Testimony - Colette Campbell

      For 44 years I was a heavy smoker. When I started, a cigarette was something of a fashion accessory. As more and more information came out about the dangers of smoking, I got very worried but chose to ignore it. I did try to give up - on many, many occasions - but failed each time. The guilt made the smoking worse! I loved hearing stories about people of 90-odd who had smoked healthily for years. To make matters worse, we had a doctor some years ago who was a heavy smoker and didn't think it was a bad thing.

I came to know the Lord about 10 years ago. My husband, Don, and I attended a local church and one evening the speaker asked people who wanted to make a "commitment" to Jesus to stand. Don and I looked at each other and knew what each other was thinking: we stood together. We were baptised in water together a few years later, which was a wonderful experience.

It wasn't until fairly recently that I received the other form of baptism - baptism in the Holy Spirit, from Jesus. I knew I was cleansed from my sins, but I felt very bad about my smoking habit. Not that smoking is such a dreadful thing, I wouldn't want anyone who smokes to feel condemnation (they get enough of that from society). It's just that I felt smoking owned me, it was an expensive problem rather than a form of relaxation. Also, my family were unhappy about me smoking and I didn't want to set a poor example for my grandchildren. I asked for the Lord's help to give up. A good friend in church, who is a mature Christian, offered to stand by me as my prayer partner. She also encouraged me daily, with telephone calls, letters and scriptures (even while abroad on holiday!). 

Although giving up was incredibly difficult, I have managed it because I know the Holy Spirit is in me, helping me through the withdrawal. I tried many times to do it on my own and couldn't, only with God's help could I manage. I think the support of family and friends has been tremendously important. They have been God's arms (with frequent loving hugs) and  His voice, encouraging and supporting. I have recently retired but don't miss my wages at all, because now I don't have to throw away most of them on Embassy's!  It gives me pleasure when I see advertisements for Nicorette, hypnotism, etc. I didn't need any of that, I had the Holy Spirit."

Mark 1:8  "I indeed baptized you with water, but He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 

Colette with her grandchildren, Josh & Anna

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