TO HOPE OR WISH BY FAITH

I had always wondered why I did not receive everything I wanted in my heart when I prayed to God. I wanted a better life, body, car, and the list goes on, but none of those things were happening to me. Why was I not receiving the desires of my heart?

Late one evening in August of 2011, I had an experience while in the hospital that helped me finally understand the truth behind this verse: "Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4)

That evening, I began experiencing the most intense pain I had ever endured. I kept thinking it would go away any minute, but instead it did the opposite: the more I prayed the harder the pain hit. I did not want to wake up my wife Debbie, so I thought I'd just drive myself to the emergency room, get a pill or maybe a shot and come home. Well, that did not happen; in fact, before I knew I was scheduled for surgery. As soon as I could, I called Debbie and told her where I was. Within a few minutes, Debbie and my daughter Savannah were at my bedside. I had already started feeling much better, but the doctors insisted that I needed surgery right away. However, they could not do the procedure and needed to transport me to another hospital. After three days of waiting to be transferred, my body still had no pain, and my patience was running thin. I was pacing on the floor, wanting to go home, but the doctors would not release me. Even if I signed papers clearing them of any wrongdoing; they said I could not leave.

The doctor came in and told me that they had found a hospital that would do the surgery sixty miles away. They loaded me up into an ambulance to transport me as Debbie and Savannah followed us in the car. That summer we had experienced 70 straight days of temperatures over 100 degrees and, unfortunately, the air conditioner did not work in the ambulance; needless to say, it was not a fun ride.

Frustrated and hot, I arrived at the second hospital. They rolled me up to my room and we started the waiting process all over again. As I stood looking out the window, I was drawn toward this older church building in the middle of downtown Fort Worth, Texas.

Over and over, I keep walking back to the window looking down at the old church building; about five or six times the Lord brought to my remembrance that years ago, I had ministered in this old church building. As my mind began to recall all the prophetic words and miracles that took place in that wonderful old house of God, I suddenly began to hunger for those days to return. This feeling was much stronger than just wanting it. This desire came down from the throne of God and into my heart. Which was much, much more than any 'want' could ever be. This desire was being backed up by a God-given plan; it had taken the top spot on my list of priorities.

I knew to activate my God-given desire I had to get out of this hospital. I called the nurse and told her I was leaving. She said I could not leave, but I was adamant, and I told her they could not hold me any longer. The head nurse came in and after hearing me out, she said she would rush up the schedule for me to have all my testing done so I could be ready for surgery the next day. I told her that I had prayed about it and that I laid out my fleece for a sign. If I were not in the sonogram room by 2:30 I would leave, and she agreed. Shortly, the orderly came in and wheeled me down to the floor to have a sonogram test taken. I looked at my clock on my cell phone and at 2:30 I told the orderly to take me back to my room, I was leaving. He said I could not without the head nurse's approval, so I told him to call her. She told the orderly to bring me back up to my room and they checked me out. Debbie and I walked out to the car and left the hospital. That was years ago, and I have not had any more problems since.

Since then, we have added numerous prophetic ministers who are now sending out prophesies to those who are in need. We have also witnessed the hand of God opening many doors, leading us to the "Vision of the Tabernacle." This vision from God was given to me in 1991. In the vision, I saw a round building that had an interior circular hallway. As I walked around the hall, I noticed a set of double doors every so often, with a small window on each door. There were pairs of shoes lined along the wall. Looking through one of the windows, I witnessed many people with their hands in the air worshiping our God all around this round stage. The carpet was exceptionally long and looked like angel's hair. Over the stage was an arrangement of screens with pictures flashing like a slide show. One of the pictures was of a young girl who was missing, another was of a man's business. People were walking away from the altar, going to small, partitioned areas that were all around the inside wall of the sanctuary. In these cubicles, I saw a phone, screen, and keyboard. The anointing was so strong people seemed to just float from one place to the other. I knew within myself these people were finding God and His Word for these people calling and writing into Prophetic Ministries Tabernacle.
 
After all these years the vision is just as fresh in my mind as it was the day I received it from the Holy Spirit. The time is coming very soon when this vision will be a reality.

The desires of my heart are to see you set free and delivered from all that stops you from serving God. His desires are for you to experience the most powerful move of the Holy Spirit this generation has ever known. My prayer is that you desire in your heart to join me in this next great move of the Holy Spirit.