WRONG NUMBER

By: Donna Selma Lind

"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 ~

DON'T ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE'S POISON TO POISON YOU

By: Donna Selma Lind

"Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies." Psalm 141:4

Have you ever been hurt before, especially by someone you love?

When someone hurts us, speaks lies, cheats, steals, tears us down, twists our words, gossips, spreads evil, rejects us, stomps our heart, abuses, spews vile poison against us - we have a choice in how we react.

Let me repeat that; WE HAVE A CHOICE IN HOW WE REACT!

We can take their poison and drink it, fill ourselves up with that poison and become poisonous like them, or we can reject the poison, refuse to receive it, refuse to ingest it and instead we can CHOOSE to WALK in LOVE!

"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." Proverbs 10:12

Now I'm not saying we agree with what they've done, I'm not saying we allow them to continue to hurt us, or even continue in a relationship with them. I'm just saying, DON'T DRINK THEIR POISON!

Don't let their poison steal your peace and joy.

Don't let their poison control your thoughts, moods and life anymore!

PRAY AND THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!

 Pray,Walk away and keep God's peace. 

"The joy of the Lord is my strength." Nehemiah 8:10

We give out what we are filled up with. If we are filled with toxic poison, that's what we will give out. 

If we are filled up with God's Love, Peace and Joy then that is what we will give out.

WHAT ARE YOU FILLING UP ON?

If you are filling up on their poison, then that is what you'll become.
If you are filling up on God's Word of truth, love, joy and peace, then that is what you will become.

Once again, IT'S A CHOICE!

WE CHOOSE WHAT WE BECOME. For good or evil, blessing or curse, we have the ability to change the atmosphere by our response and behavior.

The Lord knows the truth about everything that happened, let Him handle it. 
Forgive those that hurt you. Give them over to the Lord. Let it go. 
God will take care of you and cause your justice to shine like the noonday sun! 

HOW WILL YOU CHOOSE TO RESPOND WHEN SOMEONE HURTS YOU WITH THEIR POISON? 

DON'T ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE'S POISON TO POISON YOU!

"Keep your conduct among the Gentiles (unbelievers) honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the way of visitation."  1 Peter 2:12 

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and share the Good News! 

Donna Selma Lind 

THE GOD NOTE

By: Donna Selma Lind

"Do not be afraid - I will save you. I have called you by name - you are mine."

Isaiah 43:1

 A group of us stopped for lunch after Church one Sunday afternoon.  As we were enjoying fellowship, I noticed our server was quietly clearing away the dirty dishes at our table.

We said Hello and introduced ourselves. She was petite with a radiant smile and soulful brown eyes that seemed to harbor a lifetime of pain. She shared a little bit about herself, her journey and struggles as a single Mom. 

I felt a nudge in my spirit that we needed to pray for this woman.

Before I said a word, my Pastor asked if it would be okay if we prayed for her?

She said yes, so we gathered around her as our Pastor led us in a mighty prayer of Blessing for this person God had put in our path that day.

For some reason I asked if I could have her address and phone number and without hesitation she wrote it down for me.  

Monday morning I wrote my usual Welcome note cards out to the visitors we had in church on Sunday morning.

I decided I would write her a note as well. Looking back that didn't make any sense for me to send a "Welcome to our Church card" to someone who had never been to our church! 

Nevertheless, I wrote her a note of encouragement and dropped it in the mailbox outside the Post Office.

I didn't gave it a second thought until Wednesday night in the middle of  Praise and Worship the door swung open and in walked that woman and her young daughter!

I wrapped my arms around her, gave her a big hug and welcomed them into the House of the Lord.

When Pastor Beau gave the invitation they both raised their hands and with tears streaming down their cheeks they made decisions to give their lives to Jesus Christ.

We circled around, prayed, hugged and shared God's love with them.

After the service was over I sat down next to the Mom as she wept and told me her story.

Between sobs and tears she explained how her life had gotten off track, although she worked hard she had made some bad choices and wasn't able to make enough money to take care of her daughter like she thought she should.

The Landlord had threatened to evict them, her car broke down, she lost her job that morning and was months behind in bills. She saw no way out of her mess and made up her mind that her daughter would be better off without her.

She left the house that day with the plan to run into the middle of the busy highway traffic and end her life.

BUT ON HER WAY TO DIE, she saw the door to the mailbox hanging open with a note sticking out and "something" made her stop to read the note.

She ripped open the envelope to read these words:

"You are not alone. God has not forgotten you. He has a plan for your life. It's not over, He will save you and help you through the darkness. You have a family at The Hill Church. We love you. Come join us Wednesday night at 7pm."

It was Wednesday when she found, "The God Note."

She said she knew it was from God, she fell to her knees, cried out and thanked Him for saving her. She went back into the house got cleaned up, grabbed her daughter and walked to The Well 4:14 Coffee shop where we hold The Hill Bolivar Church services.

God planned before the beginning of time that He would deliver a timely note in a mailbox to save a woman's life in order to get them to a Church service at a Coffee shop where they would come to give their hearts to Jesus! 

We cannot begin to fathom the exact timing and infinite mercy of a loving God who orchestrates every tiny divine detail in order to save and rescue His lost children.  

Everything down to the open mailbox door and the personal words that were written two days before she would ever read them.

That is the God I serve! He is mighty to save! His promises are Yes and Amen.

When you have no way out, He is THE WAY!

You may be struggling today and feel the same way as the woman in this testimony.

If you think you are alone or forgotten, I encourage you to read these words from God and cling to His promises. You are not alone. God is with you. He loves you. He will save you!

Here is today's "God Note" for you!

"Do not be afraid- I will save you. I have called you by name- you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God, the holy God of Israel, who saves you." Isaiah 43:1-3

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and share the Good News!

~ Donna Selma Lind ~