Testimony time!

Sunday night church always included ‘testimony time.’ I usually hated it because it so predictable. Too often the same saints stood up and told the same stories about long ago spiritual victories or woes using the same tired phrases. But every now and then testimony time caught fire when somebody stood up and started to talk about what God did that week. They would get carried away in the Spirit. That was not boring or predictable. Being a Pentecostal church, those testimony times got emotional as the saints shouted, bawled, laughed, and clapped.

Today, it’s testimony time!

Around 2:30 this morning, I woke up thinking about life’s challenges, personally and in the lives of friends and family. In some ways, the last 12 months have been one of the most difficult in my life. Losing my Dad in February caused an emotional wound that is still tender. The economy nearly teetered into a depression which threatened the livelihood of many I know and love. As I was praying through those problems, the Spirit came near and brought to mind the amazing grace of God that I have known in the middle of all this.

-It was my privilege to spend a lot of time with my Dad in those months of illness before his death, creating a treasure store of memories.

-My experience of ministry has never been more personally fulfilling than it is at this time in my life.

-As my children have walked through trials of new endeavors, I have watched them grow emotionally and spiritually.

-The ministry I am so blessed to lead has endured the recession without faltering financially.

-Our Christian school enrolled 50 new children this year!

-Annual ministry reports submitted last month showed that our church, while not perfect, is strong and healthy.

For all these things, and more, I wanted to break out in song in the middle of the night. Yes, this Pentecostal pastor is crying as he writes these words, overflowing with gratitude to my Savior.

God is good and I am blessed, not with a trouble-free life, but with His Presence and peace guiding through it all! We used to sing a chorus from the Psalm that started with this line. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” In other words, “Speak up and let the world know about God’s goodness! A contemporary translation of that same passage says:
"All of you set free by God, tell the world!” It goes on to say, “Tell how he freed you from oppression, Then rounded you up from all over the place, from the four winds, from the seven seas. Some of you wandered for years in the desert, looking but not finding a good place to live, Half-starved and parched with thirst, staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion. Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God. He got you out in the nick of time; He put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live. " (Psalm 107:2-7, The Message)

If you’re in the valley, fighting to hang onto hope, I pray that my words today are encouraging. God weeps with us in our trials, stands with us even when we cannot see Him in the deep darkness, and leads us out into the light. It’s a cycle that we will experience time and again while we make this pilgrimage to His Home. Testimony time need not rehearse only the woes, need not just be a boring recitation of faded glories. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!”

Here’s a word from the Word. Read and re-read it today with ever increasingly faith in the goodness of our God.
"A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest." (Psalm 126, NLT)
_____________

God is good all the time.
He put a song of praise,
In this heart of mine;
God is good all the time.
Through the darkest night,
His light will shine;
God is good,
God is good all the time.

If you're walking through the valley,
And there are shadows all around,
Do not fear, He will guide You,
He will keep you safe and sound.
He has promised to never leave you
Nor forsake you, and His Word is true.

We were sinners so unworthy,
Still for us He chose to die;
Filled us with His Holy Spirit,
Now we can stand and testify,
That His love is everlasting,
And His mercies, they will never end.

Though I may not understand,
All the plans You have for me,
My life is in Your hands,
And through the eyes of faith,
I can clearly see.

God Is Good All The Time

Moen, Don / Overstreet, Paul
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