I AM AVAILABLE

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

I don't come to you with flattering words of other men's wisdom. I come to you in the name of the Lord, the ONE who called me, the ONE to whom I said "Here I am. I am available!"

Well, let me clarify this! I cannot tell a lie! I didn't instantly yield to His call when it came early in my life. However, the first Sunday evening of July, 1990, I said "Yes, Lord, be it unto me even as you desire." And yes, as you may imagine, there is a lot more to my testimony, but we won't go there right now!

Then came tests, challenges, etc. I realized I wasn't making much progress in moving forward in my calling. However, I had made a commitment, and I knew I must not fail to keep my word to my Lord. In 1993, I went to Naples, Florida for a 30 day sabbatical to seek the Lord for clarity and instructions.

During those 30 days, Holy Spirit spoke that I was going to meet 3 specific people. He gave me their names. I didn't even recognize their names, neither did I know the full purpose for our paths crossing, however, I believed the word He gave me.

After the 30 day sabbatical, I went to Orlando to spend the night with my daughter, before returning to Knoxville and to get on with pursuing my God given assignment. I turned the television on and surfed through channels. On one station, a preacher, whom I had never heard of, was inviting everyone to come to a meeting that evening in Wildwood, Florida. The Holy Spirit spoke in my ear that I was to attend that meeting.

I was tired. I needed to shower. It was 5:30pm. Wildwood was about an hour away. The Holy Spirit continued to compel me to "GO" and I had a feeling it was very important to be obedient! When I finally found the meeting place, which was an old National Guard Armory, out in the boonies (and seemingly out of sight as I tried to locate it), it was 8:30pm. There were so many cars that I knew the place had to be packed.

As I walked in, an usher said I would have to go up to the balcony (which was fine with me). However, immediately another usher came up to me, took my arm, and led me up to a front seat. I do not like to be late, and I never try to push my way to get on a front seat. So by now I was feeling very self conscious, HOWEVER, I knew this was all God's doing, so I just kept a smile and sat down.

The preacher I had seen on television earlier, was speaking and just as I was seated, he introduced their special guests. Can you guess who they were? Right!!! The THREE people that God had told me I was going to meet.

One of the guests shared how he had tried and tried to go through doors to accomplish the assignment God had given him. Door after door closed. Support was not to be found. Yet, he continued to feel he had to accomplish this assignment.

Finally one day, he was sitting at a traffic light, which was red, in Leesburg, Florida. He said to the LORD, "This is _____ ________ . I want it to be recorded in Heaven to day that I have done everything I know to do to accomplish the assignment you have given me. Let it never be said that there was no one in Leesburg, Florida willing to complete this assignment for the Kingdom of God. If you want it to be done by me, it is up to you to provide and to open the doors because I AM AVAILABLE."

He said the light turned green and he moved on with peace leaving this in God's hands. THEN, immediately the doors began to open, support came in, and he was able to do what God had chosen him to do. This event happened over 20 years prior to that evening.

He continued to share how God had expanded his territory and enlarged his tents for the sake of the Kingdom of God, all because he made himself AVAILABLE! I met all three of the people that night and was in meetings later with them, just as the Lord had said. REST ASSURED! God says what HE means, and He means what He says!

Today, I still say "I AM AVAILABLE." I AM AVAILABLE to be God's Woman and to obey Him. I AM AVAILBLE to be what I was born to be, because one day I realized I was not born to do your assignment or to be you, I was only Born To 'Be' ME!

Heavenly Father, I pray that you will bless, lead, guide and direct all who read these words as only you can! Help all of us to stay available to 'be', to 'do', and to 'accomplish' the specific God given assignments that you assign to each one of us so that your full purpose may be accomplished in the earth and for the sake of the Kingdom of God!

In His Service,

Opal Dalton