TESTIMONY
What circumstances/life experiences led you to faith in Jesus
Christ?
Growing up in a Christian home, I accepted the Lord at a very young age (5 years
old). However, by the time I reached high school I began to rebel against authority
not only in my own home, but against God. The entire time that I was away from
the Lord, He never let me forget that He was still with me…even when I
chose to turn away from Him. After several months, I could not stand the separation
I felt from the Lord and the knowledge of how I was grieving Him and gave my
life fully back to Him. By this time I had graduated high school and was attending
college. As I walked through the campus one day, there was the most amazing tree
standing all alone in the middle of the courtyard. It was fall and the tree was
a brilliant orange; it looked as if it was on fire. I walked up to the tree and
picked a leaf off of it. As I continued to walk, the Lord spoke very clearly
to me, “Debi…just as this leaf has gained beautiful color through
it’s dying, so is your life beautiful, now that you have died to sin and
followed me.” -- I consider that moment to be a turning point in my life
where I truly became my own person in Christ. No longer was I living off of someone
else’s experience with Jesus – I CHOSE Him for myself.
How has He changed your life?
He’s shown me the real meaning of new life. He literally took my past
and who I was and completely changed me from the inside out. I look back and
do not even recognize who I used to be because He’s truly given me a
new life! I’m constantly amazed and grateful that there is never a point
in our lives where He stops working on us and says “that’s good
enough.” Every single day He shows me that there are new ways He wants
to change my life and mold me into more of His likeness.
What opportunities for ministry has God allowed
you through your music?
I’ve been very blessed to have been able to sing all over the country
in all kinds of different settings. Some have been very humbling – such
as the time I was out on tour with a friend and we sang at a church for the
homeless. The Pastor insisted his congregation learn to give since so much
of the time they were given to. This small handful of homeless people gave
us a total of about $45! That was one of the most humbling experiences in my
life as I realized most of them would go to sleep on the street that night.
Most recently, I’ve been involved in leading worship at my church. Originally
this was something I never wanted or felt led to do before in my life. Isn’t
it always the thing you say you’ll never do that God leads you into?
Just like Moses, I tried to tell the Lord I was not qualified and that there
were other people better suited for this. Yet in my obedience to Him, I find
His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Worship has been a part of my
life since childhood and it wasn’t until I got up to lead that I finally
realized this was the main passion in my life. There is nothing that excites
me more than to see people entering into worship.
What has God been teaching you in the last
year? last 5 years?
In the last several years of my life God has really been teaching me what it
means to wait on Him. He didn’t allow me to sing for many years and it
was one of the most painful seasons of my life. I honestly believed God was
closing the door for singing and ministry forever. What I didn’t realize
for a long time was that He hadn’t tossed me aside…He was teaching
me what it really means to wait on Him. I know so many of us are in a “holding
pattern” with the Lord and it’s a very difficult place to be. At
times we can begin to question the calling God placed on our lives because
it seems to be taking so long and we wonder if maybe we didn’t hear Him
correctly. Through much waiting I’ve learned to trust Him and to not
let go of the promises He’s spoken over my life. He’s also been
teaching me what it is to be a true worshipper. It’s not about being
onstage or “performing,” but living a life of worship; to worship
Him in the quiet times when I’m alone in His presence. He’s been
impressing on me that I need to begin my life of worship in my own home and
teach my daughter what it means to be a worshipper. Then, I can move out and
lead others. My hope and prayer is that I would encourage the body of Christ
to become worshippers and enter into that amazing holy place where our spirit
is intimately connected with His.
What is your favorite scripture?
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will
be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
The Lord gave me this verse several years ago when my husband and I were praying
for our first child. It was a long, very difficult time of waiting before we
had Karissa and I clung to that verse that promised me if I’d put Him
first, He would “add unto me” that desire of my heart. He is a
God who so wants us to put Him first in ALL things. I’ve found when I
put Him above even the deepest desires of my heart, He is so faithful and loves
to pour out blessings far greater than I could have ever imagined.
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