We hear of it, we prophesy of it and then it happens. As a prophetic person I see things all the time. I find that my take on life is “colored” by my function or gift mix. Each person has a bend or a bent like that. And when we get to employ it, it is what we call being in the groove. We could not miss for trying. We need the gifts or the functions to work together and introduce the world to the risen Christ.

I said yesterday morning, “Despise not small beginnings. There is something new and something getting ready to happen.” I arrived at our church fellowship like any other Sunday. But I kept having this “nagging” feeling like something was happening. But our monthly family gathering of my 5 children and their children was overshadowing it a little. I was not cued in. But, I kept thinking of it, like “what was I missing”.

Service was going on and I was standing by the door. Two buses appeared. My friend had the microphone and said, “Can you all do me a favor and move forward to the front? We have a bus load of people outside about to come in… No, seriously, there’s a bus load of people outside and we need to make room.”(He did not see the second bus.)”

And a large group of people began to get off the bus. They were part of an international school. Students from all over the world began to come in through the doors. Bahamas, Venezuela and more. Amazing. Their entrance fulfilled a word our church body had received a number of years ago. It was great. We were able to share our house. We were able to fulfill our call.

It was a great morning. BUT!!!! It is not over! Not for us, not for you.

Simple obedience trumps forced servitude any day! The very reason these folks ended up in our fellowship for the morning was one man had been obedient to what God was saying to him. A delivery man, he was making the rounds and had the conversation with one of the people. One person, one word, one connection. And buses appear.

A lot of people receive a word. They are usually excited. Then as they do not see it happen or it is tested they begin to lose their excitement and forget about it. I understand it. I have prophesied over thousands and thousands of people in my life. I have received amazing and incredible testimonies. Meanwhile there is often a part of me that awaits my “day in the sun”. I know what it is like to think it is “all today or at worst next week”. (My greatest prophecy is to share His love. Yesterday I faced a young man from Venezuela. He told me “sometimes you need to feel emotional; cry, laugh, smile. I was missing that.” I reached over to hug him and he began to cry. Sometimes you just can’t talk…you simply need to act. A demonstration of power is not always the “wow” but the “now”. Anything that changes someone is influential and powerful.)

Last week I began to see lots of visions and signs for New England. Some were super cool while others frightened me. I have not had a chance to percolate them all, but yesterday seeing the buses, seeing the unfamiliar folks parading in, I knew we had crossed over into something new. I dug out my own words I had spoken about buses and young people. They were there. We were in a new day. And because we saw something that means other places will be seeing something. Why New England? I am not totally sure. Maybe we just got fed up with the other way. Maybe it is our time, our season.

Yesterday as the altar filled with people, I thought many people have treated this kind of thing “like Christmas”. They like the beautiful tree and the shiny wrapping paper, but as I stared at vision I saw something else. We need to be careful not to tout just the gift itself, but we need to look inside. I next saw all the paper strewn around the floor, as the gifts had been opened. I was reminded of Proverbs 14:4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

Just having a gift is cool. But to never open it is not wise. As I looked at the paper and the bows all over the floor, I heard the Lord say, “this is going to get messy. Right now everything looks nice, neat and tidy, but it is all going to change. I am telling you that because I want you to be prepared.” Revival is not neat and it is not tidy. When people talk of digging wells, I think have you ever seen what it takes? What it looks like? Want to redig wells? Get ready for snakes and lizards, bus and worms, mud and yuck.

We are in for the ride of our life. It is is going to be awesome. And like Christmas, when the gifts are open do not reach for the next one, but allow yourself the joy of seeing what God has prepared for you, for me, in this hour.

Written by Lee Johndrow

Lee is the Senior Leader of Abundant Grace Fellowship Church in Keene, NH

He is the father of five wonderful children. Married for over 26 years to his wife Tina. Loving life with family, friends, faith, fun and food!