Delphine K.

Today, Delphine speaks to us about her incredible healing journey, accepting God’s will and vivid memories of the reality of racism.

Tell us a bit about how you grew up and your childhood: I was born and raised in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama by God-fearing parents that made sure their children knew about God and the meaning of salvation. One of our family traditions were home Bible study. Every Tuesday evening, we had Bible study. My mother, brothers and I would sing songs, and my father would teach a scripture from the Bible. When I visited my grandmother, we would have Bible study on Thursday nights. I came from a praying home where my parents prayed for us and with us. Like prayer, church was mandatory and there were no options. Our church services were not boring, I loved attending church.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moments: “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless, I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV)

Spiritual growth at focus at the moment: “Patience. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:36. I am not always patient with everything that happens in my life. There is something I can wait on some things without any problems and there are some things I am impatience. I realize day by day; God’s timing is not man’s timing. God chooses the time because God is time.

“God’s timing is not man’s timing. God chooses the time because God is time.”

Profession: Christian author, Bible teacher.

If you wrote a memoir, what would the title be? Let God Describe Me. Some might describe my strengths and weakness and others might describe my triumphs and flaws. Only God will tell the truth.

When did I first encounter God and how did I encounter him? My first encounter with God is when I made a vow to the Him on December 16, 1979. I told God I would trust Him, believe in Him, and stand on His word to heal me of a skin disease. I specifically told Him that I would not receive any medical treatments because I wanted to know Him as a healer. After years of hearing the preacher, my parents, and the Sunday school teachers tell me that God can do anything, I decided to trust Him because I believe His word. For a year and a half, I tried convincing my family and friends that God was going to heal me, God is healing me, and by His stripes I am healed, only to gaze at faces of doubt and unbelief. They could not see pass the sores and boils on my skin. I could not convince anyone to believe me except for three people. I was hurt, disappointed, and in amazement how these people that attended church with me for years and yet they were doubting God. I suffered hair loss, a twisted face, with boils and sores covering my entire body. I had leprosy, and yet I did not waver from my faith in God. Two years I walked by faith and not by sight while people and some family members thought I was insane. Deep down in my heart I believe God word and I believed God could heal me and He did not disappoint me. In the third year of my faith and divine healing journey, God manifested complete healing to my body. Only God can and will get the glory for my healing. It’s been over 35 years ago, and it has never returned. To God be the glory.

“I had leprosy, and yet I did not waver from my faith in God.”

How would you describe Jesus? My Lord and Savior, a healer and a deliverer.

How has your relationship with Jesus changed me? After I received that divine healing from God, I gave Him my life and I haven’t stop telling people about my faith journey. Remember the woman at the well encounter with Jesus? Just call me a “Modern Day Woman at the Well”.

What was the darkest time of your life and how did you see God in it? The day my dad died was the darkest time of my life. I was a daddy’s girl, and I always imagine my father walking me down the aisle on my wedding day. My dad was my best friend and we could talk about everything. The day he had his heart attack, I never thought he would die. I prayed so hard, and I believed that God was going to heal him like he had healed me. I was hurt and disappointed, but I accepted God’s will. It wasn’t easy accepting God’s will until God explained it to me. After I cried and kissed dad’s lifeless body in the hospital bed, I went home and sat in the middle of my bed and wrote his obituary. I asked God why didn’t he heal daddy like he had healed me last year? I know that God is a healer and my faith believed for a miracle. I learned that you can have faith to believe, but when God wants to call his child home, that is His will. God began to speak to me that my father belonged to Him before he met my mother. We all were ordained spiritually and naturally to be who God wanted us to be on this earth and when our time is over, He calls us home regardless if we don’t agree with His decision or not. He called His son home that night, and who am I to judge His decision? I had 27 years with my father, and they were some wonderful years, and I began to thank and praise God for blessing me with the best father ever. It was a dark time in my life but God shined His light in my heart.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? In this season of the pandemic, my faith in God has increased tremendously and my prayer life has changed to a higher level. I’ve seen God healed and brought many miracles to me and my family in this season.

What book you Just read or currently reading and what has it taught you? The book I just read was You Got to be Hungry, by Les Brown. This book taught me to never cancel your goals, dreams, invention, and use the gifts God blessed you with. God forbid, if death visit you, that book, story, invention, gifts, dreams, or idea don’t become buried treasure.

Top three essentials. 1. My Bible; 2. Bible journal; and 3. vitamins/herbs.

Hobby: Baking, writing, singing and playing the keyboard.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong:  Have a strong prayer life. Your prayers keep you divinely connected to God, increases your faith, and prepare you for uncertainties. Exercise your faith. The Bible tells us the just shall live by faith. After my divine healing from God, I constantly exercise my faith in Christ. Whenever there’s a prayer request, whether its spiritual or natural, I ask God for things in faith and exercise defeating doubt and unbelief. He has not let me down. Read your Bible. You [won’t] know God, what He can do and how to fight Satan, if you don’t read the Word of God.

Favorite person in scripture: Saul (Paul).What a transformation? From a proud, prejudice Pharisee, ravaging the church and dragging men and women to prison and later to become an Apostle of Christ. He explains his transition well in 1 Corinthians 15:9, “For I am the least of the apostles, because I persecuted the church of God.” Paul’s humility is clearly seen in his conversion. Paul was a passionate Pharisee, and he kept those character[istics] and became a relentless warrior for the truth and sacrificed himself and endured great suffering and persecution for the cause of Christ.

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? There is nothing too hard for the Lord.

“There is nothing too hard for the Lord.”

Favorite holiday. Thanksgiving. It seems that the world has forgotten about Thanksgiving. I tease my friends and say that the turkey doesn’t have a chance. The Halloween and the Christmas decorations are displayed before their season and Thanksgiving is rarely recognized like I was when I was a toddler. My family and I would sit around the table eating a big dinner and thanking God for our blessings. Not to mention my grandmother making sure that my brothers and I ate everything on our plate because we should be thankful for food when some people were less fortunate.

Question you will ask when you get to heaven. What did I do that you were pleased with me Lord?

Thing you want to raise awareness about: Racism. I was born and raised in Alabama and a child of the fifties that witnessed on hand the deadly disease of racial injustice and ongoing fight against racism in America. My childhood memories of racism are a vivid reminder that the dehumanization of my people in this country isn’t trending news but is rather antiquated. Imagine being spat on by an angry white man, at the age of nine, who do not know you all because of the color of your skin. Many African American people are discontent with the harsh treatment of Black people in America.

“My childhood memories of racism are a vivid reminder that the dehumanization of my people in this country isn’t trending news but is rather antiquated.”

What does your morning routine consist of? Prayer, Bible reading, and caring for my 94-year-old mother.

What is on your nightstand? My Bible, Bible journal, and notebook and pen. The Bible reading starts after my morning prayer. Sometimes God gives me scriptures to read and things to write for a book, so I need my notebook and pen. During the day and night, I get several calls, texts, and emails for prayer request and that’s where the Bible journal comes in handy.

For more Delphine:

Instagram: @fromthemasterstable

Facebook: From the Masters Table or Delphine Kirkland

Twitter: FromGodsTable

Website: www.delphinekirkland.com

Delphine is also the author of two Christian books: Just Jesus and Me and Hiding God’s Word in my Heart available on Amazon. She co-authored When Grace Found Me, available in January 2021.

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XX