WRITING AS WORSHIP
Julie's testimony:
In 1999 I received a phone call from a guy I hardly knew who told me that a preacher had prayed over his pack of cigarettes and he had quit smoking. “ I was set free sister, just like that, no withdrawal, no cravings.” He asked me if I knew Jesus and I said no but l love God and have all my life. I hung up as soon I politely could and pulled out a phone book to try to find a church where I could go and get “set free.” There were hundreds of churches, countless denominations and none of it made sense to me. I’d passed a church many times on my way to watch the sun set over the Ashokan Reservoir so I hopped in my truck and did a drive by to learn the name of the church and call for an appointment.
I got an appointment the next day with a pastor that listened to my story and prayed with me. After we held hands and prayed he said, “You got a beautiful pool Evans, but there’s lots of crap in it. Smoking is the least of your problems but just keep coming back.” And it was in those ‘coming back’ appointments that I began to study the Word of God. I chased God. I hungered for God. I listened to wise people tell me about God but mostly I got to know God through His Son and my Brother Jesus. The Word was rich and the teachings were so profound I would write poems about what I was hearing and learning and feeling. I told God the truth as authentically as I could.
I didn’t understand everything I read or heard but I gave it everything I had. I met with the pastor every Friday at 10 am for about 5 years. That man pulled more out of me and poured more into me in those years than the world had in forty years. Each time I met with him I would hand him seven poems. I wrote one God inspired poem a day every day for all those years. These poems are the story of my salvation. They were written over 15 years ago. I would sit down in the morning, read my bible, pray and then write a new poem every day as the sun rose. I would print it out and read it aloud to God. I think I cried every time. It was in those intimate moments that I truly felt His Presence. He used my own words to touch my heart.
These poems are the unedited voice of a new and passionate believer. I share them with you hoping the anointing reaches through time and space and touches you. If you don’t know Jesus I pray these poems will introduce you to the Miracle Worker who changed my life forever.
All Glory to God
Julie Evans