I'm sharing a testimony for the Glory and Honor of God Almighty:
Tuesday, July 19, 2022 @ Debbie and Tommy Greathead's Life Group
I attended the Greathead’s Life Group last Tuesday night. As Tony ended his teaching on the New Covenant, he read this statement from the homework page, “Those who express saving faith in Christ will not live in constant, deliberate sin.”
That statement sparked a tiny bit of something in my being at that moment, but I didn’t give it another thought.
The Bible study time ended, and ministry began. Tony asked if anyone wanted prayer. Two women and a man wanted prayer. After they prayed over the two women, Debbie came over and asked if I wanted prayer. I told her, "No, I’m good.” She came again and asked me; I said, “No, thank you, I’m good,” to which she responded, "But, I heard you say you wanted prayer.” I said, “No, I didn’t.” She said, “Yes, I heard you ask.” She then told the gentleman to come forward.
After all the praying was done, I was saying goodbye when Judy came over to me, and she put her hands on my checks and said, “Leave the trauma here.” Not knowing what she meant, I just said, “OK, thank you.” She said it a second time, emphasizing the word “here". I had no understanding of what she was talking about. But, I politely thanked her, and I walked out the door.
As I walked to my car, I tried to recall the exact statement from the homework. I couldn’t. I drove 4-5 blocks when Holy Spirit surprised me by telling me, “Go back.” Somehow I understood that He meant for prayer. I turned the car around and went back.
I parked and went in. Most of the people had left.
I went over to Tony and said, “I think I need prayer.” With that, the flood gates opened, and I asked him about the closing statement he had read. So we re-read it together.
While he was explaining it to me, words exploded from my mouth. “Joe stood in the pulpit preaching every Sunday night; taught The Bible; did ministry work. How can this be?!”
By then, I was probably incoherent because I was wailing and doubling over as if something were being ripped out from within me. Tony and Jerry started praying over me. Deep from within my soul, remaining traumatizing pain and sorrow flowed like a torrent out of me.
Jerry held me like a loving father as I cried and cried. He was Abba to me at that moment. I felt safe. Secure. And somehow understood.
Jerry then shared with me something God had once told him. And instantly, our Father’s Words to him rang true to me, and I then comprehended about Joe.
Then, I realized my HOME ministering was also taken from me. Another loss that Holy Spirit brought up to my knowledge at the moment. Through my sorrowful tears, I said, “THIS used to be my life (referring to the 20 people in the home for Bible study and ministry), and now I don’t have that anymore. I miss it, and I want this back!” I confessed to Debbie that I was a tinge jealous. “I want this back!”
Jerry and Tony prayed for God to use me and my home again.
I had never explicitly thought about the loss of my HOME ministries. With all my out-of-the-home ministries, I had already grieved their losses and had already been healed. But in-home ministries I had never specifically thought of.
Oh, but Abba knew that area of my life needed to be healed.
When it was all said and done, and I drove home, I realized I had left “the trauma here” in the Greathead home, just as Judy had spoken to me.
Since I had no inkling during that evening of what was to come or that I even needed it, I realize now that Abba had gone after me. He pursued me to bring more healing of trauma and to release what was down deep within me - deep sorrow that my home was no longer being used for His Glory and Kingdom.
AND that “He left the 99 to go after the one” - ME! Whoa!
Me! Little old me! The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY went after me last Tuesday night!
He pursued me. Tears of gratitude have not stopped flowing since then. I’m so deeply humbled, thankful, and in awe of such Love.
No man, no human has ever pursued me. And I realize now that I’ve so wanted that - NEEDED that in my life - to know that someone cared enough for me to not let go of me, to pursue me out of deep love for me.
As I type this, I realize I lost two very intimate friendships in the last year or so. Neither pursued the friendship, which left me with profound rejection in my soul. So, Abba pursuing me also has brought healing to that rejection! Oh, Hallelujah!
Abba’s Love for me compelled Holy Spirit:
1. To have Tony read that particular statement from the homework page;
2. For Debbie to hear my voice saying, “I want prayer,” even though I never utter those words because I didn’t think I needed prayer, but Holy Spirit knew I DID, and He let her know it;
3. To speak through Judy to “Leave the trauma here”;
4. For Holy Spirit to audibly speak to me telling me to “Go back.”;
5. For Jerry having shared God’s answer to him when he lacked understanding and needed an answer;
6. Holy Spirit's revelation of the depth of loss in my life from my home no longer being used by Him;
7. The revelation about God pursuing me and healing that place where rejection had settled in my soul, leaving me less confident as a woman;
8. And The Scripture Mark 16:20: "...The Lord working with them and confirming The Word through the accompanying signs" was alive and active in the Greathead Life Group! Oh, thank You, LORD!
It was another Divine Intervention by God Almighty, Himself in my life. Another miracle! Unexpected and Suddenly, which is God’s M.O. ANOTHER one for the books!
The number eight (eight things listed) in Scripture represents new beginnings. Oh, Hallelujah!
I know I am adored by You, Abba, and I'm adorned with Your Goodness. My heart bows before You, My LORD. There are no words of thanksgiving in English. Hear my tongues. See my heart, LORD. Save my tears in Your Bottle next to my name in Your Book - because they are tears of gratitude... I am so so grateful...Please use this testimony, Oh, LORD, for someone who needs to know You are The Miracle Working God in unconventional ways!
Because of You, and Unto You, Always,