Dear Bro. John:
I am so thankful for Justin TV! I was at home sick on Sunday, but able to listen to the wonderful testimonies because God has given us this technology to share these stories of God. Each and every testimony felt like a sweet balm being applied to my soul! It stirred sweet memories of what Jesus has done in my own life. That is why our testimonies are so good to share – – they stir up what God has done for each of us.
What I really love about Jesus is that before we even knew him, he knew us and where we would be. I love that Jesus was storing up sweet memories (and testimonies) before I even received the holy Ghost. It is as if he “hid” them in the holy Ghost until I could give him the glory that only he is worthy of.
One of the testimonies I know he “hid” early in my life was the healing of my eye when I was just a small child. Listening to Bro. Jim G. tell about little Daniel’s eye on Sunday touched my heart deeply because I experienced that very same thing as a child. But, the Lord “kept” that testimony until after I received the holy Ghost. The reason I say he “kept” it is because I never once spoke of it during my childhood or adult life until after I received his Spirit – – and then I remembered the things of the Lord. Mmmmm, I love how this feels!
I could not have told that experience before I received the holy Ghost. Only the Spirit knows how to honor Jesus; so Jesus “kept” it until he could get all the glory for his wonderful works. Then, after I received the holy Ghost at 42 years old, it was as if I could smell the sawdust and see the wooden chairs set up in that big tent where my grandmother and aunt took me that night to be healed. I was about 5 or 6 years old at the time, and I had a cyst (about the size of a garden pea) come up on my eye. My mother worked for a doctor (surgeon) and had taken me to see him to get it checked. He told her that I would have to have it cut out and that it would scar me for life. My grandmother heard that diagnosis and said she knew of a healing preacher in town and she wanted to take me.
I remember going down front to where the preacher was. He was up on a stage and I stood below. He kneeled down and looked at me in such a warm, loving way that I did not feel afraid. He asked if I believed in Jesus and if I believed Jesus could heal me. With all the child-like faith I knew at the time, I softly replied, “Yes sir”. He then pinned an anointed cloth on me, laid hands on me and prayed for me, and then sent me home with instructions to keep believing and thanking Jesus for my healing.
My grandmother brought me home that night and my mother and I did as the preacher said. I wore the little anointed cloth and we prayed and thanked Jesus each night. Not too many days later, I woke up and the cyst was gone! My mother and I found the hard mass in the bed. It had rolled out during the night! I have never had a scar to this day! Praise God!! He is good!!
That preacher, I found out later, was Bro. Creech who knew your father during the days of the healing tent meetings. Who knew that some 40 years later, I would be living and loving the truth that George Clark loved. Jesus knew.
I thank Jesus for his blessings, not only with testimonies and songs since receiving the holy Ghost (what an abundance he has given!), but with testimonies brought to our memories from when he knew us even before we knew him. He was there all the time, waiting patiently in line.
As I have heard you say before, Bro. John, if God’s people could just get together and tell what Jesus has done in their lives there would be no division. I know this weekend touched many hearts – – it sure did mine. I pray we keep stirring up the gift of God and thereby provoke God’s children to live together happily in one accord!
Sandy 🙂