Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Gifts (of the Spirit or service) (11/22/07)
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TITLE: God Created One Erin Brockovich & I'm Not Her | Previous Challenge Entry
By Julie Arduini
11/28/07 -
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“Betty and I are praying for you. Just this morning I asked the Lord why you guys, why this, but for now, I don’t know the answers. But we both know the One who does.”
“Thanks Pastor. This is when God does His best work because we have no options left. If He’s going to produce the total and complete victory He promised us when this insurance mess happened, well, it’s go time.”
My husband, the choir director, walked on stage, signaling the start of the service. Pastor Morris smiled.
“Speaking of go, best get up on the platform. I believe this joint service with Victory Assembly will be extra anointed tonight.”
Pastor bounded up the platform steps while I took an aisle seat. The extra bleachers were out that night to accommodate not only our choir, but the Victory singers joining us for the special evening service. As great as the blended harmonies sounded, my mind danced with the one two combo of fear and worry.
Fourteen months prior our daughter’s medical team prescribed intensive therapy for Grace. A year full of pulmonary distress left her delayed in all areas. Months after tri weekly physical, speech and occupational therapy the insurance company sent us a letter saying all therapy after the first month was denied.
Right then and there I felt the Holy Spirit promise me this would end in a total and complete victory. The verse I clung to through three levels of appeals was out of Deuteronomy about getting off the same mountain. Our family was tired of the sickness and trials. We believed God to be victorious in this. Even when local politicians wrote me to confess there wasn’t anything they could do, I just held on.
I had the prophetic promise all would be well. Truth be told, I also thought that the total and complete victory would come about in a way that would make me an Erin Brockovich of sorts. In this case, I’d be a Christian insurance transformer that wore modest clothes, of course. The more my mind took over God’s promise, I was just sure the insurance folks were going to apologize too.
My ideas crashed at the foot of the cross during that service. Before Brian left for rehearsal we looked at the final letter from insurance. All appeals exhausted. No options left. We were left with $8500 in therapy bills to pay as soon as possible.
I looked up and realized the choir was off the platform and the pastor from Victory was speaking. He was sharing the church’s testimony. As much as I wanted to keep my anxiety rolling, this man’s words captivated me.
“Time and time again folks asked me for a definition of what God was doing in our church because some really new and great things were happening. Every time I tried to explain, I just couldn’t. It was then I realized I can’t put God in the box. You can’t define how He’s going to work. You just have to let Him work in the ways He wants to.”
I nearly ran forward for the altar call, tears blinding my steps. It was time to let God out of my total and complete insurance victory box, a box He was never in to begin with. I drove home free of that pit in my stomach. Reality existed, insurance was waiting, but God was on the throne.
As soon as I walked in the front door I noticed the answering machine blinking. I pressed play as I took my jacket off and helped the kids take care of their things. It was a voice I knew well that was hundreds of miles away. They were part of my prayer team interceding on part of the insurance situation. I froze when their words registered.
“I felt I had to call. I wanted you to know not to put God in a box. The complete and total victory isn’t about you changing the insurance industry. It’s about allowing God to do what He wants in this in His way, His time. You may never know how this changed people. Watching you stand on His promise transformed me. Thirty minutes ago I felt the Holy Spirit impress on me to call, and tell you I’m going to pay the bill, in full.”
*Erin Brockovich is a real person who victoriously battled against Pacific Gas and Electric for covering up their industrial poisoning in the town of Hinkley’s water supply.*
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This is my favorite line: Truth be told, I also thought that the total and complete victory would come about in a way that would make me an Erin Brockovich of sorts. In this case, I’d be a Christian insurance transformer that wore modest clothes, of course.
Thank goodness you wouldn't conceive of her wardrobe!!!! :)
I really enjoyed reading this testimony, and my heart went out to you, knowing first-hand how expensive therapy is. What a wonderful ending!
You used the phrase "total and complete victory" four times, I think. You don't need both "total" and "complete", and perhaps another way of saying it a few times would be good.
Very engaging voice; I liked this.
Laury
You've captured the essence of God's faithfulness.