Hello! Making the transition from smoker to vaper

[Phanie]

My name is Phanie and I'm getting my 510 today. Im excited, nervous, and basically chain-smoking as I wait for it to arrive. To be able to enjoy my habit without putting out others means the world to me.

My Testimony (in a nutshell)
I was saved at 14 (I'm 28 now). God has been a constant thread in my life; as a teen I was "on fire" for the Lord but things changed drastically when I met my ex-husband. He was a Christian also but we were both foolish and in love. As things go, I became pregnant at 18 and we were married soon after.

The next four years are misty. We stopped going to church, had another little girl and... well, drugs and alcohol and despair became the norm. I left him four years later and God (through my parents) patiently and lovingly redirected me back to the path I started on. It's been a long, hard process. I became someone I never thought I'd be: angry, vulgar, ect. Even today I still struggle with these things.

A year and a half ago, God brought my husband and I together. Looking back and talking about our lives, we seemed like "two ships passing in the night"; we lived within 20 miles of each other when I previously lived in MO with my ex. Our lives and the choices we made paralleled and finally intersected. When we met we were at the same point in our walk, so far from the narrow path and we wanted so much to return.

We married a year ago and, as a blessed wedding present, I was gifted a 10 year old son. On our honeymoon, God gave us another blessing: 9 months later, I gave birth to our second son. Altogether we have two boys and two girls.

Now
We attend a Baptist church in Kansas City, MO. I have never seen a church so wonderful, loving, and Biblically sound. When we first moved here we ran into financial hardships and, for about five months, the church let our girls go to their school and trusted us to pay them back when we could (my eldest son lives with his mom and she doesn't support our beliefs.) I finally understood what "church family" meant.

God granted our prayers and on February 22, 2011, the VA back-paid my husband what they owed and we are now debt-free.

For the first time in my life I understand what it is to love the Lord and trust in Him. Unfortunately, as is the human design, now that our financial hardships are taken care of I've moved on to petty things. I need to keep my eyes and ears and heart on the Lord and this is hard for me.

On vaping
To be honest, I believe that smoking and vaping are not Biblically correct. We can split hairs and say that vaping is better than smoking, which it is, but God doesn't weigh sin. Let's be honest: it's a worldly thing and God calls us to be in the world, not of it. However, if none of us were hypocrites then we wouldn't need the blood of Christ and God's Word. Even without smoking, I sin every minute of every day; that's why I need Jesus Christ.

That being said, I acknowledge my limitations while I don't want to quit the habit I also don't want to be a stumbling block for others. Being a smoker and a Christian has placed limitations on me. I am tired of stinking up the back yard and smelling like smoke (much to the chagrin of my husband who is smoke-free for 3 weeks). I am tired of coughing all the time. I can't sing like I used to and singing is a ministry that I'd love to get into but refuse to at this time due to smoking.

***

Whew! Okay, that's me. Thank you for reading and I would love to get to know you all better. Feel free to PM me anytime.

God bless you!!

Phanie

 

[trukinlady]

Hi Phanie!

Congratulations on your 510! And welcome to Christian Vapers. (Check your PMs. I've sent you an invitation to join the group.)

What a great testimony! I'm glad you found a good church. For many years I didn't attend church because I was leery of being mislead. I didn't want a church where personal opinion was preached instead of sound Biblical teachings. But I realized I was missing out on the richness of the fellowship, and the leadership of those more mature, and wise in their walk with Him. I found a great home church, and have been there many years.

I was a wild child, too. But, Praise God!! He called me back to Him!! I know exactly what the world has to offer, and I want no part of it. He is all that is worth living for!! AMEN!!

Hope to see you here again soon!

'T'

 

[earthpig]

It's disturbing that we have to make mistakes in life to figure out just how fun sin is. Yes I said it's fun, but that doesn't mean without serious after effects. Satan makes sin entertaining. It's part of the draw of it.
The beauty is that since we've been down that road, we mature, and see the ill effects and certainly don't want to repeat the issues.
God was quite gracious and took me back after 30 years of walking away. No I didn't reject Christ, i just thought I new better. It was a lack of maturity and arrogance on my part. Yes I had many fun times and yes I paid a horrible price for it. I almost lost a marriage. My health was nearly taken from me, I destroyed my business, My finances are still in disarray, and I can list numerous other things that have been totally disrupted.. Fun eh?
Now at age 57, I have to think back and wonder how could I have let myself get to where I am. It is a deception.
What was missing and not even realized is the joy and peace that comes in a Christ Led Life. I see that now, and if my knee joint bent the other way I would kick my own .... for my stupidity.
NOTHING surpasses that Joy and Peace.

I came back around to Christ in 2008. Life was a mess, and I had major issues. I was given an eye opener when I walked into a Baptist Church I was doing some contract work for. I had just went through a major surgery 4 weeks prior, and the look in the eyes of the parishioners there hit me. They had been praying for me and my recovery. I saw Christs love in them and in their eyes. I walked out when done with our meeting a changed person. I got home, and my wife didn't recognize me. I had been changed, and renewed in my mind. I finally got it.
Well continuing on, I had made a list of ""11 critical issues"" that needed addressed in my life. All 11 were in dire need of correction in my life. I started praying and God started taking action. Within 3 months 8 of the 11 were covered. In 6 months it was 9 covered and today 2 1/2 yrs later 10 issues are corrected. Last issues is my finances are still a bit upside down but a far cry from where they were.
"""There is power in prayer""". I am witness to that. These 11 issues are items that were out of my control OR issues that happened in such a supernatural speed that was shocking to see. I take no claims of having my hands in the outcome except in God allowing me to participate in a few of the corrections.

So now I'm a AOG member, yet hold no one denomination in high esteem. It's just where I fit in.
And life has been a wonderful journey. My life is now for Christ, and yes there are struggles... but they are wonderful struggles by comparison.
Thank you Lord!
...
On the cig front, I am trying to quit, and love the e-cigs. I see them as a way off of the real thing and I guess I disagree a slight bit in the harm or sin of it. I consider it no worse than a cup of coffee. But if it is offensive to some, I use discresion around them.
Choose your battles. Let Christ point you in the right direction and choose them wisely

Pig

 

[Saintscruiser]

Great testimonies, Phanie and Pig. Thank you both for sharing!

I so understand everything you guys were talking about. I didn't become a Christian until I was 35 years old. I always thought I was saved until I GOT RADICALLY SAVED! PRAISE GOD AND THANK YOU, JESUS!!! AMEIN!!

Within the next 2 years, I married a wonderful man....even though he's 11 years younger than me. I had a teenage son from a previous marriage, and there were many problems. After 11 years, we separated and a year later, we divorced. I counted this marriage as my first real marriage and was left devastated. I can remember pacing the floor in my folk's house at 3:00 a.m. many times. Praise God my folks allowed me to stay with them. I was crushed beyond belief.....close to being destroyed. I just couldn't understand how we got from devoted in every way to getting a divorce. I got Christian counseling and signed up for a grief and loss class at church. Two things I learned: 1) Many of the marital problems was because of me....my attitude. It was hard to really look at myself....it shook me to the bone; 2) In my grief and loss work book, there were a couple of questions: 'How do you perceive your identity.' Next was the question... 'How has your loss affected your identity?' Well, the first question I answered ..... I perceive my identity to be a child of THE KING. Then I answered the next question....It doesn't. I will never forget the realization of what all of that meant. My heart was broken, but my identity could not be touched by anyone. No one can take that from me, regardless of what relationship I have with them.

We were apart for 3 years, never being unfaithful to each other with someone else. In God's eyes, we were still married. It was the longest 3 years of my life. We remarried after those 3 years, and have been exceptionally happy. Our love for each other grows daily. We freely admit that we killed our first marriage....shot it, stabbed it, whatever. We honestly can't live without each other. When he isn't home, I miss him and vice versa. Monday will be our 24th wedding anniversary and I give ALL PRAISE AND HONOR TO GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY GHOST! AMEIN!

It's a shame that many people learn only in adversity. Faith can grow during adversity, as well as trust. I hate it took all of that to appreciate and love my husband, as I'm a hard head!

P.S. He said that he has something special planned.....watch it be a trip to McDonalds!