Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Home Group (11/29/07)
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TITLE: Penny's Song | Previous Challenge Entry
By Tim Pickl
12/01/07 -
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Penny was our peppy 'American Brittany' puppy: she had a liver-and-white colored coat, and was about 2 years old at-the-time. When she got excited, she would start 'singing'--kind of a cross between whining and howling--and her little bobbed tail would rapidly shake back-and-forth as her front legs would go up-and-down. Penny always made me laugh when she 'sang'--and she sure was happy to see me!
"Good girl, Penny! Go outside?!?"
As I let Penny out the back door into the yard, my cell phone rang. It had a unique ringtone--it was the chorus to my favorite song by Rich Mullins:
"Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven-- " it cut off as I flipped it open. "Hello?"
"Hi--Bro. Jim?" a timid voice asked on the other end.
"Yes, this is Jim."
"This is Sis. Barb--I just wanted to let you know I'm runnin' a little late. Your wife said I should bring a dessert."
"Oh, that's okay--we won't eat until later anyway."
Once a month on a Wednesday night, about twelve of us from church met at our home for "Shepherd Camp". We'd sit together and have a short life lesson from the Bible, go around and take prayer requests, then pray together.
It was the Wednesday the week before Christmas--always a busy time of the year for everyone---but our Pastor decided to have Shepherd Camps anyway.
It was a typical Shepherd Camp night, or so I thought. We got the food ready, then everyone sat down for the short Bible lesson.
My wife Sherry and I both spoke on the topic of forgiveness.
As I started teaching, Sis. Barb walked in, all apologetic. I could see she had been crying, but I made no big deal about it--because we almost always get emotional in our Shepherd Camps.
It's an honest, good time.
As I handed the lesson off to Sherry, Sis. Barb started crying again. Sherry comforted Sis. Barb; but Barb insisted that Sherry finish the lesson.
As Sherry spoke, Barb started trembling; then tears started to stream down her cheeks.
"I need to be completely honest with God. No matter what I might have done in the past, Jesus forgives it, if I ask Him. Only God can go back into the past and forgive and forget that sin. He loves me so, so much....and, I need to forgive myself--"
Barb spoke up, "I'm so sorry...I just need to be honest with all of you and with God. I feel so guilty...I'm depressed. I've kept this hidden for way too long. Today is...this is so hard... this time of the year is rough, with all the songs about baby Jesus--"
Barb started crying, then stopped--
"Today is..." Barb heavily exhaled. "Today is the anniversary of something horrible I did a long time ago when I was young. I had an abortion--"
Barb bent over, and wept unashamedly. "I'm sorry...Oh Lord, I'm so sorry...."
We gathered around Barb and comforted her, praying. After a while, our praying and crying compassionately crescendoed.
In the other room, Penny's pretty ears perked up. Then she ran over and stood amongst us, whimpering.
Then Penny began to 'sing'.
The more we prayed, the more she 'sang'. Sherry tried to hush the dog, but Penny wouldn't stop.
It was almost as if Penny was trying to tell us something!
Then Sherry began to laugh at our silly dog. A delightful spirit of joy swept through the room, and soon we were all laughing.
"Sing, Penny, Sing!" I said with tears of joy.
Instinctively, Penny hopped over to Sis. Barb and sat down next to her. Crying and smiling, Sis. Barb hugged the dog.
"Thank you all for being sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I needed this so much, so much more than you know. I'll try not to cry--"
"It's okay, Sis. Barb--"
"I know, I know... Thank you all, and thank You Jesus!"
I started to sing, and everyone joined in:
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
with wisdom, pow'r and love
Our God is an awesome God
(Rich Mullins/1988 BMG Songs)
And Penny 'sang' with us.
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A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Luke 6:21 (NIV)
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