Marsha Gupton
August 23rd, 2011, 08:17 AM
When Darlene's Faith Failed
Darlene Deibler Rose writes in Evidence Not Seen the story of her four years in a Japanese internment camp. She spent weeks in solitary confinement with very little food and much harsh treatment. One day with real effort she climbed up to look out a window to watch some prisoners in the courtyard and saw a woman grab some bananas from a hand that shot through a tangle of vines while the guard's back was turned.
Darlene began to crave bananas. "Lord, I'm not asking You for a whole bunch like that woman has. I just want one banana." She looked up and pleaded, "Lord, just one banana."
Then she began to rationalize. How could God possibly get a banana to her through those prison walls? She would never ask the guard. She bowed her head again and prayed, "Lord, there's no one here who could get a banana to me. Please don't think I'm not thankful for the rice porridge. It's just that--those bananas looked so delicious!"
The next morning, she heard officers coming. "Lord," she prayed, "officers are coming. Give me strength to make a proper bow." But with her guard was Mr. Yamaji, a camp commander, where Darlene had previously been imprisoned.
He said, "You're very ill, aren't you?" After a few words he and the guard left. Then it hit her. She had forgotten to bow. She heard the guard coming back and knew he was coming back to beat her.
He opened the door, walked in, and laid at her feet--bananas! "They're yours," he said, "and they're from Mr. Yamaji." Darlene sat down stunned. She counted them. There were 92 bananas.
Darlene said, "In all my spiritual experience, I've never known such shame before my Lord. I pushed the bananas into a corner and wept before Him. 'Lord, forgive me; I'm so ashamed." He answered back in her heart, "That's what I delight to do, the exceeding abundant above anything you ask or think." She knew in those moments that nothing is impossible with God.
Thank You, Lord, for even answering prayer when our faith fails.
"Consider the great love of the Lord" (Psalm 107:43)
Day 3 (of 40 Days of Prayer)
Please pray that ladies of many cultures will be drawn to Come to the Fire.
If you would be willing to pray for a list of attendees, please let us know and we will send you a list of names.
Memory Verse for August
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10.
Conference Testimonies
Come to the Fire '10 was my first ever. I've been a Christian for over 20 years and have gone to many conferences (including Women of Faith), but never even heard of CTTF before. I received a pamphlet about it and was curious. Since we live in Fort Wayne close to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, I thought, "Why not?" So I called a girlfriend and we went.
I had no idea the blessing the Lord had in store for us. Jesus met us there in a way like never before, and that place was so full of the Holy Spirit, there was no denying His presence. I had been on a spiritual low for quite some time; just moving through life. After spending some time in a prayer room, Jesus cleansed me, made me whole again, and restored my joy. When it was over, I didn't want to go home. I felt like I was truly in the presence of my Almighty Father and never wanted to leave. It was as close to an earthly form of heaven as I will ever experience.
When we were there, it didn't matter where we were from, what we did, what we looked like, or what denomination we were. We were all God's daughters there to praise Him, period. That's all that mattered.
Darlene Deibler Rose writes in Evidence Not Seen the story of her four years in a Japanese internment camp. She spent weeks in solitary confinement with very little food and much harsh treatment. One day with real effort she climbed up to look out a window to watch some prisoners in the courtyard and saw a woman grab some bananas from a hand that shot through a tangle of vines while the guard's back was turned.
Darlene began to crave bananas. "Lord, I'm not asking You for a whole bunch like that woman has. I just want one banana." She looked up and pleaded, "Lord, just one banana."
Then she began to rationalize. How could God possibly get a banana to her through those prison walls? She would never ask the guard. She bowed her head again and prayed, "Lord, there's no one here who could get a banana to me. Please don't think I'm not thankful for the rice porridge. It's just that--those bananas looked so delicious!"
The next morning, she heard officers coming. "Lord," she prayed, "officers are coming. Give me strength to make a proper bow." But with her guard was Mr. Yamaji, a camp commander, where Darlene had previously been imprisoned.
He said, "You're very ill, aren't you?" After a few words he and the guard left. Then it hit her. She had forgotten to bow. She heard the guard coming back and knew he was coming back to beat her.
He opened the door, walked in, and laid at her feet--bananas! "They're yours," he said, "and they're from Mr. Yamaji." Darlene sat down stunned. She counted them. There were 92 bananas.
Darlene said, "In all my spiritual experience, I've never known such shame before my Lord. I pushed the bananas into a corner and wept before Him. 'Lord, forgive me; I'm so ashamed." He answered back in her heart, "That's what I delight to do, the exceeding abundant above anything you ask or think." She knew in those moments that nothing is impossible with God.
Thank You, Lord, for even answering prayer when our faith fails.
"Consider the great love of the Lord" (Psalm 107:43)
Day 3 (of 40 Days of Prayer)
Please pray that ladies of many cultures will be drawn to Come to the Fire.
If you would be willing to pray for a list of attendees, please let us know and we will send you a list of names.
Memory Verse for August
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10.
Conference Testimonies
Come to the Fire '10 was my first ever. I've been a Christian for over 20 years and have gone to many conferences (including Women of Faith), but never even heard of CTTF before. I received a pamphlet about it and was curious. Since we live in Fort Wayne close to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, I thought, "Why not?" So I called a girlfriend and we went.
I had no idea the blessing the Lord had in store for us. Jesus met us there in a way like never before, and that place was so full of the Holy Spirit, there was no denying His presence. I had been on a spiritual low for quite some time; just moving through life. After spending some time in a prayer room, Jesus cleansed me, made me whole again, and restored my joy. When it was over, I didn't want to go home. I felt like I was truly in the presence of my Almighty Father and never wanted to leave. It was as close to an earthly form of heaven as I will ever experience.
When we were there, it didn't matter where we were from, what we did, what we looked like, or what denomination we were. We were all God's daughters there to praise Him, period. That's all that mattered.