Not A Matter of Talk

By Amy Hartmann

             There have been specific times in my life when I’ve felt the propelling winds of the prophetic – either through spoken words or specific events – breaths of the Spirit which have redirected the entire course of my life.  The Hebrew name for Holy Spirit is Ruwach Ha Qodesh [Strong’s’ # H7307 – (roo-akh) wind, violent exhalation, breath, current of air].[1]  The word qodesh [H6944; Qodesh (ko-desh)] means sacred – consecrated, hallowed, most holy.[2]  His very name means “Holy Breath of God”.

The gift of prophecy has been defined as the given ability of interpreting the divine will and purpose of God.[3] The Old Testament writer, Hosea explains:  “The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet He cared for him.”[4]  Another translation says, “He preserved him.”[5]

In early 2010, the economic downturn which began in 2008, was extracting a huge toll on engineering personnel in the state of Florida.  Other areas of the nation were also embroiled in this cataclysmic event.  Our family was caught up in the economic famine.  We began to intensely seek God’s answer to this crucial situation.  I took this issue to heart and on March 5^th, at a home group meeting, I shared my fearful concerns over my husband’s soon approaching job needs.  At that time, he was consulting with the City of Jacksonville and their road programs were out of funds.  Out of respect for his work ethic and ability, they advised him many months in advance, so he could respond accordingly.

My cell group, which was held at the home of Candy and Ed Bateman, had been meeting on a monthly basis for at least 25 years.  Most of the attendees had been friends through church and work all of that time.  A significant number of them were retired elders and career missionaries well into their late 70s or early 80s.  As one of the youngest members of this special group, I loved to hear their stories of life challenges and how God brought them through with amazing grace.  I considered it a great privilege to be so warmly welcomed into their longstanding company.

The concept of gathering in each other’s homes for fellowship is not a new one.  The New Testament book of Acts explains this form of church gathering as a common practice.  My friends lovingly called their group The Mayapple Chapel, after the Bateman house street name.  On the Friday evening of March 5^th, 2010, we all gathered in a big circle to join hands and pray.  Numerous needs were raised and my request was just one of many.  After our intense time of prayer, one of the members – a lady named Nancy – sat back down on the couch and shut her eyes tightly.  Her actions caught my attention.  I stood with the group, saying goodbye, when Nancy finally opened her eyes.  She motioned for me to join her on the couch.  As soon as I was seated, she pulled me close and gave me this message:  “You’re going to Goshen.”

At that specific moment, I thought her message quite strange; in fact I was tempted to dismiss her revelation, but something caught in my heart and I knew I must pay attention to her words.  I hugged her and thanked her for pressing into the heart of God on my behalf.  She smiled, happy with my acknowledgment.  I left the den where we were meeting and I went to the kitchen to pick up my dish and finish my goodbyes to the folks gathered in the kitchen.  Several minutes passed when I saw Nancy come hurrying out of the den.  She was motioning for me to wait.  “I got something else,” she said.  “Do you know this passage in the book of Proverbs:  “Do you see a man skilled in his work?  He will serve before kings.  He will not serve before obscure men.”[6]?”

I knew the passage well, I was praying it over my situation.  As I drove home, I puzzled over Nancy’s words.  I knew that Goshen (biblically) referenced an area in Egypt in the Eastern Nile delta, suitable for growing crops and supporting large herds of livestock[7].  Goshen was described by Pharaoh as ‘the best of the land’ in the Genesis 47 narrative.  Pharaoh gave it to Joseph’s family upon their arrival, when the huge family of Jacob and their flocks (Jacob was renamed Israel by God) moved to Egypt to escape the famine that threatened the entire known world of that day.  Joseph, second in command of Egypt by that time, had been sold into slavery by his jealous brothers many years earlier.  Goshen, however, was near enough but NOT in the capital city of Egypt.  Somehow, I knew this word had something to do with being near Washington, DC.

By May of 2010, the urgency to make a job change was well upon my husband.  In early June, he began researching other states besides Florida, in search of employment.  He applied for four jobs in South Carolina and his resume was positively accepted for consideration.  Suddenly the governor of SC went through his own marriage crisis and everyone in state government froze to watch the scandal unfold.  By early July, it was apparent that SC was not going to make any decisions for a long time, so my husband began to look at other government state job postings.  The state of Virginia ‘suddenly’ posted a series of jobs, 8 of which were distinct possibilities, and my husband applied.  The postings were only open for 6 weeks.  By the middle of August, he was in Virginia interviewing with the many different offices, and by September he was hired and on his way to a small town west of Fredericksburg.

I had never noticed the area south of DC, other than to note the historical significance of many famous Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields.  We put our Jacksonville home up for sale and prayed.  Months passed and the home market in Florida continued to deteriorate.  By early May of 2011, the half-price sale was well underway for most real estate transactions, and our home was no exception.

Then, a series of interesting events began to unfold.  May 26^th, as I was sitting in my office in late afternoon prayer, the phone rang.  A cheerful voice exclaimed, “Hi, this is Marilyn Hickey…”.  I waited for the message to continue, fully convinced that this was a recorded call.  The voice paused and then said, “hello, are you still there?”

“Marilyn, is this really you?” I replied.  She answered positively and asked how she could pray for me.  I explained the condition of our home sale and the separation in our family.  She happily prayed for us and our situation.  I was so amazed to be speaking to one of my favorite Bible teachers and spiritual mothers.  Marilyn’s televised ministry spans the globe and she prays and ministers to world leaders.  Her amazing miracle stories have inspired me for over 20 years.  I’ve read many of her books and listened to her teaching for such a long time.  It was a miracle to me that she would call to see how we were doing!  Within the next two weeks we had a buyer for our home.  The short sale was still a reality but at least it was getting the home off our plate so we could move.

June 11^th, 2011, the Global Day of Prayer service was held in Jacksonville at the Veterans Coliseum.  This world event had never been held in the USA.  It was pause for consideration that of all the big cities capable of hosting the GOD TV televised event, Jacksonville was selected.  I was able to participate in the GDOP choir – an event that will remain a true highlight of my choral history.

June 17^th, 2011, my husband was able to secure a home for us in a small rural community west of Fredericksburg, much to our entire family’s relief.  The movers were scheduled for July 19^th and I began to hurriedly pack up our belongings.

As I packed, I remembered getting ready to move to Jacksonville back in the summer of 1997.  Back then, I was 6 months pregnant with our daughter.  I was very discouraged about leaving all of my friends in Atlanta, and a dear missionary friend gave me the book, “I’m Sitting At His Feet But Who’s Going To Cook Dinner” by a lady named Cathy Lechner.  In the summer of 1997, Cathy and her family lived in Jacksonville, FL.  The book was a great encouragement to me as I struggled to take care of my two young sons, pack and get ready to move.  Jacksonville seemed so far away from my enjoyable life in Atlanta, but husband and job changes take priority.  Since our 1997 move to Jacksonville, I had always wanted to hear Cathy speak, but her family moved away from Jacksonville several months after we arrived.

Shortly after the 4^th of July, 2011, I saw an announcement on our church’s web site:  Cathy Lechner was going to be in Jacksonville for one Wednesday night service.  The coincidence was astonishing to me.  Even though I had so much packing left to accomplish, I went to church on July 13^th, 2011, happy to finally see this interesting lady.   That evening, Cathy shared her own story of great hardship, as she taught about Paul’s shipwreck off the coast of Malta (a story found in Acts chapters 27 & 28).  She explained her own season of shipwreck, and how God had brought her through.  Her story was painful and extraordinary.  Then our Pastor announced he wanted her to pray over all the leadership.

I was a community life group leader, and with great excitement I joined the mass of folks standing in the front waiting on Cathy’s prophetic prayer.  Being in a hurry on such a night is irrelevant; prophetic prayer lines take as long as they take.  I had so much to do at home but here was Cathy, working her way down the line, praying and prophesying over some people for 4-5 minutes.  As impatient as I felt, I really wanted to hear what she would have to pray over my situation.  Soon she was standing in front of me.  I closed my eyes, expecting to hear her words, but all I heard was her exclaim in a loud voice, “NOW” and I felt a huge whack on my head.  I dropped to the floor like I had been hit by a lightening bolt.

The heaviness and the warmth I felt on top of me was intoxicating.  I could not move.  Other people went down besides me, and I could feel them fall so near where I was laying.  After about 15 minutes, I felt I could move a few feet.  I opened my eyes, I was still overpowered by the warm, heavy presence.  I managed to crawl backwards so that I was leaning up against the first row of seats.  People were ‘laid out’ all over the floor in front of me.  I was still immobilized.

Time passed.  The service ended.  People got up to leave and little kids came down front in search of their parents.  I still could not move.  A little girl asked her mother why I was sleeping on the floor in church.  I wanted to laugh but I could not even move my mouth.  Soon only the stage hands and musicians were left.  A friend of mine came to sit on the floor beside me, since she did not want me to be there by myself.  She leaned up against me, and I heard her pray for me.  Suddenly I felt the heavy presence begin to flow off of me and then on to her.  She started to laugh as she experienced my condition.

“My cup runneth over,” I mumbled, trying to warn her about leaning up against me.

“Oh no,” she exclaimed, as the heaviness pulled her down, “my husband Jimi is at home waiting on me to help him with our taxes.”

I managed to laugh, I knew we were not going anywhere.  I knew I could not drive in the condition I was in, and she did not seem like she was moving fast either.  We began to laugh and mumble words and prayers.  Maybe 30 minutes later, the heavy warm cloud began to lift.  It took me a few more minutes before I could stand.  We helped each other up and we talked about our sadness over my family’s move away from Jacksonville.  Suddenly I knew I was supposed to give her a message from Holy Spirit.

“Go home, put your hands on your husband’s chest and declare over him, ‘my cup runneth over’,” I told her.  “Even if he thinks we are weird, tell him its important.”

“Alright,” she said, as we went out into the parking lot and headed for home.

That night, she did as I asked.  The next afternoon, her husband, Jimi, was in a staff meeting where Cathy Lechner was speaking.  At the end of the meeting, Cathy was praying for all the staff.  When Cathy got to Jimi, she gave him this same message, “My cup runneth over!”

When my friend told me this later on, it brought me much joy, even as the reality of moving loomed ahead.  On Friday evening, July 16^th, 2011, the heavy presence of the Lord paid my house a call.

All afternoon I packed, still with a grieving heart.  I loved Jacksonville and my church family.  The thought of leaving them and the manifest presence of the Lord, weighed me down.  I planned to cook up a big dinner for my kids and some of our friends who were helping us get some last minute things done.  Josh and Ransom had been close friends of ours and we were going to miss them greatly.  I wanted them to have a big meal with us one more time.  I grilled all the meat left in the freezer.  We could not move any food other than canned goods and seasonings, etc.

At dinner that night, I shared my Wednesday night experience.  Josh and Ransom were used to such happenings in their International House of Prayer times and they rejoiced over the refreshing I received.  After dinner, we all were very full and lethargic.  We went into the living room to rest and chat.

Josh said, “Mrs. Amy, that was such a wonderful meal.  Is there anything else we can do for you?”

That afternoon my husband called and said his work situation was turning very negative.  He was concerned about the office who had hired him.  He asked me to pray.  So, I turned to Josh and asked him if he and Ransom would pray for my husband’s job and our move.”

“Sure, Mrs. Amy,” Josh replied.  He and Ransom came and stood behind the chair where I was sitting, and they began to pray for me.  I don’t remember their words, I just remember the heavy, warm presence of the Lord returning, and I was immobilized again.

“Pray for Hannah and Samuel,” I mumbled.

Hannah was sitting on the couch, playing a game on her DS.  As a 13 yr old, she was not much interested in our prayer time.  Josh sat down on the couch beside her.  He placed his hand on her head and prayed a few things.  Suddenly Josh started laughing and he slid off the couch.  Hannah started laughing, she dropped her DS, and she fell over sideways, still laughing.  “Oh, I feel so warm and sleepy,” she giggled.

Then, she began to prophesy:  “Oh Mom, they’re going to fire Dad at work,” she cried.  Then she giggled again, “…but they’re going to rehire him!”

Josh and Ransom, by this time, were laughing and falling over on the floor.  “Go pray for Samuel,” I whispered.

Josh and Ransom crawled over to Samuel’s chair.  Samuel looked perplexed and not to sure about all that was taking place.  Josh and Ransom stood up and moved behind Samuel’s chair.  Then they prayed for Samuel.  When they were done, Samuel got up from the chair like he was going to leave the room.  He walked a few feet behind the couch and then he headed for a recliner.  “I think I need to rest,” he mumbled.  “I feel so warm and sleepy now too!”

“My hands feel very heavy,” Samuel continued, once he was resting in the recliner.  Then he began to prophesy.  “Mom, they are going to fire Dad,” he added, “but then Dad is going to get a better job!”

Under the heavy anointing of the Lord, all the words Samuel and Hannah were receiving seemed so funny.  We all were laughing at Josh, who was now out cold on the floor.  Ransom had leaned up against the wall and slid about half way down.  There he remained, frozen like a statue.  Why he didn’t fall over, I still don’t understand.  We stayed in this joyful warm place of peace for a good hour.  Soon it was time for the boys to head home to their own families, and we still had so much packing to do.

By Monday, July 19^th, the temperatures in Jacksonville were in triple digits.  A huge high pressure system was also sitting over the state of Virginia and temperatures there were breaking records.  Over those next 3 days, I got about 6 hours of sleep as we helped the movers get the big truck loaded and ready for transport.  We still had our own truck to pack, and the aquariums to break down.  By 4:00 pm late Thursday afternoon, we finally loaded up all we could carry.  I had Samuel and Hannah with me in my car; our miniature dachshund, Callie; our 2 cats fighting in their kennel; our 6 massive goldfish and the 10 inch Pleco were safely packed in our 30 gallon cooler, and we were on the road.  I felt like Mrs. Noah, driving up I-95 with my zoo in the car.

We drove all night, stopping only for gas and food, since we could not leave the animals.  My wonderful step-father-in-law joined us at the North Carolina – South Carolina border.  He helped with the driving from there.  I was completely exhausted.

Sometime around 5:00 a.m. we arrived in Fredericksburg, VA and we turned west  toward our new community.  We stopped at an intersection and I remember seeing several signs on the hillside.  One sign read “Riverbend High School” and another banner “LifePoint Church”.  At that moment, as we waited for the light to change, I heard Holy Spirit say, “this will be your new church”.  As tired as I was at that moment, having so little sleep, and doing so much physical labor in such high temperatures, I was amazed at the clarity of His voice.  This was obviously crucial and I needed a clarion word at that moment.

Exactly one month later, many difficult circumstances began to unfold.  The week began calmly enough, but by Tuesday afternoon (August 23, 2011) the earth was shaking violently – literally underneath our home – and most of the east coast.  The epicenter of the 5.9 quake was 23 miles from our house.  Aftershocks continued for days.  On Thursday, a thunderstorm tore through our area, dumping hail and loosing tornadoes.  During that powerful event, my husband was let go from his job that initiated all this change in the first place.  By Saturday, Hurricane Irene had come ashore and was moving slowly up the Virginia coast.

The kids and I remembered the prophecies from that evening prayer with Josh and Ransom back in July.  All we could do was hang on to the hope which was released on that amazing night, and try to encourage my fearful husband.  I was determined not to be afraid, so I quickly involved our family with our church.  After a couple of Sundays, it was clear that LifePoint was in the middle of great visitation of the presence of the Lord.  At one service, over 100 people went forward to give their lives to Jesus and to be immediately baptized.  None of those people had planned to do such a thing when they visited that day.  As Pastor said, “They came in dry – they went home wet!”

The church was also getting ready for the fall season and leadership launched new home groups.  Everyone not part of a group was encouraged to sign up, so one Sunday near the end of August, I went out in the lobby and signed our family up for the closest group near our neighborhood.  The next Saturday night we were knocking on the Tritt family door in their lovely home in Somerset.

It was hard for us to walk in cold to someone’s home, especially when we had been through so much change and so much tragedy.  Finances were tight – emotions were high – and none of us felt very socialable.  As we introduced ourselves, we found out  this home group had been meeting for many years.  Our family and another couple were the only new faces.  We all sat down and chatted as we waited for the group study time to begin.  Soon we were watching Pastor Daniel Floyd’s “Living The Dream” series.

I had great empathy for the Joseph story and all of the tragedy outlined in Genesis Chapter 37.  Like Joseph, I too was a dreamer, and my biggest fear was focused on all the negative events we had walked through over the past year.  The single biggest question I had buried deep in my heart was my constant wondering “if we were where we were supposed to be – had we missed God?”

The group worked through the study booklet and questions.  “What are some of your dreams?” the leader asked.  One man began to share a very personal story – one of the great loss of his two teenage daughters – a story we did not fully understand until much later.  He made this statement, as he wiped away a few tears, “…back when we were at Goshen…”

Suddenly I was alert and stirred up; there was the prophecy word from my friend back in March of 2010.  As soon as the group study time finished, as the leader was taking prayer requests, I raised my hand and blurted out this question:  “Is there a Goshen around here?”

The leader stopped and a funny look came over his face.  “Yes there is,” he replied with some reluctance.  “Pastor Daniel was the youth leader at Goshen, and we were the first home group there too.  Goshen helped launch the extremely popular youth service as a church plant.  That group helped form LifePoint.  Why do you ask?”

Now it was my turn to answer and I quickly shared with them how my home group had sent me off with the prophetic declaration… you’re going to Goshen.  When I shared the whole story, and how relieved I was to hear we were at the right place, a holy hush fell in the room.  Many of the group members began to recognize and feel the presence of Holy Spirit in a special way.

Suddenly, I fully grasped the concept of “a needle in a haystack”.  The needle has to find you.  Goshen grace guided us and delivered us to the right place – LifePoint.

I can’t really delve into all the ways that this prophecy has been fulfilled.  I can say LifePoint stood by us over an over again.  Seven months later, my husband was rehired by another office from the same government agency.  In May of 2012, he also got a better job – just like the kids prophesied.

I still feel the prophetic wind blowing.  There’s that afterthought scripture about appearing before kings…