Three Sundays ago, on June 26, we had a guest speaker come to our church. He has been there before many times (2 or 3 times a year). He is older and drives in from Tulsa, OK. He comes mostly when our senior pastor has to be out of town.
We all love him.
He is a perfect guest speaker. He is bold without being too bold, speaks the Word of God without apology, always gives a Word of encouragement AND challenge. But what makes him exemplary is that he does not lead with "ego," nor is he secretly vying for the emotional loyalty of the congregants. He comes to share God's Word. He is happy, congenial, friendly, totally appropriate.
He also has the spiritual gift of prophecy.
When he comes to our church, he will speak over 3 or 4 people's lives, generally. He has spoken over mine a handful of times--and what he says is always SPOT ON. In fact, one year he came, he spoke over a situation at my job--not knowing ANYTHING about it--and what he said happened within a couple of months' time.
May I reiterate that he had no idea of this issue--neither did anyone at church, really. That part of my life is rarely discussed at church and with my church family.
Three visits ago, he prophesied over me, the work I was to do. He had everyone stretch a hand toward me and pray with me over my calling. He didn't know what that call was. I did--and a handful of people did, too.
I went to work on this calling--I've blogged about the frustrations I've had with it--and found I was up against a seemingly insurmountable legal monstrosity. I resigned myself to the fact that I simply couldn't do it without miraculous assistance from "somewhere...".
But it's nearly been two years since God birthed the vision into me.
Honestly? I was afraid I'd lost the vision entirely. And here's the thing: I've felt it affect my spiritual life. I've hit a plateau. I've known it. And I'd beg God and sing with all my heart, "More of You, Looord..."
Yeah.
He wasn't impressed.
Two visits ago, this visiting preacher looked straight at me and--I could tell something flashed in his mind--but he said nothing.
That was interesting. (And I fully realize that I probably DON'T EVER want to know what God had to say about me at that moment.)
Three Sundays ago, he didn't specifically speak over me, but he looked straight at me and said to anyone and everyone, "If God has told you to do something, DON'T DELAY!"
"DON'T DELAY!" He said it loudly, firmly, with a fatherly corrective tone in his voice.
Yep.
I knew who he was talking to.
But it didn't stop with that. He kept saying it, over and over, reiterating that we must obey God.
It got so bad that I wanted to just stand up and yell, "Okay, okay! I get it! Please! Stop saying it!" But I didn't. Thank God.
Yet...
It has changed me, that word given.
Because I knew it was for me, I started asking God to affirm and reaffirm the Call. "God, if you want me to start this nonprofit, then please rekindle my fire and renew my vision for it!"
He is doing that.
I can "see" it again.
Two days ago, I got an email address for my nonprofit. You can email us already, though we are not official yet.
Today, I am ordering a book which will assist me with the legal procedure for starting my non-profit. I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly--to the best of my ability.
I have composed my first letter, asking for two of my friends to consider being an incorporator, a Founder, of this nonprofit with me.
It has begun.
I can't wait to tell you all more about it as details happen.
It's all in GOD'S hands.
(Please pray for me, if you're reading this. I need His divine guidance and protection in all that lies ahead.)
Ciao!
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