Breath of Life Testimony: Tammy

My mentor is Debbie Reed, my name is Tammy . Thanks Debbie for your faithfulness. I started at 16, to fit in.. That was back when you could smoke anywhere, even in hospitals. For years I was fine being a smoker, my family and friends smoked. Eventually I "needed" to smoke more than I wanted to. I was saved in my early twenties. I prayed for years for God to help me quit. I'd quit and start back up. I felt dirty, guilty, ashamed. I tried to cover the smell with perfume. I could not quit. I had the same love-hate relationship most smokers have with cigarettes. I fought Christ for control of my life, though at the time I didn't know that's what I was doing. Christ worked on my heart. Eventually, my hardened heart started to soften, through many trials and people. Pastor Pat has a gift for teaching. Many a sermon have touched my heart. One day, during a sermon, my Pastor said he believed the reason Christians aren't involved more in church is sin. You know until writing this, I did not realize what effect that sentence had on my life, how God used those words to convict me. I knew God was talking to me. I understood why I felt so much guilt. I finally realized smoking was a real sin, not just a "bad habit", an "addiction", a "small sin", a "white lie". It was my sin that held Him on the cross. The battle raged, until I fell to my knees in repentance. I finally gave myself to Christ, He took control of my life. Now I knew the only thing that could cover my sin was the blood of Christ. Pastor told me about Setting Captives Free, when I told him I was quitting smoking. My life has changed a great deal. My husband quit, too. I am a happier person. I am no longer a slave to sin. I have been free for six months. I am more involved in church. I just started teaching kid's church. God has blessed me so much. I deserve nothing, and yet He continues to love me and bless me. I love Christ. For 32 years I sinned the same sin everyday. He never gave up on me. I want to please God and that is an indescribable feeling.