The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Gifts (of the Spirit or service) (11/22/07)
My stomach churned when I saw the look on Michelle’s face as she scrambled up the hill to our home. I grabbed my sides and wondered if this was the day my daughter had foreseen in a vision just a few weeks earlier.

“Mom...” she bent over to catch her breath, “I tried to call, but the phone signals are messed up.” A small group of townspeople came up behind her. They all gathered around as she took my hands, “It’s happened.”

Michelle and the others followed me to the house to make sure we had enough supplies. She seemed so young, yet she was confident and strong as she prayed with each one who believed her prediction of eminent disaster. Her visions and prophecies were as sure as her grandmother’s had been.

As I watched her minister, I remembered when Mamma had swaddled my newborn and prophesied over her before placing her in my arms. Then she’d said to me, “God will keep her safe, though one day your faith will be severely tested. When that happens, He will reveal Himself to you.”

In a tender gesture, she had brushed the damp curls from my forehead and placed her hand on my cheek. Then she’d sat down in the rocking chair beside my bed and leaned her head back. “Michelle,” she’d said as she closed her eyes. “You will name her Michelle. She will be close to God and see things.” It was her last prophecy.

Only a few family members attended Mamma’s funeral. People had been offended by her gifts, instead of realizing God had given them to her for their benefit. Not one prophecy or vision had ever failed to come to pass yet they had been disparaged by the townsfolk and dismissed by the members of our church. The pastor believed such gifts were strictly for the early church, even though Mamma had never been wrong.

Her greatest passion had been for our country and its involvement with Israel. Every time our government forced Israel to give up her land for peace, Mamma would see a vision and prophecy God’s judgment, which always came, swift and without mercy. The same thing was happening to our country just as it had happened in King David’s day when the innocent suffered because of his lack of discernment.

Beginning in 1991, with the Perfect Storm along the eastern seaboard, natural disasters of epic proportions have wreaked havoc on our beautiful land whenever Israel’s security has been breached. With each disaster, the property damage and loss of innocent lives has exceeded the suffering of the Jews. Although it has been carefully *documented, few have made the connection or understood the consequences of coming against God’s chosen nation.

While the residents of Stonewall, Tennessee, breathed easier after Mamma died, what they didn’t know was that her mantle of prophecy was a gift my daughter now possessed.

“Mom,” Michelle came to my side and placed her hand on my face, just as her grandmother had done the day she’d been born. “Israel is in peril. If Jerusalem is divided, the same thing will happen to our country, only worse. Remember my vision of a continental earthquake?”

I nodded, but I dreaded what she was going to say next.

“Then you know I have to go. Trust the Lord, Mom. The day this division is imposed upon Israel, travel north to Michigan and cross the Mackinac Bridge; you must make it within twenty-four hours.”

The lump in my throat wouldn’t allow the protest in my heart to materialize. I looked at my daughter, so alive with the fire of God burning in her eyes. Just as her name indicated, she was close to the Lord. She touched her forehead to mine, and we held each other tightly.

“I love you,” I whispered, suddenly reluctant to let her go. But the moment my faith wavered, I saw a vision of Michelle boldly speaking before large crowds of people.

“No matter where you go, the Lord will keep you safe. Whenever you speak, you will manifest His heart. His voice will be heard, and many will be saved.” The words were out before I knew what had happened.

But Michelle knew. “Finally!” she cried as she hugged me again.

Although it was bittersweet, I was able to say good-bye to my daughter. I’d been given the same vision and prophecy for her that the Lord had shown Mamma...and Mamma had never been wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michelle: Hebrew name meaning close to God

*Documented facts:
https://secure.watch.org/resources/display.php?cartid=200711260000093&zid=1&lid=1&psku=eye1&mode=sp

http://www.av1611.org/katrina.html

http://www.lamblion.com/articles/prophecy/signs/Signs-10.php
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1278 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ross
11/29/07
So anointed! So powerful! So real! And so timely! With Israel in the headlines this week, the concessions being made by giving up land in exchange for peace that only her prophesied Messiah can bring, your story is genuinely prophetic. So much so, infact, that it is as if it has been taken from the journals of those whose prophetic voice is speaking forth the warnings from the Spirit of Yahweh. May we never cease to Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim!
Verna Cole Mitchell 
11/29/07
This is not just an awesome story, but it is a powerful reminder of our need to pray for Israel. Your creative pen was certainly annointed in writing this piece.
Janice Cartwright
11/30/07
Fantastic writing and message! The Holy Spirit was the undisputed leader of the early NT church. When I express my concern to Christian friends that the post-modern church is in trouble because of heedlessness to His leading, some seem dubious.
william price
12/01/07
I've read it three times now and still have not been able to comment. Yes, anointed! Thou art a prophet, indeed. I just want to say, "Amen." And bathe in the presence of the Lord. God bless.
Betty Castleberry
12/04/07
I really don't know what to say. This is very bold. It's beautifully written, and packs such a powerful message. Excellent.
LauraLee Shaw
12/04/07
Oh my goodness. My breath stopped. It is rare that I cannot think of words good enough to describe how this made me feel.
Dee Yoder
12/04/07
This packs a powerful and timely message for the U.S. and the church. We're so complacent at the moment, in every way.
Temple Miller
12/04/07
Beautifully written story packing a powerful message. I loved it.
Patty Wysong
12/04/07
Powerful.
Thought provoking.
*shivers*
Shelley Ledfors
12/04/07
A very thought provoking and powerful story. Wonderful!
Jan Ackerson
12/04/07
Heart-pounding and cinematic--needs to be made into a movie, for sure!

FYI: "eminent" means "important"; "imminent" means "sure to happen soon". Not a biggie, just something I thought you'd like to know.

Love the idea of the gift being passed from generation to generation. Strong story!
Sheri Gordon
12/05/07
Wow. This is packed with so much power. It gave me the goosebumps. You are an extremely talented writer. This is truly awesome.
Joanne Sher 
12/05/07
Wow - amazingly, amazingly powerful, my friend. I don't know what else to say besides WOW.
TJ Nickel
12/05/07
I thought the writing was fantastic and loved the generational aspect to the story. Even with a great deal of discomfort with the theology of the plot (for me), your gift of writing pushes a reader through.
Sara Harricharan
12/05/07
WOW! That is my reaction after reading this. It couldn't have come at a better time. In the story, what a legacy to leave behind...I love that you have actual facts/research to back this up. again, WOW! Awesome writing!
LaNaye Perkins
12/05/07
This was so powerful and annointed. You grabbed my attention and held it tight util the ending.