When You Think You’re Hearing Things

Friends!  When was the last time you thought you heard something, only to have it repeated later in the same day? 

You won’t believe what transpired last Tuesday.  It hit me like a ton of bricks...

First, I accepted an invitation to do a Zoom presentation which involved speaking for thirty minutes to a group of women, most of whom I don’t know.  This was challenging for a couple of reasons:

1 - I’d only zoomed with friends and Bible study groups, in casual settings, never in a “speaking”/“presenting” way.

2 - I had no clue how to set up my laptop for best lighting, backdrop, etc.

3 - And YET, I had no reason to NOT accept this invite as I could do all of this in the comfort of our own home, and the topic, which was on friendship, I literally wrote a book about, so how could I say, “no?”

PLUS, the group to whom I’d be speaking is a Christian ministry, www.sparklefaith.com, which meant I’d have the freedom to talk about my faith, so again, how could I say, “no?”

Thus, with the Zoom date only a few weeks away, I began to prepare my talk.  I had some fun notes from a talk I’d given a little over a year ago, so the outline was already in place. Or so I thought...

I was also excited to share with them one of my favorite verses that is the very first thing you see in my book:

Proverbs 27:9, “A sweet friendship REFRESHES your soul.”

From friends who Zoom a LOT, I learned that in a Zoom presentation, it’s best to read from your iPad, vs. turning pages of notes, as that can be distracting, so this was another new-to-me method. Pressing on, I had about twenty-five pages of notes, which meant around twenty-five minutes, and I figured to come in UNDER thirty minutes would be better than OVER...

I studied and studied, and edited and edited, until the morning of the Zoom arrived.  The actual Zoom was to be at 7 o’clock in the evening, and I had a “test connection” with Betsy Laboe, who heads up Sparkle Faith that afternoon at 1:30. 

One phrase kept haunting me Tuesday morning from my friend and mentor Naomi Rhode. She always maintains, “Never forget the PRIVILEGE OF THE PLATFORM.”  With that, comes “always present the Gospel.”

Well, phooey, don’t you know I did NOT have the Gospel anywhere in my talk.  Sure, I had lots of Scripture verses, elements of faith, my own testimony, etc., but still nowhere did I have the Gospel spelled out.

As Satan would orchestrate, my morning was packed with appointments, distractions, etc., until 1:30 for the “test connection” rolled around and I’d still not touched my talk.  Thankfully during the test, all systems were a go, Betsy thought the backdrop, lighting, etc. worked well.  (John and I are blessed with friends who Zoom all the time for work. They helped us the night before with backdrop and lighting. Thanks again, Elizabeth and Stephen!!!)

BUT....Betsy said, “Hey, as a little reminder some of our girls are seekers, so if you can present the GOSPEL, that would be fabulous.”..........KUNG............GULP.........DEEP BREATH.......

I said, “Ok, Lord, I hear you LOUD AND CLEAR...”

With that, I began to work, and rework, and rewrite my talk, inserting two versions of the Gospel, including how I was stumped not too long ago when I was asked in a Bible study to write out my own version of the Gospel.  I worked non-stop from 2:00-6:00 p.m. Remember the Zoom was to begin at 7 o’clock sharp.

During the actual Zoom, at one point, I read from my book after confessing with the group how I’d had a tough time with writing out the Gospel and tried to encourage them from Bob Russell’s words, that, “The power is in the Gospel, not in our being clever with it..”

Then I shared Bob’s version of the Gospel in one-syllable words: 

The point I was speaking to the girls about was one of three “Secrets to being a Sister-Friend.”  This one was “Cherish Your Friends and Family.”

I encouraged them to really think of their closest friends and family members and to make sure they, too, would join them in Heaven.  I went on to share words from a young mom who’s friends with our youngest kiddos, Woody and LT.  Her name is Jamie Lynn Dorr.  Believe it or not, Jamie actually, the very day after her precious son landed in the arms of Jesus (at only two months of age), said this:

Friends, if a young mom, who just lost her son can preach the Gospel, and be more concerned about everyone else needing Jesus, SO CAN WE...As another friend reminded me, “We are without excuse.”  That may sound harsh, but it’s the truth. Please help us remember this, Dear Lord!

Another comforting thought comes from C.S. Lewis who said, “Christians never have to say goodbye.” I love that!

So the next time you think you’re hearing something, and IF it happens a second time, it just could be the Holy Spirit nudging you in a certain direction to do or say something.  Last week’s post on Anne Graham Lotz’ book about hearing from the Holy Spirit, Jesus in Me:  Experiencing the Holy Spirit as A Constant Companion could just be what the doctor ordered for YOU~!

‘Til next time!

P.S. You can watch my Sparkle Speak presentation by clicking here and entering the passcode: 9?Y400m%

P.P.S. The Bible study I’m referring to where we were asked to write out the Gospel in our own words is well worth your time if you’re on the hunt for a new one. The author, Matt Chandler, hits it out of the ballpark. It’s called The Explicit Gospel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are “affiliate links.”