Love that is Blind

The story...
Rye Tyler struggles with the guilt of his past crimes. Rescued from a life in the ghettos by Caleb Abrams, Rye adheres to the Jew's high moral standards yet knows he can never warrant the peace of God's forgiveness.


When billionaire Patrick Sunnel hires Caleb and Rye to search for a missing heiress, they begin working undercover at an ocean-side resort. When Caleb's blind niece Cora arrives, God sets the two men on a collision course with the past. Circumstances spiral out of control and passions interlock, culminating in an intense battle for hope and forgiveness.


The reason...
Love that is Blind paints a vivid contrast between judgment and grace, utilizing romance and suspense to capture the reader's interest and generate ongoing tension between the characters. In this story, Caleb represents the Law and God's holiness. Like Caleb, the Lord's heart is moved by the desperate need of our souls. Yet absolute holiness can never be in the presence of sin, so the dilemma of Romans 5 and 6 is posed: how can righteousness love a sinner?


The answer, of course, is the whole Gospel story: redemption. I wanted to portray not only the way of mercy but the absolute necessity of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. Jesus had to atone not only for our sins but He had to provide the power we need to walk in newness of life. Out of all the belief systems and gods presented in our world, only Jesus is able to redeem the terrible things that happen through our choices and the choices of others.


Like the characters in the story, many lives are bound with lies and torment. Yet Jesus is calling and when we reach out to Him, He meets us intimately and individually just as He does the characters in this story. Jesus longs for you. His eyes are filled with holy, unashamed passion just for you, and He's holding out nail-pierced hands.


Will you run to Him?


The readers...
"Love That Is Wonderful... Seldom do novels hook me on the first page and leave me gasping at the end, but Ayrian Stone's Love that is Blind did exactly that. With skillful prose, flesh-and-blood characters and vivid imagery, Ms. Stone enthralls readers with not just one pulse-pounding love story in this beautifully written tale about a gentle blind girl, but two that will have romantic lovers turning pages far, far into the night. Passion simmers beneath pages filled with intrigue, mystery and surprise as the author artfully weaves romantic passion with passion for God in a manner that is rare and powerful in today's Christian market. I applaud Ms. Stone for this bold and beautiful book that transports readers from 'Love that is Blind' to love that is not only wonderful but truly visionary in its spiritual scope." --Julie Lessman, Award-winning inspirational author of A Passion Most Pure


"Love that is Blind is a fast reading, intriguing book. I love the fact that you always knew you were reading a Christian novel. Ayrian Stone did not compromise her Christian values to tell the story. The theme of God was cleverly woven throughout the story like a fine gold thread. I love books that have a message, and this one certainly did. I would highly recommend this as a must-read." -Sandy Johnson, Oregon


"Couldn't put it down. My wife and I truly enjoyed this book. Good Christian novels are hard to find and this one hit the spot." -Jason Wilham, Montana


"The book is riveting. Couldn't put it down! (Rating: PG13)" -Fred Miller, Montana


"First novel I've read where God is center. Didn't have just a couple twists at the end but four or five throughout. I really liked the active involvement of God in the characters' lives in the speaking aspect, not just the circumstances." -Aric Berger, Washington


"Love that is Blind was a fun read; it's a great story that is full of complex characters. It also has an incredible message that is personally impacting and full of depth. Sometimes I think that in this genre, it can feel like a book was written and then a somewhat shall inspirational message was added in as an afterthought without any connection to the story. However, in Love that is Blind, I didn't feel that way at all. The message was powerful, real, and not only woven throughout the story but vital to it. Definitely worth reading, and you'll get through all 377 pages quickly because it is hard to put down!" -Anna Cyboron, Washington


"I really enjoyed reading your novel. It was refreshing to get some raw humanity in a book, without cutting out God in the process. One generalized complaint I have toward so many Christian books is that they tend to paint a rosy, fluffy, 0-content story in which the biggest issue is which man the heroine chooses. They portray a world in which saying 'the prayer' suddenly solves all of life's problems and removes any impact of the consequences of former decisions, and paints everyone outside the little, churchy circle as horrible monsters and the 'good' people as soft, naïve pansies. Your book seemed to cut deeper; God was still very present, but he characters' struggles were real as well. I often found myself frustrated with Caleb for not behaving as a godly man should, and then I realized that he wasn't at that point in the story walking with God...so why should he act like His child? That was good. I studied English literature for 6 years, and so I can predict plots and characters and such fairly well by this point, but your characters had me talking to them, so they are well done." -Kristel Salusso, Montana


"I finished your book and have to say I enjoyed it very much. It kept me reading (sometimes too far into the night for my own good) not only wanting to know the outcome of the 'mystery' but to see how each person found God in their lives and were transformed. You have a such a wonderful way of character development and keeping your story moving from one chapter to the next. That is what keeps us readers going." -Doris Boyle, Montana


The blog reviews...
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading Love that is Blind a novel by Ayrian Stone (VMI Publishing). It's a romance story of intrigue and mystery in which two private investigators are given an assignment by a billionaire to find his unknown granddaughter. The love interest for one of the detectives is a blind young woman; for the other detective, it's an immoral nineteen-year-old. With several possible 'granddaughters' who fit the profile, we are kept in the dark (of course) until the end. For a first-time author, Mrs. Stone offers a complex plot with believable characters which has a spiritually strong message. Her plot compelled me to want to return to reading as quickly as possible. I really wanted to know what was going to happen and she came through with some interesting plot complications and twists and turns. I love twists and turns. Mrs. Stone kept me guessing about what would happen next. And the 'next' was often true to life experiences that involved sexual innuendo, rape and violence. But it was handled sensitively, which is difficult especially for a first time author. And look for the Gomer/Hosea subplot...." -Kathy Miller's Blog: Heart Change, April 8, 2010


"Gritty, edgy, and confront, Love that is Blind ventures where few Christian novels are willing to go. Addressing racism, infidelity, greed, suffering and treachery, debut author Ayrian Stone paints a heartbreaking picture of Cora, a young girl whose life is almost destroyed by evil men yet lives with peace due to her unfailing faith in Jesus. Bad boy Rye Tyler is captivated by Cora's beauty and inner joy and struggles with his past immorality which lies in stark contrast to this woman he can't easily forget. Keeping a close eye on his partner Rye is Caleb, a Jew determined to live by Yahweh's precepts yet tempted to the core by the provocative Arianna and harbouring dark unforgiveness in his heart. While the writing was at times heavy handed, Ayrian's heart for God's message of redemption from the ashes is transparent and moving. While a little too edgy for traditional readers, Love That is Blind will satisfy those looking for more reality and edge to their faith fiction." -Relz Reviewz by Rel, February 23, 2010

Our First Platform

As a young child, I developed a love for fiction. In my teens, I began to write stories with messages to impact the lives of others. However, a deep fear of rejection kept me from entering any of my stories in contests or attempting to become published. As the Lord brought healing of my self-worth through my involvement with YWAM (Youth with a Mission), I tentatively took a step of faith and partnership published a novel with VMI Publishing. An editor prompted me to strengthen weak areas of my plot and tighten my sentences so that the reader would feel as if he or she was experiencing the characters’ agonizing choices and intense emotions.

 In 2008, Love that is Blind came off the press! One friend said, “I knew your story would be good, but you blew off my socks!” Julie Lessman, an award-winning author of historical Christian fiction, read my novel and exclaimed, “Ms. Stone…artfully weaves romantic passion with passion for God in a manner that is rare and powerful in today’s Christian market.” Closer friends rejoiced with me. My DTS mentor, Deidra Larson, said, “You are an amazing writer and the message in it is so fabulous, along with the characters, the plot, the suspense, and the romance.”

However, amid the fans, a few readers shared some critical feedback. A registered nurse noted a fallacy in my medical scene and a book reviewer said my detective work was a few decades old. These criticisms humbled me and reminded me that my true value lies always in my Father’s heart, not any human accomplishment. Even though I had researched every area I wasn’t sure about, I hadn’t corrected every mistake. Writing fiction allows a lot of creativity and leeway with character development and plot sequence. However, every genre of fiction requires facts where the book seeks to reflect reality.

As I meditated on the unconditional value God places on each of us, I plunged into a new book about modern-day human trafficking. When I finished His Cloak of Grace, I prayed for an opportunity to attend a Christian writers’ convention to present my story to agents for hopeful publication. It seemed my chance would have to be delayed, however, since the upcoming national convention was planned after our return to Asia as YWAM missionaries. Then, incredibly, our team leaders mailed a check to me for the exact amount of the conference (which they hadn’t known)! The memo on the check said, “Seed money for your writing.”

Tears filled my eyes. I had always been afraid to travel on my own, but this time I stepped out of the boat and onto the water. I booked my flight to Denver, Colorado, and attended a 2-day conference with the American Christian Fiction Writers where I attended writers’ workshops, heard encouraging speeches by successful authors, and made personal connections with major publishing agents. I felt the Lord had swung open wide the doors for my gifting and calling: to influence the world for Jesus through fiction!

Then, abruptly, Jesus altered course and whispered, “Set aside your writing and pray for your family.” He needed to work within me before He could work further through my writing. I wept before the Lord first over my disintegrating marriage. After the divorce, I wept over the dysfunctional behaviors of my children. Jesus patiently and gently weeded out lies and replaced them with His truth. He has increased my faith in His absolute faithfulness to heal, provide, and protect as we through ourselves upon His heart with radical abandon and childlike trust.

Five years later, I’ve learned even more of Jesus’ grace and the vital importance He places on family. Our children are our first ministry. The home is our first platform. If no other platform is ever given to us, we must be faithful to minister and teach God’s truth within our own homes.

Our lives are meant to be stories that God can break open and spill out with beautiful treasure—treasure that comes out of brokenness and given by the power of His Holy Spirit as we yield our lives to Him.

  

Experiencing Father's Heart

Jay Bennett perched on the stool in front of our half circle of desks, one heel caught on the stool’s lowest rung, the other slightly higher. He had been introduced as a respected itinerant teacher, ministering for over a decade to missionaries throughout Asia.  Lanky and relaxed, he studied each of us, the six students of a YWAM Discipleship Training School, as we shared snippets of our background.

I shared briefly. “My husband and I just came from a year in Asia; we have three children; I love to write fiction; I’ve been a Christian all my life.”

Inside I thought about all that I hadn’t said, couldn’t say. I’m hurting and sad. I love Jesus, but in the last six months, I’ve hated myself so much I’ve wanted to die. Can you help me? No. No one can. I already know the rules: Jesus says I have to make my marriage work. But no one warned me that loving my husband would be this hard. Everyone just assumes my struggle is with the Asian culture. How can I say otherwise when divorce is at stake? It’s my fault any way. I haven’t treated him with the respect he needs. I’ll just try harder.

I pulled my attention back to the people around me, shutting down the hurt inside. Jay taught us for the next two hours then we dismissed to the lunch hall. In the afternoon, I returned to the tables with the other students, expecting the lecture to continue. Instead Jay asked us to stand in a circle. He wanted to pray over each of us individually because we were at different places in life and the Lord wanted to speak specific words.

I’d been raised in charismatic circles, and I’ve never doubted that God speaks. So I bowed my head and listened as Jay spoke words of encouragement and hope to the two girls next to me.

When he began to pray for me, he asked respectfully if he could lay his hand on the top of my head. “That’s fine,” I said. He didn’t apply any pressure as he continued praying. Then he took his hand away and said, “The Lord wants you to know—He’s taken away the paddle.”

Paddle? What paddle? I’ve never owned a boat. Confused, I cocked my head and risked a skeptical look at him. He gazed at me, undisturbed by my obvious doubt, and said gently, “The spanking paddle.”

Oh, Jesus. That paddle. Hot tears hit, stinging hard. How had he known? The spanking paddle symbolized my deepest shame. Although my parents had never spanked me without reason or in anger, since being married a crueler paddle had materialized. Not physically, but psychologically. This spanking paddle was big—wide and demanding. It slammed into my backside, ripping shame across every inch of my heart every time my husband “corrected” my behavior as a wife or a mother. The feeling wasn’t just emotional; it was physical. I had to willfully stop myself from putting my hands behind me to protect my anatomy. I had to forcefully tell myself he wasn’t going to hit me, and he never did. Instead the word “divorce” upped the cost of resistance so high that I learned to walk around the parameters of our relationship.

Jay spoke again kindly. “The Lord’s removed the paddle. It’s gone.”

Had He really? Oh, if only He would! I closed my eyes, tears coursing over my cheeks as an emotional whirlpool formed with such sudden intensity that it sucked into its vortex every self-despising thought I’d had. Although I’d passively rebelled and disrespected my husband as well as neglected my kids’ emotional needs, Jesus wasn’t holding up a measuring stick to see if I was worthy of His love. He wasn’t dealing with me as a child in need of a beating but as a daughter in need of His tender touch.

How joyous and wonderful to know the “paddling” wasn’t His will. How glorious to overflow with His love so that I could love without seeking anything in return. And how amazing to know that Jesus never has and never will shame us for our faults. Rather, He sings over us songs of deliverance and pours on us His amazing love, thereby healing our emotions and transforming our thinking to be more like His. That is His Father's heart!

Beloved

I whispered your name today, but you didn’t hear Me.

Do you hear Me now as towering, concrete walls stare down at you? Grocery bags weight your hands, and your heart sags with despair. Masses of Asian pedestrians surround you, yet you’ve never felt so alone.

Curious, dark brown eyes linger on you—a foreigner in their vast land. Your soul cries out. Why can’t I be happy here? Why hasn’t God made me into the missionary I’m supposed to be?

Pain latches onto My heart. “Oh, Beloved, I don’t want you to be someone different from who you are.”

Your eyebrows twitch together. Did you hear Me?

A gray-haired man hobbles close and spits out a stream of berry juice, splattering your shoes.

You wince as if I struck you.

“No, Beloved! I will never lash out at you. When I wound, it’s to heal, just like a doctor who cuts in order to take out the cancer then knits muscle and skin back together.”

But you don’t let My words penetrate as you renew your grip on runaway emotions and sacks of perishables.

You step onto a dirty street curb. Cars stream by. Horns screech and tires swerve as you weave your way through the city’s unrelenting traffic. Sweat creeps under your armpits from the island’s polluted humidity. You’re so close to paradise, yet so far. You’ve seen what others come to enjoy—the crystal beaches, sparkling sea, and ornate five-star hotels. Wealthy Asians and vacationing Westerners lounge in comfort while you struggle to climb seven flights of unforgiving, spit-stained steps to the bare apartment you try to call home.

You reach your steel door then lean against it a moment. A grimace of pain shoots across your face. The pain inside bubbles to the surface, like boiling water that can’t leave a hot stove.

The Lord didn’t send me here to make me happy. He wants me to make a difference.

 “No, Beloved, that’s not what I want.”

You jam your key into the lock, scared of connecting, frightened of what I’ll ask. You rush into the apartment and slam the door, but I enter with you.

You shove groceries into cupboards and dump fruit onto a glass table, but the flurry of activity doesn’t last. You’re too tired. Too defeated.

Your shoulders slump, and you bow your head. You walk to the westward balcony and lower yourself to the cool floor. As dusk settles over the smog-coated city, you gaze out at blinking neon lights and ache for diamonds in a velvet sky.

Passion for you—just you—burns within My heart, and I gentle My voice. “I miss you, Beloved. Will you spend time with Me?”

Anguish and longing surge inside you, but fear snatches away your sense of My presence. You jump to your feet and rush from the balcony, chased by a cacophony of accusing voices.

You’re a failure. He’s not happy with you. Run away. Hide.

You awaken your computer then stare at its fluorescent screen. You press keys, trying to breathe life into the story you’ve created, but I obscure the sentences.

“No more escaping into fiction, Beloved. You’re hurting far too much. These stories can’t give you the love that you crave.”

Tears spill down your cheeks, and finally distress overrides the risk of conversing. You whisper, breath soft as feather-down, “Jesus, I’m so sorry. I know you want me here to tell these people how much you love them, but I’m just pretending to have Your joy and love inside. Just take me to Heaven now. I’m of no more use to You.”

My heart breaks open, pouring rain onto barren ground. “Oh, My darling child, there’s nothing further from the truth. I’m not angry with you or scornful of you or disappointed. I’m not the harsh taskmaster you thought you had to serve. I love you, and I will always take care of you.”

You lift your head, and hope sparks in your eyes like dawn in an iridescent sky. “Really, Jesus?”

My heart sings. “Yes, Beloved. Really.”

Come out!

Books. Television. Movies. Music. Video games. Arcades. They transport us into another world, open portals into other realms.

Granted, those realms are fantasy, imaginative, unreal. But they seem real. They even become real to us for a little while…for as long as we can focus completely on the scenes and feelings and characters in them rather than the irritating, depressing, or demanding ones in the real world…the one realm where we all have to live and interact.

Maybe it’s okay to escape into these fantasy realms for awhile. Maybe we learn something important and take away a lesson that we can apply to our relationships and responsibilities in the real world. But what happens when we don’t want to leave these other worlds? What happens when the lessons they teach aren’t about goodness and kindness but about greed, lust, and instant gratification?

Values become distorted when fleshly-centered fantasy realms capture the imagination. Staying in the game or focused on the movie or lost in the book becomes more important than the needs of others around us. We learn violence gets us what we want, aggression forces others to our will, destruction recreates our world to suite our fancies.

How terrible. How sad.

Children are lost in self-exalting fantasy realms filled with blood and gore, cursing and shouting while their parents think, “It’s just pretend, and it keeps them busy so I can get my stuff done.” Teenagers and young adults release their pent-up pain, frustration, and anger on “bad guys” as well as helpless victims in games or watch it done on TV. They don’t realize they’re partnering with evil by approving it in the lyrics, and they’re participating with immorality by experiencing it via the characters. They disconnect more and more from healthy relationships and react to family members as well as total strangers the way they do to obstacles in the fantasy realms.

King David said, “I wil behave wisely in a perfect way… I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes. I hate the work (movie, game, music, book) of those who fall away. It shall not cling to me… He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house. He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence” (Psalm 101:2-3).

King David—man after God’s own heart—isn’t just talking to people in his day. The Scriptures are written for our instruction, and God expects us to apply them according to our present situations. What lies do movies and TV shows tells us? What wickedness do combat video games portray? What perversities do we listen to in music glorifying sin and sinful desires? God is against it all. He wants our hearts pure.

Jesus said, “The pure in heart will see God” (Matthew 5:8). Our heart refers to our minds, wills, and emotions. Purity is a gift from God. Our righteousness is from Him, declares the Lord (Isaiah 54:17). But what do we dump into the heart He has cleansed? Have we made our wills and emotions a toxic waste dump from all the violence, cursing, hate, and immorality we let in? 

The Apostle Paul implores, “What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? …Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean.… Having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (II Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

He instructs all of us who are new creations in Christ, “Fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints, neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks… Therefore do not be partakers with them…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:3-11).

Thank You, Jesus, that when we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Thank You, Holy Spirit, for filling our thoughts and emotions up with Your lovingkindness, Your goodness, Your mercy, and the beauty of Your holiness. Thank You for bubbling up within us joyful songs so we can rejoice and proclaim praises sweet to the heart of our Savior (Ephesians 4:19).

Triumphant Reality

I don’t live in this reality.

I live in the Reality of my Father in Heaven. I don’t belong here.

I belong to my Redeemer who became a servant upon earth but rules from all eternity. When I live in this world, despair, self-pity, and fear flood my soul. When I lift my gaze to my Heavenly Bridegroom, joy, hope, and assurance pour into my heart. My mind is refreshed and renewed with Faithful Promises from Scripture and the sweet, gentle voice of the Holy Spirit.

He is in me. I am not my own (I Corinthians 6:19-20). I don’t belong to myself any more than I belong to the world or people like me. I belong to a Risen Savior, a Resurrected Christ who never sinned and didn’t stay in the grave. He defeated death and the fear of death for me. Hallelujah! “Oh, death where is your sting? Oh grave, where is your victory?” (I Corinthians 15:55).

I don’t belong here. I walk in flesh and blood, but this body is a garment that I’ll one day put off and exchange for immortality (II Corinthians 5:1-4). In the meantime, my spirit is being rejuvenated every day, transformed into the glory of God as I throw open wide the doors of my mind and heart to Him—His Presence, His Truth (II Corinthians 3:18). Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). He is a Person, and He is passionately pursuing intimacy with every person He created.

The Bible says, “Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You! Let them ever shout for Joy because You defend them. Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous. With favor You will surround him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:11-12).

Do you hear the exuberance in that? The utter triumph? David is rejoicing with all his might—David who brought down Goliath and hid from Saul for years before he was anointed king. God fulfilled His promise, but David learned to worship when nothing was going well. His wife and children were stolen, his men wanted to stone him, the Israelite army pursued him. How could he rejoice? What was going right? His relationship with God! His favor! His anointing! David believed in the faithful love of God, and he rejoiced in it!

Even later in his life, after he became king, circumstances seldom went smooth. He fell to temptation, his favorite son rebelled, his other sons were slain by an older brother. His land was plagued by an angel of judgment when he became proud and numbered the able-bodied men. God was moved by David’s heart, though, and forgave him and intervened time and again. And in the midst of it all, David praised the Lord. He LOVED the Presence of God. He knew that in God only were joy and pleasure found (Psalm 16:11).

David lived in a reality above the earthly realm. And he learned how to worship in the very middle of disaster and touch the Father’s heart. He knew how greatly the Father longed to fellowship with him, and he recognized rightly that the blood of animal sacrifices could never take away his sin. Rather, a broken and contrite heart releases mercy from the heart of God (Psalm 51:16-17).

Jesus said, “I Am”(John 8:58). He is the Reality Today that we’re called to abide in. Abide: Make our home, dwell, rest, remain. Why? Because He is the safety we crave. He is the Joy, the Peace, the Delight, the Freedom, and the Strength we desperately need.

We look for pleasure in sex, material possessions, games, and addictions. We look for strength in intelligence, body building, and weapons. We look for peace in compromise, control, and global treaties. But none of these things satisfy. Why? Because we were made for more. More goodness. More holiness. More glory than this world can imagine or ever offer. Only Jesus can.

All we have to do to receive these precious gifts is embrace His reality. Really. Just walk in. His arms are open and all the hosts of Heaven are holding their breath…

Waiting.

Preparation and Learning

Irene Gleeson wrote before her death, "It's often said that to be a good teacher, one has to become a great learner. Although I was the white teacher with the western training and the alphabet charts, I had become a student of the Acholi traditions and culture."


She was referring to her early months in Uganda, adjusting to life on a harsh missionfield. As I read her statement, though, immediately I saw again the vision God gave me in 2010 as I sought guidance for the next phase of my life. I saw myself with my children sitting at elementary school desks. The Holy Spirit stood teaching at the front of the classroom, and He smiled as He gazed at us. Then unexpectedly, He came around the desks and sat at the child's desk next to me--a desk much too small for Him! As one of the children climbed into His lap, He said tenderly to me, "We'll learn together now."


I had no idea that the vision was preparing my heart for reaching my children at their level and also for the job God had for me--being a Family Support Assistant who sits every day next to a child at school in order to assist with learning and behavior. God is so consistently kind in His guidance--and sees so clearly into our futures, even when we don't understand!


I've learned that visions give us hope for the immediate present and also guidance for the future. They often puzzle us a little and always surprise us. I've learned that God gives accurate details in many visions, but other times He speaks in idioms and analogies just as Jesus spoke in parables to reach the heart. Always, the Lord is seeking to prepare and guide as He ministers hope and healing.


The Lord has shown me visions that obviously represented spiritual truth in order to give me both the desire and courage to do something completely out of my comfort zone.


During my three years at the University of Great Falls as I obtained my Bachelor's in Psychology, I had an overwhelming longing increase each semester for the staff and students on campus to come to know the incredible love of the Father's heart. One afternoon while at my parents' house, I saw myself stand up on a table in one of my classrooms and begin beseeching the people to see and accept Jesus' great love for them. The vision widened and as I preached from that table, people from all over the campus began to stream into the classroom. Then I saw the water of the Holy Spirit soak the lush lawns of the campus between the buildings, saturating like a reservoir every inch of University soil with the love and grace of God. I knew the vision represented what God could do and I told the Lord, "If You give me the opportunity, I will preach."


The opportunity came. Not as I expected, with me spontaneously jumping up before fellow students, but formerly at a service held yearly in honor of Martin King Luther Jr.  President McAllister, who has encouraged me countless times, called me personally and said how much he had been moved by my thank-you speech at the University's scholarship banquet. Since the motto of the University is Uncommon Courage and because I had been given the Courage Award, I had shared my testimony of God's grace and strength both in a closed-country and in standing up to abuse in my marriage. President McAllister asked for me to share my heart regarding the truth that we are all equal in God's sight. Jesus had given me a podium! That day I watched people stream across the campus to Trinity Chapel to attend this ceremony honoring everyone who live lives of kindness, respect, and courage.


I praised God for blessing me with this opportunity to share His heart and thanked Him for fulfilling the vision. But God wasn't done. Just four months later, the University asked me to speak again--this time at my graduation baccalaureate. Overwhelmed, I went to the Throne of Grace and asked for the Holy Spirit's words and wisdom. I wanted to encourage, strengthen, and spur closer to Jesus the staff and family members attending in honor of our 2013 graduating class.


Jesus did it. He gave me the words and gave people who had become very dear to my heart His message of hope, compassion, and right-standing with Him. He is amazing. Always, He prepares us then sends us, empowered with His strength, into a future we could never have imagined or created for ourselves.


Jesus--Our Beautiful Redeemer!