Something incredible happened today!

Something incredible happened today!

First let me give you a little back story…

On August 6, 2001 (16 years ago), I became a fully devoted follower of Jesus. God immediately began to make some much needed changes in my life.  I am so grateful for what He has done in and through me over the years. But, this one particular story is almost unbelievable....

In December 2002, I was praying about a new job opportunity and suddenly I heard a clear voice out my window say the words very loudly: “Chi Alpha”.  I jumped up, looked around and couldn’t find anyone.  So, I thought I was imagining things and continued praying.  Within seconds I heard it again very loudly: “Chi Alpha”.  Immediately a peace came over me and I knew God was telling me that I was supposed to be a part of this organization that ministers to students on college campuses (see chialpha.com for info. about this ministry).

Fast forward to 2003.  I ignored God (just being honest) and was offered the job I was praying about and accepted it.  I never told anyone that I heard God say “Chi Alpha” twice.  I was married a few months later and we lived in the West Bank of New Orleans on Tullis Drive. A few months went by and it was eating me up inside that I never told anyone. So, one Saturday morning I told my wife, Felicity, how I heard God speak the words “Chi Alpha” to me while praying.  She looked at me in what I thought was a shocked look, but then said “I knew you were called to that ministry”.  So, like any good Christian we decided to “pray about it” (as if the audible voice of God wasn’t enough - smh). That evening we went into Walmart on Behrman Hwy on the West Bank.  When we walked through the entrance a woman was sitting on a bench talking to some children who were playing. She was wearing a shiny “I love Jesus” button and stopped us before we could enter the store.  She looked at my wife and I and said the following: “Do you love Jesus?”. We said “yes ma’am we do”.  And then this woman who we never met before in our entire lives looked at me and Felicity and said these words that would change our lives. She said, “You are going to minister to college students”.  Felicity and I looked at each other in disbelief, then looked at the lady and said “say what?!”.  We couldn’t believe that God was using this stranger to confirm what we already knew God was trying to do in us.  That day marked the beginning of a journey that we have been on for the past 13 years as Chi Alpha Campus Ministers.  We never, ever saw or heard from this lady again. 

Today, July 20, 2017, 14 years after that supernatural encounter at Walmart I was on campus “ministering to college students”.  Suddenly an elderly lady walked in the building with some international students. I noticed her right away because she had a bright shiny shirt that said “Y’all know Jesus?” on it.  And, she was asking everyone in sight if they knew and loved Jesus.  She came up to me and ask me the same question. I said “yes ma’am, I do”. We talked for a few minutes more and I kept thinking to myself “I know this lady from somewhere”.  She explained to me that she helps these international students get around town after sharing the love of Jesus with them. She then went on to say that she met them at Walmart on Behrman Hwy on the West Bank.  She said, "I’ve been sitting in the entry way of that Walmart 5 days a week all day long since it opened years ago sharing the love of Jesus with anyone that walks in those doors".  Immediately it hit me.  This was the same woman all those years ago that prophesied over me and my wife. I couldn’t believe it.  She seemed unphased by it as if she expects God to do this type of stuff every day (oh me of little faith).  After talking a while she asked to pray for me again and then began to speak words to me that were just as timely as they were back then.  I’m not going to share yet in this post exactly what she told me, but I will say that we’ve been praying for God’s will and direction in our lives for a while now.  I’ve been pleading with the Lord to “speak to me again like you did before through that lady at Walmart”.  So, God sent her, the exact same lady from 2003, right back to me with a another very timely, prophetic Word. Her name is Ruth.

Me and Ruth (7/20/17)

This is a very, very abbreviated version of what has transpired over the past 16 years of my life. I could fill a book or two with all that God has done in and through my life.  But I had to share this incredible story.  Most of my friends probably fall into one of these categories:

1. You are a fully devoted follower of Jesus.
2. You have some form of religion, maybe you attend church even, but you never fully surrendered everything to Him. You may even believe in Him but haven’t starting obeying (following) Him. (I can help with that).
3. You know me from before 16 years ago and you may have thought to yourself at least once something like this: “Well, we lost Chris to the religious folks…poor guy”.  You are probably thinking “how did he know I thought that?”. LOL. 
4. You could care less.

Regardless of what category you fit in above, I don’t see how anyone can deny a God who works like He has in my story.  And, I am just one of millions of others.  If you haven’t believed and followed Jesus, consider reading this short article for an explanation:  https://www.cru.org/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally.html OR better yet, contact me and I’ll be glad to share in person.

Thanks for letting me take the time to share this incredible story with you of Gods goodness and love for His people. And, how He still speaks to those who listen even today!  Something incredible can happen to you today too!

Much Love!
CPB