The way that God brought me into Remnant was not through my weight, but was because of the love that I had for my sister-in-law. I was told by others that this was not a good place. If I had been not so into myself, I would have looked to see that she was smiling, her marriage was being restored, she was losing weight, it was all right there. So I asked someone to get me information off the Internet about Remnant. I have always wanted to search the truth out for myself and know the truth. I took all the negative things that they had written and I took it to the one place that I knew was truth, the Bible. Everything that, that paper said I could look up in the scriptures and read the whole chapter and find out that what they had said about Remnant was false. It made me more curious, a church that read the whole scripture and explained the truth. This was awesome. A place where people actually put God first and smiled while they where doing it—unbelievable! I asked my sister-in-law a lot more questions. I wanted to know the truth. She asked if I would like to go to a service the next day. I did go and I was blown away. When I walked through that door, people said ''Hello'' they where happy to be there, they where happy to worship the God of the Universe, they where smiling, when they where singing to God, they where still smiling, and no one looked at their watch during the service. Children sat quietly and paid attention to what was being said. After that service, I knew I had heard truth, there was not a "oh yeah that was a good sermon" like everyone would say in the church I was in before. You heard truth poured out that you could hold onto. You could walk through your life with your head up, looking to God and knowing that there was a true way to Him. We had been attending our former church for 4 1/2 years before we had become members. The day that we became members, people came up to us to say “congratulations, how long have you been coming to our church?” I was shocked. I let them know that it had been 4 1/2 years, I played on their softball team (my husbands company had sponsored them), I was a counselor for there girls program (there children had been to our home), I had helped with the food drives, and had even taken their food, from their hands, for that food drive. Yet they did not know me? I was very out spoken back then. The changes in my life since that first Remnant service that I attended was immediate. I found out that arguing does not go to heaven, so there was instant peace in my house; and this is from a woman who always had to have the last say. I was now quiet. I listened and I read my bible. For the first time in my life I had direction that made sense. A mom that was constantly yelling at her children and making there life's miserable, was now talking to those beautiful children and learning how to give them boundaries, that where in Gods boundaries. A wife that always wanted to make her self happy, now wanting to know how to make her husband happy.
I went to church services for about four weeks. What I heard in the church that I left, was not lining up with what the Bible was saying. They where leaving out the most important parts. Love God first, others next, do the will of the Father, follow the example of Jesus Christ, and obey Gods will. I left that church and I took our children with me. Was it hard? No, doing what is right is only hard if the focus is on you. My marriage just kept getting better. My anger that I had kept for 40 years, I no longer needed. I laid down the rage that I had turned on everyone, even road rage where I would get out of my car in the middle of a intersection and tell people how to drive. I thought I was quite righteous—I never swore so that made what I was doing alright. I hated for anyone to pass me on the road and I would find away to some how get back at them. All of it gone—I no longer have that kind of rage for anyone. I pray for them, asking God to keep them safe. My son and I would hit and kick each other trying to hurt each other. We kept it hidden from the world. He and I loved each other because the world said we where supposed too. Now we love each other because we get to. He gets up in the morning and hugs me and tells me he loves me. He will ask me, "Mom what can I do for you?" I will ask him something and he is polite and respectful. He used to get in fights at school because of his anger. I know where he got that from—I taught him. He used to be over 40 lbs. heavier, would take food and eat it in his bedroom and hide it. I know where he got that from—me. The example that I had shown my children from the life that I was living before Remnant was full of ugly, disgusting sin.
I changed so much in that first month of going to Remnant Fellowship. I heard about Weigh Down and asked if I could get into a class. Just by the changes in my life and looking to God I had lost about ten pounds before I joined my first class. I have lost a total of 50lbs. What I have lost mostly was in my heart that was confused, hurting, full of rage, hate, loneliness, and putting myself before everyone. I had a horrible marriage relationship, which has been fully restored and is totally amazing (21 years now). The whole time not knowing and always wondering what was the purpose behind life. I understand it now. My whole family has come to love God whole heartedly. My husband and I love each other more everyday. I used to love it when he would go away for deer hunting or fishing trips. I miss him terribly now when he goes. My children are teenagers and they are loving and respectful. Their teachers can not say enough good things about them. My son’s employer tells us that he is a true hard worker. My children cannot understand when they see other kids their age not wanting to be with their parents. Our daughter we used to be called the “drama queen” because it was all about her and she would cry with all the worrying. That is all gone—she will now take it to God and leave it. She used to be a bully at school I was constantly getting called into the office. This tiny, skinny, petite little girl took “nothing from nobody.” This wonderful young girl of God takes it all now and hands it all over to God and lets it go. She was “student of the month” in September, something that she thought she would never get because she knew that she was not nice before Remnant. One of her teachers said that if we ever decide we didn't want her anymore, he would love to have her for a daughter. She is a student that helps her teachers, says good morning to them, is respectful and thanks them for their help in teaching her. Both of our children set a example of what a respectful, obedient teenager looks like—all glory to God! They are friends with other students that are not accepted by the world standards—they love on them not because anyone said they had to, but because they love everyone. The are so many changes in our family—I could go on and on. This family lost over 130lbs. all together. The weight loss was not the only thing—we lost poor health, greed, rage, worry, depression, anger, jealousy, lust for food, money, things of the world, and being lovers of ourselves. What we gained? The love for God first, a beautiful marriage, well behaved and dearly loved children, relationships with our family members, a true family of believers, our health, and the love of learning the truth and living it out every day. I used to cry out and ask God what is the purpose for life and He answered my prayer. This would not have been possible if I had not heard the truth that Remnant was teaching and the truth that the Weigh Down classes share with so many people. I know that I would not have changed. I had not changed for the better in the years before I heard this, only the worst. Everyday I wake up and I first thank God and I ask him if I can do His will. I ask Him to show me the way and He does through this wonderful Leadership that only tells me truth. Gwen Shamblin only wants to do the will of God and teaches us the truth and the true way to eternal life. I love the people that have shared the truth with me because they loved God first.
I thank God for allowing me to even be a part of this church. Before we came into this message I had no real friends, I was extremely mean to my sister, I had fits of rage, and I would even throw and hit things in my rage. There is so much stuff that I did that was wrong that I can’t even write them all down. From the age of four I pulled out my hair. I did it so much that I started getting bald spots and always had to wear something on my head to hide it. I knew that it was wrong but I did not know how to stop. After we joined Remnant Fellowship my Mom told me that pulling out my hair was ruining the temple of God. When she told me that, it hurt to know that I was making God upset. I prayed and then I told myself that I was not going to ruin the temple of God anymore, and I stopped (at age 10). I love my sister now and I don’t have any rage in me any more. I have so many friends I can’t even count them. I love God with all my heart and want to do nothing but His will.
My heart is beating out of my chest to share what God has set me free from and saved me from through Remnant Fellowship. I joined the church when I was only seventeen years old but I already had piles of rubble separating me from God. I grew up going to a very popular church and was involved in everything I could be involved in. I was put in leadership positions because I was willing to pray out loud and share what I read in the Bible. On the outside I looked like a zealous young Christian girl with a future in missions or ministry, and I loved this title. However, God knew what was in my heart. The whole while when I read my Bible, I would cry because I had a hidden sin of control and anorexia tucked in my heart and mind. With this brought extreme fears and compulsive behaviors. I can honestly say I had no real personality because my mind was always consumed with worry. I did not have a good relationship with my sisters because I was jealous of them and did not know how to love anyone really but myself. It eventually got to a point where I actually lied to my mother about my eating. My mood was determined by my weight and what grades I was getting at school. I had little time to care for others because I was very busy trying to "save myself" from what I was deathly afraid of. The worst thing was I knew what I was doing was wrong and against God. But I heard in my church that we are born sinners and will struggle in our lives on earth...I would hear this underlying theme every Sunday and it made me feel better in my sin....it robbed me of the conviction I felt in the week. The pain grew and grew and I remember crying every night by myself, asking God how to let go or if I was totally being deceived in some way that was keeping me from seeing how to get this FREEDOM that was in his Word...to please reveal it to me. Meanwhile, my mother had left our church on her own and going to a church on the computer. I had no idea what she was doing but she was getting happier and happier. I was full of pride though and never asked her really what this was all about and when she tried to explain it to me I shut it out. God is soooo merciful. tTe Spring after I returned from a "missions trip" my mother told me she was taking me to Tennessee. When I arrived I heard....really heard that I HAD to lay down rebellion to God. It was not a should.....I had to before it was too late. Over the course of the weekend I decided in my heart that no matter what this church was about...I didn’t understand everything...but I knew that I was no longer going to control my weight by starvation any longer. God was speaking right to my heart through Gwen Shamblin and I obeyed. After that first step of obedience I felt the immediate fruit in my life that I had been longing after....God used this message to put the true Holy Fear in my heart to let go of what I was clinging to so that I could be free indeed. Since then God has shown numerous areas in my life that I needed to change in order to have the fulfilled life of following Christ and I am excited for more changes! I WANT TO CHANGE!!!!!! God has now healed my body and mind from worry about my body. It used to be what I thought about when I woke up and went to bed. I remember rationing out the time I exercised and read the Bible trying to make sure they were about equal........it was obvious to God that I wanted to be a god too.......I will praise Him forever for this message and Gwen Shamblin who shared with the true good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ....that I have been given everything I need to do exactly what God wants and I no longer have to sin!!! I wasn't meant to live in torture, torn between loving other things....I am free to love only God!!!! I love other people now and waking up every morning is a joy because I have another day to learn from him and worship him. I want to be exactly what he would want to be with forever and he teaches me how through this Remnant Fellowship!! This church is unlike anything I have ever seen. I cannot believe the amount of true love I see here. I am learning every day from those around me how to be truly humble and like Christ. Before, I could have only picked out maybe two people in my church that I wanted to imitate because of their godly example. Now I can honestly say everyone I hang around I learn from!!!! I can say with confidence that I am loved and that someone will tell me the truth if I am doing anything wrong. I have instant friends in this church because we all love God...there is always him to talk about!!! My relationship with my sister is healed, I love her and learn from her and praise God for how she is blessed!! Without this message we would not have been this close. My parents and I talk almost every day, I want to go to them for help and advice and I trust their opinions because I know that God will speak to me through them...I didn't know that before. In this church, the youth group is full of life!!! I never knew youth could love God like this!! It reminds me of the young passionate hearts in the Bible!! We don't need someone to entertain us at our events, doing what God wants is sooo exciting! We want to serve and learn!! Now every worry is given to God and my life revolves around what he wants... not fixing myself...Ms. Gwen has shown me that God will do that. Thank you God for your mercy and grace that you have shown me truth in this day and age and allowed me to see that you are EVERYTHING!!!!
Since Weigh Down and Remnant I have been delivered from:
My name is Tomi Homonnay, and I am 16 years old. Before Remnant I didn't think about how I acted, what I did, or what I said, I did whatever I wanted. But now I see that this was wrong, that God does not like it when we sin against Him, He wants us to be blameless. As Jesus said, "Pick up your cross and come follow me." Disobeying my mom and arguing with her was a constant thing, it was miserable. Now it is fun to be with my mom, it's not stressful, it's joyful. Also I had many things in my heart that I put before God, such as soccer, and my toys, and girls. I always did my own thing, always focused on these things more than God. And because you fall in love with what you focus on, I began not to care for God at all, but rather other things. But through this message, I have learned how to put God first, and by doing this I am blessed. It has made life more fulfilling, and yet I still get all my desires along with it, when I seek Him (Psalm 37:4). I would not trade this for anything.
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