Instant

Instant in season and out of season. It always pays to be ready. I was pastoring a church in WV and a sister came in to the church and asked for prayer for her grandson. He was just 11 years old and had been diagnosed with a tumor on his brain and today had a had massive heart attack, She wanted special prayer and ask for a prayer cloth, and that I would go visit him. Little did I know that, this simple request would open my eyes to a bigger picture. I went to the hospital the next day, and prayed with this family. The parents of the boy were not Christians, but the grandmother was devout. The grandfather was a good man, but admitted even though he went to church, he had never accepted Christ in his life. I spent the longest part of that Monday counseling and consoling this family. I am glad that God helps us bear the burdens of others through loving eyes of compassion. The doctors came in and told us they scheduled the boy for emergency brain surgery the next morning. It was a late night already, and I could see a longer day tomorrow. I was ready to go home. I was tired so I set down in the Pediatric ICU waiting room, and starting joking with the grandfather trying to lift his spirit, before I left. I barely notice a young lady out of the corner of my eye looking at a magazine. I could tell something was wrong and she was flipping pages like she was aggravated. I continued my conversation with the grandfather. Ready to leave, I notice the young lady had gotten up and just walked back in. I now could tell she was pregnant, and she looked pale as she sat down. Something began to draw me to her. The grandfather looked at her and jokingly asked your not getting ready to have that baby now are you. She said no, she was just feeling bad. I asked her would she like prayer, she said no. I felt a change in my spirit. The Holy Ghost began to stir. I asked her why she was in the PICU waiting room. She told me her 2 year old son had RSV, pneumonia, and asthma and was very serious. Then she opened up a little, she proceeded to tell me she had been raised Pentecostal. I then received a word of knowledge from the Lord. I looked this twenty something lady in her eye and said....God said your mad at Him , why? Wow, did her demeanor toward me change. A rage of emotions flushed her face. She then began to tell me a horrible story of losing a 10 month old baby who had been premature and had a life full of sickness. She told me of sitting in that same PICU waiting room with her late son, Dakota. She then further explained that he died at home and her mother died 2 days later. You would of thought this , compassionate preacher would have looked at her and felt so sorry for her lost. Yet, that is not what God wanted. I told her well that’s terrible, but its not God's fault. Your blaming him for something, he did not do. I had never spoken to a total stranger like that. I was always loving and compassionate, way beyond the scope of normal. God was not allowing me to do so this time. I felt an unusual anointing. I had never seen God use me like this before. I was short, sharp and abrupt. Look, let me stress, this was way out of the ordinary for me. It was a supernatural move of the Spirit making me do this. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't mean or nasty, just very stern and straight forward. I had a minister colleague with me, and he had never seen me act like that. I think he thought I had done messed up big time. Then I made a bold statement under the anointing and authority of the Holy Ghost. I told this lady, God said He is going to heal your son tonight. I had not even seen the little boy yet, but God moved on me. I told her lets pray right now....she broke. I saw the tears of pain and hurt flow down her face. God was doing something. Once again, I felt that stern, sharpness of the Holy Ghost move on me. I told her, God said, He is going to heal your son tonight, but I can't pray for you. I thought to myself.....What am I saying. Yet, I knew this was the unction of the Holy Ghost. I continued on telling her...."God said, to many people have prayed you through and brought you to an altar. You have went back and forth on God so many times. God said this time if you want Him, you have to come for yourself. He will heal your son tonight, but you have to come on your own." I had never been used in such a manner. First, to make a bold statement for a 2 year old, born at 24 weeks gestation, with pneumonia, RSV, severe asmtha, on oxygen in PICU, would be healed tonight. This was way out of my line of work. Second, to tell a young lady who was hurting, that she had no right being mad at God and I couldn't pray for her. What was going on. My colleauge, thought I had lost all common sense. I could see it in his eyes, "Brother Farrell, what are you saying and doing." I then asked all those in the waiting room to come and pray and we encircled this young lady. I felt a mighty prescence of the Lord. I knew God had spoke and I knew God had healed that young boy. We finished praying and told the young lady I would be at the hospital in the morning. I would see her then. I left the hospital, my minister buddy read me the riot act for how I acted. I told him it was the Holy Ghost. He trusted me, but honestly I think he though I was tired and I had lost it with this lady. Even after I left, God kept working. The young lady stayed at the hospital all night. She was alone, in this room where she had been many times, while her late son, was suffering. She felt the convicting power of the Lord, while also feeling the pain of her life. She was facing a battle. She finally surrendered to the Lord about 3 in the morning as she gave her life to the Lord. She told God, "this time I need your help, because I want to do it right. " I got back to the hospital about 7AM the next morning. I went to check on the little boy, and he had been moved about 4AM to a regular room. I walked in the room, and saw this little boy. Wow, he was sitting up, being fed by a nurse. The mom wasn't there. I left my card, and wrote...."Glad to see his doing better...call me." It was certinally a long day, with the other family. It was before 10pm when we finally heard they got all the tumor of the boy, I orginally went to see. I went to check on the young lady and her son. I was told the boy was discharged. I was like.....WOW! Thank you God, for proving your word! It was three days later, when I recieved the phone call from the mother. She proceded to tell me, she accepted Christ in her life that night at the hospital. She told me her little boy was fine. She wanted to come to my church. Again, I thought....WOW! God you are so good! My preacher buddy, told me later that he knew it was God, once he saw the proof. Honestly, I had not spent hours in prayer that day. My church had just come out of revival. I was exhausted, but nevertheless I did what God told me to do. I was truly instant, out of season. Now for the rest of the story. The young boy who had the brain tumor, was pronounced cancer free and no brain damage from the surgery. I found out from this lady, she was going to kill herself that night. She was going to jump off the bridge, right by the hospital. She had been through so much her whole life. She felt she couldn't handle anymore, especially the thought of losing another child. God just sent a willing vessel to minister to her in the time of need. Several months later, this lady became my wife, Paula. The litle boy is my 16 year old son, Ian, who has had no lung problems or asthma since that day, over 13 years ago. My wife went to be with the Lord in November 2011. I cherish the time I had with her. I have come to realize, you never know what blessings may be in store for you, when you are instant in season and out.

The First Day.

I have decided to call this post the first day of the rest of my life. I have had so many heartaches and changes over the last 9 months. I have felt like my life was at a stand still while I waited on the situations around me to change or improve. When you go through major life changes, you begin reevaluating your own life. You realize how short life is. Then you must begin to reorganize your priorities in the great scheme of life. This I have had to do several times in the last few months. However I know my top priority is my relationship to God. When live has caused my comfortable world to turn upside down, God was the constant that kept me going. In the dark hours, when I felt all alone, God's hand and presence was there to give me the peace that I needed. I have always had strong faith in God, but somewhere along the way I let fear come in and strip me of the faith that I needed for myself. The fear is now gone, and faith is now enabled again. So I hold on to the one thing, I know is a constant----my eternal Heavenly Father. The second priority is my family. I am not the perfect Dad, but I try to give the best love and concern I can. Now that my immediate family has been downsized to just 3 children who live with me, that in no ways have quenched the love that I have for all my kids. Cricket and Bub are pretty much on there own now, and I am so proud of both of them. They beat some terrible odds that where against them when they were younger. Both have come to try to be a success in what they do. Both are God-fearing, and I hold out hope and faith that both we become great influential workers in God's kingdom. My three babies at home, even thought there not little any more. My son, Ian is a proud young man. He is proud of his country and works diligent to serve as he is in the ROTC program at his school. He has a heart for God, and a good nature. Honestly, out of all my kids he has my demeanor. Kassie is a vibrant, beautiful Daddy's girl and is doing her best to grow up to fast like all kids do. Isaiah is my miracle. He may have some issues, but when I look at that contiguous smile you can't help but feel better. To my four boys in WV, even though we don't live in the same household anymore; that in no way takes you our of my heart and life. I love them more than they know. They have some deep seated problems and I pray for their well being everyday of my life. Brandon is a true joy. Nathan is a free spirit. JJ is my little buddy, full of energy and love. Joseph is quiet, but my sweet, petite little man. Sometimes life forces your hand to accept things you are not completely happy with, but you must press on. So just as Christ was placed in the tomb and laid there till the first day of the week. I arise today with a resurrected outlook. I am victorious, and God is on my side. Paul said the old is past ant the new is come. Like Paul, I stand in the newness of today. A good friend reminded me that ALL things work together for GOOD to them that love the Lord who are CALLED according to HIS PURPOSE. How about it will you with me get a resurrected outlook. Seize the day. Today is truly the first day in the rest of your life. In HIS service, Steve