I was invited to speak for the Idlewild Baptist Church Women's Outreach Luncheon today. A couple of months ago, the pastor's wife had videotaped a 5-minute snippet of me sharing some of my testimony which they showed on "Sanctity of Human Life" Sunday. Evidently a result of that video was their extending an invitation to me to speak at their luncheon.
It was truly a lovely time. Each of the ladies (or two together) decorated a table and invited unsaved or unchurched friends to fill their table. There was a "give away" on each table, as well.
I sat at a chocolate-themed table...I tried to keep my drool at a minimum...and felt my hips growing just by osmosis. We were surrounded by chocolate candy bars, chocolate miniatures, chocolate covered strawberries, and...the piece de resistance...a gorgeously decorated homemade chocolate cake, made fresh this morning by one of the ladies at the table. Yes...the lucky person with a red dot on the bottom of her cup that was overflowing with chocolate got to take the cake home. No...it wasn't me...that's not a bad thing...I gained about 10 pounds just looking at it during lunch.
After we ate lunch (well...the ladies ate lunch...I saved mine for after I spoke/sang...it was better that way...just trust me...) we played a couple of games and then I was invited to share.
I was reminded as I prepared and as I shared how powerful Christ-exalting testimonies are of God's grace, mercy and power. God was so gracious to encourage me afresh by how He has lavished me undeservedly with His grace, mercy, love and kindness. It's not necessarily an easy trip down memory lane...but, the trip always results in my heart being overwhelmed with thankfulness and awe that the God of all would be mindful of me.
The children of Israel erected altars in worship to God so they would remember His steadfast love and faithfulness...and they would show their children and their children's children and tell them the stories of how God had been faithful...never leaving them nor forsaking them. They served as pointers to God...the only sure hope in a hopeless world.
I think our testimonies serve as our "altars". They are not about us...really. They are about God and His power to ransom, love, sustain and keep His children.
As I reflected over my testimony, I was saddened by the infrequency in which I take opportunities to share it with people. Those are missed opportunities to proclaim the grace of God! Opportunities to share my testimony should not provoke shame or embarrassment...they should provoke humility, worship, praise, thankfulness, awe...that God has chosen to display His gospel and His glory in this earthen vessel. My testimony doesn't point to me...it points to my Savior!
I'd love to hear your Jesus story! Care to share?
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