One Year Later

A Memorial to Michal Ann Goll

By James W. Goll

A View from My Chair ~ Sept 2009
1-877-200-1604 | www.encountersnetwork.com

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What a difference one year makes…

One year ago, early on Monday morning September 15th, 2008, our dear Michal Ann, my Annie, sprouted wings and flew through the permeable veil of the temporal into the eternal. That day changed many of our lives forever. We have experienced a great loss. But she has experienced a great gain. I often wonder what life has been like in heaven for the past year for our beloved Ann Willard Goll?

I wonder whom she has visited with in her mansion? I am sure she has had interchanges with all the great women of courage, devotion and action that she wrote about in her trilogy of books - Women on the Frontlines. Can you imagine that our Annie has now sat with Joan of Arc, Corrie Ten Boom, Harriet Tubmann, Fanny Crosby, Katherine Booth and all the others? Wow! I can only imagine…. I am sure that she has had a joyful reunion with her parents, grandparents, my parents and so many other endearing family members who all died in Christ.

One time after Jill Austin had passed away in January of 2009, I had a dream where I saw Michal Ann and Jill running through a field together throwing fire balls at one another and just laughing and having so much fun! I can only imagine… But sometimes I do imagine and dream...

As I awoke this morning knowing that I was going to compose this Memorial to the First Lady of Encounters Network, I was given an amazing, exhilarating dream. I will give you the short version.

A Dream of a Ride on a Bus

I was on a passenger touring bus with some friends of Michal Ann’s and mine. The air was a bit tense, as everyone knew that Annie had now been gone for one year. They were concerned on how I would react. So with all the courage I could find, I took the microphone of the bus in my hand and announced, “Michal Ann Goll has now been in heaven for one year.” Weeping broke out amongst the people for my loss, for my family’s loss, for their loss. But to my amazement, I was not weeping in this dream. I was filled with a sense of joy and relief!

I declared, “Thank God for heaven!” Then the people on the bus exploded into high praise. Everyone raised his or her hands in worship. Everyone was spontaneously magnifying God. Everyone was celebrating the glorious plan of salvation – that this life is but a vapor – but heaven awaits those who have died in faith trusting in Jesus as their Lord and Savior! I woke up this morning, feeling a sense of glee; knowing a peace I have not known for a long time.

So sitting in my familiar chair in my living room in rural Franklin, TN, I declare, “Thank God for Heaven!” Yes, we are only separated for a short time! Remember the word of the Lord to me from Psalm 84:6&7, “Passing through the valley of weeping, they make a place of springs; the early rain also fills with blessings. They go from strength to strength; each of them appears before God in Zion.”

Yes, Lord, turn our mourning in a place of joy. Turn our weeping into a spring of life for others. Turn our weakness into a place of strength for your holy name’s sake as we remember and honor our dear Annie!

Additions to this Communiqué

With this memorial, you will notice I have included a write up of Michal Ann’s from the last chapter of her last book. I thought it would be fitting to bring to you some of her “last words”. I have also included a photo of an honor Michal Ann was given in 2008 through the Cambridge Society. She was chosen as one of three leaders worldwide to receive a reward for her Leadership in Ministry. She never got to see the reward. The plaque, in fact, just recently arrived. It is for us to see and remember. She has received a much greater reward than this in glory – one that will never fade away.

I have also included a short video clip where I express my heart-felt gratitude to the Lord for the honor of knowing and walking with my Annie. I warn you ahead of time, it is a tear jerker of a moment as I also share from my heart the feelings of loss of life without the wife of my youth. Along with this, comes an appeal to join us in building Dreamer’s Park in Pemba, Mozambique for the children there. We have had some delays, but plans are being made for this playground to be built in May and June of 2010. Donations are still needed to fund this dream in her honor. So perhaps some of you will be moved upon to contribute a gift in her honor. >>Click Here<< to donate online.

You will also note, that the new devotional book Empowered Women is now available. It contains excerpts from her Women on the Frontlines books and invites you to visit some of her Hall of Heroes. Please get your memorial copy and even consider getting an extra copy as a gift to give to another.

So I thank the Lord for the life of Michal Ann Goll. I rise up with many others and call her blessed! I give honor to my late wife of 32 years and mother of our four miracle children, co-founder of Encounters Network and Founder of Compassion Acts. We declare, “Thank God for Heaven!”

With Thanksgiving and with Honor,

James W. Goll
Encounters Network • Prayer Storm • Compassion Acts

Compassion Acts

By Michal Ann Goll

Thus has the Lord of hosts spoken: Execute true judgment and show mercy and kindness and tender compassion, every man to his brother. And oppress not the widow or the fatherless, the temporary resident or the poor, and let none of you devise or imagine, or think evil against his brother in your heart (Zechariah 7:9-10).

Mary and Martha

Do you remember the story about Mary and Martha? In the past, I heard that “Mary chose the better part,” and that Martha was reprimanded.

We need to look at the Scripture again. Part of the story takes place in John 11, and it revolves around Lazarus, who was Mary and Martha’s brother. Mary was the one who had anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair. She was also the one who just wanted to sit at His feet and listen to Him speak, while Martha was in the kitchen, preparing food (see Luke 10:38-39). There has been a lot of emphasis on Mary in recent years, and the place in God she typifies. We all need to have the heart Mary, loving to sit at His feet, period.

Martha, dear Martha! She was the one who received Jesus and welcomed Him into her house. Now, she did become distracted with much serving, and that was the point that Jesus spoke tenderly to her, redirecting her heart to “the better part,” to worship Him. (See Luke 10:40.) But I believe He was wooing her, drawing her to Himself, not correcting or belittling her. She had messed up, had an attitude problem, and had compared her serving and cooking to Mary’s “sitting.” What a common error that is—a lesson we are still trying to learn.

When Lazarus was sick (see John 11), the sisters sent word to Jesus. Jesus loved Lazarus, but He did not come right away, but rather waited until Lazarus died. By the time He came, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Look at John 11:20-22, “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha then said to Jesus; Master; if You had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever You ask from God, He will grant it to You.”

Do you see a pattern here? Not only was it Martha who welcomed Jesus into her house, and in that, to her city, but when her brother died, she was the one who met Him, and asked for her brother’s life to be restored. We need Martha! It doesn’t have to be, “Are you a Mary or a Martha?” The point is, God wants us to be both. There is no place for comparison in the Kingdom of God, and we don’t have to choose between either living a life of prayer and devotion, or serving—we are to choose both! So, whether in the past you’ve considered yourself a Mary, or a Martha, and making that determination has disqualified you from being in the other camp, the wall is now torn down, and the camp enlarged. It’s time for Mary and Martha to come together. After all, they were sisters, and they did live in the same house. So should we!

War Generals

What we’re talking about here is the Body of Christ coming into formation, becoming connected. In order for us to truly be effective in this battle for compassion, there has to be order, good supply lines, and good communication. I believe the Lord wants to release a whole army of compassionate warriors, and if there is to be a whole army, then there certainly has to be commanders overseeing, directing, and caring for the troops. We need to assemble ourselves together, and gather around those who are further down the road than we are—ones who are filled with courage, vision, and passion for God. These are men and women who are committed to defending the Gospel. They are not afraid of warfare, and they are eager to engage in all necessary battles, and are willing to fight.

God wants generals, or breakers, who know His heart. Unlike the world’s concept of what a general looks like, God’s generals are ones who know authority, yes; but they follow the example of their Master and Savior. They live their lives carrying a towel, ready to love and to serve. They know the meaning of the phrase, “lower still.” They understand that the authority they carry comes from the greatest servant of all, Jesus!

He calls us to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). With His help we will rise up as the army of God, replete with generals, majors, sergeants, corporals, and privates. We will be “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37), carrying our swords, our shields, and our towels.

I hear the sound of horses’ hooves pounding the ground and the sounds of victory filling the air. The battle is the Lord’s and through Him we will be victorious!

The Poor Man’s Watch

When preparing to go on my first trip to Mozambique to serve Iris Ministries with Rolland and Heidi Baker, I bought a simple plastic watch. It was very cheap, but it actually had more bells and whistles than my nicer watch, and was a great tool for the trip. When I got home, I unpacked my clothes, developed my pictures, gave out gifts to my loved ones, and tried to “get my life in order again.” There was my nice pretty watch laying on my nightstand, waiting for me to take it up again, but something inside me didn’t want to put it back on. Days went by, weeks went by, and I just couldn’t take this simple cheap little watch off my wrist.

I went to the Lord, asking Him what was going on—didn’t I want to go forward, was I holding onto something I needed to release? Finally one day my friend, precious Holy Spirit spoke to me. He said, “You are on the poor man’s watch.” This word went through my heart like an arrow. I knew it to be true. There was no taking it off—there was no “getting my life back in order.” In actuality, my life was getting in God’s order.

God has a poor man’s watch that is perfect for each one of us. It is not a gift, it’s part of the Kingdom of God. If we want to experience His Kingdom, we have to wear the watch.

Next Time Jesus Will Come

I have a promise from Jesus. A number of years ago, I had an angelic visitation that lasted several weeks. It was awesome, wonderful, fearful, unsettling, challenging, and life altering. Toward the end of this visitation, I was talking with God, telling Him I didn’t want this to end. I was lovesick, and I didn’t want to go back to life as I knew it before. My heart had been touched and transformed by being in His presence. In the quiet early morning hours, before the sun had even thought of rising, Holy Spirit spoke to me. He said, “Next time, not only will the angels come, but Jesus Himself will come.”

Looking for Jesus

I’m looking for Jesus; I’m waiting for Jesus. But could it be that Jesus is waiting for me? Could it be that as I engage my heart to not only hear the Word of God, but to live the Word to those who do not know Him, Jesus just might come to me? That sounds like the Kingdom of God coming on the earth! I want to be a part of establishing God’s Kingdom, and raising up a whole army of like-hearted loving warriors who have embraced the call to compassion. He is waiting for you. Will you enlist in this army? I pray that your answer is yes, and that you are stirred to action—because compassion acts!

Dear Lord Jesus, I come to you this day, volunteering myself to be your arms, your feet, your hands to hurting and needy people. I want to embrace your heart for the poor, the orphan and the widow. I want to offer to you the field you have given me, that you would show me how to help provide for those who are less fortunate. Lord, I ask you to speak to me, lead me into the avenues of service that I am to engage in. Lord, according to James 1:5, give me the wisdom I need to move forward, connect with the people I need to network with. Today I make a commitment in my heart, with my mouth, to show You and the world my faith, by my works—because I love you, and I know that You so love me!

In Jesus Name, Amen!