Monday, September 24, 2012

He's Been Faithful, by Debbie Holman

I began talking with Debbie through a mutual friend online. None of us knew the impact we'd have on one another's life. Nan, the friend that introduced us has changed both of our lives over the years. The thing about Debbie and my friendship is that though we love one another very much and are as close as sisters, Christ is at the center of our friendship. Join me as I welcome Debbie to Encouraging Women today!

Welcome, Debbie!


Birthdays are suppose to be special, a day to celebrate! However, November 18,1997 was not a birthday to be celebrated! Not your usual, typical birthday!  

It was my birthday and the day my husband chose to announce to me he was leaving me for a sweetheart he had when he was in high school.  No amount of begging or pleading would change his mind. How would I explain this to my friends and church family! 

I was embarassed, ashamed, and alone!  How could I face them knowing what an active role my husband had taken in church! Well, with much prayer and support from my mother I went back to church! Offering to resign from leadership roles I had in church!  No one wanted me to resign and I found my church family to be supportive.

Five weeks later on January 9, 1998 another devastating event happened in my life.  My father died from complications of Alzheimers.  What would I do now? Just the presence of my father had been  a comfort!

was a daddy's girl and loved my him very much! What more could happen and how much did God expect me to take? Losing my husband and father just five weeks apart was too much for one person to deal with. 

would ask myself over and over, where was God in all of this?  Had He left me to deal with all of this alone? One morning on my way to work I put a cd in  by one of my favorite Christian singers, Babbie Mason. She was singing a song titled God Has Another Plan".  I had never really listened to the words of this song but for some reason that morning was different!  

I listened to the words.  In her song she quotes Jeremiah 29:11 - 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, 
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

I played that song over and over on my way to work. Suddenly it was as if a voice from within said to me; 

Debbie, trust me and have faith. I have a plan for You are going through the storm now but what a beautiful rainbow will follow the storm! I will carry you through this storm each and every day! I will give you hope and a future. 

If it had not been for this verse and my faith that God would provide that rainbow at the end of the storm I could not have survived!  He proved Himself faithful !  Through all of this I have become a stronger person and my faith has grown tremendously.  

So, anyone I know who is going through storms in their life I tell them, Let God carry you through this storm! I quote Jeremiah 29:11 and say -  Look for that beautiful rainbow God has waiting for you after the storm.

Debbie Holman, 
Guest Blogger
Granite Falls

10 comments:

  1. From one daddy's girl to another, I know the devastation a father's death can be. And to add everything else you had going on must have been almost more than you could bear. But praise God, He is always there, ready to lift us up.

    Thank you for your testimony today. You've encouraged me!

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  2. Debbie, thank you for sharing your story—and Jaime, thanks for introducing us to this encouraging woman! Blessings, Edie

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  3. Thanks Debbie for sharing about the faithfulness of God to bring you to the other side of a storm. I needed to be reminded of this today as our family lets go of a little foster girl...God is good all the time and makes all things work together for good, even through our tears. Look forward to the day when all tears will be wiped away from our eyes.
    Thank you Jamie for sharing Debbie with us today!

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  4. Thank you, Debbie, for sharing your story. When we are hurting, it helps to see those who have already come through the storm and are still standing to tell about it. We can see that through Scripture, but we can also see it through you.

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  5. Wonderful message, Debbie. God is faithful, no matter what. Thanks for the encouragement.

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  6. Debbie and Jamie,

    Thanks for sharing your friend with us readers, Jamie.

    And Debbie, I often beg God to show me "just a corner of the blueprint" so that I could have a better idea of His master plan.... Rarely works, just so you know - ha!

    Thank you for sharing your story of His faithfulness in your life. I love that the Lord can take our deepest wounds and use them to comfort others.

    Be blessed today, both of you!
    Becky Doughty

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  7. Yikes -- My comment disappeared! Good to meet you, Debbie. It's always nice to meet a friend of Jamie's.
    Thanks for sharing your heart!

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  8. Debbie, I'm so proud of you! You did a wonderful job. I remember when we went to Ridgecrest Conference Center to a ladies' prayer/evangelism conference and you got to meet Babbie Mason!! Remember? She was totally awesome. You bought me her CD and had her sign it for me. It is still one of my favorites. You are a precious sister to me. I know the Lord smiles each time He thinks of you. I love you Deb!

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  9. Thanks Debbie and Jamie for sharing this!

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