As a young girl, my only desire in life was to have a family. I never had a desire for a big career, I just wanted to be married and have children. I knew that when I got married one day, I wanted a husband that loved God. My family began attending meetings with Preacher Clark and Pastor John when I was 10 years old. I don’t have much memory of what “church religion” is because I grew up with the familiarity of home prayer meetings, speaking in tongues, the power of God, and living a holy life. We spent many childhood nights visiting the saints and singing songs about God together.
When I was a freshman in high school, about 15 years old, a group of us were at Brother Earl’s house. The adults were singing songs and talking about God while the children played in another room. At some point, we came out to be with the adults. The spirit fell and one by one, us girls started receiving the holy ghost and speaking in tongues. See Earl Pittmans’ testimony: “I Will Give You Children”. I remember the power of God being so strong in Bro. Earl’s living room, that when the spirit fell on me, I couldn’t stop speaking in tongues. I remember walking out on Bro. Earl’s back porch and saying to myself, “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe I got the holy ghost.” I remember the cool night air blowing on me... And I just could not stop speaking in tongues! There was an overwhelming feeling of joy that night.
When I reached my teenage years, I wondered a bit away from God with the desires of seeking a boyfriend and companion. Somewhere, I know that deep in my heart, I still desired to find someone who loved God. At the age of 19, God dumped this young man named Cliff right into my lap. I say that because as I was still out “searching” on my own, and we ended up meeting each other at a mutual friend’s house. Now, I know God had this planned out all along. I began telling Cliff about the holy ghost and the way of holiness. He had an interest in God, and from this point, our life together began.
I have to tell about what happened to me the night that Cliff got the holy ghost. I knew as a young girl that I if I was to ever marry, I wanted someone with the holy ghost, because when 2 people are joined together in marriage, they should be equally yoked. I had God’s spirit and I was a child of God, so in order for us to marry, Cliff would have to have God’s spirit too. Cliff received the holy ghost at my parent’s house in March 1996. I was standing behind him that night, and as he leaned backward I saw his mouth moving as he was speaking in tongues. I felt a mighty rush of all my dreams coming true. I will never forget that feeling that night, as long as I live. (See Cliff Ayscue’s testimony.)
Shortly after Cliff received the holy ghost, Pastor John signed our marriage papers. That night was a special night too. We had gotten our marriage papers earlier that week in preparation for a weekend meeting when God would join us together. There was nothing big planned, just gathering with the saints and having everyone there that we loved to be a part of our blessing. Pastor John stopped by on a Friday night with Bro. Wendell to my parents’ home. When he walked in the door, he asked if we had our marriage papers yet. I told him they were in my bedroom. He asked for them, and signed them then. We did not have a big wedding, I never even desired one. When God joins 2 people together, there is no need for a ceremony. It is complete in God, without any outside help of a ceremony. We have been married for 18 years now, and have 2 beautiful children that both have the holy ghost also. See Stephen Ayscue and Jordan Ayscue’s testimonies on PJH children’s page.
I have to tell this part in my life’s story at this point, because it is a part of what God has given me: When my sisters and I would play with our baby dolls as young girls, I always pretended that I had a boy first, and he was my oldest child, so that he could take care of his younger sister. So, when my children came along, what do you think God did for me? He gave me my boy first and 3 ½ years later we had a little girl. Also, back in the 80’s the dream home was a small house with a picket fence around it. So where do you think I live now? In a small house with a fence around it. Isn’t God just wonderful? He really does make dreams come true!
Julie