KNITTING HEARTS CAFE / JUNE 14, 2016
Testimony by MeLinda Campbell Welch
Guest Speaker: Linda Campbell
Written By Sue Sanders
I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water. Isaiah 41:18
The theme of water and the river of the Holy Spirit’s moving through dry places wove its way throughout the entire May 14th gathering of Knitting Hearts beginning with fellowship as we shared brunch together. Today’s praise and worship celebration included young girls and teenagers. Jennifer Barnette played an opening duet on the harp that encouraged us to reflect on God’s amazing grace. Candace Mitchell shared a praise dance to the powerful song, “I Can Only Imagine,” inviting us to reflect on the glorious day when we stand before our Savior and attempt to express our love to Him. The praise and worship team led us in singing songs that declared that we have no friend like the lowly Jesus and that lifted up our sweet Holy Spirit. Young girls and young women, led by their leader, Dalana Barnette, raised their flags in worship as they allowed the Holy Spirit to minister through them and to us. The glory fell as the worship team led us in singing, “Your Presence is Heaven.” We lifted up our voices singing, “Who is like You in all the earth, matchless love and beauty, endless worth, nothing in this world will satisfy cause Jesus, You’re the cup that won’t run dry.”
Melinda Campbell Welsh honored the Lord as she sang, “Holy Spirit, You Are Welcome Here.” The lyrics invited the Holy Spirit to come and flood the place and fill the atmosphere and for us to be more aware of His presence and to experience the glory of His goodness. She shared thoughts on foundational faith and explained what it looks like. Our faith creates a new outlook on life. Her young son plays on a travel ball team. Melinda has analyzed what makes unity in the various teams and has decided that it is the moms. “Moms have so much influence. Women are emotional, sensitive, and passionate. God put these qualities in us for good . . . We have the ability to change our atmosphere.” She shared the analogy of taking a picture with a camera and discussed the importance of our focus. What we focus on is what the picture will look like. She reminded us, “One thing will be in focus in our lives. Will it be God?” Women typically are helpers and are needed to complete the job; therefore, they must choose their focus carefully. It is imperative that women make daily choices to control their attitudes and mindsets. They are the heart of their homes. Their lives are mission fields. She reminded us, “People are watching. They can see our God. What we allow in our camera frame is so significant. God must be our focus. If He gets blurry, then we must refocus. We must have functional faith.” She reiterated that we were all created for greatness and for unique purposes. We are planted where we are to fulfill our purposes. She left us to ponder the question, “Is it time to refocus?”
Linda Campbell shared thoughts on allowing the Lord to shine through us. She often rationalizes that some people are only 15 or 25 watt lights while others might be 75 or 100. It all depends on how much we are letting the Lord shine through us.
Since Linda was young, she has had visions. One frightening vision happened when she was a 16-year-old; however, she remembered Scripture from James 4:7-8 that said that if she resisted the devil He would flee. She thought about the disciples’ declaring in Luke 10 that the demons had been subject to them in Jesus’ name. She cried out to Jesus and kept repeating His name. Jesus came and brought her peace. God affirmed to her that He rescues us when we call on Him.
On another occasion she had a vision of a door of light with a man that became a shepherd. She remembered Psalm 23.
When she lived in Virginia, she slipped as she was coming down the steps. Miraculously, she did not fall because she believes an angel set her on solid ground. She remembered Scripture from Psalm 91: “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
After she and her husband moved back to Sumter, she had a vision first of rain and then of rain and a car. Her daughter called her very distraught because she had a similar vision of rain, a car, and death. Linda prayed persistently. Later Christina was saved from a deadly accident. It was obvious that God had brought about these specific visions so that prayers were lifted up.
Another time Linda saw a feather, then the feather being put in a plastic bag and sealed up. She knew God was warning her of some danger. She searched throughout her house for that feather. Finally, she went through a drawer with mail. She found a feather in a black envelope. She got rid of it because she felt that God had warned her concerning this feather and a possible curse having been placed upon it.
One significant time God warned her of a gumball machine and choking. She had her grandchildren and felt that God was warning her of possible danger.
Satan attacked her eyes in a dramatic way. She reached into her cabinet, and a cup fell and hit her in the eye. As a result, she had a black eye and a knot under it. She prayed that God would melt it away. While she was in the shower, she saw a gold hand. The knot disappeared.
At the weekly team meeting at Joyce’s one Monday morning while the team shared communion together, she could not stop thinking of the blood and what Jesus endured on the cross. When she left Joyce’s, the blood of Jesus remained her focus. She saw all the sins of the world bubbling up and then being dissolved in Jesus’ blood. She thought of Psalm 69:20 that said “reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness.” She pondered what Jesus must have suffered as He, the sinless One, bore the weight of all iniquities. She became overwhelmed with the power of that blood not only to cleanse us from our sins but also to free us from Satan. Recently Linda had a vision that reminded her of the Rapture. She saw large areas of green grass, heard a loud BAM noise, saw the ground lift up and back down, and people coming up out of their graves. She asked the audience, “Are we ready? Are we listening, trusting, and praying?” and then left us with the admonition, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit!”
She then closed by praying Ephesians 1:18, 19.
The service ended with additional worship and an altar call. Joyce reminded us that God instructed us to open our mouths and He would fill them. We definitely received fillings from the Lord today.
“Oh, Jesus, Oh, Jesus, Your presence is like heaven to me.”
Jesus, Your presence was heaven to me.
Jesus, Your presence was heaven to us.
Hearts United Women's Ministry 