The Intimidating Man

While in Seattle on an overnight stay for work, I awoke the next morning and was prompted by the Holy Spirit to read the prayer of Jabez.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” So God granted him what he requested.

I continued to pray, “Lord let me reach people in Your name. Show me Your glory supernaturally, increase my borders and arrange an appointment, a conversation, work Your Spirit through me with the lost. Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Oh that Your hand would be with me!”

Later that day, while on a three hour flight to Phoenix, a gentleman rose from his seat, and made his way to the back of the plane where I was working. I immediately noticed he was a large, fairly intimidating man, who walked with a limp. “Oh no,” I thought, “this could be trouble.” As soon as he was within hearing range I asked him, “Are you alright?” I looked into his pale blue eyes (I will never forget them), as he replied, “No, it’s my back.”

He then proceeded to tell me in great detail about the agonizing back and disc pain he had to endure on a daily basis. His only reprieve from the pain was the use of painkillers. In fact the condition had become so severe; he had been forced to take an early retirement. He was also dealing with the loss of his mother and father who had both died recently. “That’s the way it should be,” he uttered, “they’re together in heaven. It’s the way they would have wanted it.” At that moment, I believe the Holy Spirit intervened and had me ask, “How are you? How do you feel?” Then this large, intimidating man backed up, and I watched in amazement as his eyes swelled up with tears, overcome with emotion, he shared, “God must really hate me. God hates me.” “No”, I said, “He loves you, He loves you very much!” He put his head down and the tears continued to stream down his face. His heart was so tender. I shared with him how much God loved his kind heart and there was no longer a need to push Him away. It was time to just accept Him. Very childlike he asked, “Why all the pain?”

I responded, “Perhaps it’s so you can be there for others who may be going through the same pain and grief you have gone through.” That seemed to strengthen him. His back straightened and he regained some composure. Before he returned to his seat, I gave him a slip of paper with the address of a Calvary Chapel Church in his hometown. As he glanced at the church address, he confessed, “My wife’s been telling me she wants to go to church, and I guess God’s trying to get our attention.” I told him God was getting his attention, and that He desires his heart only because He loves him.

That day I met a friend. I saw the Holy Spirit break through emotional and spiritual barriers right before my eyes. I saw hope, an eternal hope, enter this man which could only have come directly from God Himself; right there, in the back of the plane. When the plane landed, and before anyone else rose from their seats, this large, no longer intimidating man stood up, made his way down the aisle where I was stationed, wrapped his big arms around me, and said, “Thank you”.

As I watched him leave the plane,it occurred to me these were the moments that mattered,that give life meaning. When we are led by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to make a difference in someone’s life. Our living God was chasing his soul.

Once home, I gazed at the large canvas before me with the cross painted across the center. I turned it over, and began to write the names of the many souls God had me meet on my numerous flights.

This gentleman’s name is written on what is now my prayer canvas for the salvation of lost souls. They were names of soul’s I personally had the blessing in meeting and knowing. “His Soul Canvas” is my prayer canvas.

This air ministry has now turned into a www. air ministry, and I’m inviting you into this exciting story! It has two parts, one is the souls we meet and share Jesus with; the other is how Jesus romanced my soul. My story is “Date Jesus”. While reading my story, you will experience the seasons Jesus and I had together while I dated Him, along with oil paintings inspired by scripture.

My hope and prayer is that you will add names to the canvas, and together we will pray for the salvation of the precious soul(s). Also, if you would like to date Jesus, and/or have prayer requests, I am here to answer any questions, and will join with you in prayer. I pray you will experience Jesus in a real intimate way which will change your life forever…