Barbi Palmer Martin's Page

I thank God that I am here today to share with you my testimony of God's Amazing Grace, Love and Mercy. Although I was raised in a Church of God Minister's home with a wonderful praying Mother, I chose a path of sin after leaving home. I am in no way proud of the choices I have made in my life, but unfortunately, I have no ability to turn back time. But the God I serve is a forgiving God, and a God of second chances, and often third, fourth and fifth...

I was popular, loved, adored and praised by friends because I was the life of the party. But the path I chose was a life a self destruction. I had become a non-eating alcoholic and had even delved into recreational drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, pain killers, muscle relaxers, uppers and downers. I wasn't so much into the drugs, as I was the alcohol. Every morning I would start my day with a gallon of water (which the doctor said, was the only thing that sustained me) and would proceed from there to drink 18 plus beers a day, everyday and did not eat.

On August 7, 2000, I was scheduled for an outpatient Endoscopy (a scope down the throat) procedure. I did not expect anyone to be there, except the friend that I needed to drive me home. A nurse announced that my Dad would like to talk to me, and I assumed she meant he was on the phone. But my parents came through the double doors and came to stand on each side of the bed, stroking my forehead and praying. My dad said, "I had to come see my little girl!" The doctor came, introductions were made, and then I was taken back for the procedure. When the doctor met with my parents, the news was grave. He told my parents, "their daughter was going to die and die very soon." He could not admit me in the hospital, because of insurance being what it is today, so he asked my parents if they could take me home with them and do something for me. My parents replied with; "No ~ this is something she'll have to do on her own." I was literally sent home to die! After hearing the death sentence, I had my unwilling friend take me to the store, so I could buy some beer. I told her, it was my last HOOPLA!!! I proceeded to drink, but could not even get drunk. At 12:30 AM, I drank my last beer. I went to bed and told my husband, "there are 7 beers in the refrigerator now and there will be 7 there when you come home from work ~ I'm done with it! When I got up the next morning, I proceeded with my usual gallon of water, but began vomiting and could not stop vomiting. I did not realize it then, but God was purging my body of all the toxins. I called the doctors office, and begged them to put me in the hospital, and for the first time, I admitted that I was an alcoholic and needed medical attention. The doctors office never returned my call, and I continued to vomit. I called on God and prayed this simple prayer ~ "God, you don't owe me anything, and I don't deserve to ask you for anything, but God I need your help, I can't do this on my own" God instantly delivered me from alcohol. The very taste, desire, cravings ~ GONE ~ and "NO DT's! God had literally reached to deaths door for me. When my husband came home, I was finally able to put a little food in my stomach.

The doctor ran test after test; CT scans, MRI's, X-rays, blood tests, and everything would come back normal. The doctor's favorite words were, "Remarkable" and "Amazing." In February 2002, I went in for exploratory surgery for some unexplainable and undetectable pain on my right side under the ribcage. The surgeon removed my gall bladder and did a liver biopsy. It took 3 weeks to get the biopsy results, and it came back with "Cirrhosis of the Liver." At first, I cried and had a little pity party. It didn't last long, because I realized this was something I had done to myself. I began to profess healing! Every time I gave my testimony, which was everywhere I went to anyone that would listen. Most people were receptive, but there were some that thought I was a stark raving lunatic! I didn't care ~ God had delivered me from deaths door and healed my liver, although I had not seen the evidence or proof. God loved me and I was blessed and highly favored! On my way home from the doctor, after receiving the test results, I stopped at a convenient store to by a Sprite, the woman behind the counter said, "I see you have a guardian angel." I said, "I know I do," and rendered my testimony, and the tests results I had just received. She took my hand, and prayed for healing from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. She was an ordained Church of God minister. I left the store, and I don't think my feet were touching the ground! That same evening, my sister and her husband, the Pastor of a Church of God in Winter Haven, Florida were in Revival. The Evangelist asked my sister to stand in proxy for me, and he prayed. A man in their church that was never outspoken, and was referred to as "The Quiet Man" stood up and said, "I don't know who you're praying for, but she's healed.

The doctor would monitor me with lab tests and it was always ~ "Remarkable" and "Amazing."
In June of 2004, the doctor told me I was amazing and that I looked amazing. He asked me how I felt about another liver biopsy? With no hesitation I told him I wanted one. As I stepped on the stool to get on the examination table, the doctor said, "Now you do realize that cirrhosis doesn't just go away, don't you?" I replied, "Yes" and he said, "but with you there's just no telling!" Three long weeks later, the biopsy came back with "NO CIRRHOSIS!!! I was not surprised ~ after all ~ I had claimed healing! But to this day, with all of my disobedience, rebellion and sin, it amazes me that God would be so loving, caring, merciful, gracious and forgiving to ME! A Preachers daughter, that knew better!

A few little sayings that I try to live by are: "I Am Blessed and Highly Favored!"
"I Am Too Blessed to Be Stressed!"
"I Am Too Anointed to Be Disappointed!"
"Aspire to Inspire before I Expire!"

Sin will take you further than you want to go, Keep you longer than you want to stay and Cost you more than you're willing to pay!

To everyone who reads my testimony, I hope it will bless and encourage you or someone you love, who may need to know ~ That God is Still on the Throne and Still Answers Prayers! And Through Jesus and the Stripes he Bore for Us ~ We Are Healed!
May God Open the Windows of Heaven and Shower You With His Blessings.
If you happen to think about me one day, please say a prayer for me. It may be at that exact moment I need your prayers.

Love In Christ,
Barbi Palmer-Martin