Invite Jobi to Share her Testimony at Your Next Ladies Event

Hi, my name is Jobi Jones. I may know you, have just met you, or you may

have landed on this website by divine appointment. I would like to invite you into the story of my life.

 
I could start off by telling you of all my accomplishments, how I have

owned two successful salons, been on billboards and newspapers as a

model, and how I have traveled to some pretty amazing places.

However, honestly, none of that matters in comparison to telling you the

one thing that matters more than anything in my life. And that is the fact

that I was a criminal and had a pretty messed up life.

I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida in 1974 and for as long as

I can remember I was an angry, rebellious, and strong-willed girl. If you

said don't, I did.

At around age 12, I started smoking cigarettes, then became sexually

active as a teen, then started experimenting with drugs and alcohol. My real vice, however, was my addiction to food.

By the time I was 18 I was pregnant and then a single mom. By age 21,

I knew my life was either heading in the direction of losing my child or

ending up in jail. I had already committed two federal crimes, I just

hadn't been caught yet. My drug and alcohol use was consistent and my addiction to food was getting out of control. At one point I was 253 lbs at 5'2". In the medical field, I was deemed morbidly obese.

I was a mess than to add even more to my repertoire I had broken all kinds of laws. I'd driven while under the influence, stole from my employers, and was on the call list for collection agencies. Although I had broken the laws of the land, as if that wasn't bad enough, I also had broken God's law.

Most people are familiar with the 10 commandments found in the

Bible. Do not steal, do not lie, do not covet, do not have sex outside

of marriage etc. Well, I broke them all. Yes, my plea, GUILTY as

charged. That is why "I AM A CRIMINAL." The laws I have broken

in our land are serious, yes indeed but the laws I have broken according to God Almighty well those are punishable by eternal death. 

The bible says, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble

in one point, he or she is guilty of all." (James 2:10) The bible goes on

to say, "For all have sinned (done wrong things) and fall short of

the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) I heard this many years ago through

a couple named Ben and Ann. I remember thinking, "then what do I do

if God says I am guilty and trust me I knew I was then, What?"

I'll never forget them as they explained. They shared with me that all

though I had broken God's law that I could be forgiven. Forgiveness

sounded like a symphony in my ears. Humbling, exciting, and wanting

more all at the same time.

I'll share with you what they shared with me. They told me that God

knew I could never keep His laws to perfection because I am human

and have a human nature. I couldn't be smart enough, rich enough, or

even do so many good things to outweigh my bad to satisfy payment

for God's judgment. So, God provided a way through Jesus' death. His

death on the cross satisfied the punishment for all the wrong I, you, or

anyone else has ever done.  They told me of God's love for me, for you, and for all of mankind. In John 3:16-17 the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

I'll be honest a lot of what Ben and Ann shared with me that day all

those years ago didn't make a whole lot of sense. God loves me, had a

Son He put to death to save me, and then if that wasn't mind-boggling

enough Jesus lay in the grave three days and then rose from the dead.

What!?

As astonishing as it was, I believed what they showed me in the bible

to be true. That day I asked the Lord to rescue me from all I had done,

to forgive me, and to give me eternal life. I had so many questions

probably the same as you. However, in my heart what they explained

to me resonated deep in my soul and I wanted to be forgiven. I wanted

a home in heaven with Jesus and all those who have ever believed

upon Him.

The Bible says, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus

and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will

be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and

with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10

As Ben and Ann asked me that day, so I'll ask you.

Would you like to receive the free gift of eternal life through Jesus

Christ? Would you too like forgiveness, restoration, and a home in

heaven? If yes, then all you have to do is ask God and believe.

If you don't know what to say to God you could pray something

like this:

God you know I have done a lot of things wrong to break your laws. I

am a sinner and need you to save me. Thank you for sending Jesus

to die on the cross for me. I believe He is your only Son and I

confess now that I need you and can not carry the weight of my sin

any longer. Please forgive me. Please restore me and make me

whole again. Thank You Lord. Now I ask that you help me to live for

you and give me power through your Holy Spirit to live out this life. I

ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

I give God praise if you have made the decision to follow Him. It truly

is the best decision you will ever make.

I remember praying that prayer all those years ago too and the first

thing Ben and Ann told me to do was start reading a bible as soon as

possible. I encourage you to do the same as well. The bible says,

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." 

(Romans 10:17)

Lastly, I want you to know that life still gets hard. I still mess up royally

at times and so will you. But, God's grace is sufficient and He always

waits with arms open wide to forgive us and empower us when we

ask. I want you to know that you can talk to God every moment of

every hour of every day because He will never get tired of loving you

or me.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story today. I hope you will

make Jesus part of your story too.

Blessings Always, Jobi Jones

Christian Speaker, Writer, and Bible Teacher