Heart of My Heart,
Once again, You have so filled me with Your Living Water that it has overflowed from my eyes… in tears of JOY!
I just got off the phone with a newly-found Sister-in-Christ. I met her ever-so-briefly several weeks ago, at a Christian street outreach. She had helped organize the beautiful event and I had gone up to thank her. Suddenly, she invited me to give a testimony there… as one of 30 You had called to do so that day. A testimony of the Reality of Your Love in my life. Oh, Lord… So many things I could say!!! How could I choose just ONE?! 🙂 By Your Grace, I did!
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15)
This sister had asked for my contact information, so I had given her my card — the card You had just had me make. She called me for the first time today, using that card. She called me because You have ordained yet another opportunity for me to testify to the Reality of Your Love in my life. The Reality of Your Love in the Valley of the Shadow of Cancer.
She didn’t even know I had been through that Valley with You, Lord… but my card kept “resurfacing” on her desk. It wasn’t until today that she understood why.
Saturday, there will be another Christian outreach. This time, outside the train station in Culpeper. The place we just were on Sunday, where I had noticed a life-sized sculpture across the street. A life-sized sculpture of just one word: LOVE. On Saturday, cancer survivors and those still in the Valley will be walking the street there, cheered on by any others who may come. There will be music and, yes, testimonies from survivors. Testimonies of HOPE, because of Your LOVE.
She asked me if I would testify. Hmm… Let me pray about that… What do You think, Lord? An opportunity to testify about Your Glory and Goodness, even in the Valley of the Shadow??? GLADLY!!! JOYFULLY!!!
She had been asked to find 13 speakers for Saturday. She has had this “assignment” for several weeks, yet has all but “struck out.” I am the first one to agree to speak. She went on to say the other outreach had been much smaller than they had hoped; she wasn’t sure who might turn out for this one.
That’s when I realized this call was about much more than Saturday’s event. This sister was discouraged, frantic, knowing she needed to have faith in You in but finding it… difficult.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, as He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You gave me words for her that convey A Precious Truth — A Priceless Truth. If only one person in all the Universe, in all of time (past, present or future), needed You to go to the Cross to pay the debt they could never pay, You would have gone! Giving Your all — sacrificing Your very life, in the most painful way possible — for just that one.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
You gave this Truth new meaning during that outreach several weeks ago. An elderly woman lived across the street from the event, down a couple of blocks. Out of sight… but not out of hearing. Her heart has been hard toward You her whole life. She has wanted nothing to do with You or with any Christians. Then, recently, she was diagnosed with cancer.
Funny how in one moment, your whole world can change.
That day, she was sitting on her porch and heard the music. She listened to it, hour after hour, during the five-hour event. Usually from that distance, sound would be distorted. She told someone later that she heard everything clearly and realized it was Christians, singing praises to God. With insight that could only have come from You, Lord, she added:
“It was like the angels were singing to me.”
I don’t know what You have planned for Saturday, Lord. I do know that my sister and I left our call this morning refreshed… and filled with a great sense of anticipation. You are the Lord of the Universe and Your plans will not be thwarted. So we thank You for this precious privilege to hit the streets and to testify about You, Lord — the Hope of the World, whose matchless LOVE brings forth LIFE!!!
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
Eagerly,
Abba’s Girl