You Can’t Argue With An Experience
“…Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know , that though I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25, ESV
My eyes were blurry from sleep and unbelief. In the doorway of our bedroom stood my Papaw Daniel. The very same Papaw that had died months before. The one that took a part of my heart with him and the one that was so much like a dad. The grief overtook me at times. When he left us he looked so sick and thin. Cancer had robbed us.
Tonight he was smiling, wearing his pajamas, glasses and wrist watch. Always that watch. As I sat up in bed and looked at him, I knew that God had sent me this sweet visitation to comfort my heart. “Papaw”, I said. He was gone. But the peace I felt remains today. My last visit with him was no longer in a casket. It was with a smiling, healthy fella full of vitality. It seems so unlikely, so impossible.
But…you can’t argue with a woman and an experience.
This is the dilemma in which the Pharisees found themselves. Standing before them was”the man who had formally been blind” looking intently at them with his 20/20 eyes.
A man with an experience. One that amazed, baffled and angered those who could not explain it. They grilled, who, how, where? His answers make me smile. “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again?…The man replied, ‘This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him, but the fact is, he opened my eyes!”
God has entrusted each of us with a journey. A life story that will resonate with those He places in our path. We use our struggles and our strengths to help, encourage and walk alongside the ones God sends. I am a child of divorce and an absentee dad. My birth order is the oldest of four. A woman who married very young and a woman who has experienced seasons that seemed that her marriage would end. My spiritual gifts are Administration (organizing and implementing), Knowledge (teaching and helping others understand the scriptures) and Mercy (love and assist those who suffer) God wants to use all of my struggles and strengths for His Kingdom good and He wants to use yours too.
Revelation 12:11a confirms that our testimony, our story along with a life covered by Jesus’ blood is how we overcome. Those around us cannot argue with our story. We are women and men with an experience.
#Compeltip – Be myself. No one can tell my story like me.
Linking today with Compel Training, Kelly Balarie’s #raralinkup and Holly Barrett’s Testimony Tuesday.
What a great visitation story to tell. I am glad God gives us each a journey to tell, each one provides advice if we just take the time to tell our journey and to listen to the stories of others journey’s.
I am joining you from Compel.
Well put Danaye! Thanks for stopping by.
Carmen, you are right, no one can argue with your story. I wouldn’t want to. I loved it!
Thank you so much Christy. I love that no one tells our story like we do. God set that up perfect.
Carmen, this is spot on. My pastor used to always tell us, you don’t have to be a perfect apologetic, just tell them your story. That has turned out to be my heart song. Thanks so much for sharing your words today!
Yep. Witnessing is so scary. What do I say? But, when we realize that those that witnessed in the Bible just told their story. We all have a story!
Carmen, i love your words sweet friend and you are indeed empowering me with your words that only you can tell!
Hey Kim! You encourage me as well friend. Blessings on all you do for the Kingdom!
Carmen, your blog is so feminine and pretty, I love it.
And, this post is lovely as well.
“You can’t argue with a woman and her experience.” Sure can’t, especially when God seems to enjoy creating experiences that defy human understanding. :)
Blessings!
God does that so often Brenda. The healing of the blind man was just for that reason. To bring God glory. Thank you for your kind words about my little corner of the web friend :)
Such a good point you make about our experiences and what God teaches us through them. As long as our experiences don’t contradict the Bible, I feel that we can always ask God: “Hey, what was that about?” and He’ll surely answer. I hope you felt healed and comforted by that moment. Blessings from “Espressos of Faith” via #RaRaLinkup!
I believe God does answer those kind of prayers Bonnie. Thank you for visiting.
Carmen, what a beautiful visitation. I love the way you shared that this is now your last memory of your Papaw. God is using your struggles and strengths for good. Bless you my sister.
Thanks Pat. When I now think of him, that’s what I see. You are right, God’s is so good.