U-Turn

The last sixteen days of my life have been crazy.

Well, "crazy" doesn't seem to be the right word.

That's an understatement.

Where should I begin? Hmmmm...

Well, it all started on a Wednesday (May 28th) a couple weeks ago. The youth Bible Study, which was held at Pastor Nate's house that night, was incredible. God hit everyone hard. Especially me.

We were watching the revival (Todd Bently, Lakeland, FL) on GODTV's website. Todd was giving a good message, but nothing was really happening. None of us were being touched or getting into it. Who could blame us? The laptop screen we were watching it on was tiny and the signal was incredibly bad that night. But God wasn't interested in moving thru the revival at the moment. At least, not for us.

That's when it all started...

Sitting there on the couch half listening to Todd and half listening to the small talk in the room, if I had known what was about to happen I probably would have ran away, fast. But I didn't...

Fred looked up from his guitar and back toward the people in the Pastor's small living room. Up to that point, he had been quietly strumming and plucking at the strings, not really paying attention to the preaching or the quiet conversations. "I really feel like we need to start praying."

The conversations stopped abruptly and all eyes were on him. Fred hesitated. "I keep seeing confetti scattered all over the room. I guess the confetti is prayers or power or something. And I see someone standing in the middle of the room, with everyone else is picking up the confetti and tossing it over him."

Pastor Bob jumped up from his seat in the recliner, understanding the word immediately. "Alrighty, Fred. You're first."

Within moments, Fred was in the middle of the room and all hands were on him. As soon as I stood up to start praying, the power of God began to wash over me. Being touched by God is a hard thing to describe, but I encourage you, if you ever get a chance to experience it, do. It's always different depending on the person and the time and place. That night, I couldn't stop laughing. It wasn't just random laughter either, but somehow everything seemed incredibly funny.

Fred was getting plowed, the people praying were getting plowed... Everybody was! I can't remember how long we prayed for Fred, but as soon as his turn was up Pastor Bob pushed me in the middle. I didn't even really notice him doing at the time, I was pretty "drunk" by then, and I hadn't even been prayed for yet. After that, it was pretty much a blur. I can only remember bits and pieces of what happened.

Later that night, when almost everyone had gone home a few of us stayed chatting until late. Still a bit drunk, I found myself saying something without realizing it.

Laurie gave me a strange look. "Wait a minute, say that again."

I repeated myself, this time actually listening to what I was saying. "When I get in the presence of God, the idea of joining the Navy disgusts me and I feel like I should go to Bethel. The Navy totally doesn't seem like His will. But when I'm not in the presence like this, it makes perfect sense in my mind."

Laurie raised both hands in an exasperated "duh" motion. "Well, Bre, what on earth are you joining the Navy for?"

That caught me off guard, because the Navy did "make sense" from a logical point of view. I had the next seven years of my life planned out with a good, solid career ahead of me, and it seemed like the only option I had.

"If God says 'do this' than do it."

I looked up at her, "But, it can't be that simple..."

"Why not?" Laurie still had that don't-be-so-stupid expression on her face (in a loving way, of course).

"But, I..."

"No buts. If God says 'go to Bethel,' than go to Bethel. It really is that simple."

"But what about the money?"

"It's God's money. He has plenty of it."

"But what will my parents say? Dad'll kill me."

"They're His too. Why don't you trust Him?"

"I do trust Him, it's just..."

"Good. Than you're going to Bethel?"

"Um..." I knew the answer, but I was terrified of telling the world. I was totally overwhelmed with... everything. Confusion, excitement, fear... I didn't know what do say...

That was just one of the many things that happened to me that night. But I'll have to save the rest for a later date. (This post is getting to be a novel.) So, as of today, I'm out of the Navy and I've applied to the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. I'm on a totally different road than I was two weeks ago.

I was looking at a long, lonely road away from family and friends. Now I'm looking ahead to the study of ministry with two of my best friends. (Fred Westwood and Joseph Bantel are going to Bethel as well.)

God's plans might turn your life upside down, but they're always better than yours.