Over the past two weeks, the Lord put me through three financial tests and gave me three confirmations. What He has done has absolutely amazed me, and I want to share it with you. I am so excited to be His:

TEST 1

Dec 19, 1999:

The Lord continues to orchestrate things in truly amazing ways. On Sunday Dec 19, He did something that was amazing, yet He did it in such a subtle way that I would have missed it if I blinked. Sometimes His promptings can be so gentle, but if we follow Him, He does amazing things.

There is a woman in my church who has an amazing evangelism gift. She is very sweet and I like her. She has a low income job, so she does not have a lot of money. But she sees it as a ministry to the Lord, so she does not complain. Since folks from my church might be reading this, I will call her Debbie (not her real name) to keep from embarrassing her.

We usually start our service with a good half hour or more of worship. It took me a bit to get settled into the worship, cuz I was delivering some Christmas gifts. When I finally settled down, about 10 minutes into the worship, the Lord's presence came heavily upon me. I went to the back of the church were a little space is cleared out for worship dancing, etc. I was standing there but not dancing. My eyes were closed and my hands uplifted. As I stood there, the presence of the Lord came on me so tangibly. My hands began to tingle as if I were holding a vibrator. His sweetness surrounded me. I just love being in His tangible presence. I stopped singing and just soaked in His wonderful nearness. In the midst of that sweetness, a thought ran through my mind. "Teresa I want you to give $100 to Debbie." It had the quality of being the Lord's voice instead of my own thoughts, still and quiet but distinctly Him.

"Ok," Lord, I replied silently. The sweetness of His presence stayed on me, so I just basked in it. A little later He told me, "Tell her it is for her to use towards Christmas. She can't afford some of the things that she needs, and that is why I want you to give her the money."

I looked around the portion of the sanctuary where she normally sat and did not see her. "Lord, I don't think she's here today."

"Don't worry, she'll be here. I will send her to you."

I was flooded with such peace. His voice had been so still, almost quieter than a gentle whisper. But I was sure it was Him. I continued to enjoy His tangible presence for a little while. Then I felt led to dance, so I did. It was a slow and worshipful song. The Holy Spirit seemed to flow through my every move and it was a wonderful time of worship for me. Near the end of the song, I opened my eyes (Sometimes I dance with my eyes closed). Guess who was standing near me, whispering quietly to someone else? Debbie! God had sent her to me.

Just as I saw her, she finished her conversation and exited through the door she was standing near. I quickly slipped on my shoes and followed her into the foyer. She had been greeting someone else and just as I got near her she finished and turned to me. We greeted each other with a hug.

She said she almost called me during the week with a special prayer request. She was about to share it with me. Right then, the Lord told me to stop her... that I must tell her what He wanted me to do for her before she told me anything.

So I told her that the Lord had been speaking to me about her. I asked if it was ok to share it with her. She said, "Sure".

"Well, He commanded me to do something unusual," I said. "It is OK if I obey God and do this?"

Again she said "sure."

So I shared with her that He wanted me to give her $100.00 .. that it was from Him and not from me. I explained that I did not have my purse with me, but would get her the money by the end of service. The Lord gave me a short word and prayer to go with it. When we finished praying I noticed she was crying. 'How sweet,' I thought, 'God touched her heart.' It blessed me to see God's careful provision and her response to it.

Then she shared with me what her prayer request had been about.. it had been financial in nature. No wonder God wanted me to tell her about the money He was giving her before she told me anything. (God is smart!)

Then the Lord gave me a word for her about how He would be faithful to her in finances and this $100.00 was just a first fruit of what He was going to do.

I arranged to meet her after service so I could give her the money. Then we went back to our seats. Shortly after that the worship ended and the sermon began. Guess what the message was on?? Tithing and giving God Lordship of our finances. I nearly feel out of my chair as I listened to the teaching and was so glad God had me do the money thing BEFORE the service instead of afterward. If it had been after the teaching, it would have looked like I was simply responding to the message instead of being led by God. (Like I said, God is smart!)

After service I gave her the money and then she asked me to pray for her regarding tithing. In the past she's been a faithful tither, but recently it's been a struggle for her to tithe because of her financial situation. So I got an opportunity to minister to her and pray for her some more.. God showed up during that ministry time and it was powerful.

Dec 23, 1999:

We had a woman's breakfast on Thursday and I saw Debbie there. She shared how the Lord had really blessed her financially in the past week, including being approved for a loan she needed but did not qualify for, and she received several gifts from unexpected sources of much needed repairs and appliances at her home. Wow, God came through big time.

I was so blessed and excited to be a part of this and to watch God work His incredible glory in her situation. At the time, I did not realize that giving her the money had been a test for me and I did not realize that more tests were on the way. I was just blessed and excited by God's goodness.

TEST 2

Dec 24, 1999:

It was Christmas Eve. I'd finished my Christmas shopping but I still had to buy groceries and clean house and wrap gifts. I intended to get to the grocery store very early in the morning before the crowds hit. But I logged on to check my email, and I got an IM from one of my intercessors. We chatted for a few minutes. I shared how I was not planning to put up a Christmas tree this year cuz I did not have time.

She mentioned that she was not putting up a tree or celebrating Christmas in any way. I asked her why not. She explained it was financial..she was in a fairly desperate financial situation and could not even afford to purchase a single Christmas gift for either of her boys (one 12, the other a teenager).

Just then the Lord spoke to me and told me to give her $100.00, telling her to spend $50.00 on each boy and to tell them this was a present from the Lord because He wanted them to know that He loved them and would not "pass them by" on Christmas.

So I asked her if she had a charge card. She did not. 'Lord', I asked silently, 'it's already Christmas Eve. How on earth will I be able to get the money to her in time?' The Lord said 'Don't worry, I will show you how to do it.'

So I asked her if she had a checking account. She said yes, but that she could not write any checks or they'd bounce, cuz she did not have funds in the account. Then she asked me why I was asking her about finances.

So I shared with her what the Lord told me to do. She was speechless, and delighted that the Lord would provide for her boys. Both were saved, and the younger one was becoming quite an intercessor. I told her to go shopping and write checks and I'd get the money sent express mail to her to cover them.

So after I went grocery shopping I stopped at the bank to get a cashier's check or money order. The Lord prompted me to ask a few questions and as a result, I learned that if I sent her a money order or cashier's check, her bank would put a three day hold on it and her checks would probably clear and bounce before the cashier's check or money order cleared. 'Oh Lord,' I Prayed silently, 'what should I do?? I can't send something that will take time to clear, or her checks might bounce.' The Lord told me to send cash and trust Him to get it there safely. So I withdrew the cash from the bank and proceeded straight to the post office. I had brought my cell phone, figuring I'd probably be in line for at least 45 minutes to an hour. But the Lord had worked a small miracle, and there was no line. I was able to walk right up to the clerk and asked about overnight delivery. It turns out they had this special service, for only a few dollars more, for delivery on holidays. If I sent it now, they would guarantee delivery by 3:00 PM on Christmas day. WOW! I had no idea the post office would deliver on a holiday. So I asked if I could insure the letter and she said it was automatically insured up to $500.00. So the Lord provided a way to get the money to her safely and rapidly after all.

I was so blessed at how God orchestrated this.

Dec 25, 1999:

I got an email.. the Lord had led her to some good sales and she was able to get nice gifts for both boys at $50.00 each. The boys both liked their gifts a lot and were so thrilled that God had taken special steps to not pass them by at Christmas. It helped them draw even closer to the Lord. It was so wonderful how the Lord orchestrated this... He is so awesome.

I started to have a bit of a worship session myself over this.. delighted that the Lord choose to met me participate in the miracle He did for these children of His.

Then the Lord spoke to me and told me that He was testing me and finding me faithful in finances. He wanted to know that He was the Lord of my finances, because He was about to release a much larger sum of money into my ministry. (Well, really it is His ministry, but I am the one that runs it for Him, trying to always do it His way.) He told me there would be one more test. He also told me not to fret because He could see in all times at once, and He had looked into my future and saw that I would pass it.

I spent a couple of days pondering that, but no other test or opportunity to be obedient in finances seemed to come my way. Then I got very busy at work and "forgot" it.

TEST 3

Dec 30, 1999:

I worked over 9 hours that day and finally finished off my task so I could go home. I planned to stop at the bank on the way home and to get a printed statement of the GodSpeak ministry account (just in case there were any y2k computer glitches). I also planned to swing by the ministry PO box on the way home. I had checked it just before Christmas, so I did not expect much to be in there, but decided I would check it anyhow.

My personal and ministry accounts are both at the same Bank. Since I was there, I decided to withdraw $500.00 cash from my personal account, just in case there were some short term y2k glitches in the auto teller machines. So I was walking from the bank to the BART station with ten fifty dollar bills in my pocket.

The Lord spoke softly to me.. so faint and gentle that I almost missed it. He reminded me of this certain homeless woman who I sometimes gave money to. She knows me by name and knows that I am a Christian.. in fact, I think she's accepted Christ, but am not positive. Anyhow God told me to give her one for the $50.00 bills. She frequently begs at the entrance to the BART station. But I had not seen her recently.

"Lord," I asked, "What if she's not there."

"Oh," God replied, "she will be there. If she's not there, then it will not have been my voice you heard telling you to give her the money. But she is there, so be assured this is my voice."

That sounded pretty definite to me, so as I walked I took one of the bills out of my coat pocket and folded it up very small, ready to give to her. I got to the entrance to the BART station and there she was, sitting on the ground. So I walked over to her and bent over her, and placed the bill in her hand, telling her to keep it concealed because it was big. She smiled and said thank you. I wanted to say something about doing this in Jesus's name, but did not know exactly how to, so I just said 'God bless you' and walked on.

Just as I was passing through the token booth, I heard her shriek with excitement "WOW!". I knew she'd just discovered the amount. Then she called after me, "Thank you Teresa. God bless you!"

Right then the Lord spoke to me.

"Teresa, that was the third test you just passed. And I will bless you abundantly. You will never lack for funds to do the ministry I have called you to do."

Wow, I was blessed and surprised. I had totally forgotten about the three tests. Each time I'd given money, it was simply cuz God told me to. I was not expecting anything back from Him, I was simply obeying Him because He told me to. Besides, it was not huge quantities of money, so it had not been all that difficult of a test for me. Many times in the past, He has told me to give much bigger amounts.

IMMEDIATE BLESSINGS

The Lord spoke to me again as I was getting on the BART train to go to the Ministry PO box.

"Teresa, you will find a big surprise in your box. It is a first fruit of the financial blessings I am about to release to you."

I thought that was neat and thanked Him. But to tell you the truth, I began to wonder if that was my own heart imitating God's voice.. I did not really expect anything to be in the box cuz it had not been that many days since I'd last checked it.

I got off at the Civic Center station. This is where the UN plaza is. There is a map of the world etched in the cement. A long time ago, a prophet visiting from out of town had stood me in the center of the globe and prophesied to me that God was giving me the world and sending me to the nations. As is my habit, every time I walk through the UN Plaza, I walk over the globe, remind the Lord of His promise and I claim the nations for Christ. I did this on my way to the PO box. The Lord spoke to me again and said, "I have sent you to the nations and I will finance you."

Wow. I felt so blessed.

I got to the Post Office and checked the GodSpeak box. There were 4 checks in it.. one from a faithful supporter who sends $20.00 every single month. There was one for $200 and another for $50.. totally the same amount that God had asked me to give to others.. and He gave me the same amount of money back into the ministry that He had me give from my personal funds. Wow. Then I opened the last check. It was for one thousand dollars.. the biggest donation that GodSpeak had ever received.

"See Teresa, I told you there was a big surprise waiting for you in this box! You did not believe me, but know that I am faithful."

I apologized to the Lord for not believing Him and then thanked Him for the gift.

"This is just a first fruit," He said, "You will see me release more and more funds into this ministry."

I was so blessed. If the story had ended there, I would have still been thrilled. But there is even more. The Lord had three confirmations for me.

THREE CONFIRMATIONS

Dec 30, 1999:

I had not been home an hour when I received a phone call from some prophets in Maine. One of them participates in the prophetic-school. The other is her pastor and she has been operating strongly in the prophetic for quite a while. Anyhow, they had telephoned me (a 3-way call) because they had a word from the Lord for me. The word had many wonderful promises, but the part that was very key to me was a very strong word on that He was releasing His blessings and also releasing finances abundantly.

In fact, part of what the word said repeated what the Lord has spoken to me in the BART station, less than 3 hours before!

What a blessing for me. I almost never get calls from prophets (particularly ones I don't know) to get words. It was so a special delight that the Lord prophetically confirmed to me what He'd said to me. At that point, I did not expect Him to confirm it again.

Dec 31, 1999:

I was online checking my email and I got an IM from Adrienne, a prophet friend of mine from New York. We started to chat. I was excited by the things the Lord had been doing lately. I started to convey the story to Adrienne in IM. I shared about the first two incidents where God had me give people money for Christmas in His name. Then Adrienne broke into a word for me.. of it being time to reap the harvest, of God raising up a team around me and sending us to the four corners of the earth to speak His word with great power and anointing. There was also a promise of strong financial provision.

Adrienne did not know this, but God had been speaking to me about this stuff and much of what she said was a strong confirmation of what God had been speaking to me recently.

About then, I realized the Lord had just given me a second confirmation. And I knew a third confirmation would be coming. I kinda expected it to arrive on New Years Day, but it did not.

Jan 2, 2000:

I got up very early this morning to work on a teaching I will be giving in Orlando in just under two weeks. I felt prompted to check and respond to some old emails.. And I found a prophecy from Jim Mellard dated Sept 25, 1999. I began to read it, and suddenly the Lord told me this is my third confirmation.. just as I read the part that said,

Daughter..watch what I am going to do, even by the end of this year with you ..Change in finances..I am going to make a change in finances, and increase ..God said you have taken care of my house now I am going to begin to take care of yours. I am going to begin to cause some money to flow into the coffers and out of this will come a understanding and trust ..because I am building a trust in you for me because there will be situations where I will be the only one that you can trust..I love the impossible and I love to do the impossible for I am the God of the impossible.. Know this I love you ..I have trained and nurtured you and taken of you for this end time ministry.. The time is very short, but in this time will come an anointing and understanding that mountains will move as they have never moved before and daughter you will go up against situations and circumstances and they will look impossible, but as you look up and call on me I will make it possible for I am the God of the impossible.

As soon as I read that, the Lord reminded me of John 14:29, which says:

I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

And I realized the Lord gave me the final confirmation in advance (e.g., back in September), so that He could use this experience to build my faith and trust in Him It was not an accident that I happened to find this old email today.. I believe God explicitly led me to it.

I just knew I was supposed to share this with you.. so instead of using this time before church to prepare my teaching for Orlando, I used it to write up this testimony.

God wants you to know two things. The first is that if you want Him to be Lord of all, He must also be Lord of your finances, and He will most definitely test you in this. The second is that God is faithful in the area of finances.. when you are obedient to Him in this area, He most certainly will be faithful to you in it.