Delta Dawn When the Light Comes On: Week 14

"Arise, Shine, for your Light has come! Darkness covers the earth and deep darkness the people, but the Lord will arise. His Glory is seen on you." Isaiah 60:1

How marvelous is our God! He said, "Let Us make Man in Our own image, male and female, with Our likeness (personality and character) and let them have dominion over [all the works of Our Hands]" Genesis 1:28 Chosen, Royal, Holy, Anointed and Peculiar! I Peter 2:9. Obedience is better than sacrifice. I Samuel 15:23. But, could I go if God called me up to bat in a world gone crazy?

For 10 months, I attended school in Julesburg, coming under the wings of pastors Elvin and Betty Gray. While babysitting their infant daughter, Elvina, the Lord began to remold my purpose according to His plan. He called me 'home' to Julesburg as a minister of the Gospel. At age 12, this was weird. Didn't God hate women who preached? Back at the ranch in Walden, Colorado, God put me on a course of spiritual and experiential growth. The call came again at age 16 during a Passion Play in Spearfish, South Dakota. Life was plenty leafy then, but my roots were thirsty.

I loved Ft. Collins, Colorado. The mountains were close, with four actual seasons. Colorado State University had Walden classmates, 4-H and fraternal friends. Frank took me to church on Sundays. Favor and opportunity was mine but, social circles were not easily established. My spirit waned; my soul did not rest.

My daughters grown, I went back to CSU to study business. That first day, Frank came back into my life! We had not seen one another for 22 years. Our goal was to bless our children, save our marriages and graduate. We tried to deny God's call for us to be together, once again. But God's call was urgent. We surrendered after graduation, married, and arrived in Julesburg, June 2, 1984.

My pastor and mentor, Charles Patchen, heard my story, and declared, "You are not leaving us, Ivy Joy, you are going home!" So, in Julesburg I watched as youngsters blossomed and grew into adulthood and became parents of beautiful children. My roots remembered this small-town path, and I was home, at last.

After 9 years of farming, and completely debt free, God spoke, again, "Start!" The Joy Mission was founded April 3, 1993, designed to return JOY to the Body of Christ. He sought a non-denominational body where Holy Spirit was allowed to come alive, lead, teach and guide. Frank knew wheat from chaff; I knew sheep from goats. We opened the doors; the people came. Now, into thirty-two years of ministry, I'm home. My roots are resting in His water of Life and Love.

Experience is what we get while we're becoming someone vital to our whole being and His Body. Father builds everything on His love. I Corinthian 13; I John 3

"And, He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints in building up the Church Body, coming into unity of faith, into the stature and fullness of Jesus Christ (Messiah)." Ephesians 4:11-13

Next Week: Authorized