It was January 28, 2008. After a period of over two years of discernment considering God calling me to enter the Ministry, I was on the verge of beginning Seminary classes online. For over a year, my calling had narrowed down to Trinity School for Ministry and preparations for the diaconate. Something was stirring inside me that day, however. The clear calling had evolved into an unsettled spiritual sense. Maybe it was just “cold feet”, maybe it was doubts. Angie and I prayed for guidance. We got an unexpected answer. It just didn’t “feel” right. I’m not talking about physical or emotional feelings, either. In any event, I dropped the courses and yet still I felt like there was unfinished business. That night I went to bed feeling a little let down.
The next morning I was praying from the depths of my heart for guidance. I paused and just asked the Lord, “what can I do for YOU, today?” My answer came immediately; I heard in my heart the Lord say.. go, visit. I knew what He meant. There were two elderly parents of parish members in local hospitals. So I set off to go visit them and their families. It was such a blessing to reach out in that way. Here is what I wrote in my spiritual journal, when I went to visit Mildred (the second person I visited that day):
I had a 5-10 minute visitation with Mildred and she was about to take a nap. Only the nurse was in the room at the time. I had discussed our church needing to find land to build on, with the nurse, and then she left the room. Then, I heard a voice from the elderly black lady that was in the bed next to Mildred in the hospital room. This lady’s name was Geraldine Copeland. She said, “hey reverend, reverend…” (trying to get my attention). I responded, “Hi there, oh I’m not a reverend.” She motioned for me to come over where she was and she said, “I want to pray with you.” We prayed. Then she said a couple of astonishing things. First she said, “I was laying here and God told me to tell you that you were going to find land for your Church”. Second she said, “you are going to be a minister!” I was speechless. We talked for almost 3 more hours. I told her my story, especially how I had just dropped the seminary courses the day before. She laid her hands on my head and prayed for me once again. When I left her hospital room, my hands were shaking. The very presence of the Holy Spirit in those 3 hours was almost overwhelming. I asked Geraldine how did she know all of this, and especially about me? She said I knew you were going to be a minister when you walked by my bed. Then she said,”you will never forget this day”. Boy, that is for sure.
There is no person on the face of the planet that could have said anything to me more significant or meaningful to me at that moment than what she said. It was as if God literally got right in my face and said, “it ain’t over until I say its over!” In this case, “it” meaning some form of full time ministry.
Beloved, so many times we read about God revealing himself in different ways as He has done countless times throughout the Bible, but we don’t really believe He will do that to us. It’s so unfortunate, because I’m telling you, He is real, His promises are real, His love for us is real, His power to change lives is real, and His longing to have a personal relationship with us IS real. That afternoon with Geraldine was an example of God’s real love; in arranging for me and her to meet and share our spiritual journeys like we did.
Geraldine and I had many, many wonderful times of fellowship, since our first meeting. She had many health problems, and last Saturday, the Lord delivered her from all these afflictions, and took her home to the room in His house that was prepared for her. We will miss her very much, but we will never forget her. There is no need to worry about that. We can save up a big hug for her, so when we meet in the clouds with her, our other loved ones, and our loving Lord, there will be nothing but joy. As the Apostle Paul says, “..and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Farewell (for now), Mama Geraldine.
Blessings,
George
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