
A number of years ago I accepted a position in a government office. As the “newbe” in the office it was my job to answer the phone, direct calls, take messages, and open the mail. A lady who had been around for a while had a private office near my work station. She held a position that was six pay grades above mine! She often had to bring back the documents I typed for her with my mistakes noted. In those days mistakes were not easily erased. One had to use “white out” and line up the document perfectly before typing over the mistake. Never-the-less my co-worker was always forgiving of my mistakes. She told me, “God will help you!”
It wasn’t long before I was attending a noon Bible study in my friend’s office. We ladies came out of her office energized for the afternoon’s work. My friend herself always had an abundance of energy. She often emerging from her office singing and even danced a few steps.
As we got to know this lady, we discovered that in spite of her positive demeanor she had trials in her life. One of them was that my friend was a “spirit-filled” Christian who had a prayer language. However, in the church where she worshiped she was forbidden to ever talk about such things. She asked all of us to pray for openings in her situation.
One night my friend was awakened by a sense of urgency. She felt she must go to the emergency room of our local hospital. Upon arriving, she discovered much to her surprise, her pastor and her pastor’s wife. The woman was weeping. Their daughter had just been involved in an auto accident and was not expected to live. My friend prayed for healing for the girl and for strength for her parents before she returned to her home.
A few days later the daughter was released from the hospital. She was on the way to complete recovery! This was remarkable, but only the beginning. My friend’s pastor and his wife were profoundly impressed with my friend’s unexpected appearance at the hospital in the middle of the night and with the efficacy of her prayers. They too were filled with the Holy Spirit. And, you guessed it, so eventually was my friend’s entire church!
God had used my friend in a remarkable way. Not only did she change her pastor’s family, and her church. She also had a huge impact on my life. What an amazing ability to hear from God! What wonderful prayers of faith! She was a true “jewel” which is not surprising since her name was “Jewel”. Jewel was a precious creation of our Father God: a beautiful example of a woman of color, a black diamond! She was a vessel of honor, fit for the Master’s use!