God Has a Plan

My first trip overseas was to Israel. While attending a conference in Philadelphia, I met a lovely nun who, on the last day of the conference, invited me to join her on pilgrimage. My taxi had just pulled up to the curb when she came running out of the hotel yelling, “Wait, wait!” She handed me a card with her phone number and said the Holy Spirit told her to invite me to Israel. On my flight home, I thought this was impossible. My husband had already moved out-of-state for a new position, and our house was on the market. We were in the middle of many transitions, and I was going to be between jobs. There were no funds for such a trip.

A few weeks after my arrival home I received a phone call from Sister. She found my phone number in her pocket and remembered our encounter. I told her I was repeatedly receiving scripture on the Feast of Tabernacles, and she replied it was evident I was being called to Israel. The pilgrimage was scheduled for the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. I sent her a deposit to hold my spot, but a month later, there was still no contract on our property. I called Sister and told her it looked like I would not be joining her. She offered prayers from her congregation on my behalf, and within the week, there were three prospective buyers. By the end of the week, we had a contract.

I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to visit Israel, but there is one experience, in particular, I want to share. It occurred at the River Jordan, where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. It was here I felt transformed and touched by the Holy Spirit. I was completely immersed in the Jordan. When I was pulled to the surface, I was physically helpless. One of my fellow travelers, Kathy, was asked to hold on to me, so I would not float downstream. She was praying with immense joy and was led to give me a prophetic Word, “The Lord wants you to be like Gumby! You are to be more flexible like Gumby!”

(For those of you who may have forgotten or are not familiar with Gumby, he was a posable clay character from the 1950s. He appeared on the “Howdy Doody Show” and multiple Gumby television episodes for children. Gumby represented the good in everyone and was the embodiment of friendliness and optimism. He was fearless and helpful, but most of all he was flexible!)

I thought my call to be more flexible was meant only for what I was dealing with in my life at that time, but I was mistaken. “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope (Jeremiah 29: 11).” Isn’t this what we hold on to, hope? Where may we find this hope but in Jesus Christ. When I am called to be flexible, to handle the requests the Lord asks of me, it is as a member of the Body of Christ. Everything I do and say matters. I am called to be fearless and helpful and to turn to God in trust at all times. This experience is a loving reminder to give and to receive support and encouragement within community. Decisions regarding transitions and challenges are an opportunity to extend myself beyond my comfort zone where, with His grace, I become increasingly more aware of my need for him.