Defining Moments ⏳✨

Choosing Joy in a Hard Season

There are seasons of life that are filled with joy because it is easy. And there are seasons that are filled with joy because it is a choice. I was in the latter. I was close to God because I needed his advice on every step.

Life was hard in every way. Marriage, finances, and all the ways life is hard for you. He was asking things of me that were seemingly impossible. Yet, I was learning when I am weak, he is strong. Nothing is impossible for God. The joy of the Lord is my strength and many other Biblical and Christianese quotes. But it was in the obedience that I not only survived, but thrived. Taking another step on the path to simply trust.

A Calling to Speak When It Matters Most

I would not consider myself a theologian or a public speaker and yet I knew that is exactly what He was asking of me. To speak in front of a thousand people at a funeral service for my uncle. Not just any uncle, but one that mattered.

As I arose early that morning to clarify all this, I simply asked the Lord for a scripture. Show me what you want me to do today, I asked (or maybe pleaded).

He led me to Isaiah 61. I began reading:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news

I stopped in my tracks knowing what I needed to do. But continued reading:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Looking back, I can see where He again has brought this verse to life for me, but that day I just needed to focus on the one step of obedience. A defining moment.

A Life Changed in the Final Days

My uncle always believed “in the man upstairs” but would never declare his love for “Jesus”. It was during his final days on earth that the Lord brought me to his home 1000 miles away to yet again share with him. Many believers who know and love him were praying. One even shared with me later, that he wanted to come but that he knew the Lord was sending someone to him. I was the one that the Lord chose. I climbed into that hospital bed with him and shared my story. He was physically unable to shut me up as he had in the past.

Throughout the night as I stayed up with him, we worshiped and I prayed. And there was a moment, when the Lord spoke to me and I saw it. My uncle had declared and his name was in the book of life. He was celebrating with me.

Testifying to God’s Faithfulness

A few days later I stood in front of many people reading the Farmers Creed as requested by the family. And then went off script sharing the story of how I knew my uncle was with Jesus. Testifying to the faithfulness of God that no one should perish - not even one.

There was joy, tears, anger, and applause - a mixed bag of emotions from those in the audience grieving. There are many in my extended family whose hearts are very hard and they were not happy. I was simply supposed to read the Farmers Creed. But others, my aunt and some cousins gave me a platform to share the good news. God gave me the instructions and the words. How I pray he was pleased.

Called, Anointed, and Sent

You see I have read that scripture before. Isaiah prophesied it and Jesus declared it in Luke 4 while in Nazareth. It wasn’t new to me before that day, but it also wasn’t real to me before that day. It was for the pastors, teachers, evangelists and apostles, but not for me. I wasn’t “good enough” for such a calling. Boy, was I wrong.

Eight months later, I would be standing at the pulpit again sharing the good news of my saviour and His goodness while speaking at another Celebration of Life service, honoring the life of my husband of thirty years.

“Celebrate his life and make his death matter” were my instructions. And so I wrote all that I thought God asked me to say and spoke it at not just one, but two services honoring his life. The state where he was born and the state where he died.

Comforting Others Through Grief

As a widow, God has used my circumstances to bring comfort to those who are experiencing loss and grief. In a few years, a pandemic would hit the world and many deaths would occur. I was placed in a position to walk with many families in grief over those years. God sees our tears, uses our pain and nothing is wasted. While the preparation was hard, it is one of my greatest joys.

We Are All Called

Isaiah reminds us that we are all called to share the gospel, heal the sick and set the captives free. Not just Paul and Barnabus, Peter and John. Not just your pastor and mine. Not just missionaries and evangelists around the world. But You and I! Right where we are. To who is in front of us. Through our demonstrations, thoughts, actions, and words. We are all carriers of the gospel. May it be pleasing to the Lord.