On the 19th of July 2005, I owned a mortgage company, and I was about to be 31 years old. During a usual day at the office, one of my loan officers was doing a refinance for someone who left their driver’s license in our copier. When he came back to get it, he was escorted to my office, and we began to talk. He shared that he was a missionary and four hours later we were still talking. We prayed for more than an hour and a half (it was the longest I had ever prayed at that time). He told me that as we were praying, he saw a vision of me with fire coming from my mouth in front of a multitude of people. He said I was speaking the Word of God, and then he said what I had written (which I had not shared with him, but this became the content of a book I published 12 years later) on salvation was under the Spirit of Revelation and it was a last day’s message. He said the Lord told him that I am a “watchman – a warner to people about the last days.” At this time in my life, I had no idea what that meant as I had not heard it before. He also told me that I would minister in another nation among some other things. When he said this, I was shocked as I did not think of myself this way at all. I had hardly traveled in the US much less to other nations. I wrote all of this down in my journal and only shared it with a few trusted Christian friends. I pondered it in my heart over the last twenty years always waiting for its fulfilment to find out if it was truly of the Lord.
Over the last few years, I received multiple invitations to go to Africa for different mission-type opportunities, but I declined because I never felt a prompting to go. Even though I knew I had a prophetic word given to me years ago I didn’t want to try and make it come to pass. I figured that when it was of the Lord and His timing, I would have a stirring in my heart and peace about going.
In 2017, I was at a women’s conference at Lake Junaluska, and I found myself truly repenting for wandering from the Lord for a season. For serving myself and living for the pleasures of life rather than for Him. At this moment, I heard the Lord speak to me. He said, “You can’t serve both God and money” I said, “What do you mean?” But I heard no reply. I truly didn’t realize I was doing this, so I began to think about this regularly and to pursue a closer walk with Jesus. About six months later, I was at another women’s conference at the Billy Graham Retreat Center in NC. In a quiet moment, I heard the Lord ask me a question. He said, “Who’s kingdom are you building?” I knew I didn’t ask myself this question. I was certain I heard God speaking to me. I didn’t know what He wanted me to do exactly but I knew that He wanted me to serve Him wholeheartedly and so from that moment on this is what I set my heart to do. There is much glory to Jesus for all that has taken place through the years but for the sake of not making this into a novel I am skipping many testimonies to highlight the more recent confirmations.
As soon as I had closed my business endeavors in 2017in response to His question, I remember sitting in my living room and I said to the Lord, “Well, here I am.” I was wondering what I was supposed to do. The thought popped into my mind to pull out the dissertation I had written after a time of reading the entire New Testament non-stop for over a week around my 30th birthday. It was in a file on my computer, but it had been 12 years since I’d looked at it. As I read it, I began adding to it and it was now my older and younger self writing together. It occurred to me that it was a book in the making which became “Don’t Die in the Pew” published on September 12, 2018, just 6 days before my 44th birthday and 17 days before my 18-year-old daughter passed away unexpectantly. I had offers to help promote the book, but I wasn’t trying to promote a book for personal ambitions. I was simply trying to make use of what the Lord had given me. The Lord walked so closely with me during my time of grieving. He made me very aware of His presence and He revealed so many things that blessed me immensely. He is and was so faithful and compassionate.
I was on Ethiopian Airlines on August 7th, 2023, en route to Kisumu, Kenya to speak at a church conference. Just two months earlier I had no idea that I would be doing this. I was asked (last minute) by Pastor Bernie Dorsey of Transforming Spirit Ministries if I would join his team on a ministry mission to Kenya. I was very reluctant to go and waited until two weeks out (after lots of prayer) to book the flight. Even as I departed the Greenville airport it was evident that there was spiritual warfare taking place. Not only was my flight delayed but ALL flights had been delayed and many were cancelled due to a lightning storm in Atlanta which is where I was going. As I landed in Atlanta the sky made me think of a prayer my friend Betsy Roy had prayed before the travel for the Lord to put a circle of fire around us that the enemy can’t penetrate. When we were on the ground in Atlanta we had to stay on the plane for a couple of hours because there was a ground stop with 50 planes in front of us waiting for a gate. The stewardess shared that my flight from GSP was the last one to Atlanta. The flight that left right before ours was turned back around to the gate in Greenville. The photo in the airport was taken after midnight in the Atlanta airport when we finally deboarded.
I didn’t get off the plane until after midnight and couldn’t get to the hotel until 2 am because of all of the mayhem at the airport. The Uber driver said he had never seen that happen to the Atlanta airport. Then he shared that there was a very unusual rainbow in Atlanta at the same time my plane landed in Atlanta around 9 pm. Again, it brought to mind a “circle of fire” from Betsy’s prayer…and what seemed to be heavenly warfare.
When we arrived in Kenya the pastor had us gather to pray before leaving the airport “committing our lives into the Lord’s hands” he shared with us later that evening that there had been protesting and fighting in the very area we were going for the conference. But the morning we landed; the leader of the protest called for a 30-day time of peace after 6 weeks of fighting in the streets.
Our theme for the conference was the Holy Spirit.
When we arrived and walked into the church for the first time to meet those who were volunteering, I began to weep because I was overwhelmed by the presence of the Lord there. It was very apparent to me that the ground had been prepared in prayer. Shortly afterward, I was given the schedule and to my surprise, I was listed as the first speaker on the first day of the conference. I closed my message that early afternoon with Isaiah 55 as an invitation from the Lord Himself and the Spirit of God took over. His presence and His glory filled the atmosphere of that church and ministered to everyone in the building, including me. I was very much aware that it had nothing to do with me or how eloquent I did or did not speak.
It was simply His word going forth and doing the work that He intended it to do. Pastor Bernie Dorsey reported that he had a vision while this was happening and said he saw the dirt floor of the church turn to gold. There were several speakers in the church conference during the day but in the evenings, we would go out into the open field to minister to the people from the surrounding villages who had been drawn there by the music. We had a stage set up in the open field and Pastor Bernie was preaching and evangelizing each night to the crowds. I had not seen Bernie evangelize like this before but as I watched him I was amazed at how intensely the Spirit of the Lord was surely upon Him as he ministered with a gentle boldness in the authority of Jesus Christ. None of us who had ministered during the conference in the day were scheduled to participate (as speakers) during the evening portion from the stage.
On the third night, as we were sitting on the right side of the stage as Bernie delivered the invitation to submit to Jesus as Lord many people came forward and prayed for salvation.
Then, I heard Bernie announce from the stage that he was inviting his sister Krista to come up and lead a prayer asking Jesus to baptize in the Holy Spirit those who had come forward. I was not expecting that. I usually try to prepare when I know I will be called on to speak. But, at that moment I didn’t know what I was going to say. When I got onto the stage and was handed the microphone, I closed my eyes and waited on the Holy Spirit to help me and then I began to share my testimony and the promises of God calling on Jesus to baptize those who were asking Him for the Holy Spirit.
What happened next was ALL Jesus. Some people were receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit while at the same time, others began to scream and manifest demonically being physically thrown to the ground, flailing around and screaming with shrieks of terror. Lines of people began to form near the platform, some in line to have hands laid upon them by ministers (disciples) as they received the Holy Spirit and some for deliverance. I witnessed more than 30+ demons being cast out over two days.
I have never in my life witnessed the Holy Spirit (Jesus) the Lion of the Tribe of Judah move in such tangible power to set the captive free and to baptize with fire from heaven as I did on this field. One thing was certain as I laid hands on people, I KNEW that” I” or “we” were not doing anything except speaking His Word in HIS authority. I relied on the Holy Spirit 100% it was ALL Jesus. He was just moving through willing vessels that had faith to trust Him and rely on Him.
Afterward, it was essential that He received ALL the glory. He will not share His glory with another, and we felt the weight of that. So, all we could do was worship Jesus. He is worthy of all the praise, the honor, and the glory. We take NONE of it. The very fact that He chooses the weak things of the world to confound the wise is precisely because the weak things can't take ANY credit for the wonderful things the Lord God Almighty has done.
I want to testify that the spiritual realm is as real as the Bible says it is.
When we were departing Kenya at the end of the week, as we drove into the airport parking lot a news notification came on our phones. The cease-fighting was arbitrarily lifted, and they resumed the protests and fight immediately at the very moment we were leaving. All I can say is that it was obvious to each of us that the Lord shielded us to go in as His ambassadors, doing what He said, and giving Him the glory.
“But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.” – Psalm 3:3-6
Pastor Sylvia, Pastor Bernie, and I left Kenya and went on to Liberia to meet up with our co-laborers and friends Pastor Jed and Nicole Robyn which is another story of the Lord's divine intervention to provide Bibles in an area where many people including ministers did not have them. I had been hesitant to go to Liberia because I knew it was not safe for me. However, I had a strong sense that I was supposed to go so I agreed to go just trusting the Lord for my safety. We had 3 plane changes on our 13-hour route to Liberia. On our flight to Ghana, I was sitting beside a black man. As the food came by, I was asleep, but I woke up hearing him talking to the stewardess about leaving food for me. She was saying, “I have to pass by her because I can't wake her up.” But I did wake up and she left my food. I ordered tea. Then, fell asleep again. When I opened my eyes, the man said "Make use of it" so I sipped my tea. Then, I dozed off again and when I woke, he said "Are you ok now?" I said, "Yes I am, and thank you for asking me I was just tired.” Then, when we landed, he looked at me and said, "You are well protected here." What I have shared are the only words that we exchanged. We had no casual conversation during the flight this was all that was said. "You are well protected here." What an unusual thing for a stranger and fellow passenger on a plane to say, as if he had the authority to tell me this, how would he know and why would he say that?
Less than two months later Pastor Sylvia, Phyllis Brewer, and I were in Israel for the Feast of Tabernacles. We had no agenda; we planned to seek the Lord, pray, and see how the Holy Spirit led us.
Before leaving home in the US, I had stayed up late packing and laid my clothes out for our early morning departure.
When I got up and went to my clothes, I noticed something was rolled up like a scroll lying on top of my clothing. When I unrolled it, I was astounded. I had NOT put it there. I woke my husband and asked if he had put it there and then I went upstairs to ask Pastor Sylvia if she had laid it there. The answer was no. I can’t explain how it got there. But we sensed that we were to declare this scripture throughout the land as we traveled, which we did.
Every day the Lord orchestrated divine appointments for us. We ran into Joshua Aaron in a café and as a result, ended up at a worship gathering on the Sea of Galilee later that day. We had a time of fellowship with Rania Sayegh and prayer at an Arab house of prayer that loves Jesus and at Mt. Carmel congregation where we met Renee Shmuel the Founder of Ima's Goodies who ministers to IDF soldiers and border police. We had some time with Chaim Malespin (who is now serving in the war) at the Vertical House of Prayer. Then just 3 days before the war began, we were worshipping with many
from the nations at the Garden Tomb. We ended up at a Shabbat service with Arni and Yonit Klein and then spent the entire day and evening fellowshipping in the Lord at their home in Galilee. We had a time of worship and prayer at Succat Hallel and on another afternoon an unexpected lunch with Patricia and Rick Ridings (of Succat Hallel) with Dr. John Mulinde. We had a divinely appointed car trip with Dr. John from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. We visited biblical Gilgal explored the caves of Elijah and prayed over Israel and the nations from that place. We gathered with Carolyn Hyde and a group of artists to pray over Jerusalem at a house of prayer near the Gihon Springs. After the most incredible three weeks, we were blessed with a beautiful farewell Shabbat dinner in Jerusalem with Robert Weinger, Micha’el Ben David, and family.
Our time of worship at the Sea of Galilee just happened to be professionally recorded.
(To our surprise: We're in an audience shot at the 30, 41 seconds and 2-minute mark)
We had no idea we would be doing any of that, the Lord had directed our steps, and it was such a remarkable journey and so much better than anything we could have orchestrated ourselves. The next morning (October 7th, 2023) we left our hotel in Jerusalem at 7:30 am driving our rental car and heading to Tel Aviv for our return flight home. We were oblivious to what was happening in Israel at that time. However, while we were at the ticket counter to check our bags an alarm started blaring and people started running through the airport. We were told to leave our bags at the counter and follow the people to a safe area. About 15 minutes later, we were allowed to complete our check-in and then board the plane. We did not learn that Israel was at war until just before takeoff. It was a very sad trip back to America. I burst into tears as I was buckled in for takeoff. The news was surreal contrasted with the wonderful experience we just had with the Lord, the people, and the land. It just so happened that our flight out of Tel Aviv was the last flight back to Atlanta.
I posted a blog in 2017 about the upcoming Great American Solar Eclipse at a website I created several years ago called ReadyandWatching.com. I believe the Lord had given me the ability to see some things and I thought I would share them. I quickly realized that many others found it interesting as well and the post became viral.
I recently posted a follow-up blog in anticipation of the April 8, 2024, eclipse. I spent some time in prayer asking the Lord to show me if there was anything to discover and share and from there. I discovered several very profound signs and consulted with some Messianic Jewish and Christian friends, and ultimately have shared the findings.
I say this to say, that I do believe and receive the “call” the Lord has made clear to me as a watchman – a warner to people about last days and repentance. I was not walking confidently in this calling until the prophecy the man spoke to me in 2005 came to pass in 2023.
“If you say in your heart, ‘How will we know and recognize the word which the Lord has not spoken? When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord and the thing does not happen or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” – Deuteronomy 18:21-22
It took 18 years for all of the words the man of God gave to me to come to pass. But, God is faithful and what He has declared, He will indeed do. I believe that in the waiting we are being refined for His purposes.
If God has spoken to you and you are waiting for the fulfillment of something that has been spoken over your life, be encouraged and remember that Abraham was told he would have a son (the son of Promise, Isaac) in his 80s but it did not come to pass until he was 100.
“For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn… Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!... For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” – Romans 11: 29,33,36
“When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths…Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me. If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.” – Ezekiel 33:3-6,8-9
“Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me. Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again. Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. I will sing praises to you with a lyre, O Holy One of Israel. I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me. I will tell about your righteous deeds all day long…” Psalm 71:18-24
We are all called to be His witnesses telling of the things of God that we've seen and heard, Ambassadors of Christ.
"So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." - 2 Corinthians 5:20-21