Life Story - Kyle
Well, you've heard Bri's story about Kyle and how his radical transformation set her up for radical change. Now, read Kyle's story:
"When I was in grade school, I wasn't in the cool group. I never really had close friends, so I spent alot of time by myself. I was depressed and just hated life. Being a middle child, I also felt like my parents loved all my other siblings more than me. I went through a stage when I just wanted to die, to end my life. I used to hurt myself to displace my feelings. I'd cut myself and punch objects, punch myself.
"During high school, I still wasn't popular and I knew absolutely no one. So I made some friends by doing things to gain acceptance. I started doing stuff I wish I never did. Some things were as simple as getting tattooed, and then there were illegal things like selling drugs, and being involved in a few gangs. I had a few unhealthy relationships with women where I did things I can never take back. I got involved in occult stuff, and some of my tattoos testify to that.
"I used to hate christians. I persecuted them and made fun of them at any chance I got.
"To some people, on the outside, I still managed to look like I was doing ok. But inside, I never had peace, never felt accepted, or truly loved. I tried my hardest to hold all my emotions in because, you know, men aren't supposed to cry, or to have feelings. Let me tell you, when you do that for a good 10 years or so, you can mess up your body, physically and emotionally. I was a caring, sensitive person inside, but I was totally calloused. I was one hurting kid. But, God wanted my life, just like He wants yours.
"When I was 21, I was living with a friend. We would smoke anywhere between 5 to 15+ joints and a pack of cigarettes every day. We were selling lots of marijuana and, on the side, we also sold mushroom, hash and oil. That's how we paid for most of our expenses. Somehow, by Gods grace, we didn't get caught by the police. My roommate at the time was a backslidden Christian, but the rest of his family were devoted believers in Jesus Christ.
"Well, his sister Ruth, who lived in our appartment building, started coming over once in a while, and we'd talk about alot of stuff. We would go back and forth about our different beliefs. When I'd go get high, she would leave. She never got upset or offended. We had respectful conversations and didn't try to offend each other.
"On New Years Eve of 2006, she came over and invited me to church for the 10 pm service. Funny enough, that whole day, I'd been like waiting for her to come and invite me. I wanted to have a sober New Years that I would remember for once. So I said yes, which shocked her.
"I remember walking into Oshawa Community Church (OCC) that night and seeing all the people with their hands in the air singing and praising God. They had this glow about them and happiness that I didn't have, or even ever saw before in my life. When I sat down they were singing and I couldn't hold my tears in for the life of me. I started to cry like a baby. I knew at that time that my life was on the wrong track and I felt so bad about everything I'd done in my life. Ruth leaned over and prayed for me. Everything she prayed was exactly what I was going through, felt, and she had no clue about what was going on in my mind.
"That night they had communion. I was going to take it, not thinking anything of it. But I was told that I could only take it if I had Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and give Him my life. So I gave my life to Christ and took the communion.
"When I left the church that night, I had a smoke and said "Jesus, if you are truly real, take this addiction away from me."
"I've now gone almost a year without a single smoke. I started feeling nauscious everytime I smoked weed and eventually couldn't smoke anymore. God made weed repulsive to me and healed me from my addiction to cigarettes. For 7 years, I hadn't gone a day without a joint or cigarette.
"After becoming a Christian, so many amazing things started happening to me. Two of my friends became Christians, I never expected they would but my God is a great God. My roommate and other friend gave their lives back to Christ and stopped selling drugs. I also became truly happy for once and received this love that can only come from having a relationship with Jesus. Now I am actively involved in OCC and live for God and God alone. It's awesome!"
Well, there you have it, in a nutshell. I've had the priviledge of watching this unfold in Kyle's life, and it has been awesome. He doesn't remember this, probably cause at the time he was high, but I remember the first couple times Kyle showed up at our church, tall, wearing his bright green sweater, shy. And then, the night he gave his heart to Jesus. And the transformation after that! He's not the same guy. I've been put to shame sometimes by his love for God and his determination to hear God speak to him and through him for others. Kyle has become like a brother to me, and I keep praying that his life always continue to be a testimony of the power and love of God in the lives of many. Thank you Jesus!
"When I was in grade school, I wasn't in the cool group. I never really had close friends, so I spent alot of time by myself. I was depressed and just hated life. Being a middle child, I also felt like my parents loved all my other siblings more than me. I went through a stage when I just wanted to die, to end my life. I used to hurt myself to displace my feelings. I'd cut myself and punch objects, punch myself.
"During high school, I still wasn't popular and I knew absolutely no one. So I made some friends by doing things to gain acceptance. I started doing stuff I wish I never did. Some things were as simple as getting tattooed, and then there were illegal things like selling drugs, and being involved in a few gangs. I had a few unhealthy relationships with women where I did things I can never take back. I got involved in occult stuff, and some of my tattoos testify to that.
"I used to hate christians. I persecuted them and made fun of them at any chance I got.
"To some people, on the outside, I still managed to look like I was doing ok. But inside, I never had peace, never felt accepted, or truly loved. I tried my hardest to hold all my emotions in because, you know, men aren't supposed to cry, or to have feelings. Let me tell you, when you do that for a good 10 years or so, you can mess up your body, physically and emotionally. I was a caring, sensitive person inside, but I was totally calloused. I was one hurting kid. But, God wanted my life, just like He wants yours.
"When I was 21, I was living with a friend. We would smoke anywhere between 5 to 15+ joints and a pack of cigarettes every day. We were selling lots of marijuana and, on the side, we also sold mushroom, hash and oil. That's how we paid for most of our expenses. Somehow, by Gods grace, we didn't get caught by the police. My roommate at the time was a backslidden Christian, but the rest of his family were devoted believers in Jesus Christ.
"Well, his sister Ruth, who lived in our appartment building, started coming over once in a while, and we'd talk about alot of stuff. We would go back and forth about our different beliefs. When I'd go get high, she would leave. She never got upset or offended. We had respectful conversations and didn't try to offend each other.
"On New Years Eve of 2006, she came over and invited me to church for the 10 pm service. Funny enough, that whole day, I'd been like waiting for her to come and invite me. I wanted to have a sober New Years that I would remember for once. So I said yes, which shocked her.
"I remember walking into Oshawa Community Church (OCC) that night and seeing all the people with their hands in the air singing and praising God. They had this glow about them and happiness that I didn't have, or even ever saw before in my life. When I sat down they were singing and I couldn't hold my tears in for the life of me. I started to cry like a baby. I knew at that time that my life was on the wrong track and I felt so bad about everything I'd done in my life. Ruth leaned over and prayed for me. Everything she prayed was exactly what I was going through, felt, and she had no clue about what was going on in my mind.
"That night they had communion. I was going to take it, not thinking anything of it. But I was told that I could only take it if I had Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and give Him my life. So I gave my life to Christ and took the communion.
"When I left the church that night, I had a smoke and said "Jesus, if you are truly real, take this addiction away from me."
"I've now gone almost a year without a single smoke. I started feeling nauscious everytime I smoked weed and eventually couldn't smoke anymore. God made weed repulsive to me and healed me from my addiction to cigarettes. For 7 years, I hadn't gone a day without a joint or cigarette.
"After becoming a Christian, so many amazing things started happening to me. Two of my friends became Christians, I never expected they would but my God is a great God. My roommate and other friend gave their lives back to Christ and stopped selling drugs. I also became truly happy for once and received this love that can only come from having a relationship with Jesus. Now I am actively involved in OCC and live for God and God alone. It's awesome!"
Well, there you have it, in a nutshell. I've had the priviledge of watching this unfold in Kyle's life, and it has been awesome. He doesn't remember this, probably cause at the time he was high, but I remember the first couple times Kyle showed up at our church, tall, wearing his bright green sweater, shy. And then, the night he gave his heart to Jesus. And the transformation after that! He's not the same guy. I've been put to shame sometimes by his love for God and his determination to hear God speak to him and through him for others. Kyle has become like a brother to me, and I keep praying that his life always continue to be a testimony of the power and love of God in the lives of many. Thank you Jesus!
posted by Noemie at 7:29 PM
1 Comments:
Helo....oie...diretamente do Brasil!!!!
Que saudade que estou de você, minha irmã canadense....vi a foto da nossa família aqui. Como você está? Estou esperando notícias, não se esqueça de que combinamos de nos comunicar. Amei todas as fotos, você está linda!!! Fiquei sabendo que está namorando, estu muito feliz por você...
Meus pais mandam um grande abraço!!!
Amamos você!!!
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