Archive for January, 2010

Yes, it has begun. 2K10 is opening up a new year and God is opening doors in the process. Back in October of last year, a woman, her two daughters, and a friend came down to East Tennessee for a short weekend visit from the Chicago Area, Lombard to be exact. Her name was Roberta Beckman. Roberta is the single mother of three special needs children and believe me when I say that she has a story to tell of trials and tests in raising her children. Yet, she discovered a faith that has consumed her and despite the hardships that she has endured she has continued to “look up”. During our visit I “indoctrinated” Roberta in regards to my findings in the Bible regarding God and His Special Angels and their families. She listened aptly and praise God she understood exactly what I was talking about! Just kidding about the indoctrination but we did share a lot about our beliefs and how we came to accept those beliefs from the Word of God. Roberta confided in me after she left and had returned to Lombard that God had spoken to her in my house as she was packing. “Ten months,” is what He said to her. No more. No less.

Well, it has begun. As I write, she is hard at work putting together a respite program. The first ever within Gods Special Angels. She has negotiated for facilities, and is preparing a web site, procuring volunteers within the health care profession and within that “Ten Months” time frame will have a working respite program for families. Now this is being done by one woman with little or no resources, an extremely limited income, and three special needs children. You want to talk about faith? You want to talk about obedience? Let me direct you to Ms. Roberta Beckman in Lombard, IL. She WILL NOT accept being told that she CANNOT bring forth this ministry. She KNOWS that she CANNOT do it, but she KNOWS that GOD can do it THROUGH her! And my friends, He is doing just that. She is building a ministry that God gave her and confirmed it through me that she is to do it. I can see a time when I will call upon Roberta to travel this nation to assist others in building similar ministries in communities throughout the land. She is a warrior for God. You know what? She does not have anyone there to pat her on the back, or offer encouragement when things do not go right, or to give her praise for what she is doing. She would not accept the praise even if it were given. She would say, “Give God the praise. I am just a tool He is using to break the ground so that seed can be planted.” Father, I pray that you would send me one thousand Roberta Beckmans.

Now let me say this. Roberta has a long, difficult road to travel. She has already traveled a long, hard road to get to where she is. Matthew 22:14 tells us “For many are called but few are chosen.” It took me a long time to understand this Scripture. God calls many every day to do His work but few will step forward to accept the calling. Roberta has stepped forward, accepted the calling, and has set about the work appointed to her. Have you accepted YOUR calling?

It HAS begun. God has taken writing from this ministry, taken it from East Tennessee to Lombard, Illinois to a woman whom He had prepared and called to do His work and set the wheels in motion. Thankfully, she stepped forward to be chosen and accept the call.

Having said all that I would like to challenge all of you. Have you heard the Holy Spirit calling you? Have you heeded the call? Or, have you ignored it? This is just one ministry that has begun to help special needs families in this great nation of ours. Will your ministry be the next? Pray about it.

May God pour His blessing upon you all abundantly,

Lonnie Richardson