I really love testimonies. After failing miserably with a prime opportunity to deliver a testimony at my new church home, I’ve realized why it was such a big deal to turn down that opportunity: because testimonies are a big deal. They build each other’s faith. In a lot of ways, the Word of God is a big book of testimonies.
So anyway, a reader of my blog recently sent me one in response to my car-starting testimony and I asked if I could share it to help cultivate that spirit even more here. In short: please feel free to post comments with testimonies of God’s goodness, or e-mail me.
Revelation 12:10-12 says:
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
Without further ado: a brief testimony. We’ll pickup partway through, after Jeppy had already endured some tough situations:
… So, very frustrated, I went out to my car to find the receipt from the post office to track the package. Well… in my rush and impatience I dropped my cell phone in the very wet snow and didn’t realize it until about ten looonnnggg minutes later. When I ventured out and found it I was relieved until I realized I couldn’t hear anything. So I took the battery out and warmed it up in my hands. It really wasn’t all that wet so I thought for sure it would be OK. Well it wasn’t.
I don’t know why I lost control but I walked in the house, slammed the door, threw my coat on the floor and shed a few tears of frustration. It’s not like it’s the end of the world but I was kinda acting like it. The thought of paying for a new cell phone just seemed like another expense. I use my cell phone for everything. I guess I just had a toddler attack.
So I called a friend who then contacted Verizon and the customer service agent said that it is water damage (he didn’t even know I dropped it in the snow). Smart man. So I moaned and groaned a little longer. I felt I was in the wrong the whole time but I let my flesh take over justifying that I have the right to feel this way. Well, a couple minutes later I apologized to God and asked for forgiveness all the while still feeling like screaming. I then opened my cell phone again, took the battery out again, and placed it by the heater vent. I then walked into the living room and prayed for patience, and grace, and forgiveness once again. I thought about you when your car wouldn’t start so I prayed over my phone. I prayed for favor and for it to work again. [And it does.]
Well, Praise The Lord!!! Jesus was faithful once again. I was such a jerk and He was still faithful. Oh, to be like Jesus… I have a long way to go. I should have been praising him the whole time. Another day, another lesson learned.
Amen.
9 replies on “Now fielding: testimonies”
it’s kind of sad that you put out an open call for testimonies and all remained silent.
i have a testimony…i am a new creation in Christ, the old has passed away and the new has come. that’s pretty cool.
My most recetnt testimony would be that God has sustained me through the world that he has created. Phoenix is surrounded by mountains. Everywhere you are in this big, scary city, you can look up and see mountains and be reminded of the greatness of God. I like to think they are God’s way of hugging me when I’m sad, reminding me that he is always with me.
I like it Julie and Sherry.
And I agree that it’s a bit sad. Is Christ working in our lives or not?
We’re often quick to remind ourselves of life’s problems and controversy, but the verse I’m being reminded of often is “Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”
So, let’s start reminding ourselves and others of all that he has overcome and is continuing to overcome.
Interestingly enough, sometime early in our friendship, like junior or senior year, I was really struggling with something and you sent me that scripture. And I didn’t even know that was in the Bible, (how little of the Word I knew!!) But I remember that it made me smile and definitely encouraged me.
So whenever I read that scripture, I remember that I first heard it from you.
I don’t think the lack of response is so much sad as it is a commentary on the medium. We expect a blogger to say something, either witty or meaningful, then we respond in ways that say either “wow, that was witty or meaningful” or “this impacted me this way” or “here is an additional piece of accompanying (or contrasting) wit or meaning.” We don’t expect to hop on and offer much of our own extended meaningfulness (grammar nazis, please ignore that word.) Perhaps we should, but it outside of our well-developed blog expectations. And if we actually do come up with one, we typically put it on our own blogs. ;-)
i didnt respond b/c i sent u that huge email a long time ago with my miracle…not that there havent been others – but you get the point…God is definitely working all the time
Hey what verse was that? (reference)
April: your miracle is remembered well. It was a great testimony. And…maybe with your permission I’ll post it as “Now Fielding: Testimonies II” in the coming weeks.
The scripture I referenced is John 16:33–tucked within my favorite extended passage of scripture: John 14-17. Jesus’ “final words” to the disciples. POWERFUL stuff.
Sherry: you probably aren’t suprised I don’t remember giving you that scripture, but I’m glad it blessed you then and that I’ve benefited from many-a-timely scriptures from you over the years.
I guess I’m kinda glad that this site isn’t exactly conforming to the typical blog-quo. I do venture into wit and satire now and then… but just like TV I’m finding it increasingly empty.
The world needs less of my wit and more of the Jesus within me. The best way I know to do that is to testify of what he’s doing in me… and to invite others to do the same.
I praise God for His eternal salvation and love. Praise God for keeping me in times that I ran from the truth and placed myself in situations that would have led me to live a miserable life.
When I was sixteen years old I remember getting up at 6am to pray for an hour before school. I felt like I could almost touch heaven. Nothing was more important and I wanted nothing more than to be with Jesus. I remember feeling that nothing could ever make me stumble or look the other way. But I remember praying to the Lord that IF at any time I were to stumble or find myself down the wrong path, that He would bring me back home. I prayed that He would protect me in the times that blinders are on my eyes. It’s happened to everyone at one time or another.
He has answered my prayer time and time again. He is so faithful. I have done so many stupid things and knowing or unknowingly placed myself in bad situations. That prayer always makes its way back to me.
It’s awesome to hear testimonies. It totally builds my faith. Lets face it, we all have our bad days. We all need reminders of God’s promises.