Grace is not just a word; grace is not just a noun, as described by Yvonne and Sarah Jane Svitlik, grace is God’s supernatural enabling power and His favor that lifts us beyond our limitations. That line really speaks to me. It sets the tone for what I am about to share in my story.
I had felt God’s grace in my life—deep and real. I wanted more. I wanted to go deeper. So, in 2019, Peggy and I arrived at the Global Awakening conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, filled with anticipation. The atmosphere was alive with expectancy, as believers from near and far gathered under one roof, hungry for a fresh encounter with God.
Steve Swanson led worship. The crowd lifted their hands, swaying to the rhythm of drums and keys. The air felt electric, as if heaven itself was drawing near, and God’s presence was filling the room.
In that moment, I wanted God to stir in me a greater intimacy. I wanted to go deep—deeper than I’ve ever gone before. And, God according to His faithfulness, would hear the desire of my heart.
After worship, we attended inspiring teachings from renowned speakers like Randy Clark, Bill Johnson, Leif Hetland, and Heidi Baker. Each message stirred our faith and challenged us to press in deeper with God.
At the end of day one’s sessions, we were encouraged to pray for the person next to us.
The man beside me—John—offered to pray for me first.
When it was my turn, I asked him, “What can I pray for you about?”
John hesitated.
“My eyesight… it’s mostly blurry.” He paused, searching for the right words.
“I can still see shapes and light, but nothing clear.”
“It’s like everything is wrapped in a fog.”
John struggled with everyday tasks and navigating his surroundings.
But time ran out. The auditorium needed to be cleared quickly, so I said, “Let’s meet up tomorrow so I can pray for you then.”
John agreed.
That night, at 4:20 a.m., overcome with emotion for John’s situation, I found myself weeping into my pillow for John’s situation.
Then I heard it—God’s voice, clear and unmistakable.
He told me to play “Amazing Grace” on my flute for John.
Suddenly, it all made sense as I remembered the line in the song,
“I was blind, but now I see.”
God was calling me to express His heart of love and compassion through my music, using my flute.
Some might find it strange. Why music? Why a flute? Why not just pray?
But, as the story unfolds, you’ll see that this was not just about obeying a word whispered to me in the night, it was a Godsend that began years earlier, woven into a prophetic word spoken over me back in 2017, a calling, that looking back, didn’t come as a surprise. In fact, it was something He had been preparing me for all along—something I couldn’t yet understand.
A Long-Distance Leap of Faith
In August of 2017, I met Peggy on a Christian dating site.
Right away, I was drawn to her. She was passionate about worship and deeply committed to her faith, qualities I loved about her.
Over the next month, we talked for hours on the phone, sharing our stories and getting to know each other, sharing our lives, our hearts, and our hopes.
During one of those phone calls, I happened to be playing “The Girl from Ipanema” in the background—one of Peggy’s favorite songs. It felt like more than a coincidence. Could this be a God wink?
We quickly developed a strong connection, but there was one big challenge: we lived far apart. She resided in Georgia and often traveled to Florida to see her boys, while I lived in New Jersey.
Could a long-distance relationship work? Honestly, it felt unlikely that we would ever meet face to face, or that we could sustain a lasting relationship with so many miles between us. To me, the odds seemed against us.
But then again, with God, all things are possible.
On September 2nd, I received an email from Peggy:
“Good morning, Bill. I have a proposition. I have an opening in my schedule from Saturday the 16th through the 19th. If I flew up, would you be available? I’d stay at Ieda’s.”
Ieda, her adopted sister, lived just 53 miles from me. My heart leapt at the thought of meeting Peggy in person.
Peggy said the idea had come during her morning devotions. God had impressed on her the words: “I trust.” Then He whispered, “Trust in Me and allow My desires to manifest in you, so they become your desires too.”
Though I felt a little nervous—wondering if I’d live up to her expectations—my heart said yes. Still, even though our connection was just beginning, I wanted to be sure I was following God’s will.
I thought, what better way to find out than to say yes to her invitation. So, with a mix of anticipation and trust, I responded with a heartfelt, “You betcha!”
Learning to Hear God’s Voice
Our calls became more frequent—sometimes two or three times a day, often stretching late into the night. We shared stories, prayers, and dreams.
In those quiet hours, Peggy would often ask,
“What is God saying to you?”
More often than not, I didn’t have an answer.
Hearing from God—and trusting that He would speak to me—wasn’t easy at first. Peggy understood that. She had been praying I’d learn to listen and recognize His voice.
I wanted to hear Him the way she did—clearly, simply, without all the noise.
But my mind? It was cluttered. Flooded with mental static. It felt like trying to tune in a radio station lost in interference:
“Bzzzt—baba—bzzzt—bzzzz.”
Stray thoughts. Random distractions. The kind that sneak in and refuse to leave.
Then one day, I began to sense God whispering to my spirit:
“Don’t try so hard to hear Me.
Don’t pressure yourself.
Rest in My presence.
Sometimes you’ll hear silence—and that’s okay.
Other times, you’ll know beyond doubt that I’ve spoken.
But I will always meet you in your prayers.
Sometimes My answer will just be a sense of peace. Sometimes it’s a clear voice.
In time, hearing Me will become like flipping on a light switch.
Trust Me.
Hearing My voice takes practice.
Quiet the noise.”
This was all new to me—hearing from God, receiving Words of Knowledge. I was still learning how to recognize when it was truly Him.
Then one morning, right at 9 a.m., I heard the Lord say, “Pray for Peggy.”
It didn’t feel like a passing thought. It sounded urgent.
Still, I questioned, Did I really hear God? Or was I just imagining it?
But I couldn’t shake the sense. So, I stopped doing what I was doing and prayed, not knowing what she might be facing at that moment.
Later, Peggy shared that at that exact moment, 9 a.m., she had been crying out to God—asking for guidance, peace about her future, protection from Hurricane Irma, and clarity about us. As she prayed, she felt His peace wrap around her and heard Him speak to her heart:
Trust in Me and allow Me to manifest My desires in you so that they become your desires.”
With those words came a familiar promise from the book of Jeremiah, a verse that seemed written just for that moment.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”
— Jeremiah 29:11–14
Though originally spoken to Israel, this promise still speaks to us today.
Because truthfully, aren’t we all held captive to ourselves at times?
Held hostage by fear.
By doubt.
By our own limitations.
And yet, God promises to bring us back.
I believe that God is calling Peggy and me to pray in alignment with His will for our lives.
He wants to anoint us, to empower us to do His will.
He desires to change us to be more like Him.
But this isn’t something we can accomplish on our own.
It is He who does the changing.
We have been purposed for great things to come. God wants to use us—together.
Beige Khakis, Dollar Tree… and Destiny
We finally met in person.
On September 16th, I picked Peggy up at Newark International Airport. She was absolutely beautiful—everything I had imagined and more.
But then … she saw me.
I was standing at the curb in my baggy and wrinkled khaki slacks. Our eyes met, and in that instant, I could tell from her first impression of me that I wasn’t the Prince Charming that she had hoped for.
Peggy, on the other hand, was dressed beautifully. She looked even more stunning than her Facebook photos captured.
Me? I looked like I’d thrown on pants and a shirt at the last minute.
And, to make things worse, I hadn’t gone inside the terminal to meet her. Later, she told me how disappointed she’d been, how she envisioned something a little more romantic. You know, like a guy bursting through the terminal doors with flowers in hand, running to meet her and sweeping her off her feet.
Can you just see it? That classic slo-mo moment in every romantic movie, of two people running toward each other, with tears of joy in their eyes, and hearts pounding, thinking “Where have you been all my life?” And just as the scene climaxes, they jump into each other’s arms and embrace, and the movie ends happily ever after.
Yeah … that didn’t happen.
Instead, it hurts to say it, she got baggy khakis and curbside pickup.
Not exactly my finest moment.
On the drive from the airport, we made small talk, polite but awkward, the kind of conversation you have when you are trying to get to know each other.
But if I could have gotten inside her head, I would have been crushed by what she was really thinking:
“Oh no … what have I done?
How am I ever going to spend three whole days with this guy I don’t even know?
I don’t even like the way he looks and ….”
Yeah, a disaster in the making.
And if first impressions weren’t enough, the second one probably didn’t help either. Peggy brought only a carry-on for the trip and needed a few toiletries, so she asked if we could stop at a Dollar Tree.
I’d never been in one before.
I could tell she thought that was strange. “What world does this guy live in?” she was probably wondering to herself.
Great start, right?
For lunch, we stopped at Costco.
I think we each had a sausage and pepper hoagie and an iced tea.
Yes, it’s true. What was I thinking?
Sure, we both love Costco sausage and peppers, but this wasn’t exactly your first-date kind of lunch.
Just plastic trays, warehouse lighting, and bulk everything.
It’s honestly a wonder she didn’t look at me and say, “See ya.”
As originally planned, I dropped her off at the Airbnb she’d booked, just a few miles from where I lived, instead of her staying 53 miles away with her adopted sister.
Looking back, I think she regretted that decision—and maybe even regretted meeting me at all.
When God Steps In
But everything was about to change.
That Saturday night, I picked Peggy up from her Airbnb so we could attend a church service at Zarephath Christian Community Church, where I regularly worshipped.
As we stepped inside and looked for a place to sit, she paused and asked, “Can we sit at the end of the row?”
Curious, I asked, “Why? Are you planning on leaving?”
Looking back, I’m a little embarrassed to admit it—but honestly? Who could’ve blamed her?
During worship, she stood with her eyes closed and hands raised. That’s when she heard her Abba Father speak to her:
“Peggy, take Bill’s hand.”
She couldn’t believe it; she didn’t want to believe it, and inwardly she cried out “God …What?!”
It was one of those Oh no, please don’t make me do this moments.
But she knew His voice intimately, and so, when she heard it a second time, “Take Bill’s hand and watch me move”—
she obeyed.
she obeyed.
Slowly, she reached out her hand and touched mine, hoping I wouldn’t respond.
But I did.
I took hold of her hand, looked over, and saw that her eyes were still closed, and that both hands were held up in worship, one of them holding mine.
And at that moment, something shifted.
Something neither of us could explain—but both of us could feel.
Later as we talked, she admitted
“I didn’t find you attractive at first.”
Wounded and hoping her answer would be different, I asked,
“But now? Do you still find me unattractive?”
”
She looked at me with a radiant smile and said, “Absolutely not! I see a beautiful, handsome man now that I can’t help but love.”
A New Chapter
During her short trip to New Jersey, Peggy encouraged me to enroll in Global Awakening’s online Christian Healing Certification Program, starting with the Physical Healing 1 course.
She believed it would be a positive and rewarding experience, especially because it would equip me for the healing ministry she was already walking in.
Now, I had personally experienced healing in my own life before, but I had never been the one praying for others like that. That was a whole ‘nother ball game.
Honestly, it seemed almost unbelievable that Peggy believed in me enough to think that I could pray for others and speak healing over their bodies.
I mean, I wanted to believe it. I really did. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little unsure.
“What if I fail the course?” I asked her, genuinely concerned.
She smiled and gently replied, “Bill, if God has you taking this course and if He were your employer, do you think that He would not give you the resources that you needed to do a good job? He has a vested interest in you.”
And Peggy had a vested interest in me, too.
Her enthusiasm was contagious, and so I took the plunge. Dropped out of Bible Study Fellowship and dove headfirst into CHCP’s Physical Healing 1 course.
I’m pleased to say that I passed—and came away encouraged, equipped, and hungry to see God move through me in new ways.
After Peggy returned to be with her boys in Florida, we stayed in touch.
In October 2017, she invited me to join her at Awaken the Dawn, a national worship gathering on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where she would be speaking at the Georgia Tent of Meeting. But this wasn’t just another worship event; this was a movement of 24/7 praise, worship, and intercessory prayer, calling for a new spiritual awakening across America. They dubbed it America’s Tent of Meeting. Could this be the next great Jesus Movement?
Tens of thousands of people and 1,700 worship teams, representing every state, would be in attendance for the weekend-long event, along with millions more who would be live streaming the event from around the world. The Awaken the Dawn movement was being referred to as a Jesus Woodstock for a New Generation.
“Bring your voice.” “Bring your song.” And “bring your flute!” Peggy said to me.
When the Door Closed, Love Opened Another
Although it was uncertain whether I could participate, Peggy encouraged me to apply to perform with one of the worship teams.
I submitted my application—hopeful, but unsure.
A few days later, the reply came:
Application denied.
And to make matters worse, there were no accommodations available near the event.
Peggy, however, had already booked her flight.
She was scheduled to land at Ronald Reagan Airport at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 6.
“Would you consider meeting me there?” she asked. As a single woman attending such a large event alone, she was hoping for some spiritual support. “
Even if you can only stay for a few hours,” she continued,
“your being there and lifting me up in prayer would mean the world.”
How could I say no? My heart longed to see her again, even for just a short while.
“I’d love to,” I said.
“I look forward to it!”
And I truly did.
I was genuinely excited to see her again, even if only briefly.
The drive from New Jersey passed quickly, carried along by one thought: Peggy.
When she arrived, I spotted her and waved. She smiled.
“So good to see you,” I said, then took her bags and gave her a warm hug.
“Where to?” I asked.
“Anywhere,” she said with a smile.
We found a park nearby on the Potomac River with picnic tables. It was a beautiful fall day, warm temperatures in the 80s, with a few clouds floating lazily overhead. We ate lunch and prayed together before her event.
Time flew, and soon it was too late for me to head back to New Jersey. As I did not have a hotel reservation, Peggy suggested that I inquire at the Airbnb where she was staying.
Thankfully, they could accommodate me.
And yes—I had packed clothes… and my flute.
Flute in Hand
The next morning, we stumbled upon a COSI restaurant for breakfast before heading over to the Georgia tent, where Peggy was a scheduled speaker.
I hung around for a little while, but eventually set off on my own to explore, flute in hand, hoping for an opportunity to play.
I wandered from one state tent to another, listening to singers, musicians, and worship leaders perform.
At the Eastern Regional tent, I poked my head inside and asked the sound guy, “Hey, do you mind if I join you guys?” feeling confident that I could lend my flute to familiar worship songs I had played before.
I held up my flute, but he shook his head. “Sorry, fella. You have to get permission from the main registration tent.”
Disappointed, but not discouraged, I moved on. Eventually, I wandered to the New Jersey tent, where a small, casual group of musicians had gathered to perform.
“Mind if I join you?” I asked, hopefully again.
They welcomed me warmly, and I played along.
as time went on, my enthusiasm began to fade.
I felt disconnected from the group, hoping for a deeper, more inclusive, and rewarding experience.
The session felt too casual, almost like a way to pass the time.
I guess I had been longing for something more challenging and inspiring. But this wasn’t it.
That’s when my phone buzzed. It was Peggy:
“Where are you? I have an assignment for you. And hurry!”
I packed up my flute, and quickened my pace, sometimes briskly walking, sometimes breaking into a light jog as I made my way back to the Georgia tent, wondering what this urgent “assignment” might be.
The question kept pressing with every step, making me all the more eager to find out.
The First Time God Used Me
When I arrived, Peggy introduced me to a woman cradling a broken wrist in a cast. “Would you pray for her?” she asked.
I blinked, “Seriously?” I was completely caught off guard. I had never done anything like this before, and did not feel qualified. But then Peggy reminded me, “She has the same injury you had. And God told me you’re the one to pray for her.”
And just like that, it hit me: my own fractured wrist, Hurricane Sandy, and how God had miraculously healed me when I cried out in desperation. (See chapter titled “Into the Storm”)
Peggy looked at me, then said, “That same anointing is now on you.”
I looked at the woman’s right wrist, just like mine had been.
I hesitated. I went to a negative place. What if nothing happens?
Somehow, Peggy must’ve sensed my unease. Without me even saying a word, she reassured me, “The healing is never up to you. You’re just the conduit; God does the healing.”
I took a deep breath, gently placed my hand on the woman’s wrist, and together, Peggy and I prayed in the Name of Jesus that her wrist would be completely healed and fully restored.
When we finished praying, Peggy, already knowing in her spirit, asked the woman, perhaps for my benefit more than the woman’s, “Did you feel anything? Any tingling sensation, any warmth … anything at all?
The woman nodded. “Yes,” she said. I felt warmth right where you laid your hand.”
It immediately brought me back to my own healing during Hurricane Sandy. I had been in desperate need of healing when I, too, had broken my wrist. I still remember the moment when hands were laid on me and felt fire, coursing up and down my arm. It wasn’t my imagination; it was real.
Now, here I was, years later. I felt as if the Lord had drawn me full circle, connecting my healing to hers.
Peggy asked her, “Can you do something now you couldn’t do before?”
The woman carefully raised her arm and began to turn her wrist, testing it. I held my breath, just hoping, hoping against hope, as if there was the possibility of a miracle happening right before my eyes.
Then, this look of wonder and a smile came over her face. “No pain!” she exclaimed, “It doesn’t hurt anymore!”
I stood there stunned. I had just witnessed a miracle. And as it turned out, this was just the start of what would become an incredible weekend, full of them.
If God Wants You to Play
That afternoon, still riding the high of seeing the woman’s healing, Peggy and I made our way to the main registration tent, hoping that I might finally get permission to play.
But, once again, the answer was still “No.”
I was disappointed, but Peggy, undeterred, said, “Listen, if God wants you to play, which I believe He does, then no man can keep you from playing.
Back at the Georgia tent, a Cherokee Christian band was warming up. A crowd was gathering.
Peggy nudged me.
“Hey, why don’t you ask if you can join them?”
“I don’t know,” I replied, initially feeling anxious about possibly being rejected again.
“What if they say no? Besides, these guys were really, really good.”
“And you aren’t?” she said, eyebrow raised.
“Oh well, your loss. Do what you feel is right,” Peggy said.
She was right. What did I have to lose? If I didn’t take this chance, I’d miss the very reason I brought my flute to the event.
So, summoning my courage, I took my flute out of its case and raised it as a silent question to the lead singer.
He looked over, smiled, then waved me over.
“Sure, join us!”
Surprisingly, as soon as I stepped in, I found myself lost in one of the most spontaneous and Spirit-led sets I had ever played. My flute exchanged improvised passages back and forth with the saxophone player, creating a musical conversation I’ll never forget.
Afterward, the lead singer came over to me.
“Hey man, you killed it!” “How would you like to join us tomorrow morning on the Eastern Regional Stage? “
My heart leapt, and without hesitation, I enthusiastically replied with a big “Yes.”
I turned my head to look at Peggy, and she had the biggest smile on her face and said, “See what God did right there?”
Stage Fright and Surender
The next morning, there I was standing on the Eastern Regional Stage, amazed at how God had turned everything around.
Isn’t that just like Him?
Taking me from feeling downcast and out, to opening doors that were once closed.
How cool is that?
But as more band members took their places, musicians I hadn’t played with the day before, a nervousness gripped my stomach.
There would be no warm-up, no rehearsal before the concert. Jumping in with an established group that already has chemistry felt… well, uncomfortable.
I couldn’t help but wonder how I would fit into their flow.
And to add to my nervousness, unlike yesterday’s relaxed, informal jam, I was now on a large stage set inside a massive tent, in front of hundreds of worshipers gathered for the concert.
It wasn’t the casual setting as it had been the day before.
This was real, public, live before a large audience.
The weight of it all began to settle on me:
No script,
No second chances.
Just faith, trust, and the music we’d create in the moment.
And I hate to admit it, stage fright?
Yep, it crept in.
As a performer, it wasn’t unusual to experience a touch of anxiety before facing an audience.
But usually, I’d rehearsed my parts, enough to build some confidence.
This time, though?
There was no sheet music. No rehearsal. No safety net.
Just a flute in my hands… and faith in my heart.
But, instead of turning my focus to God, my old self got in the way.
I found myself slipping into old habits, worrying about what the audience might think.
Their approval had become my measure of success, my reassurance.
And here I was again, looking outward for validation, when I knew deep down, I should have been looking up, seeing myself through the eyes of the One who called me here in the first place.
When God Orders Our Steps—and the Sandwiches
The Monday after the event, it rained.
“Let’s go back to that COSI restaurant we ate breakfast at yesterday,” I suggested to Peggy.
We circled the block endlessly in search of parking but came up empty.
So, we decided to try a different COSI location instead.
Eventually, we finally found a spot, three blocks away.
By now it was just drizzling.
“Should we go for it or find a closer place for breakfast?” I asked.
We paused for a moment, then agreed to walk the distance.
Little did we know, it was destined to be a God-ordained moment, perfectly timed with our arrival.
When we got inside, standing in line ahead of us were two women.
They invited us to go ahead of them since they were still undecided about what to order.
We moved in front of them and placed our orders.
Always eager to help, Peggy turned back to suggest a couple of menu items before we left the line.
The two women soon followed and took their seats at the table just behind ours.
When their food arrived, they offered a blessing and concluded with a heartfelt, “Amen.”
Then, one of them turned to us and asked, “Would you like to join us?”
It was the perfect segue.
With a perfect sense of knowing, Peggy asked, “Were you both at Awaken the Dawn this weekend?”
They nodded in acknowledgement, and one said they’d visited the Georgia tent.
Peggy lit up.
“Did you hear the Cherokee band?”
“Yes!” they said.
Then one of them recognized me. “
“Wait—you were the flutist, weren’t you?”
We all laughed, and introductions followed.
Their names were Linda and Kathy.
Interestingly, Linda shared that she had been scheduled for surgery that weekend but felt a powerful tug from God to attend the event instead.
What happened next was nothing short of miraculous.
Peggy, having no prior knowledge of Linda’s condition, suddenly sensed something deep in her spirit, specifically Linda’s hip.
This prompting is referred to as a word of knowledge, an insight from the Holy Spirit to reveal something that would otherwise not be known. Trusting this inner whisper, Peggy spoke up and mentioned it to Linda, then kindly offered to pray for her healing.
Linda, who was herself a pastor, recognizing Peggy’s ability to hear in the spirit, accepted her invitation to pray.
As part of their conversation about Linda’s injury, Peggy felt led to go deeper, gently asking Linda if there was anyone she needed to forgive, a step that, in many cases, unlocks the door to healing.
In that moment, Linda shared something deeply personal and, with tears in her eyes, forgave someone who was deeply personal to her.
Then, we prayed.
Afterward, Peggy encouraged Linda to test it out.
Linda stood up from the table, took a few steps, and then began walking. Her stride grew steady, confident, her gait completely normal.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she laughed as the reality of what had just happened sank in.
The pain and limitations she had been living with were gone.
She had been healed, all in the powerful Name of Jesus!
As she moved freely around the restaurant, Linda received a prophetic word for me.
When she got back to our table, she shared what would lay the foundation for what was to come for me
She described a vision, an image of me playing the flute.
But it wasn’t just skill she saw. It was the anointing of Almighty God through me as I played.
This is what she shared:
“Jesus has delivered me from the fear of man today and forever, I play with the anointing of Almighty God in the office of a psalmist. There is a fiery wall of protection around me, a shield of Goodwill, Pleasure, and Favor. When I play, the heavens open, and I see the smile of Jesus and tears of joy in the corner of His eyes. Demons flee at the sound of my playing, and people are delivered, healed, and slain in the Spirit. Doors open for me that I must walk through. If I don’t, Jesus will not be allowed there, and those people will suffer. Red Rock, The Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall are only a few. To God be glory forever.”
The Sidewalk Wedding
When it was time for us to leave, we stepped outside of the restaurant. Then Linda turned to us on the sidewalk, and asked,
“Are you planning on getting married?”
Peggy and I exchanged surprised glances and nodded. We hadn’t expected the question, but yes, we were.
But still, it wasn’t something I was planning on rushing into. I figured we’d wait a couple of months, at least long enough for me to give my family a heads-up.
Besides, they hadn’t met Peggy yet, and I wanted their blessing and support.
And I could already hear the questions in their minds:
“Bill, do you even know this person?
What’s the rush?
Why don’t you give it a year to get to know her better?”
All reasonable questions.
But deep down, I knew she was the one.
Peggy, on the other hand, had been ready before I was.
For some time, she had long believed that God had given her a very specific date: October 10th—ten-ten.
And maybe, just maybe, Reverend Linda was picking up on that same spiritual frequency even though this was October 9th.
“Well, then, why not now?” Linda asked, as if it were the most natural, obvious thing in the world.
I thought: Married? Just like that?
It completely caught me by surprise, and I didn’t know what to say.
Peggy, ever the steady one, squeezed my hand. Maybe she sensed my unease. Maybe she felt my hesitancy.
But, just maybe, she believed deep down that it was the unfolding of God’s promise, even if it meant starting the journey a little early.
Before we could even respond, Linda said, “Bow your heads. I now pronounce you married.”
Then, perfectly serious, she added, “You may go now and consummate your marriage.”
Wait …what just happened?!
I was stunned.
It had all happened so fast; I could hardly wrap my mind around what had just unfolded.
Honestly, I didn’t know whether to laugh or pretend it never happened.
I felt strangely uncomfortable, and truthfully, nothing felt different.
I caught Peggy’s eye.
She seemed just as surprised as I was. Though she didn’t say it, I think deep down she was happy, like this was a pre-ordained moment, even if it wasn’t traditional.
I smiled and grabbed Peggy’s hand.
We said our goodbyes to Linda and Kathy, then parted our separate ways, or so it seemed, for the time being.
And just to be clear, no, we didn’t consummate a marriage at that time. Let’s get that straight!
Peggy and I would officially tie the knot on December 3rd in Georgia. Reverend Linda Kelley Smith, the very same woman we met at the COSI restaurant who performed our sidewalk wedding, officiated the ceremony in front of witnesses, making it all official at last.
But our weekend didn’t end there. It would not be complete without another series of powerful healings, one of which occurred shortly after our informal sidewalk wedding.
Peggy and I were both casually strolling towards the White House, when Peggy got a word of knowledge for a pastor standing nearby.
With a word of knowledge, she approached him, shared what God had revealed, and offered to pray for him.
He was so deeply touched by the encounter, that he fell out in the spirit, right there on the street with people all milling around.
That’s my Peggy’s heart of compassion, boldly speaking life into anyone, anywhere.
Oh, and remember how I mentioned that we were fortunate to find a parking spot?
Well, turns out, we had unknowingly parked in a towaway zone.
Hours later, when we returned to our car, it was still there, miraculously, as we arrived just in the nick of time.
As we approached, we noticed valets busily parking cars next to our spot by the curb.
With our hearts pounding, Peggy and I dashed to the car and took off, just ahead of a tow truck arriving on the scene.
We both let out a deep sigh of relief, laughing at the absurdity of it all, and marveled at how God had brought us closer together that weekend.
What a weekend.
A sidewalk wedding.
A prophetic word.
Healing in the streets.
And a nearly towed car.
As we drove away, our hearts were too full of wonder at the unexpected twists of the day, healings, a prophecy, and perhaps, the first steps into a lifetime together.
Once again, His protection was evident in the smallest moments.
We couldn’t help but marvel at His faithfulness, even in the most unexpected circumstances.
It was yet another reminder that God’s timing is perfect, and He is always looking out for us, guiding us, and delivering us in ways we can’t always foresee.
That weekend, I thought I was just showing up to support Peggy.
But God had other plans.
He healed.
He opened doors.
And He spoke through strangers
What a mighty God we serve, one who sees the whole picture, moves in the unseen, and meets us right where we are.
Clearly, She Was Healed
After Awaken the Dawn, Peggy returned to Georgia but soon came back north to visit me and attend my niece’s wedding. It was the perfect opportunity for her to meet my family.
While visiting with me at my home, nearly a month after Peggy prayed for Pastor Linda, her phone rang. It was Linda calling out of the blue to give a praise report.
As they talked, I quietly walked up beside Peggy, so as not to disturb their conversation, and suddenly, Linda said, “Bill, I didn’t know you were here!”
“Oh, hi Linda,” I stammered, trying to hide my surprise.
I stood there amazed. How did she know I was there?
Peggy’s hadn’t said a word, as her eyes were closed.
Yet, somehow, Linda sensed my presence the very moment I stepped beside Peggy.
I leaned in, listening now to their conversation. Linda was ecstatic, rejoicing and dancing. She said her hip was completely healed.
Peggy and I were both elated to hear the good news. And, honestly, I think I probably needed to hear it the most. This was all still new to me, and hearing her testimony was building my faith to believe increasingly in the supernatural power and love of God.
Isn’t that just like God? In the Bible, it says, “faith comes by hearing.”
What a wonderful reason to rejoice.
