had
entered the marriage at a very young ages, and we
carried wounds from our past as well. I had been
very sheltered and rebelled against my parents.
He had suffered extreme abuse as a child. The
years of unhappiness now came to an end with
adultery as its culprit.
After our three
children had left home, my husband had been born
again. Yet, he backslid and fell into lifestyle
of sin, strife and adultery. This sin-filled
condition spurned anger and hatred in him. The
Holy Spirit dealt with him time and time again,
yet he willfully deserted our marriage.
Devastated, I prayed
for the Lord to heal our marriage. I soon learned
that he had married the woman with whom he was
living. Soon after, they were arrested for
bigamy. Time and time again, he showed signs of
remorse; yet, he would quickly fall back into
that lifestyle.
We lost our business
which consequently led to the loss of our home
and car. I had to struggle to find a place to
live and financial means with which to care for
myself.
In November of 1993,
I attended revival meetings held by Gil
Howard-Browne. Locked up in pain and despair, I
was unable to respond to the Spirit of God. Yet,
I cried for great lengths of time.
While at home one
morning in December, the Spirit of God spoke to
me that I was "encapsulated with hurt."
He further added, "You're looking for a
solution to your problems, and you are not
looking for Me!" The direction of my life
changed at that point and I hurried back to the
continuing revival services.
Gil gave an
invitation which stated, "If anyone really
wants a touch from God, get on down here
now." I almost ran down the aisle. The
result was that I was totally and completely
transformed--as if I had passed from death to
life. I felt like a teenager in love. All that
mis-directed love I had had for my husband (who
did not love me) was directed to Jesus!
My broken heart was
completely healed and filled with a love that was
wonderful and exciting. I was "slain in the
Spirit" for the first time; yet I told my
friends that, instead of falling, I was swept off
my feet.
The Lord began to
teach me by His Spirit to spend time in the Word.
As I did, the Word became alive to me.
At another revival
meeting held by Gil in Greensboro, I was healed
and delivered from the shame and humiliation of
the desertion by my husband.
The Lord began to
teach me of forgiveness. I saw my husband and his
new wife being forgiven and loving Jesus as much
as I do. I began to see my life through the eyes
of Jesus. He healed my mind of the bombardment of
doubt and unbelief. I became enmeshed in Him. I
was able to cry out, "Abba, Father."
In retrospect, I know
that these experiences were actual encounters
with the Holy Spirit. The tears and laughter were
simply the doors to those encounters. I was not
seeking experiences; I was seeking the precious
presence of the Lord.
It was in that
presence that the love for the Lord deepened and
increased to a love affair--a "magnificent
obsession."
by Angie W,
Summerfield, NC