A Christian’s Testimony
I visited your church the other day. The joy within me was so overwhelming; I had to share it with someone. I figured, why not share my joy with the whole congregation, after all, that’s why we’re here—to fellowship and praise the Lord for his wonderful works.
My joy was quenched however, well, not quenched, just suppressed until I could share it with others who were open to hearing about the goodness of the Lord. Your deacons and elders wouldn’t let me speak in front of the church, so I quietly went back to my seat and enjoyed the rest of the service. Like I said, my joy wasn’t quenched, I still worshiped the Lord through singing, the reading of scripture, the sermon and the appeal. I just wish I could have also worshiped through sharing.
By the way, all I wanted to share was the fact that I almost lost my home that I’d lived in for 6 years. I thought we were doing well. We had the usual tests and trials here and there, but nothing major—at least nothing compelling me to make church or prayer meeting a priority. Then September 11th happened and the rug was pulled out from under me. A drastic downsizing in my company, a pay cut, rising utility costs, a car accident that hospitalized me, and I was almost done for. The self-sufficient, resourceful Christian was struggling to keep food in the fridge, struggling to stay current with the mortgage, struggling to keep three kids in church school and the list goes on and on.
Well, PRAISE JEHOVAH, my kids are still in school, not church school, but a good enough public school. They have a place the come home to everyday. Their daddy has meals ready on the table and the temperature in the house is comfortable. I had to sell my Jaguar and pull most of the money out of my 401K. I’m now only working part-time at the same company, but Praise the Lord, they increased my hourly wage. When I’m not working or spending time with the children, I’m working on starting my own business.
I’m more grateful then ever for each meal that goes on the table, for each night I have to tell the kids not to have all the lights on in the house, for each A or B they bring home on their report card and for each mortgage check I’m able to write.
So, church family, please don’t take God’s blessings for granted. Don’t be ashamed to tell others what God has done or is doing in your life. Don’t just wait for the glamorous testimonies like, “God blessed me with a new car” or “we just closed on 5-bedroom house in Mitchellville,” or “I married a handsome doctor” or “I just got 6-figure job offer.” Rejoice and share all God’s blessings, the 1-bedroom apartment that’s roach free; the daughter that checked herself into a drug rehab program; the wife that broke off her affair and returned home; the son that’s refraining from pornography, the bible study that’s well attended by your neighbors, the accident that you caused, but no one was hurt, the routine physical that went well, the class that you should have failed, but the teacher gave you a C. Whatever it is, just share it. Don’t second-guess its value. Since God blessed, it’s valuable. JUST PRAISE HIM!
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his wonderful works to the children of men”
My joy was quenched however, well, not quenched, just suppressed until I could share it with others who were open to hearing about the goodness of the Lord. Your deacons and elders wouldn’t let me speak in front of the church, so I quietly went back to my seat and enjoyed the rest of the service. Like I said, my joy wasn’t quenched, I still worshiped the Lord through singing, the reading of scripture, the sermon and the appeal. I just wish I could have also worshiped through sharing.
By the way, all I wanted to share was the fact that I almost lost my home that I’d lived in for 6 years. I thought we were doing well. We had the usual tests and trials here and there, but nothing major—at least nothing compelling me to make church or prayer meeting a priority. Then September 11th happened and the rug was pulled out from under me. A drastic downsizing in my company, a pay cut, rising utility costs, a car accident that hospitalized me, and I was almost done for. The self-sufficient, resourceful Christian was struggling to keep food in the fridge, struggling to stay current with the mortgage, struggling to keep three kids in church school and the list goes on and on.
Well, PRAISE JEHOVAH, my kids are still in school, not church school, but a good enough public school. They have a place the come home to everyday. Their daddy has meals ready on the table and the temperature in the house is comfortable. I had to sell my Jaguar and pull most of the money out of my 401K. I’m now only working part-time at the same company, but Praise the Lord, they increased my hourly wage. When I’m not working or spending time with the children, I’m working on starting my own business.
I’m more grateful then ever for each meal that goes on the table, for each night I have to tell the kids not to have all the lights on in the house, for each A or B they bring home on their report card and for each mortgage check I’m able to write.
So, church family, please don’t take God’s blessings for granted. Don’t be ashamed to tell others what God has done or is doing in your life. Don’t just wait for the glamorous testimonies like, “God blessed me with a new car” or “we just closed on 5-bedroom house in Mitchellville,” or “I married a handsome doctor” or “I just got 6-figure job offer.” Rejoice and share all God’s blessings, the 1-bedroom apartment that’s roach free; the daughter that checked herself into a drug rehab program; the wife that broke off her affair and returned home; the son that’s refraining from pornography, the bible study that’s well attended by your neighbors, the accident that you caused, but no one was hurt, the routine physical that went well, the class that you should have failed, but the teacher gave you a C. Whatever it is, just share it. Don’t second-guess its value. Since God blessed, it’s valuable. JUST PRAISE HIM!
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his wonderful works to the children of men”
Copyright 2005 Leuanna Matheson
