Authority

I have a friend who had the same kind of bowel surgery I did. Around the same time. Back in January. We were talking about the terrible pain before they figured out the problem. She said it was worse than the pain of childbirth. I said, "I have no Authority to speak on that one." No, I don't! But my friend does. She has Authority to speak about the pain of childbirth because she's been through that. It's like when I talk with a person who's layin' in a hospital bed. I can say, "After a while, being in the hospital feels like being in prison." I have Authority to say that. Because I've been through that. "Can I go home today?! Can I?! Can I?! PLEASE!!" I have Authority, in sharing what God has helped me through. Before He left them, Jesus told His followers, "You shall be my witnesses." A witness just shares what she/he has been through. I still remember years ago a friend of a church member came to speak about a mission trip. I thought Gladys would speak about where she had gone. What she had done. And nag us that we should go on a mission trip, too. Instead, Gladys spoke about how depressed she had been when her son was killed in a car accident. Gladys spoke about how her family had discouraged her from going on the mission trip, They said she wasn't "handy". While Gladys was talking, you coulda heard a pin drop in church. Everybody was listening. Gladys was sharing what God had gotten her through. Years have passed. I still remember what Gladys shared that day. Gladys' Authority was in sharing what God had gotten her through. For today, let me be a witness. Let my Authority be in sharing what God has gotten me through.