The Lord Reigns: The Vision of Chosen Women

How the Vision of Chosen Women Came About

Good morning! I guess by now you have noticed that I am dressed in an unusual manner, even for a Californian. Part of my purpose of dressing like this is to paint a vivid picture that you will not forget. My prayer is to give you the opportunity to not only hear the message God has given us, but also to see and experience it, in the hope that you will experience Him. But before I explain this very stylish outfit to you, I thought you would like to hear how the vision of Chosen Women came about.

It started in 1989 while I was praying with another ministry leader. During prayer the Lord placed an ache and a deep desire to see women come together by the tens of thousands, in unity to praise and worship the Lover of our souls, Jesus Christ. At that time it seemed impossible for anyone to come together in stadiums for worship and repentance. Promise Keepers had not happened yet. Little did I know that the Lord placed that longing in me to be used of Him to birth a stadium event!

In July 1995 the Lord implanted the vision of Chosen Women through the seed of scripture and prayer. This scripture was burned into my heart through the Holy Spirit who moved me to obedience. He then confirmed His vision through those in authority over me.

"Honey, How Can I Rent a Stadium?"

First I went to my husband, then the Board of Directors, and finally my Pastor. Now, having this vision confirmed might not seem like a big deal but think about how you might approach your husband: "By the way, honey, I believe God wants me to have a huge event for women for prayer, repentance and worship. How do I rent a stadium?"

One night my husband John and I were walking and I told him what I believed God was asking me to do and there was a long pause. Then he said, "It's doable," and gave me the first steps to take in order to get started.

Next, I went to the Board of the nonprofit organization I ran. This too is an amazing work of God. We are a very small nonprofit organization and we liked being small. So when I presented this vision to them I didn't think they would be open to it. But God made it clear we were to move ahead in Him. I was to walk forward in obedience and keep my eyes focused on the Lord as He worked out the details.

Pastor Bob prayed for me and what was to become stadium events for women called Chosen Women.

The Teacup Story

After the confirmation of the vision, there was a time of waiting as the Lord began forming the vision into substance. He accomplished this by taking me through a time of deep personal cleansing and also the discovery of His will. To make His will clear to me, He brought to my mind two memories of when I was a very little girl.

First, I remember sitting in my mom's car in front of a gift shop. She was preparing me so we could go inside. She told me that this was a special shop because it was filled with beautiful things but that I needed to be very careful because everything inside was breakable. She said if I kept my hands to my sides and followed her, she would be quick to do her errand and I would be fine. Well, I was so excited to go into a grownup place that had many beautiful things that I was obedient. I put my hands to my sides and followed Mom down the very narrow aisles. She did her errand and we turned around and left. It was just great! I was obedient and Mom was very pleased.

The next memory was a few years later when Mom and I went back to that same gift shop, only this time we lingered. We went up and down the aisles and I got to see the glassware, crystal and china up close. As we browsed, there was one thing that caught my eye. It was a teacup and saucer. I had never seen anything so beautiful. Mom said I had good taste and she placed the teacup and saucer in my hands. It felt so delicate, but Mom taught me how to handle it with great care, after all, it was not mine. When I had finished looking at it, she helped me put it down.

It recently occurred to me that Mom took quite a risk placing that teacup into the hands of her child. If I would have mishandled it, dropped or chipped it, she would have had to pay the price for damaged merchandise. The Lord used these memories to teach me responsibility and how I was to handle this work of His.

At first I was to just put my hands to my sides and follow Him down the very narrow pathway. Then there came the time when He placed this ministry into my hands. He taught me how to handle it with great care because it is a very beautiful, delicate thing and I needed to remember it is not mine. It is an amazing thing that the Lord put something of such great value into the hands of His little child. If I were to mishandle this ministry or abuse it in any way there would be a very high price to pay.

The Scripture: 2 Chronicles

Now tens of thousands are experiencing the plan that God put into motion almost four years ago for the women of this generation. Will you listen, with an open heart, to a brief overview of the scripture that God used to bring us together?

In 2 Chronicles chapters 29, 30 and 31, God's chosen people are highlighted as a people doing what was right in their own eyes and not living according to God's plan for them. They were a divided, self-centered people who had been unfaithful to God. I would like to suggest that as the church of this nation we too have been unfaithful to God and live life as we please. Instead of relationship and fellowship with Christ we have replaced Him with busy schedules and entertainment.

We build our self-image by doing things in God's name but do we take the time to ask Him if that is what He would have us do? Though we may go to church on a regular basis, do others know we are Christians because of how we live life during the week? In our churches, do we worship Him with hearts that are totally yielded to Him or have we exchanged God's power for programs? Have we become dependent on marketing tools rather than praying and patiently waiting for the movement of God?

Personal Cleansing

He also had me look at my relationships with others and with Him. Self-centeredness and pride were ruling. He showed me how I focused on hurt or anger instead of forgiveness, my rights or comfort instead of being a servant, and living in fear and complacency instead of depending on Him for peace and boldness.

I would like to share with you a definition of complacency so you will be blessed like I was. It is the state of being self-assured and unconcerned. I was certainly self-assured in what I did for God and obviously unconcerned because I did not ask God what He wanted me to do or how and when to do it.

He showed me the true condition of my relationship with Him. I had become distant. I used busyness as an excuse to ignore Him. I only talked to Him when I wanted or needed something and was no longer spending time at His feet to experience Him, adore and worship Him. I neglected His command to stand firm against the enemy. I even saw prayer as an inconvenience. On the outside I looked and acted like a spiritually mature woman but on the inside there was a hardened heart that was far from God.

Each one of these examples of disobedience led me to what you see before me, an under-cover Christian.

The Mission of Chosen Women

Ladies, you have just experienced the heart transformation needed to influence this nation for Christ. Part of the mission of Chosen Women is to offer the women of this generation an opportunity to draw near to God in such a way that their lives are transformed. I pray that every woman will be conformed to the image of Christ, that they may impact their church, work places, community and nation for the Kingdom of God.

There are great movements of God all over the world. The Lord is drawing people into His family. I believe with all of my heart that our Lord is preparing His Bride for His coming and giving this generation of believers the opportunity to make ourselves ready. As part of that preparation He is giving men and women an opportunity to come together in solemn assemblies to do business with Him.

How You Can Help

To bring Chosen Women here we need your help. Prayer is our first concern. The enemy does not want revival to come to the church. It has been difficult to share this meeting. Imagine the warfare for a solemn assembly. One of the ways we know God is calling us to a city is because the people of the churches embrace the vision.

We need you to spread the word. Let all your friends and families know about it and invite them to come with you. Invite the unsaved. Our focus on Friday night is evangelism. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring your unsaved friends and coworkers to hear the gospel.

We need volunteers. We also need help with financing this event. Each event has broken even but that is because God provides help from people like you who donate to meet some of the front cost. This is a work of faith. We have never had a zero balance.

In faith, because we believe God has directed us here, we have already printed thousands of brochures, added the announcement of this event in the promotional video, and are waiting to sign contracts with the arena and our event management firm. The ticket price covers most of the expenses but not all. We have tried to keep the ticket price down so all may attend. But if there is any extra it goes towards scholarships to ensure that no one is turned away.

We are a nonprofit organization and any donation is tax deductible. Will you ask the Lord if He would have you give to this work? If the answer is yes, would you ask Him how much He would have you give? Please remember this would be over and above your tithe.

A Movement, Not Just an Event

The Lord is inviting us to join Him in Pasadena to receive what He has for us there. Please understand that this is more than an event. It is a movement. We will meet Him there. He is asking us to come together so that He might heal us, revive us, and enter into celebrating who we are in Him and who He is.

Should you have any doubt, I invite you to ask God if this is His will for you and the women of this generation. Listen for His answer. Then respond accordingly.

Again, thank you for coming tonight and for your kindness. I pray we will all be together again soon to celebrate our Lord and King together, if not on earth then in Heaven.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly more than we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" Amen.