It was the night I had an encounter with God and one I would never forget. It changed my life forever; I like to call that day my “Mount Horeb”. It was one of those moments I cried to God in desperation for an infilling, something, anything at all, that would deal with the emptiness I felt inside. I had just rounded up a lecture, and I was headed back to my room with the most sincere questions tracing my lips. I was tired of feeling the dissatisfaction; I wanted God. I was trying to get close to God, yet I was still adamant that having a close-up relationship wasn’t for someone like me. I remember casually picking my bible that evening to read after settling in bed, snuggled under my coverlet when the beautifully crafted words of Jesus in John 10:10 jumped at me.

(MSG) “A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of”

It felt like something hit my heart and my sight. I stared at the words and could hear someone read them back to me. I searched my room, but there was no one there, and that left me on edge. I picked my bible and read those words loudly again.

 

“A thief is only there to steal…I came so they can have real and eternal life.” 

 

Something leapt within me. It was as if I found the answers to my questions. I had read that verse for years without any meaning or context, but that night was different. Those words lifted a veil from my face, and they introduced me to the true Shepherd, the offerer and the offering. The one who came to offer himself to set me free from sin, guilt and condemnation. The devil had cheated me, and I had let him. All the lies I had believed had no correlation with the scripture I just read. I remember sleeping off while reading more scriptures from the book of John.

 

I must have been asleep for a while when I felt a gentle breeze on my face. Someone was tugging my nightwear. I opened my eyes to a great light – piercing and intense. I thought I would go blind. Then it fizzled as quickly as it appeared. I saw the Lord. Please don’t ask me what he looked like because I can’t describe him. He looked like a great light; then He became a still small voice. At some point, I could see Him, but then I couldn’t. All I know is, He was there, right in my room.

“What do you want me to do for you?” He asked in a whisper.

My tongue was glued to the roof of my mouth, and I couldn’t answer. I was not even sure He needed an answer to that question, but just in case, I wanted to tell Him whom I wanted was right there in my room, having a chat with me. It was surreal. I wanted to jump and dance, but I did neither as I couldn’t speak. (I will write more about this later)

After what seemed like a long moment, I heard His voice again. This time, He gave me two scriptures and a final word; then He whispered my name – and called me ”Hadassah”.

I woke up with a start, my chest pumping with excitement. It was a vision, but it was real. I wanted to leap around the whole school to tell people what my eyes saw. You could see the glow on my face.

That experience set me on a journey of discovery and transformation in God. It was the beginning of my liberation from the shackles of condemnation. Everything in me gave way to a new life.  A stone had been rolled away from the tomb I laid in.  I could feel the freshness that was about to hit my journey with and in God. Life began to take a new shape and a new meaning. Ah, I can’t describe it.

Every word I read in the scriptures from that moment opened up my spirit. I would start from the Gospels, take a detour into the Epistles then end my journey in Psalms and Proverbs.

God was merciful. He did not hold back from me as our worlds collided like a supernova. This was ten years ago, and best believe, it’s still the same with us.

I am no longer that timid little girl, and I have handed my life to him, trusting entirely in his plans, purposes and the future he has for me, knowing that I do not have to do anything to make it happen than to sit at his feet. 

The invitation to sit at the table of Christ is my most remarkable feat. As you read through The Green Olives Blog, I hope you find light. God is beautiful, and if you stay around him long enough, you will begin to see that there no need to be anywhere else other than the table of Christ, where everyone is welcome to feast.

 

Thanks for reading!

You are special.