09 March, 2017

My Testimony and the Great Australian Bight










“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved no their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11

I believe personal testimonies are powerful – as the above verse says, they can be used to overcome Satan! I’ve been blessed hearing other people’s testimonies. Some have encouraged and inspired me; others have given me fresh understanding and insight. Many have illustrated God’s amazing recreating power. 

But I never felt I had a testimony to share. My life has been pretty simple. I’ve always known about God, and committing my life to Him has been more of a gradual process, rather than a road-to-Damascus experience. There’ve been tougher times, but no more than what many others have been through. God’s been there and He’s been good.

While traveling across Australia, a few of us shared our testimonies. When it came to my turn I said a few words, second guessed myself, and felt very small. Did I have a testimony? Should I have a testimony? Does the fact that I don’t mean I don’t have a relationship with God?

But a few weeks later, we were travelling again, and sharing testimonies once more. This time I had a testimony, and I was excited to share. During those weeks, I had remembered something.

When I was younger – maybe pre-teen, I don’t exactly remember – I had the dream of being a missionary. Africa seemed to be the place missionaries went, so I decided I wanted to go to Africa as a missionary. But when I prayed about it, God gave me the strongest impression that my work was here in my own country. There’s nothing wrong with being a missionary in Africa, but I believe God has different locations and types of work for everyone. And I believe He called me to work in my country. But the question in my mind since then has been, How? Sometimes it seems much harder to reach neighbours than foreign tribes.

Ever since I heard about canvassing, I wanted to try it. Ever since I tried it, I wanted to do more. But it wasn’t until halfway through the recent canvassing program I attended I realized: this was it. This was reaching out to people in my own country. This was something I could do. This was something I had already seen help and minister to people. This was something God had in mind for me all those years ago when He told me Australia was my field. Talk about feeling small! I was, and still am, in awe of the way God has worked that out. That’s what I was excited to share the second testimony-time we had travelling. And that’s why canvassing is important to me. 

I also want to add to my previous thoughts about my testimony: I met a lady while canvassing, who had questions about God because some of her family members were suffering with cancer, and at least one had already died from it. She wasn’t interested in what I had, because it was obviously religious. But then I said one line – one line I previously thought was insignificant. I said I’d lost a close family member to cancer and struggled with the same questions. Her attitude changed immediately. We were able to talk about God and discuss how He could allow tragedy, if He was good. I also mentioned a particular book – one I had with me – really helped me, and in the end she said she would get that book because if it had helped me maybe it would help her. I was blown away that God had used my story to reach someone. 

So, I want you to know that if God can use me, He can use you. If you feel like your story is nothing dramatic, it can still touch someone; someone will relate to it. Even if you feel like you have no testimony, as I did, God is still working in your life. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

~

Have you ever felt your testimony was insignificant? What do you think about the power of personal experience? How do you see God working in your life?

Also, I realise I haven’t given many details about my recent trip across Australia, the canvassing program, and what it was all about. In the next post I’m planning to answer any questions you have about it. So please ask me anything and everything you’d like to know in the comments, and I’ll do my best to answer! (Thanks Ariel, for the inspiration to do this! I will definitely answer the questions you already asked! :)

35 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos. I will have to go there one day...
    I enjoyed the story of the lady you talked to. Finding that common ground does wonders -- as hard as it is sometimes..

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    1. Yes, it's worth it. :) I'm glad you liked the story - it holds a lot of meaning to me. And it's amazing to see that finding-common-ground-principle in action. Thanks for your comment! :) xx

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  2. This is beautiful - both your photos and words! I always wondered if I had a story to tell but inside each of us there is a novel just waiting to be told. Honestly we all have something because God has given each of us a powerful message. We've all doubted, we've all sinned, we've all felt small and God uses that and does something amazing!

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    1. Thanks - praise God for His creation! You're so right.. I like how you said God has given each of us a message. May we remember that more often! Thanks for your thoughts, Kara. I appreciate it! :)

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  3. woah! you know about canvassing?!? That's so cool, i myself I'm going canvassing in a few days. PTL

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    1. Yes! ;) That’s great you have the opportunity to go canvassing! I find it to be one of the biggest blessings! :) You’ll have to let me know how it goes for you!

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  4. Thank you for sharing this, Jessica! I've often felt the same way, so this really encouraged me. <3 Also, lovely pictures! I look forward to hearing more about your trip soon. :)

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    1. You’re welcome! Praise God it could be an encouragement to you. Your story is important, and I’m sure God is already using it to reach others! Thanks for your support, and for commenting! :)

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  5. Oh, I've felt the same way many times about my testimony (or lack thereof) regarding salvation. I, too, grew up knowing about God, and I can't pinpoint the moment I committed to following Jesus and understood with enough clarity what it meant. I hope that when I'm there in heaven, God will show me my testimony as He sees it - not just the moment-of-salvation part, but also that way that He prepared me for that moment before hand, and the way He has been sanctifying me since. After all, it isn't so much my story as it is the story of His redeeming work.

    Okay, so my questions about your canvassing trip. X) Who did you go with and how did you get connected with them? Where did you sleep? What are some things you had to live without or some habits that you had to give up for the duration of your trip and how has God used that to grow you?

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    1. It’s nice to know you’ve had a similar experience. I really like the concept of God telling us His side of the story one day! That will be incredible, I’m sure. And all the things that never made sense to us will fit in in ways we couldn’t have guessed..

      Thanks a lot for sharing, and thanks for your questions as well! I shall get working on some answers! ;)

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  6. Hi Jessica,

    This was a great post. I love the pictures. Where are they taken?
    Here are my questions for your next post. :)
    First of all, what is canvassing and what are you doing in Australia?
    What's your favorite part of Australia?
    Did you get to hold a koala bear or see a kangaroo?
    Who are you going with? Are you going back, and if so, for how long?

    Thank you for answering them!
    Have a great day!

    Love,
    Ashley
    ashleysyarnworks.etsy.com

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    1. Hello Ashley! :) I’m glad you enjoyed it! The photos were taken at the Great Australian Bight, which is like the middle part of the bottom of Australia – where it meets the ocean. The land right up until the ocean is dry and scrubby (like the photos in my previous post), which makes this even more spectacular!

      Thanks a lot for your questions, and for leaving a comment! You have a fabulous day too. :)

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  7. OHHHH MY GRACIOUS. Those pictures!!!! They're almost surreal! Did you take them? They are BEAUTIMOUS.
    YAYYYYY we get to hear more about the canvassing trip!!! Ok...questions....
    1) What drew you to be a part of the canvassing trip?
    2) Did you see any crazy answers to prayer while on your trip?
    3) What advice would you give to budding missionaries based on what you learned from canvassing?
    4) What were some of the most amazing moments you had with your canvassing crew?
    I can't wait to see the post, sweet girl!!
    NOW onto the post at hand. JESSICA YOUR TESTIMONY IS AMAZING. I am soooo happy you are serving right where God has put you to serve--I know He has got huge plans for you, and He is already carrying them out!!! I cannot wait to see where the He takes you next! <333
    I thought I might share an amazing testimony of something God did for me a couple years ago. Our family was raising money to benefit missionaries, and we had a bake sale to raise some of that money. After the bake sale, we tallied up the money, and found we had received $90. It was wonderful provision from God, but Satan blinded me and I felt a little disappointed that it was less than it could have been. Later that afternoon, our dad's boss arrived at our house. (he had come to the bake sale that morning to get some goodies) Our dad's boss told us that he had told someone what our family was doing...and that someone wanted to give something to us. 'Someone' wasn't there at the time, and I never found out who it was. But our dad's boss handed me an envelope from 'someone' and in the envelope was a $100 bill!! God worked in crazy ways that day, and I don't think I'll ever forget it!
    Looking forward to more amazing posts, Jessica!! =)
    -Ariel

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    1. WOW that got long. xD
      -Ariel

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    2. Yes, I did take them, and yes, it was kind of surreal. Our God is awesome, that's all I can say. (And beautimous is a fabulous word. Thanks for introducing it to me!)

      Thank you for the questions! I shall add them to the list.. :) And thanks heaps for your encouragement, girl! God's already using you to reach out to people right where you are!

      That's an amazing testimony! God works in mysterious ways - while you were doubting He had plans in motion to increase your faith, and the fund, dramatically! Thanks for sharing - it was encouraging to read. And don't worry about long comments: the more the merrier! ;)

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  8. Beautiful, beautiful pictures Jessica! That water is so blue!
    Also, I enjoyed hearing your story about what lead you to canvassing! Good for you!

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    1. Thank you - all praise to God! And yes, the colour of the water was amazing! I hadn't seen water that blue before. I'm glad you enjoyed it.. Thanks for your comment! :)

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  9. Beautiful photos, Jessica! Yes, I understand how you feel! I have felt that my testimony is insignificant. I can't wait to hear about canvassing. =)

    Micaiah
    www.notebooksandnovels.com

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    1. Thanks. :) You too? Well, it's encouraging to know we're in this together. And I'm sure God has great plans for your story. Thanks for the encouragement, and for commenting! :)

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  10. This is so sweet, Jessica.

    I'm interested to learn about canvassing! Looking forward to your next post. :)

    Also, your photos are GORGEOUS once again.

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    1. Thanks for your lovely comment, Stephanie! I appreciate it. Hopefully the next post will be as interesting as you hope!

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  11. i am happy that i found you and read you the faith in goodness and God has strengthened by your precious words .i am glad that in such early stage of age you came out of fog that keep REAL views block until we grow old and realize that we wasted our life in illusions.
    it is not necessary that all around you think like you but being just simply YOURSELF and staying close to your CREATOR makes your way more easy and clear

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Baili! Praise God this could be a blessing to you. Thanks for your encouragement as well - that's good advice. :)

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  12. Amen! Thank you so much for sharing Jess! Absolutely, testimonies are powerful whether small or big, they all have a time and place. Even better yet, is how our testimonies are a snippet of what God has and is doing in our lives!

    I'm so glad you shared this, and I can relate in many areas. Here's a thought, don't let yourself stop you from sharing what God is doing in your life, you'll never know what Blessings you could be hindering from others and yourself.

    God bless you sister and all the best! 😁

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    1. Thank you Grace! Yes, it's all about Him. And if I stopped to consider my testimony in light of that, it would seem more amazing, actually.. because of course, God's always doing amazing things. Thanks for pointing me in that direction of thought. :)

      Thanks for the encouragement - and yes, we never know what He plans to do with our stories. His ways are higher than our ways! Blessings to you too, and thanks a lot for your comment!

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  13. First of all, these photographs are nothing short of stunning. I love how small the people are in comparison to the nature - that's humbling! God and His creations are seriously so amazing! Second, thank you so much for sharing your testimony and experiences. What really impacted me was when you shared about how one woman's whole demeanor changed when you told her you had gone through the same things. I think witnessing really boils down to reaching people on a human level. This post was so beautiful and encouraging! I would like to know more about the canvassing program in general. What is it and what does it involve? It sounds so inspiring! :)

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    1. Yes, I'm glad I got a few photos with people in them. The perspective adds so much.

      You're welcome. Praise God. :) Yes - that sums it up perfectly! Actually, that's exactly what Jesus did through His ministry on earth too.

      Hopefully, I will satisfy your questions! :) Thanks a lot for reading and commenting, Erin!

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  14. beautiful testimony!
    all testimonies are powerful and unique. the holy spirit works inside each heart in a special and significant way. it's wonderful to see your courage and passion for your calling.
    may He help you in all your hopes!

    be blessed!

    ashley

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    1. Thank you, praise Him! Thanks so much for your encouragement, girl. Blessings to you too! :)

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  15. My parents aren't usually the missions sort-- they usually like to stay in their own oyster. It'd be really fun to do missions trips, even if it was just in my state. There was one that's happening right now with the youth group helping out in and several towns away, but I wasn't allowed to sign up for it. Really excited to hear about your recent travels in your next post!

    xoxo Abigail Lennah

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    1. Yes, it can be a bit of a step out to go on a mission trip. I hope you have the opportunity one day if that's something you'd like to be a part of though! And even local projects can be a huge blessing.

      Thanks for reading and commenting Abigail! I appreciate it! :)

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  16. I love this <3 I believe with all my hearts that every single person has a testimony, and every single person has an important one. This totally encouraged me, thank you for sharing your story, Jessica!

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    1. Yes! You're so right, even if it's hard to believe about our own testimonies sometimes. I'm so glad it could be an encouragement to you, Elizabeth. And your comment means a lot. Keep sharing you own stories! xx

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  17. This is really good, Jessica!! I sometimes feel the same way about not having an awesome testimony. I've always grown up with an awesome family and have known about God for as long as I can remember. But my mom reminds me that every day we have to make the decision to follow Jesus. I don't know the actual moment that I gave my life to the Lord but I do know that he now is my father and savior.

    Those are gorgeous pictures!!!

    - Lilly Shyree (alillyingodsgarden.blogspot.com)

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    1. Praise God. :) Yes! That's so true that each day we make that decision. I was also recently encouraged by reading that some people relate to our seemingly unamazing testimonies more than 180-degree-turnaround ones. God has a place for everyone!

      Thanks for blessing me with your comment, Lilly! xx

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