—Epilogue —
Donna, there is going to be a 30-year anniversary celebration for the church. We will have it outside so the entire congregation from all three services can meet together. As part of this occasion, the staff has planned for three people to share five-minute testimonies before the keynote speaker. We would like for you to be one of these people. Pray about it and let us know.”
When I had first heard about this event, I wasn’t sure why the leadership had decided to do it. So I had planned to go out of town to see my dad. Why would the church even plan an anniversary celebration? My husband had been on staff for eighteen of those thirty years.
But when I was asked to share a brief testimony, I knew! It was the same I knew when God had arranged my dinner invitation on one of those bleak weekends. It was the same, I knew when God prompted me to have a Christmas open house. It was the same, and I recognized it! God was working out an incredible plan! I didn’t need to pray about it. I KNEW! Joy had already begun to well up in my heart!
“Wow! Lord, I can’t believe it! Look at what You’ve done!
I called Alan, the church administrator, to let him know.
“Yes, I’ll do it! Yes, I’ll praise His name!” Alan and I laughed when I told him, knowing that if he’d had asked me five years earlier, I’d have been under a chair!
The staff and leadership had also been through some very hard times, as well. Many questions were discussed among them. What could they, as a church, have done to prevent this? Were they to blame? Did they place too many unrealistic expectations on this pastor? In humility we had all knelt in prayer confessing our many shortcomings. As we arose from prayer, the Spirit of the Lord swept our doubts away. Why not have a celebration! Why not begin a new!
God had given me an opportunity like none other—to lift up His name before the whole congregation! I would also personally thank the body of Christ for lovingly caring and praying for me. Never once had I heard that I had been an embarrassment to them. Truly, they had been an extension of God’s love. I wanted to let them know of the awesome miracle that had taken place in my life! I was pumped! God knew it!
The day finally came. It started out a little blustery—cool with a slight mist—which initially caused concern. But finally the sun broke through and a faint rainbow appeared for a brief time then faded away. The temperature climbed as the excitement grew. It turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous fall day cooled by a soft breeze. A canopy of beautiful blue skies and large, billowy white clouds hovered over the congregation as if to participate in our worship. As I stepped up to the platform, I remembered a special admonition from a sermon.
“Don’t give up on God! Persevere! If you will keep on striving, fixing your eyes on Jesus, then one day you will see the bluest skies, the whitest, fluffiest clouds, and the brightest rainbows of your Christian walk. I guarantee it!”
I stood before the congregation knowing the Holy Spirit had prepared me for this moment. I looked beyond the skies, innately wanting to catch my Father’s nod of approval. I envisioned Jesus, the Son of God, leaning over and whispering, “There’s Donna, Father. She’s one for whom I died! Let’s listen as she shares with the people what our Spirit has laid on her heart!”
My heart beating with excitement, I enthusiastically opened with these indelible words etched in my heart:
“There is a God! And God is real! There is power and strength in the Name of the Lord! My prayer today is that what I share with you will filter into the deafening ear. May the news penetrate the doubting hearts. I want to shout it from the mountain tops! So I will say it again! There is a God, and God is real! There is power and strength in the name of the Lord!
‘For you, O God, have tested [me],
You have refined [me] as silver is refined.
You brought [me] into the net;
You laid affliction on [my] back.
You have caused men to ride over [my] head;
[I] went through fire and through water;
But You brought me out to rich fulfillment’ (Psalm
66:10-12 NKJV).
“God picked up His daughter and set me before you today. This truly is a miracle! Those who have known me in the past now know that God has put a new song in my heart. He picked up the ashes of my life and covered me with His hands. He anointed me with oil and held me close to His heart. He then told me how much He loved me. He instructed me in His unfailing love. He taught me forgiveness and poured out His blessings upon me.
“I praise His holy name! He is the One who lifted my head. He held my face in His hands and said, ‘Donna, look to Me and no one else. I am your Abba Father. I will catch the tears that fall and wipe them away.’
“Isaiah 1:4, 6 says, ‘They have abandoned the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away from Him.’ Lord, I can’t imagine how Your heart must have ached in pain. You were rejected by us all!
“‘From the sole of the foot, even to the head, there is nothing sound in it. Only bruises, welts and raw wounds. Not pressed out or bandaged, nor softened with oil.’ What a tragic picture of those who choose to live this way when there is a way out!
“The Lord is shouting from His Word, ‘Can’t you hear! Can’t you see! I have the oil! I can soften, press out, and bandage the wounds!’
“His anger is not spent! But His hand is still stretched out. What a loving God I serve!
“Lord, thank You for allowing me to see that You will never stop reaching out. There is no end to Your love. There is no end to your comfort. Lord, there is no end to Your power to heal.
“David blessed the Lord in sight of all the assembly, and that’s what I want to do today. So I share this moment with David! Taken from the book of I Chronicles 29:11-13, I say, “Move over David, because Donna is going to bless the Lord!’
“You, O Lord, it is You Who are great and powerful. Glory, victory, and majesty are Yours. Both riches and honor come from You. And in Your hand is power and might; it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now, God, I thank You and praise Your glorious name!
“Today I shout! Today I say with confidence! I know that power! I know that strength!
“Thank you for encouraging me! Thank you for praying for me!
“To God be the glory! Great things He has done!”
Copyright 2001, 2004 Donna Christensen
All rights reserved.
Published Online by: The Biblical Reader
www.biblicalreader.com