It’s been nine months since my husband, Bill, and I heard that still small voice “You are moving. If you do not go, your children will not come.”

“Go where?” I asked the Lord God!

He didn’t let us know for about six weeks where we were going, but just told us to get ready to go. Then one day while watching the Jim Bakker Show, I knew where God was sending us. “You are going to Morningside Ministry in Blue Eye, Missouri.”

“Where?”

I had no clue where it was or how far away it was. We had only been watching the show for about six months on our local cable network in Richmond, Michigan. Richmond is located about 75 miles northeast of Detroit.

At that time the Lord started to plant seeds of faith and direction in me to step out in faith and become a servant. My first thought was “I am a servant, aren’t I?”

That’s when the thought came, “You have it in you.” What was it I had in me?

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

What is it that you have inside of you?

For years I have been disabled from multiple orthopedic surgeries. The lack of physical strength and years of hospitalization and rehabilitation placed me in a permanent disability status in 1999. I had been diagnosed years earlier with arthritis and degenerative disc disease and it played its toll on me over the years. Even though the road and journey had its trials, I knew God had a purpose and plan for me.

James 1:2-3 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

I also knew there was more in me to offer my God than what my flesh was telling me.

Romans 6:13 “And do not present your ‘members’ as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

I continued to seek God in prayer and study of the Word. I knew – that I knew – that I was about to take a step of faith that would change my life forever.

Two years ago I had spent over 30 days in the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio to reconstruct my back for severe spinal atrophy, degenerative disc disease and scoliosis. Three surgeries later, two weeks apart, I left the hospital. I was so very thankful for all that had been done, but it would leave me with still another challenge.

I became very weak physically and lost a lot of muscle tone in my legs. Walking became difficult and I would tire easily. I never thought I would improve much from this point. I continued to frequent the hospital emergency room and doctors to manage my pain. My back recovered slowly and I was finally able to walk much straighter than I had previously. But, the recovery process didn’t seem fast enough for me.

Dreaded and tormenting thoughts would eventually become words out of my mouth. These words, spoken in a discouraged mood, were trying to rob me of any hope that my physical condition would improve. Words such as, “I’ll never be…”

But, God had another plan for my life. And, if you have ever said similar words such as “It will never work out”, “Nothing will ever change”, I’ll never be able to…..”, then this applies to you too! God has a plan and destiny for your life.

Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

After starting a Bible study in my home with four other ladies, I needed to surround myself in the word and prayer. The ladies helped through this time. I mentioned to them that God told me six months before I actually moved in August that I would be moving. “Where,” they asked? I did not know, but God said just get ready to go.

This was my first huge step of faith. Physically I wasn’t ready, nor was I ready emotionally to leave my children, grandchildren, family and friends. I knew this was going to be hard. The more I gave this whole issue to the Lord, the more confident I became to proceed with it.

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Of course there were issues about my husband finding a job in Missouri. We also had to sell our house and then locate a place to live in Blue Eye.

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Are you here with your walk and are you stepping out in faith?

God is a faithful God and He had a plan for us. My husband Bill received a call one Sunday afternoon from a company in Republic, Missouri, for a job. He went for an interview and the job was his. Praise the Lord!

Bill left in May, of 2013 and I stayed in Michigan to sell the house. As everywhere else, houses weren’t selling. But, God gave us a price to list it at, and within three days it was sold quickly because two families were bidding on it. We even received more than we asked for it. But, God!

Now, my flesh was saying, “There’s no turning back.” But how could I leave my children, grandchildren, family and friends? And what would they say?

Jeremiah17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.”

We decided to have family and friends over for a picnic in order to share with them that we were relocating. To my surprise, they were excited and happy for us. It was an adjustment for them to realize that we would be in Missouri, about 900 miles away. All of our children and grandchildren live within 20 miles of our home in Michigan. You all can imagine the thoughts and feelings going on about this time.

When we moved we left mostly everything we owned to our children. The items they didn’t use were either sold or given to charity. We left Michigan with only our car, our truck, our cat and dog and a few personal items. This truly was a real step of faith. Essentially we were starting all over again. I was 64 and my husband was 58 years of age at this time.

Challenge? You bet! There would be new doctors, a new place to live and new friends to get to know. Were we really ready for this? Not really, but God would go before us.

Soon came the move, goodbyes and the long drive ahead. We had planned to stay in the condos at Morningside, but our dog was too large to stay there. We spent three weeks at three different motels in Springfield, Missouri. At one point I cried out to the Lord, “Did you bring us this far just to stay in motels?” God didn’t and after much prayer, a duplex opened up in the Morningside complex. Praise God! (Deuteronomy 31:6)

After moving in, I started volunteering in the Prayer Center. What a wonderful ministry and family of believers. I started going to corporate prayer every day and made new friends. I gleaned from the prayer team any new faith building skills and what it was to serve in ministry. Oh, to be a servant of the Lord! Each day I drew closer to servant hood.

Also at Morningside, I was prayed for and received more physical healing. I was getting stronger and with the help of one of my new doctors, I was able to go off of my pain patches without any withdrawal! Truly a miracle! I was able to walk with renewed strength in my legs and able to be involved with more activities.

I continued to grow daily in the word and prayer and trusted God for what He said. I heard John Hagee of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, say: “It’s not what you believe, but what you obey.”

Hebrews 1:1 “Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is dead without works. How profound and true. Faith does come by hearing. I have also learned that faith is an action.

Today, I am employed in the Prayer Center and love every minute of it. If I can’t believe for myself the Word of God and His promises, how can I join in agreement in prayer for others?

So today I ask you, what do you have in you? What dream or vision do you need to trust God for?

Habakkuk 2:2-3 “Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time. But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because, it will surely come, it will not tarry.’”

I have come a long way and God is not done with me yet. I will see the promises come to fruition that He has laid out for me. He has done it for me and He will do it for you. Trust Him – believe and obey – there’s no other way. You have it in you!

Hebrews10:38  “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in Him.”