All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
MY TESTIMONY
By Pastor Dave Burrus
I have written my testimony as I feel that there is a lot of un-forgiveness in this world. I pray that it may help some come to our Lord and seek His forgiveness and love.
It all started way back when I was around 4 or 5 years of age.
Way back in 1944/5. I had a hard childhood and so did some of my other brothers and sisters.
I HAD TROUBLE IN FORGIVING I know by this work I am involved in today that, there are millions of children out there that are a lot worse off than I ever was.
But when I was being hurt I never thought so. I am writing this Testimony to show you how anger and the loss of trust can leave you empty, it can make you a yo-yo Christian, or even a backslider or even worse if you don't come back to God, but if you can lay it all before our Lord completely then you will find the joy, love and peace you can have from FORGIVENESS.
Right from the time I was a little lad I was angry and found it hard to trust anyone. Many have different reasons, mine was because my Dad was a violent man who hit us for the least little thing and beat us with anything he could get hold of. I had even hammers used on me. Some days the blood would poor down my face from my head being cut open, either with a hammer, a belt or any other object that was near by.
I still carry the scare today where my skin was ripped from me across my shoulder. Many days I would walk around with lumps and black eyes. I opened my mouth about something once, he tied me up and tried to lay a red hot poker on my tongue, and told me if I opened my mouth again he would burn my tongue out. I was a little weak boy so very scared that I just kept my mouth shut from then on. My mother walked out on her 8 children. My father went to prison twice for this abuse and we ended up in a children's home each time. He became disabled and this made him worse. Maybe the illness made him like it, maybe the pain made him worse My Mum spent money going out and even sold our ration coupons to get the money for her entertainment. This left us hungry and I walked around as thin as a rake and became very weak and did not start school until I was nearly 8 years old. When I was 11 years of age and the eldest of 8 children my mother left home. Since that first day she left us, yes she walked out on all her children, the eight of us, to this day I have never seen her. This is now 57 years.
I found it very hard to forgive my mum and dad for what they did to us. This was bottled up inside of me for many years. Yes I believed in God and went to church on and off from the age of 12.
When I was 14, I became a born again Christian, but I never really found peace until I gave my all to God. I became a yo-yo Christian, keep going back to sin doing things, which I knew was wrong at the time.
I even lost money, a lot of money on the horses for over seven years.
I had to leave school when I was nearly 14, to work to help look after the family, so never got much schooling. All these years I was in and out of a relationship with God. I had a lung taken away 35 years ago and told I had about 10 years life left. Well God knew different. He gave me this life yet I still was a yo-yo Christian for more years to come.
It was not until I went to a healing crusade in London for healing of very bad head pains that I had day and night. Again God healed me of this pain that I had for over three years. It was there that I knew that I wanted to be in Gods hands for the rest of my life. Two days later after this healing crusade I gave my all to God. That day I put my complete life into Jesus' hands and asked Him to forgive all my sins. I never knew the real love, peace and joy that you can have until then.
That day, I also forgave my mum and dad and I felt closeness to God that I had never had before, even though I loved Him before there was this something missing. If you have this real closeness with the Lord, you will know what I mean. Thank you Father for all the time you waited for me with open arms. That is the day I said to God use me to do your will. I am here to serve you the rest of my life.
Anyone can have this very close relationship with God, all you have to do is talk to Him and build this relationship. It is open to every single one of us. I can tell you, that since my FORGIVENESS for my mum and dad and my new relationship with God, my life has been transformed. Hallelujah.
Full forgiveness is there for my mum and dad, but like our sins we can still remember things, the hurts, and everything else. Sometimes we look back at our past and see where we have come from, and where we are now.
It was hard to write this testimony but I want to share this story to try and help people find forgiveness.
I hope and pray that it can and will help many.
Because of this past, it makes me want to reach out to every abused child in this world and help them away from it all. I know there is only so much I can do. The one regret I have is that I have wasted so many years. I thank God with all my heart that He never gave up on me. I thank Him for giving me another chance of allowing me to reach out to His children and bring them to his feet. He gave me a vision for His people in India and now I am serving Him in this work.
After all this illness and abuse there was more to come. I went to India for the second time and just three weeks after I got back I was rushed into hospital with cancer of the tonsils.
Satan was trying to stop this work in India; he was trying to stop me going back I am sure of this. Our loving God had other plans, He healed me completely and I have been back seven times since then.
I have never been more content with life than I am now, Many times I cry for these children because I can see them in pain, but I know that our Father is using me to reach out to them and this makes me happy, this bring peace and contentment. Thank you Lord.
I have written my testimony as I feel that there is a lot of un-forgiveness in this world. I pray that it may help some come to our Lord and seek His forgiveness and love.
It all started way back when I was around 4 or 5 years of age.
Way back in 1944/5. I had a hard childhood and so did some of my other brothers and sisters.
I HAD TROUBLE IN FORGIVING I know by this work I am involved in today that, there are millions of children out there that are a lot worse off than I ever was.
But when I was being hurt I never thought so. I am writing this Testimony to show you how anger and the loss of trust can leave you empty, it can make you a yo-yo Christian, or even a backslider or even worse if you don't come back to God, but if you can lay it all before our Lord completely then you will find the joy, love and peace you can have from FORGIVENESS.
Right from the time I was a little lad I was angry and found it hard to trust anyone. Many have different reasons, mine was because my Dad was a violent man who hit us for the least little thing and beat us with anything he could get hold of. I had even hammers used on me. Some days the blood would poor down my face from my head being cut open, either with a hammer, a belt or any other object that was near by.
I still carry the scare today where my skin was ripped from me across my shoulder. Many days I would walk around with lumps and black eyes. I opened my mouth about something once, he tied me up and tried to lay a red hot poker on my tongue, and told me if I opened my mouth again he would burn my tongue out. I was a little weak boy so very scared that I just kept my mouth shut from then on. My mother walked out on her 8 children. My father went to prison twice for this abuse and we ended up in a children's home each time. He became disabled and this made him worse. Maybe the illness made him like it, maybe the pain made him worse My Mum spent money going out and even sold our ration coupons to get the money for her entertainment. This left us hungry and I walked around as thin as a rake and became very weak and did not start school until I was nearly 8 years old. When I was 11 years of age and the eldest of 8 children my mother left home. Since that first day she left us, yes she walked out on all her children, the eight of us, to this day I have never seen her. This is now 57 years.
I found it very hard to forgive my mum and dad for what they did to us. This was bottled up inside of me for many years. Yes I believed in God and went to church on and off from the age of 12.
When I was 14, I became a born again Christian, but I never really found peace until I gave my all to God. I became a yo-yo Christian, keep going back to sin doing things, which I knew was wrong at the time.
I even lost money, a lot of money on the horses for over seven years.
I had to leave school when I was nearly 14, to work to help look after the family, so never got much schooling. All these years I was in and out of a relationship with God. I had a lung taken away 35 years ago and told I had about 10 years life left. Well God knew different. He gave me this life yet I still was a yo-yo Christian for more years to come.
It was not until I went to a healing crusade in London for healing of very bad head pains that I had day and night. Again God healed me of this pain that I had for over three years. It was there that I knew that I wanted to be in Gods hands for the rest of my life. Two days later after this healing crusade I gave my all to God. That day I put my complete life into Jesus' hands and asked Him to forgive all my sins. I never knew the real love, peace and joy that you can have until then.
That day, I also forgave my mum and dad and I felt closeness to God that I had never had before, even though I loved Him before there was this something missing. If you have this real closeness with the Lord, you will know what I mean. Thank you Father for all the time you waited for me with open arms. That is the day I said to God use me to do your will. I am here to serve you the rest of my life.
Anyone can have this very close relationship with God, all you have to do is talk to Him and build this relationship. It is open to every single one of us. I can tell you, that since my FORGIVENESS for my mum and dad and my new relationship with God, my life has been transformed. Hallelujah.
Full forgiveness is there for my mum and dad, but like our sins we can still remember things, the hurts, and everything else. Sometimes we look back at our past and see where we have come from, and where we are now.
It was hard to write this testimony but I want to share this story to try and help people find forgiveness.
I hope and pray that it can and will help many.
Because of this past, it makes me want to reach out to every abused child in this world and help them away from it all. I know there is only so much I can do. The one regret I have is that I have wasted so many years. I thank God with all my heart that He never gave up on me. I thank Him for giving me another chance of allowing me to reach out to His children and bring them to his feet. He gave me a vision for His people in India and now I am serving Him in this work.
After all this illness and abuse there was more to come. I went to India for the second time and just three weeks after I got back I was rushed into hospital with cancer of the tonsils.
Satan was trying to stop this work in India; he was trying to stop me going back I am sure of this. Our loving God had other plans, He healed me completely and I have been back seven times since then.
I have never been more content with life than I am now, Many times I cry for these children because I can see them in pain, but I know that our Father is using me to reach out to them and this makes me happy, this bring peace and contentment. Thank you Lord.
Comment
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Comment by Thor on November 13, 2009 at 1:03am - Very powerful testimony Pastor Dave. I pray that God continue to use you mightily and prospers you in every aspect of your life. Thanks for sharing..
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Comment by Eden Exile on April 26, 2009 at 10:46am - Inspiring words Pastor Dave, I feel richer for having read them. I am guilty of being a yo-yo Christian but intend to be a more faithful servant.
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Comment by yvonne smiddy on April 24, 2009 at 9:02pm - pastor dave, thanks for sharing your story! yes God never gives up on us! we are blessed! thanks for reaching out to the children! God always takes our pain and turns it into good for his glory!!
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Comment by Alet on February 21, 2009 at 3:40am - Thank you for your testimony Past Dave. I also struggled for many years forgiving people for hurting me as a child. It is only by the grace of God that I could do it. May He bless you richly for your obedience to Him.
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Comment by andrew bussenschutt on February 7, 2009 at 6:54pm - looks like youve done the hard yards,and like with Jesus God has his way of making the worst of any situation and turning it into something good .Hard times builds charachter ,and after all you have been through ,you are now someone that the Big Fella can really use,oh and by the way I would be proud to have you as a friend,'',good on ya''
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Comment by shiloh on January 8, 2009 at 7:16am - oh amazing story,,, yes its hard to forgive but praise God you did.amen.
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