I wanted to post this testimony of what God has done in the life of my brother and friend, Neil Thoney. I'll let him tell it in his own words.
"Ain't God good" started for me as a funny meme about a guy getting to speak first at his Ex's funeral. It makes me laugh now thinking about it. However, over the past month it has turned into a three-word phase I use to bring Glory to God.
A police escort brought me to Gadsden three years ago this February, and after providing me with around the clock security and a place to stay so secure it even had a fence around it, I walked out in early March. Unlike some secure buildings that have been designed to keep people safe from outside dangers this one was designed to keep me safe from myself. "Ain't God good"
While there I found out about Elmo's Place, a faith-based halfway house. I went there because I didn't have anywhere else to go, not anywhere safe anyway. While there I had a Damascus road experience with the Lord, I wasn't looking for or even believe in Him. "Ain't God good."
Over the last three years I have had some challenges. I can look back now and see every one of those challenges was God "knocking my rough edges off", as my sponsor likes to say. I can say with conviction, that I know that's the truth because over the past six months or so I've grown more than I have since I got saved." Ain't God good."
Most of those challenges revolved around losing job, after job ...after job. Most of the time for reasons I didn't have any control over. God in His infinite wisdom, helped me see how to own my part of it, and it would knock off one of those edges I wrote about earlier. "Ain't God good."
After losing those jobs I would move on to the next one. God would provide me with something bigger and better. He would show me that if I stayed faithful He would elevate me beyond anything I could ever imagine. Then I would lose that job. He would provide another great job and elevate me, then forces mostly beyond my control would take it away. During this time God revealed character defects I didn't realize I had. More importantly He showed me that where I work isn't what defines me, but the work I do for Him in the name of Christ Jesus is. "Ain't God good."
The point of me writing all of this is to bring Glory to God, and to thank Him for His grace and mercy. To also thank Him for putting people in my life that love and support me enough to hold me accountable and to keep me pointed to the cross. To also Thank Him for those same people teaching me that it doesn't matter what other people do to me that I have a testimony to protect and to always show them my Jesus. "Ain't God good.'
" But God" another quote I love. After going through all those challenges, and having my "rough edges" reveled and my character defects worked on. Even after losing all those good jobs, not just jobs but careers I wanted and would have been happy to retire from. The key phrase being I wanted. But God said, no my son. I have so much more for you. "Ain't God good."
Every single one of those jobs was giving to me so I could grow and work on my faith, my walk and myself.God had something bigger than I could ever imagine. So with all Glory going to God i'd like to take this time to announce that I've accepted a job at Volkswagen, and i'm moving to Chattanooga. He not only gave me the job I wanted but the department as well. "Ain't God good"
Thanks to everyone who have supported me and helped me grow as a Christian. Thank you to my church family at First United Methodist of Rainbow City for showing God's love to me. Thanks to my Catalyst Recovery family for just existing keep doing what y'all are doing it makes a difference. A big shout out to
Steven Brewster
at Downtown Celebrate Recovery for allowing me to serve with you. And last but not least a big, BIG thank you to Andrea Jolley Marbut
for being one of my biggest and earliest supporters, and for revealing to me that God gave me the gift of working with kids. It changed me and showed me what I've been called to do. I love my Brats. So, Ain't God good? Yes, yes He is.
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