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| "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation he has covered me with the robe of righteousness." Isaiah 61:10
Mama's old sweater lay rumpled in the bottom of a dusty cardboard box.
I set it aside as I sorted through some photo frames and devotion books, the last of Mama's personal belongings from the Nursing Home.
To think that all of her earthly possessions of nearly eight decades were condensed to a few tattered boxes, made me think.
I thought about how she lived loud. She lived life to the fullest. She loved to the fullest. She was a servant of the Lord and she loved to give herself away.
As a kid I was jealous because I had to share her with the world. She just had so much love to share with everyone, I had to learn how to share her.
Even at the end of her life when she had so little left to give, she gave away her love and shared Jesus with everyone that came to see her.
I received a text from one of her caretakers.
"Did you find her sweater in the box? She was wearing that sweater when she passed."
My heart fluttered as I ran to my closet to grab the sweater.
I sat on the end of my bed, I brushed my fingers over the tiny pearl buttons and coddled the cable stitching. I held the sweater up and buried my face in it as I burst into tears.
Her sweet fragrance still lingered in the threads.
As I yearned and ached for my Mother's arms to hold me, the Lord gave me a vision.
I saw my Mama lying in her bed. I watched her take her last breath on earth and her first breath in Heaven.
She was accompanied by a band of Angels as she ran into the arms of Jesus!
Her stained and filthy old sweater disappeared into the clouds as the Lord wrapped her in a beautiful pure white Robe of righteousness.
That was all I saw as the vision faded to black.
But she was home. Safe in the arms of her Savior.
Mama traded her sweater for a Robe and now she's wearing the clothes of Heaven.
"But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21
HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS! Donna Selma Lind |
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
MAMA TRADED HER SWEATER FOR A ROBE
By: Donna Selma Lind
Monday, August 27, 2018
BATTLE SCARS
By: Donna Selma Lind
A few months ago I was diagnosed with Cancer.
This is not my first Battle and it won't be my last.
Every Battle I've been through makes me stronger in my Faith. "Don't be afraid or discouraged, the Battle doesn't belong to you it belongs to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20:15
When I went for my check up last week the Doctor was happy to report that they got all the cancer and all my results looked good. Thank you Jesus! However the Doctor was discouraged at how the scar looked. I had an allergic reaction to the sutures so it left a scar that will be very noticeable in the front of my neck. He offered to redo the incision with cosmetic surgery so I wouldn't see the scar.
I thought about it for a split second and then I said "No thank you, this is just another battle scar that shows I 've won the battle and I have the Victory in Jesus!
I am a Survivor! What hasn't killed me has made me stronger.
I have overcome years on a deathbed of chronic pain, sickness and incurable diseases, physical, emotional, mental and sexual abuse. I've been beat down, pushed down, slandered, lied about, stepped upon and spat upon. I've been through dozens of surgeries that have left my body filled with scars.
BEHIND EVERY BATTLE SCAR IS A STORY OF VICTORY. THESE SCARS ARE MY ROAD MAP TO HEAVEN THAT SHOW THE BATTLES I'VE WON ALONG THE WAY.
I'M A WARRIOR FOR GOD. I'VE OVERCOME BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND THE WORD OF MY TESTIMONY. NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER.
My scars are part of my story. I choose to keep my scars, that they may be used to give God Glory and give others hope in Jesus.
Jesus kept His scars. They were the first thing he showed to his disciples after His resurrection.
His scars proved He was victorious. Look at His hands. Look at His feet. He wears those scars for me and you. The nail print scars from his crucifixion are still there. Jesus still wears our scars in Heaven.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!
Donna Lind 💗
A few months ago I was diagnosed with Cancer.
This is not my first Battle and it won't be my last.
Every Battle I've been through makes me stronger in my Faith. "Don't be afraid or discouraged, the Battle doesn't belong to you it belongs to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20:15
When I went for my check up last week the Doctor was happy to report that they got all the cancer and all my results looked good. Thank you Jesus! However the Doctor was discouraged at how the scar looked. I had an allergic reaction to the sutures so it left a scar that will be very noticeable in the front of my neck. He offered to redo the incision with cosmetic surgery so I wouldn't see the scar.
I thought about it for a split second and then I said "No thank you, this is just another battle scar that shows I 've won the battle and I have the Victory in Jesus!
I am a Survivor! What hasn't killed me has made me stronger.
I have overcome years on a deathbed of chronic pain, sickness and incurable diseases, physical, emotional, mental and sexual abuse. I've been beat down, pushed down, slandered, lied about, stepped upon and spat upon. I've been through dozens of surgeries that have left my body filled with scars.
BEHIND EVERY BATTLE SCAR IS A STORY OF VICTORY. THESE SCARS ARE MY ROAD MAP TO HEAVEN THAT SHOW THE BATTLES I'VE WON ALONG THE WAY.
I'M A WARRIOR FOR GOD. I'VE OVERCOME BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND THE WORD OF MY TESTIMONY. NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER.
My scars are part of my story. I choose to keep my scars, that they may be used to give God Glory and give others hope in Jesus.
Jesus kept His scars. They were the first thing he showed to his disciples after His resurrection.
His scars proved He was victorious. Look at His hands. Look at His feet. He wears those scars for me and you. The nail print scars from his crucifixion are still there. Jesus still wears our scars in Heaven.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!
Donna Lind 💗
Monday, July 30, 2018
WRONG NUMBER
By: Donna Selma Lind
The phone rang, I said Hello. I heard a lady at the other end mumbling and saying something I couldn't decipher.
I can't understand what you're saying, my name's Donna who are you calling?
"Oh, I'm sorry I have the wrong number." she sniffled.
That's okay, no worries. I said.
She mumbled and her voice cracked in between sobs. "I'm so sorry."
I blurted out, Wait, don't hang up, what's wrong, are you okay?
She started crying, "No, I'm in the hospital. I just had surgery last night. I was trying to call my friend. I'm having a real hard time and I'm in a lot of pain. I was in a car wreck, this was my third surgery. I don't think I can do this anymore."
At this point she was sobbing and crying hysterically.
Young lady, it's going to be okay. You didn't dial a wrong number. I believe God had you call me so I could pray for you! What is your name?
I could hear she was trying to catch her breath, and through her whimpering she said, "My name's Joyce. Oh, thank you so much, I put in a call for the Chaplin last night but I haven't heard back from anyone and I told God I really needed someone to pray for me."
Take a deep breath Joyce, I'm a Minister and God has connected us so I can pray for you!
So I prayed and she cried. I prayed some more and she cried some more. We touched Heaven with our prayers and the Lord comforted her and filled her with His peace.
"Thank you, I feel so much better already!"
You're welcome, but it's God you need to thank, not me. He is the one who arranged our phone call. Do you Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
"Oh yes, I'm a believer."
Well, Praise God, He heard your prayers and He wants you to know He hasn't left you. He's been right by your side this whole time!
"I broke my neck, pelvis, femur and ribs. This is my third surgery and they say I have to have more."
We are going to pray and believe God that you are healed by His stripes and you will have a speedy recovery in Jesus name.
Her voice changed and she sounded stronger,"Oh,Thank you! Yes please, I want to go home."
Would it be okay if I ask my friends to pray for you too?
"Yes please, that would be wonderful."
Well Joyce, we will all be praying for you and someday we will meet face to face.
"Yes Ma'am, Thank you so much for praying for me! I feel so much better and so much lighter, like I have hope again and I know now that God is watching over me."
*A few days later after calling multiple Hospitals in the area, I was able to track down where Joyce was staying. I went to visit her but she was having another procedure. I sat for a while in the waiting room and prayed in the spirit for her. Then I left flowers, a Bible and a special Devotional for her in her Hospital room.
A couple days later I received this message:
"Thank you so much! You have touched my heart and soul deeper than I could have ever imagined. You will be with me forever and a day Mrs. Donna Lind. I can't wait to meet you! I was released earlier than they expected. Thank you for praying for me, I am truly blessed to be alive today. Not a minute goes by that I don't think about how God saved my life that day."
We stayed in touch for awhile. The Doctors and Physical Therapist's said her recovery was Miraculous! We talked on the phone for hours and messaged back and forth for several months. She loved to hear about Jesus. We made dates to have lunch after her physical therapy and rehab but something always came up and we never got together.
Then one day she stopped answering my calls, her number was disconnected and I couldn't find her again.
She is always in my prayers. Her name is on the top of my Prayer List. I carry a part of her in my heart.
In life God sends unexpected people across our paths. We don't always know the ending of the story or see the results of our time spent with them.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6 " I planted the seed in your hearts, Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow."
I believe God used me to plant some seeds in Joyce's heart during a season of desperation. Somewhere out there someone else is watering those seeds and God is growing and increasing His love in her heart and life!
And maybe someday God will have her dial a "Wrong number" again and I will be the one to answer the call.
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| "Tears are prayers too. They travel to God when we can't speak." Psalm 56:8 |
The phone rang, I said Hello. I heard a lady at the other end mumbling and saying something I couldn't decipher.
I can't understand what you're saying, my name's Donna who are you calling?
"Oh, I'm sorry I have the wrong number." she sniffled.
That's okay, no worries. I said.
She mumbled and her voice cracked in between sobs. "I'm so sorry."
I blurted out, Wait, don't hang up, what's wrong, are you okay?
She started crying, "No, I'm in the hospital. I just had surgery last night. I was trying to call my friend. I'm having a real hard time and I'm in a lot of pain. I was in a car wreck, this was my third surgery. I don't think I can do this anymore."
At this point she was sobbing and crying hysterically.
Young lady, it's going to be okay. You didn't dial a wrong number. I believe God had you call me so I could pray for you! What is your name?
I could hear she was trying to catch her breath, and through her whimpering she said, "My name's Joyce. Oh, thank you so much, I put in a call for the Chaplin last night but I haven't heard back from anyone and I told God I really needed someone to pray for me."
Take a deep breath Joyce, I'm a Minister and God has connected us so I can pray for you!
So I prayed and she cried. I prayed some more and she cried some more. We touched Heaven with our prayers and the Lord comforted her and filled her with His peace.
"Thank you, I feel so much better already!"
You're welcome, but it's God you need to thank, not me. He is the one who arranged our phone call. Do you Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
"Oh yes, I'm a believer."
Well, Praise God, He heard your prayers and He wants you to know He hasn't left you. He's been right by your side this whole time!
"I broke my neck, pelvis, femur and ribs. This is my third surgery and they say I have to have more."
We are going to pray and believe God that you are healed by His stripes and you will have a speedy recovery in Jesus name.
Her voice changed and she sounded stronger,"Oh,Thank you! Yes please, I want to go home."
Would it be okay if I ask my friends to pray for you too?
"Yes please, that would be wonderful."
Well Joyce, we will all be praying for you and someday we will meet face to face.
"Yes Ma'am, Thank you so much for praying for me! I feel so much better and so much lighter, like I have hope again and I know now that God is watching over me."
*A few days later after calling multiple Hospitals in the area, I was able to track down where Joyce was staying. I went to visit her but she was having another procedure. I sat for a while in the waiting room and prayed in the spirit for her. Then I left flowers, a Bible and a special Devotional for her in her Hospital room.
A couple days later I received this message:
"Thank you so much! You have touched my heart and soul deeper than I could have ever imagined. You will be with me forever and a day Mrs. Donna Lind. I can't wait to meet you! I was released earlier than they expected. Thank you for praying for me, I am truly blessed to be alive today. Not a minute goes by that I don't think about how God saved my life that day."
We stayed in touch for awhile. The Doctors and Physical Therapist's said her recovery was Miraculous! We talked on the phone for hours and messaged back and forth for several months. She loved to hear about Jesus. We made dates to have lunch after her physical therapy and rehab but something always came up and we never got together.
Then one day she stopped answering my calls, her number was disconnected and I couldn't find her again.
She is always in my prayers. Her name is on the top of my Prayer List. I carry a part of her in my heart.
In life God sends unexpected people across our paths. We don't always know the ending of the story or see the results of our time spent with them.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6 " I planted the seed in your hearts, Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow."
I believe God used me to plant some seeds in Joyce's heart during a season of desperation. Somewhere out there someone else is watering those seeds and God is growing and increasing His love in her heart and life!
And maybe someday God will have her dial a "Wrong number" again and I will be the one to answer the call.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and share the Good News!
~ Donna Selma Lind ~
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