Blank Piece of Paper

BLANK PIECE OF PAPER

“He’s going to use that writing ability for the edification of his people.”
Shock is the only way to describe how I felt. There it was, brought forth just the way I had asked for it. It happened Wednesday evening, October 5, 1983.
I needed to know beyond any shadow of doubt God was the one telling me to write down what I could see, feel, know, and understand. To explain I need to go back to the year of 1980.
September of that year had found me in a disconcerted state of mind. August had made itself a real trying time. Jim, my husband, had been in the hospital, Ben, our middle child, had been in the hospital, and Jim’s place of employment had burned to the ground.
Jim’s employment had made it necessary for him to be away from home most of the time. My days were full and busy. My children were almost four, almost two, and six months old. Nighttime brought welcome rest and silence, but with Jim gone most of the time, I was lonely. I filled the empty hours by reading.
I had always been an avid reader, but this time the books became my friends. The works on the printed pages became real. Thanks Lord I Needed That by Charlene Potterbaum is the one I read the most. She had the ability to take her difficult situations and see the hand of God working the issues to her good.
On a humid September night I began to read how God had spoken to her heart years before and told her to write down what I was reading.
I was ecstatic! I realized God had looked down through time and knew I was going to need her words to help me through some very difficult times. I felt so secure in God’s love. Snuggled in my bed between the sheets I heard God speak to my heart and say.
“Donna.”
“Yes, Lord,” I answered.
“This is what I want you to do.”
“What?”
“Write.”
“Write? Are you sure You’re talking to the right person?” I humbly inquired.
“Yes,” He assured me.
This looked impossible. The thought had never occurred to me to be a writer.
“Lord, I’ve never questioned You before, but this time it’s hard for me to believe I’m hearing You correctly. Besides, what would I write about?”
“Write down what you see, feel, know, and understand.”
Bewilderment took hold of my emotions. Who would want to read what I have to say? I have my own philosophy about giving of myself, but who would be interested?
As the hours passed into days, I still questioned what I had heard down in my heart. Something peculiar began to take place. Undoubtedly, lying out where it would catch my eye would be blank paper. It was as if the paper would call to me and let me know it was there.
“Lord, there it is again,” silently I would pray. “I feel I’m wrong in questioning You, but I’m asking for some kind of confirmation.”
Friday afternoons the ladies of our church were invited to the home of one of the members. Her name is Brenda. She has the ability to listen to the Lord’s instructions and follow them regardless of the fact she doesn’t understand the meaning.
Early in the day on this particular Friday, Brenda felt compelled to get the book How To Live Like a King’s Kid and turn to page 38. To her astonishment, instead of words of instruction, she found a blank page.
“Ladies, I don’t understand what this is about. Maybe you can explain it.” You could hear the bewilderment in her voice.
A smile quickly graced its presence on my face.
“I know what it’s about.” I began to share with her and the other ladies what the Lord had told me and the significance of the blank page. Brenda was relieved to know she had followed the right instructions.
“One more time, Lord,” I prayed. “Only this time let it be through the working of the Holy Spirit through the Word of Knowledge. When the minister looks at me and confirms the writing ability without prior knowledge from me, then I will not question the task at hand anymore. ”I had only heard about prayer being answered this way.
In October, 1983, Rev. George Lewis was conducting revival services at the Steward Road Church of God. As he finished his sermon, he began to call different members of the congregation to the front. One of them was me. I stood and listened as he prayed and shared with each one what the Holy Spirit would reveal to him for them.
As he stood before me, he began to tell about the special anointing God had placed upon my life. I felt inspired and thankful.
Those who could see me told me my eyes were as big as saucers and my lower lip just about hit the floor when he spoke the words writing ability. The only way I knew how to express the emotion was to cry.
There can be no more question about my quest. It is to put down on paper what is within me.
The dream is to be a published author.
There are times when I’m so overwhelmed. I try to make each phrase clear, concise, and grammatically correct. At the same time I want the words to flow like a cool spring of water on a hot summer’s day.
I take a blank piece of paper and attempt to shape the words into a picture as if the picture is being painted. With its own personality it is appealing and heartwarming. When mistakes are made it is restructured, reworked, and retyped until it has the flow that feels right.
Down into myself I go and try to find the right words to express the stirrings I have within. It’s Donna’s heart going into those words, through the pen, and on the paper
Do you have a quest? Don’t let life pass by without the search of your purpose.
It is entirely possible what lies within you is a source of strength for someone else.