This vision is submitted by Deborah Fletcher (DSFletch@ecommunity.com)

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                    How Are You Running Your Race?

I had a vision last night, a vision that scared me so badly that I had to 
stop and pray.  In my vision, I was laying in my bed exactly like I was 
before the vision started.  I began to have deep chest pains and died of 
a heart attack.  In my vision, I instantly left my body and stood before 
God to answer for my life choices. 

Jesus smiled at me and said, "Well, here we are.  This is the day that you 
have worked your whole life for."  I watched as the smile left His face.  
He then said, "I am sorry, but I need you to explain yourself."

I began by listing all the wonderful work I had done and all the souls that 
I had led to Him.  I talked on and on about the missions trips, outreaches, 
and other ministries I had participated in.  I told Him how I was faithful 
to tithe and gave to other worthy causes.  I listed the various positions 
that I had held in the church.

Jesus looked at the Father and then at me.  A tear fell down His face. I 
couldn't understand why He was crying.  It broke my heart because all I 
ever wanted to hear was, "Well done, good and faithful servant," and He 
wasn't saying that or anything even close to that.

I began to plead with Him to explain to me why He was crying.  I had tried 
to do everything exactly like His Word said I should.  His answer shook my 
very being.

He began, "Deborah, I named you that.  Do you know why I named you that?"  
I couldn't answer Him.  "I named you Deborah because I created you to be 
a warrior.  I created you to lead My people and to guide them like the 
other Deborah that you have read about."

"Haven't I done that, my Lord?  I have worked so hard."

He said, "You have worked hard, but I have not asked you to work hard. I 
asked you to surrender to Me and let Me work through you. I asked you to 
give everything to Me.  I never told you to work hard. I never asked you 
to work in all those positions at the church. I asked you to be part of 
My new church that I was creating on the earth. I never sent you on those 
missions trips even though I blessed your time on them. I predestined your 
missions on the earth before I placed you in your mother's womb. I had 
things that I needed you to complete before I removed you from the earth.  
You did what made you happy and what you were comfortable doing. You 
worked with people who would pat you on the back and tell you what a 
great job you were doing.  You sang songs because they made you feel good, 
but not once did you ask Me what I wanted to hear. The jobs you were 
willing to do were not a challenge which would have forced you to rely on 
Me and allowed Me to work through you. I loved hearing you pray, and I 
know that in your heart your prayers were sincere, but you forgot to ask 
Me where the battle was and what prayers I needed you to pray. It was 
always about you and not about Me. You taught Bible studies according to 
what you knew instead of what I was trying to teach you.  I cannot tell 
you what you want to hear because it is just not true."

He became silent for a moment, then He looked me in the eye and grabbed 
my face in His strong but tender hand.  "Deborah, We are sending you 
back to finish the race.  I need for you to tell My people that it is 
not enough.  People are in My churches destined to burn in the pit for 
all eternity.  They are going to church because it is a place where they 
do not feel lonely.  It is a place where they can meet others who will 
make them feel better about life.  Tell them, Deborah, tell them that My 
churches were built to draw people to Me and not to each other.  Tell the 
pastors to teach lessons from the pulpits that will hurt the flesh and 
bring My people closer to Me.  I am not happy that My name is used to 
make a point that I am not trying to make.  I want them to let go and 
let Me be their God.  I want them to stop doing things 'for' Me and start 
doing everything 'with' Me.  Tell them that filling the seats on Sunday is 
not the goal of the church.  The goal of the church is to empty the 
hands of Death and the Grave, and to bring My people back to Me."

I fell on my face and begged the Lord to forgive me.  I then realized that 
I was back on my bed hugging my pillow.  I cried out to the Lord and ask 
Him to strengthen me so that I can tell everybody what He has said.

It is not about what we think He wants.  We are to ask Him what He wants 
and then only move when He tells us to move.  Being in church is not 
going to save our souls.  Using the church for what He intended will.  We 
are supposed to sing songs that bring Him joy and touch His heart.  We are 
supposed to hold each other accountable for our actions or lack of action.  
The battle for souls is raging even in our churches.