ONCE A NOBODY - NOW A SOMEBODY

(The Larry Davis Story)

I once knew a kid by the name of Booni.  Booni was known as the neighborhood dope man.  He was introduced to crack cocaine at the age of fifteen.  Not understanding the repercussions behind that life style, he got involved in it, believing to become rich someday.  Booni was not raised around narcotics.  In fact, growing up in a single parent home, his mother did not smoke cigarettes, marijuana, drink alcohol, or use any kind of drugs.  She did all in her power to provide for her two sons; however, Booni was not content.  He did not appreciate his mother's sacrificial love; therefore, he started seeking the so-called "Finer things in life."

It all started back in 1990, which was his second year of high school, with no new school clothes, no lunch money, and despising his friends and other people around him because of their materialistic items.  He started searching for a way out of poverty - a way to fit in with the crowd - a way to be noticed amongst his peers.

One day during his second year of high school, one of his neighborhood friends approached him with what he thought to be the opportunity of a lifetime.  He said, "Booni, I have a hundred dollars worth of crack cocaine; take it and bring me back $60.00."  Booni was so desperate  - not even sure if he could sell it, and only knowing a few people that used it - extended his hand and said, "Ok."

Because of his lack of experience, he made a couple of bad decisions with that sack of drugs.  But persistence caused him to sell fake drugs, hoping to hustle up enough money to buy some real drugs.

A few months later, Booni and another one of his neighborhood friends was walking down a street when a guy in a jeep pulled up and said, "Boon, do you want some work?"  Without thinking twice, Booni said, "Yeah."

MY LIFE WAS FULL OF BROKEN PROMISES

Something happened to me...

I became full of hate, bitterness, and resentment.

I’m a fifty-one year old retired rodeo cowboy. My childhood was as normal as it could be for a kid with no father and a mother who battled alcoholism and depression.

I was raised by my grandparents. We lived on a small farm in Central Indiana and lived off the land with hunting, fishing, and lot's of hard work. My grandmother was the sweetest lady that I have ever met, and she never met a stranger. My grandfather was a good man who believed in working hard and handing out many chores to do. However, when he drank, he had a mean streak. We got along fine while I was a child, working, hunting, and fishing together. He would listen to my stories of someday being a rodeo cowboy.

My childhood ended when I was nine years old with a phone call from my mom. She was drunk and depressed. She wanted to talk to me, but my grandmother wouldn’t wake me because it was late. I woke up to the commotion on the phone. Just as I picked up the other line, I heard the gunshot. My mother took her life, and that was the end of my childhood.

I know my family meant well, but for the next few years my life was full of broken promises. One after another promised to take me into their family, when all I wanted was for things to be like they used to be.

I became full of hate, bitterness, and resentment. My relationship with my grandparents was never the same. I became very dark, isolating myself for hours and sometimes days in my room. I was so rebellious that my grandfather had no choice but to discipline me the only way he knew how; in the form of beating me with a fist, switch, or a whip. I will admit that most of them, I deserved.

I was fourteen when I left home the first time, chasing the dream of being a cowboy. I ended up working for a Wild West show and Rodeo, living like a “Carney” on the fair circuit. I was way too young and small to be on my own.

While hitchhiking that year, I was raped by a truck-driver. This fed my lack of trust and my anger, but
I never let it stop me. I would come home in the fall and fulfill the promise made to my grandmother to finish school, leaving again in the spring.

I loved being on the road and riding bareback -- horses, and bulls. The road became my escape. I had no idea how to find what I was looking for at that time in my life, so what I found was meth. I was fifteen years old, angry, bitter, and feeling rejected. The only thing that I found to kill my pain was drugs.

I continued on this path of destruction for the next few years, and then after some surgeries became addicted to Demerol and Morphine. I spiraled out of control for the next few years, chasing my dream of being a champion. I would do speed to wake me up so I could ride, then take pain killers to kill the pain. And of course, like my mother and grandfather, alcohol became a factor also.

I ended up being just like them. I was a mean drunk, full of hate, and I had no problem showing it. The void in my life was never going to be filled with drugs or alcohol.

I knew nothing of God or Jesus, other than cowboys praying before they would ride. These same cowboys would be in the bar chasing tail after the rodeo. In my eyes, they were a joke. I persecuted and made fun of them and their God.

I believe it was 1981, and I was twenty-one years old. I had been competing on the circuit riding bucking horses and bulls that year. I was riding with a lot of injuries that season, so I decided to enter a rodeo at Davey, Florida. Win, lose, or draw, I was going to take some time off to heal up.

I remember her well. After being thrown off, stomped, and dragged around, I found her standing in the crowd staring at me with her big blue eyes and blond hair. Her name was Jennifer, but I called her Jen. She was a dancer and loved cocaine. To be honest, I would snort, smoke, or ingest anything that would kill my pain and make me forget the past. She had unlimited access to this drug and turned me on to free-basing.

About one year later and fifty pounds lighter, I was forced to leave my source to this drug that I loved so much. I couldn’t work and had no money to support my drug habits. After trying my hand at a few robberies and other stupid things, there I lay under a pier in DT’s (withdrawls) with the homeless.

This was the last thing I remember until being kicked in the side and awakened. As I began to move, I realized that I couldn’t open my eyes. I felt something moving in my nose and mouth. Flies had begun to work on me, and I had maggots in my mouth and nose. The man who kicked me was a long haired fellow, and he explained to me that he checked for bodies under the piers and tried to help the homeless. He cleaned me up and bought me breakfast. His advice to me was to go back up north where people cared about me.

This made sense to me, so off I went hitchhiking to Indiana. I was jonesing for some cocaine, in DT’s and withdrawal from the morphine. I found myself under another bridge on the interstate close to Lakeland, Florida. The only thing left of my past was my rodeo gear bag, a cowboy hat, and of course the pain.

I remember being afraid to fall asleep because I might die. Then I heard brakes squealing. A young kid with a cowboy hat backed up to me. He asked if I was a cowboy and needed help.

I answered, “Not much of a cowboy; I need a fix.”

He took me to his step-dad’s church. His name was Mikey, and his step-dad’s name was Paul. Paul asked me a very important question that day. He asked if I believed that God could heal me and make me whole again.

As I studied the question, it came to me that if God could create the heavens and the earth, He could surely fix me. I spoke those words and was instantly healed. He led me through the sinner’s prayer, and I accepted Jesus into my heart that day. Hallelujah!

Ain’t it funny how God’s blessings are there for the taking? Without someone being obedient to God’s word and showing compassion to others, I might have died under a bridge that year. Instead, He met me just as I was and sent me three angels.

Over the next year, my faith grew. I began to learn that God loved me and that there was wonder-working power in the blood of Jesus.

While I lived in Lakeland and was surrounded by a group of believers, I was just fine. However, when I returned to Indiana I fell under condemnation and persecution. Even though I fully intended to do the will of God, Satan had too much fuel. The pain returned in my life, and I began self-medicating again. This time it was marijuana, speed, and pain pills. I stayed high and began drinking again. My life seemed to be like a movie that never ended -- no beginning and no end.

I had spurts of happiness over the next several years, moving from church to church and even from state to state … trying to forget my childhood and find peace. I still competed on the rodeo circuit and worked on ranches and farms throughout the years, but something was missing.

I began to believe that I needed to get married and settle down. I had two failed marriages and wasn’t much of a dad either. I wanted to do the right thing but couldn’t seem to love them properly. I had a mean streak, just like my grandfather, and couldn’t show anyone love or trust in their love for me.

God never left me and through all this, He healed me of a broken back. It was a miracle in my life that I will never forget. I will always give Him praise. He’s an awesome God.

I returned to my old lifestyle once again, and this time it was worse than ever. I not only began to use meth again, but this time I began to manufacture the drug.

In 2003, after violating probation and being on the run, I was involved in a chase which ended with me running into a house to hide. When forced with the situation of going to prison, I drew a gun and decided to let the police shoot me. They fired fourteen shots at me. I was only hit by a ricocheting bullet, which did not harm me.

I was found guilty of twelve felonies. This included two attempted murders, even though I never shot at anyone. I was suicidal, not homicidal. I was sentenced to one-hundred three years in prison.

I became very bitter and mad at God and myself. It seemed to me that I had failed at everything, even my suicide. I wanted nothing to do with God at the time. I turned my back on Him but never forgot what I had experienced and the love I felt in Christ Jesus.

The next two years were terrible. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer but never had a biopsy. I believed the report and accepted this curse. I lost about fifty pounds and was weakening.

I received a visit from my aunt and daughters one day and was reminded by them of all that God had done for me. Out of the mouth of babes came wisdom and strength.

When I returned to my cell, I cried out to God, repented for my disobedience, and rededicated my life to Christ. From that day, I found the will to live and began to thank God for my healing. I spoke healing and broke the curse of cancer in my life. Victory was mine, and I took it.

Over the next few years, I began to submit to God and resisted the devil. He began a great work in me in all areas of my life.

I went to a Christian retreat in 2008 and did something that changed my life. I forgave my mom, my grandfather, and everyone who had hurt me. I asked God to forgive me for my unforgivingness, and He healed my heart.

A load was lifted off me, and I began to feel love for everyone. I started a greeting ministry at my church to share God’s love with everyone else. This year, God blessed me with the opportunity to be in leadership and to share His Word, Love, and testimonies with the men in this prison.

God uses the most unlikely of men. He took a broken, hurt, and angry man, and is now using him for His glory. He can use you too. Hallelujah!

By: Cowboy

http://www.precious-testimonies.com

PINALAYA MULA SA MGA KAPANGYARIHAN NG KADILIMAN - Kabanata 7 (Finale)

Mga Gawain ng mga Kampon ni Satanas

Kwentong patotoo ni Emmanuel Eni

"Isuot ninyo ang buong baluti ng Diyos, upang makayanan ninyong tindigang labanan ang mga pakana ng Diablo. Sapagkat hindi tayo nakikibaka laban sa laman at dugo, kundi laban sa mga pamunuan, laban sa mga kapangyarihan, laban sa mga tagapamahala ng kadiliman sa daigdig na ito, laban sa espiritual na kasamaan sa mga matataas na lugar"

Efeso 6: 11-12

Ang aklat na ito ay hindi pagiging kumpleto kung hindi naihayag ang iba’t-ibang kaparaanan ng operasyon ng mga kapangyarihang ito. Ganun din napakahalaga na ang iba’t-ibang anyo na kung saan sila ay nagpapakita o nagpapahayag ay mabulgar.

Isang bagay ang malinaw at ito ay, ang diablo ay gaganyakin kang maniwala na siya ay isang kathang isip lamang o simpleng masasamang isipan, o pakikitaan ka ng higit niyang kapangyarihan at kaunti sa mga kapangyarihan ng Diyos. Habang sinasabi ng Bibliya: “Hindi tayo nakikibaka laban sa laman at dugo kundi laban sa mga kapamahalaan, laban sa mga kapangyarihan, laban sa mga pamunuan ng kadiliman sa daigdig na ito, laban sa espiritual na kasamaan sa matataas na lugar,” Sinasabi rin ng Bibliya na ang mga sandata ng mga Kristiyano laban sa diablo at sa kanyang mga kampon ay “hindi makalaman subalit makapangyarihan sa pamamagitan ng Diyos sa paghihila pababa ng mga kuta, binabatak ang mga imahinasyon at bawat matatas na bagay at bawat matayog na bagay na itinataas ang kanyang sarili laban sa karunungan ng Diyos, at dinadalang bihag ang bawat kaisipan sa pagsunod kay Kristo” (2Corinto 10: 4-5). Muli ang mga kasulatan ay malinaw na nagpapahayag: “Para sa layuning ito ang Anak ng Diyos ay nahayag upang wasakin Niya ang mga gawa ng diablo” (1Juan 3: 8b). At matapos gapiin ang mga kapamahalaan at mga kapangyarihan, gumawa siya ng isang hayagang palabas nila, nagtatagumpay laban sa kanila.

PINALAYA MULA SA MGA KAPANGYARIHAN NG KADILIMAN - Kabanata 6

Tukso at Tagumpay

Kwentong patotoo ni Emmanuel Eni

"Dinirinig ng aking mga tupa ang aking tinig, at nakikilala ko sila, at sila sy sumusunod sa akin: At binibigyan ko sila ng buhay na walang hanggan; at kailanman sila ay hindi mapapahamak, hindi rin sila makukuha nino man mula sa aking kamay" Juan 10: 27-28

Matapos ang aking pagbabago kay Kristo, ang unang bagay na nangyari nawala lahat ng mga kaloob o regalo mula sa dagat, ang teleskopio, ang T. V. , mga damit, mga larawan na aking kinunan sa mga laboratoryo sa ilalim ng dagat at ang larawan ng reyna ng pampanga na nakasabit sa aking bahay ay nawala.

Sa aking pagbabalik sa Port Harcourt, May pagnanasa akong magpatotoo kung ano ang ginawa ng Panginoon para sa akin subalit hindi ako pinahintulutan sa simbahan. Ang asawa ng nasira kong tiyuhin, ay isa ring Kristiyano, sinamahan ako sa isa sa mga pastor, subalit ang tanong na kanyang tinanong: “Dinala ba niya ang papel?” Naunawaan ko na lamang sa bandang huli na ang papel na kanyang tinutukoy ay isang ‘membership letter o form.’ Ano ang kinalaman ng papel ng membership sa aking pagpapatotoo sa kapangyarihan ni Kristo at kung ano ang ginawa niya para sa akin- Diyos, ang paglipat sa akin mula sa kapangyarihan ng kadiliman tungo sa kaharian ng Kanyang minamahal na anak, na kung saan ako’y nagkaroon ng kaligtasan sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang dugo, maging ang kapatawaran ng aking mga kasalanan?

PINALAYA MULA SA MGA KAPANGYARIHAN NG KADILIMAN - Kabanata 5

Ang aking pagharap kay HesuKristo

Kwentong patotoo ni Emmanuel Eni

Sa buwan ng Pebrero 1985, Ginanap namin ang aming karaniwang pulong sa dagat, pagkatapos noon ako ay nagpasyang maglakbay patungong Port Harcourt in Rivers State, upang dalawain ang balo ng aking tiyuhin. Nakilala ko ang isang lalakeng nagngangalang Anthony. Siya ay mayroong pagawaan o talyer sa Nwaja Junction, sa hilera ng Trans-Amadi Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Ipinatawag niya ako at yamang sa aming kalipunan ay mayroon kaming isang batas na hindi tanggihan ang mga tawag, nagpasya akong tanggapin ang kanyang tawag. Natungo ako sa kanya sa bandang hapon nang isang Huwebes ng linggong iyon. Nagpasimula siya sa pamamagitan ng pagsabing binigyan siya ng Diyos ng isang mensahe para sa akin. Inilabas niya ang kanyang Bibliya at nagpasimulang mangaral. Mayroon duong tatlong iba pang Kristiyano na nakaupo (isang lalake at dalawang babae). Nagpatuloy siya sa kanyang pangangaral nang may kahabaan at hindi ko tiyak kung napakinggan ko ang lahat ng kanyang sinabi. Sinabihan niya akong lumuhod para sa mga panalangin. Ako’y sumunod at matahimik na ako ay lumuhod.

Pagdakay siya’y nagpasimula sa kanyang mga panalangin. Ako ay natumba sa pamamagitan ng espiritu ng Diyos at natumba ako ng plakda. Nagpumilit akong tumayo at tumindig na parang bakal. Winasak ko ang mga bakal na upuan sa loob ng talyer. Tumingin ako sa labas at nakita ko ang tatlong miyembro ng aming lihim na kalipunan, isang lalake at dalawang babae. Sila’y dumating sa anyo bilang mga tao at lumapit patungo sa pintuan subalit dahil sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos hindi sila makapasok.

PINALAYA MULA SA MGA KAPANGYARIHAN NG KADILIMAN - Kabanata 4

Papaanong nilalabanan ni Satanas ang mga Kristiyano

Kwentong patotoo ni Emmanuel Eni.

"Sabagkat hindi tayo nakikibaka laban sa laman at dugo, kundi laban sa mga pamunuan, laban sa mga kapangyarihan, laban sa mga espiritu ng kasamaan sa matataas na lugar." Eph. 6: 10-12

Pakikipaglaban sa mga Kristiyano

Matapos ang utos ni Lucifer na labanan ang mga Kristiyano, kami nga ay nanga-upo at pinlano ang aming mga gagawin sa pakikipaglaban sa kanila sa mga sumusunod:

1. Pagdulot ng mga karamdaman.

2. Pagdulot ng pagkabaog.

3. Pagdulot ng pagkaantok sa loob ng kalipunan ng mga mananampalataya o church.

4. Pagdulot ng kaguluhan sa loob ng kalipunan ng mga mananampalataya o church.

5. Pagdulot ng panlalamig sa kalipunan ng mga mananampalataya o church.

6. Ginagawang ignorante o mangmang ang mga mananampalataya sa Salita ng Diyos.

7. Sa pamamagitan ng kausuhan at paggaya sa mga layaw ng laman.

8. Paglaban sa kanila ng harapan.

Sa lahat ng nasaitaas nais kong ipaliwanag ang dalawa:

1. Labanang Pisikal:

Sa pamamagitan ng T. V. na ibinigay sa akin, nakikita ko ang mga born again Christians. Hindi namin nilalabanan ang mga hipokrito o mapagpaimbabaw dahil sila ay mga kasama na namin. Ipinapadala na namin una ang aming mga babae sa malalaking mga simbahan. Sa loob ng simbahan sila ay kumakain ng chewing gum o pinapaiyak ang mga bata o gumagawa ng anumang makapagdudulot ng kaguluhan sa mga tao sa pakikinig ng salita ng Diyos. 

PINALAYA MULA SA MGA KAPANGYARIHAN NG KADILIMAN - Kabanata 3

Ang Masamang Paghahari

Kwentong patotoo ni Emmanuel Eni

"Ang magnanakaw dumarating, upang magnakaw, at pumatay, at mangwasak. Ako ay naparito upang sila ay magkaroon ng buhay, at upang sila ay magkaroon nito ng sagana."

Juan 10:10

Sa aking pagbabalik sa Lagos, Nagpatuloy ako sa aking negosyo at pagkatapos ng dalawang linggo ako ay muling bumalik sa dagat. Ang Reyna ng Dalampasigan o Pampang ay binigyan ako na tinawag niyang kanyang “unang takda”. Dapat akong magtungo sa aking barrio at patayin ang aking tiyuhin, isang tanyag makapangyarihang albularyo na responsable, ayon sa kanya, sa kamatayan ng aking mga magulang.

Ako’y sumunod at humayo subalit hindi pa ako nakapapatay kaylan man, wala akong lakas ng loob na patayin siya, kaya winasak ko na lang ang kanyang mga gamot at ginawa siyang walang kapangyarihan. Ang dulot ng ganitong pangyayari nawala ang lahat ng kanyang mga parokyano hanggang sa mga araw na ito. Ako’y bumalik upang magbigay ulat sa aking takda subalit siya ay galit na galit sa akin. Sinabi niya na ang kabayaran ng aking pagsuway sa kanyang mga utos ay kamatayan, subalit dahil sa kanyang pagmamahal sa akin muli niya akong pababalikin sa aming barrio upang pumatay ng dalawang matatanda na kung saan sinabi niya na tumulong upang patayin ang aking mga magulang. Kung ito man ay parusa sa aking pagsuway sa kanya o hindi, ay hindi ko na alam.

PINALAYA MULA SA MGA KAPANGYARIHAN NG KADILIMAN - Kabanata 2

Ang Pagtatalaga

Kwentong patotoo ni Emmanuel Eni 

"Mayroong isang daan na tila baga matuwid sa isang tao, subalit ang dulo nito ay ang mga daan ng kamatayan." Kawikaan 14:12 

"Subalit ang masama ay tulad ng masalimuot na dagat, kapag ito ay hindi mapayapa, na ang kanyang tubig ay naglalabas ng putik at dumi. Wala roong kapayapaan, sabi ng Diyos sa mga masama."Isaias 57: 20-21

At ang buhay sa labas ni Hesuscristo ay katulad na katulad ng mga inilahad na mga Kasulatang nasa itaas. Umalis ako sa aming nayon dala ang pera, N50 at ang lugar ng tirahan na ibinigay sa akin ni Alice, pagtakas, kalayaan, kasiyahan at ang lahat ng mga bagay na kasama rito: subalit makikita mo sa bandang huli na ito ay napakalayo sa mga inakala ko sa aking murang puso. Nang ako ay dumating sa Lagos, ito ay napakaganda sa aking paningin at ito ay kinumpara ko sa langit, anuman ang katulad ng langit. Nakita ko ang lahat ng matatayog at magagandang mga gusali at sa bawat mukha nito nababanaag ko ang kaligayahan (Akala ko). Ang mga tao ay tila baga napaka-abala ang bawat isa ay walang paki-alaman sa isa’t-isa. Ako ay handang-handa na at sinabi sa aking sarili, ngayon alam ko na ako ay malaya!

Ako ay dumating sa Akintola Road, Victoria Island at maiging tinanggap ni Alice at ng kanyang mga magulang. Kilala ako ng kanyang mga magulang at ang aking nakaraan dahil parehas na baryo ang aming pinagmulan subalit hindi nila alam ang relasyon namin ng kanilang anak. Ipinakilala ako ni Alice sa kanila bilang lalaki na ‘pinili’ niyang pakasalan. Nagulat ang kanyang mga magulang subalit matapos ang ilang usapan sa kanya, nagkasundo sa kondisyon na magpapatuloy muna ako sa aking pag-aaral. Tinanggihan ni Alice ang kanilang alok at nakiusap na payagan akong makisama sa kanya sa kanyang sariling silid na inuupahan. Hindi ito matanggap ng kanyang mga magulang subalit siya ay nagpumilit. Nagkaroon sila ng matinding pagtatalo sa loob ng apat na araw at dahil sa di maipaliwanag na kadahilanan sila ay pumayag na ako ay tumirang kasama si Alice.

PINALAYA MULA SA MGA KAPANGYARIHAN NG KADILIMAN - Kabanata 1

Ang Aking Pagtakas patungo sa Bagong Buhay

Kwentong patotoo ni Emmanuel Eni

"Sanayin ang isang bata sa landas na dapat niyang tahakin at kapag matanda na siya, hindi na siya lalayo mula rito." (Mga Kawikaan 22: 6).

Ito ay isang kapahayagan ng mga gawa ng Diyos - makapangyarihan, kamanghamangha at mahiwaga – bilang pagsunod sa utos ni HesuKristo sa akin na nagsasabing: “Humayo ka at magpatotoo kung ano ang ginawa ko para sa iyo.”

Kalimitan ang sinuman ay mag-iisip na ang kasawiang-palad ay isang gawa ng kapalaran at wala tayong magagawa na baguhin ang mga kaganapan ng ating mga buhay. Sa isang banda ito ay totoo. Sa kalagayan ng isang anak ng Diyos, ang kanyang buhay ay naitakda o planado na (Kawikaan 16: 9). Sa mangyari man o hindi ang plano nakadepende sa ilang bilang ng mga kadahilanan o sanhi, ang pagiging malapit ng isang tao sa Diyos, ang kanyang pananaw tungkol sa ganap na layunin ng buhay, at ang panlipunang-espiritual na kalagayan na masusumpungan niya ang kanyang sarili.

Ang landas ng iyong buhay ay hinamon sa pamamagitan ng ilang panlabas na sanhi. Ang panganib ay narating kapag ginawa mong ibigay ang iyong PAGPAPASYA sa alin man, para sa kabutihan o kasamaan. Maaari kang magmahal o mamuhi. Maaari mong hilingin na maunawaan o di maunawaan. Ang pagnanasang sumunod ang pinakadakilang kapangyarihan ng isang bagong panganak na Kristiyano, habang ang pagnanasang sumuway ay ang pinakanakasisirang kapangyarihan ng isang makasalanan.