The 40 Year Wait

desert wilderness

It was in 1972, while living in Duluth Minnesota, that some friends invited us to go with them to their church on a Sunday night.  We worshiped with those at the Gospel Tabernacle and then  while the children went off for their own time of teaching, the men and women separated for a time of prayer.  The ladies headed to a smaller room on the right side of the altar area.  I clearly remember sitting on a chair in this room listening to the women in prayer.  They were all on their knees, hands folded and heads bowed as they prayed to God quietly in their individual prayer languages.  It was the first time I had ever heard "speaking in tongues" and I was fascinated with it. Very quickly I began to feel such a peace around and in me that it was almost palpable.  I went home that night with a deep desire to have that special gift of speaking in tongues.  I wanted to experience again what I know now to be the presence of God.

So I went home and asked God for the gift and I did receive it, but not that night.  It was not until 40 years later in February of 2012 that I was given the gift of a prayer language.

Forty years!  One friend said to me, "you had forty years in the wilderness just like the Israelites!" Forty is a significant number in the Bible, and I expect there is some significance to the 40 year wait.  I know I waited a long time to be connected with Holy Spirit in such a way, not because He did not want me to have this gift, but because I was not ready.

It was not the only time I had heard people speaking in tongues, but that night in Duluth was the first.  In the Philippines I had two good friends who both had the gift.  Again, I prayed for it but believed at the time that only a few actually receive the gift, that it is not for all.  I learned later that was not the truth.  Joel was never really open to having this gift and I did not really pursue it once he started seminary.  And yet, he received a prayer language before me.  It came as an affirmation of his overnight healing from Lyme Disease and two co-infections, from arthritis, sleep apnea, recurrent corneal erosion, thyroid disease and Parkinson's-like neurological problems from the Lyme in his brain.  Yeah......a miracle to behold!

I had asked Joel the night before his healing if he would ever want the gift of speaking in tongues and his reply had been, "I am Lutheran, what would I do with that?!"  So he did not ask for the gift, but God bestowed it on him as a confirmation of his healing.  I think God has quite a sense of humor!  Once Joel had the gift I felt the door open for me, and I pursued having a prayer language until blessed with it just a month later.

So what is the purpose of this gift?  The Bible says it edifies and builds up, it intercedes for us when we don't know what to pray(I Corth./Romans).  Paul also tells us that it is the least of the gifts, but goes on to say he uses it more than anyone else. (I Corth. 14) I had one family member tell us it was the least of the gifts in very dismissive tone,  but I replied that IF I receive such joy and strength from the least of the gifts, I am richly blessed and willing to pursue them all~ just imagine what the others will do to deepen our relationship with God.

Some people wonder whether when you have the gift you have control over when you use it, when to start it and when to stop.  It is always available, waiting to bubble out of you, but only if you choose to use it.  It is definitely spirit speaking to Spirit as you do not decide what to say, nor understand the language you are using.  A great book to read about it was written by John Sherrill, a writer/author for Guideposts, who set out to discount it and after a great deal of research realized it was real.  Needless to say, he uses the gift himself and has since the 60's.  I have also heard a counterfeit language while living in the Philippines.  Someone stood up to speak in tongues and when this man started to pray my friend and I both had a strong feeling this was not from God and we walked out of the meeting. The devil always tries to counterfeit God's gifts to us, but we can discern what is good and what is not.   A couple of months ago I heard a woman speak in tongues and have it interpreted.  When she prayed her voice sounded so melodic and pure, and the peace of God descended like a warm blanket over me.  Yes, it is real.

God provides the gifts of the Spirit for our benefit and for others, and having the gift of a prayer language is just one of the many gifts He shares with His children.  I suggest that if you are open to it, do your own research, and talk to God about it.  He desires to bring you into a closer relationship with Him, and this is one of the many ways.

I am so grateful that God put me in that room with those women. He blessed me greatly and sent me on a long journey that continues today, seeking more of Him.  I give thanks, even with the 40 year wait.

A Touch From God, Something More, and The War We Fight

The first time I felt the physical touch of God was back in 1974.  I was hungry for more in my faith, searching for peace in my life.  At that time we were attending a Lutheran church in Duluth, MN in the mornings and a Spirit flowing place called The Tabernacle on Sunday nights.  One night I went up to the altar to pray.  As I knelt there with my hands folded I felt someone unclasp my hands and lift them up into the air.  As this was happening I could feel warm hands on mine, so I opened my eyes to see who was doing this.  No one was there.  No one was nearby.  The warm hands I felt were not visible to my human eyes.

This event impacted my life, deepening my desire for "more" of God's presence.  Moving to the Philippines brought me to friends who had the gift of a prayer language and seemed to have that "something more" I desired.  I took great comfort and strength as part of a group of interdenominational women who spent time worshiping, praising, and praying together on a weekly basis.  I even experienced healing for a large boil when a group of women prayed over me.  Oh how I missed my friends (love you Helen H.) after heading home.  I still miss that group 39 years later. 

When we returned to the states I read Catherine Marshall's book, "Something More" over and over.  Frances Hunter also became part of my reading menu during the charismatic 70's.  Then life intervened.  We lived in a traditional Lutheran world.  Our family grew, sickness took hold, and it took another 36 years for me to be gifted with my own prayer language and experience once again the presence of God in a physical way through healing and through Holy Spirit manifesting.  I love my relationship with the Trinity now.  I could never go back, and pray daily that God will open up to us more of His presence in our lives in anyway He sees fit.

Thinking about this took me back to a time 3 years ago when someone asked me where God was when at age 6, I was being sexually abused.  Joel and I believe He was right there beside me, weeping with me.  You see, He has given us a free will.  He gave Adam and Eve dominion over the earth and nature, but then sin entered in.  In our fallen world, bad things happen to good people.  Satan has come to kill, steal, and destroy, not God.  I don't blame God for what happened.  I was in a situation that opened the doors to abuse from an older cousin and then a friend of the family.  Evil walked in the door and my circumstances made it possible.  God did not want me suffering abuse, it was NOT part of His plan for my life.  Evil in any form is not part of His plan for anyone's life. 

Over the years of Joel's ministry and our own lives, we have heard so many stories of neglect, abuse, hate, deceit, and even murder.  In our broken world we all experience Satan at work.

I cannot help but think about the 9 people who were murdered last night during a prayer meeting by an evil young man who wanted to "kill black people".  How do we make sense of that?  We know where these people are now...heaven rejoiced and welcomed them home..... but they died because evil entered their church in the form of a lost young man.

Oh, come Holy Spirit come, fill us with your goodness and give us courage to fight evil in all forms.  Give us courage to follow your command to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead.  You commanded us to love one another.  You knew we would need to fight a spiritual war when you gave us these commands.  We.  are. at. war.  Let our light so shine that others will hunger for what we have.  Let Your presence fill our bodies, our homes, our churches, our communities and drive out evil in every form.  Come Holy Spirit come. Bring us a touch from God.

Speaking Out Boldly

Go out into the world and fear nothing!

 A few weeks ago I read the above quote in the Daily Guidepost and I shared it here.  It is actually a blessing that Pastor David  Kidd says over his congregation at the end of each service.  It became the church's motto.  As soon as I read it, I stored it in my heart as a reminder for when any kind of fear or caution comes knocking on my door.

My husband does not need a reminder to "fear nothing". He is one who goes out into the world in obedience to God no matter what the cost. Last January he was healed overnight. I wrote about that HERE  , so I will share a shorter version. We had watched a Biblical teacher, Andrew Wommack, whom a friend recommended.   He was speaking on "God Wants You Well". As Christians we certainly knew that God healed people, but this was a new way of us looking at healing and also the gift of a prayer language. When we went to bed that night I asked Joel what he thought of this way of praying for healing and if he ever wanted the gift of speaking in tongues.

His reply was, "I don't know about this, I need to process it. And I am not sure what I would do with the gift of speaking in tongues." As he climbed into bed he decided to pray for healing remembering what Andrew Wommack had shared, and then he fell asleep. He woke up at 4am and knew he was healed. He said, "I am healed. And I can speak in tongues too!" At which time he did. He believes that he was given the gift of a prayer language as confirmation of his healing. We were amazing, humbled, and thankful. A month later I, too, received the gift of speaking in tongues. We also began seeing results to our prayers for my own healing, although mine has been a much slower process.

So there we were, an ELCA Lutheran pastor of 32 years and his wife, standing on Isaiah 53:5...."By HIS stripes we are healed".  Believing God wants us well.   And there we were speaking in tongues, using a personal prayer language to communicate with God spirit to spirit. We kept this to ourselves for a while. It was so new, so exciting, so a.m.a.z.i.n.g. After about a month we shared it with our children. Then Joel shared it with his colleague group, and then a few friends. He discovered there were other Lutheran pastors who had the gift of speaking in tongues but they had kept it to themselves. 

We read and continue to read as much as we can on both subjects, we spent a great deal of time watching Biblical teachings from several difference sources, and we continue to study God's Word on healing and the gifts of the spirit.

Eventually Joel felt strongly that God wanted him to speak out on his testimony...the healing, speaking in tongues, the healing available for others, ALL of it....and to God be the glory.   He has had a variety of questions and reactions  from family, friends, or congregational members. He is also praying with people for healing more than ever before because God has instructed him to do so. He is stepping out boldly into the world and fearing nothing, no matter the cost.

I have been more cautious to share some of our journey publicly.  What would people think of us speaking in tongues or speaking of the same power that raised Jesus from the dead being within us to heal?  What would people think if I declare that I believe that I am healed, but am still having symptoms and limited it what I do?!  I was worried, but in obedience today I share "the rest of the story".  

For two crusty old Lutherans on the down hill slide to 70, life has been turned upside down this year!  We are now on a whole new path of God's choosing, and at times we are in uncharted but exciting territory!   It may be a bumpy ride, but God is with us, and we are holding on tight.  We need fear nothing, and that includes speaking out boldly about our own journey.

"(Pray)....that I may speak boldly as I ought to speak."

words from

Ephesians 6:18-20