Well, it was Easter. Or Resurrection Day for all of you who know the origins of Easter and feel strongly opposed to it. Regardless, Jesus is alive. WooHoo!
Anyway, I happened to be in sitting in church. You may remember me talking about how we primarily meet in home groups. We joke about how quickly we are becoming members of the Christmas and Easter church going crowd. Sometimes that’s still a strange feeling.
The pastor was preaching a good message but I had a problem. I needed to use the bathroom. So, I made as small of a distraction of myself that I could and squirmed out of the pew.
When I exited the restroom I decided to stand in the foyer instead of returning to my seat. The pastor was wrapping up and I thought staying out would be appropriate instead of distracting people from his closing comments.
I wasn’t alone. There were lots of mothers with toddlers out there as well. It was like a mom group with their kids running all over. It was great!
But what caught my eye was a woman standing in the library, positioned off the mall-like foyer. Her eyes were down as she scribbled something on a piece of paper. I almost moved on to some pictures on the wall but then I felt my spirit begin to sir.
I looked at her again and it was like her eyes were selected and zoomed in. I watched them transform into the eyes of an eagle. Then the Lord began to explain.
I’ve given her eyes like an eagle, he said. Keen eye that see into the hearts of people around her to reveal and bring life to circumstances that seem dead. Eyes that can see how to encourage and lead others to victory and freedom.
A smile tugged on the corner of my mouth as my heart filled. I stepped slowly to the register. “Hey, I’m Jesse.”
I saw her eyes search through her facial recognition software and come up empty. “Hi,” she said and shook my hand.
“Hey listen,” I said. “Sometimes the Lord lays things on my heart for others. I feel like he has something for you. Would it be okay if I shared that with you.”
Her eyebrows raised a notch. Her voice was soft. “That would be fine.”
I smiled. “Do you operate in the prophetic gifting?”
Her eyes grew wide. She looked at me for a long moment before slowly nodding like she was sharing the details of a deep secret.
“Yeah,” I said and explained what I saw in the vision God gave me. Tears filled her eyes as I explained what I heard the Lord say. They rolled down her cheek like raindrops as the Lord spoke words of her worth and value straight to her heart.
Don’t be afraid of the gifts I’ve given you, he said. I am growing the gifting within you and will increase the amount of those being watered by the words I give you to speak.
By this time she was grasping for the paper towels on the counter and a different woman close by was getting emotional as well. All I could do was smile and squeeze her shoulder as we were both were coated by the incredible love of God.
After the service she caught up to me and told me at the very moment I walked up she was writing a note to a friend with cancer who’d asked her if God was really there. “I’ve got goose bumps,” she said.
I grinned. “That’s Jesus loving on you.”
I joined my family and I’m sure she joined hers.
Sometimes I think people who minister primarily inside of the traditional church forget that there’s people outside that need to see and hear the voice of Jesus through them. In the same way, I think people who primarily minister in the street can forget there’s people inside the church that need to hear that same voice of Jesus in their lives as well.
No matter who you are or where you find yourself, recognize that Jesus wants to shine his light brightly through you. Let him!
Blessings,
Jesse and Kara Birkey
Add new comment