Now, it's Oprah's turn to call

OK...if some of the things that are happening weren't happening to ME---I would probably find them hard to believe. Case in point: Yesterday morning after dropping my daughter off at the bus stop for school, I returned home and attempted to go back to sleep. Now, of course it was difficult because once your body becomes fully awake, it just wants to stay that way.

So here I am lying in bed trying to think of things that would help me go back to sleep. I don't know who said counting sheep backwards was a good method but I'm here to tell you, it doesn't work. It's STUPID!

OK...so then I started daydreaming about my husband---those are always good thoughts and I started to doze off. I was comfortable---ready to drift into la la land. But then---the phone rings. I decided to just let it ring--but something in my spirit said, "Answer it."

Now you know I'm mad at this point because that meant I had to roll completely over to the other side of the bed where the phone is and pick it up. But I did and guess who it was?

NIKKI GIOVANNI!

She called and said, "Hi Beverly. It's Nikki Giovanni. I didn't wake you did I?" Now had it been someone else I probably would've said, "You know you did! It's 9am and since I'm unemployed where else would I be???" But it was Nikki Giovanni. I wouldn't dare say that to her. I woke right up as if I had been awake for hours. She wanted to discuss my Amazon Best Selling Author's Day and to make sure I had her bonus gifts. OK...I could do that.

This is actually the second time Ms. Giovanni has called me out of the blue. The first time was the day after I was forced out of my job. She called to let me know she would honor my request and review my manuscript of Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age.

After we hung up the phone, my girlfriend and fellow author Trevy---who's staying with me until she gets settled---said"You've got Nikki Giovanni calling YOUR house! That means you're definitely in alignment with the universe!"

Yes, it means God is lining up everything according to His purpose for me life! Now, I guess I'll just stay awake and wait for Oprah's call.

I got REVIVED last night!

For the past three nights, my church has been holding a revival. Before I go any further, I wonder why it's called a "revival?" Does that mean it's a time to have our souls renewed and revitalized? And why do we need someone other than our OWN PASTOR to "revive" us? Well, after last night I think I know the answer.

For this year's revival, the guest speaker was Dr. Claude Alexander from the University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. I had never heard of him but my girlfriend Tasha said she watches him on the Word Channel and sang his praises and since I respect her opinion I decided to go check him out. If I didn't do it on Wednesday night, I wouldn't get another opportunity because that was the LAST night of the revival.

Well, let me tell you, I got revived, rejuvenated, renewed and I rejoiced the entire time! Dr. Alexander had a message just for ME. The title of his sermon was, "You're NOT Dreaming!" He told me I wasn't dreaming. He tied my story into the story of Peter (Acts 12). This is where Peter was in prison, handcuffed to the guards, who were handcuffed to the prison wall. One night while Peter was asleep, an angel of the Lord came in and released his shackles (but left the guards in handcuffs to the prison wall) and led him out of the prison. Dr. Alexander said Peter thought he was dreaming---thought it was a "vision" but it was REALITY. The Lord had moved Peter, from what seemed like the END, to a brand new BEGINNING (read the rest of Acts for the rest of the story).

Anyway, Dr. Alexander told me all that I had been through this past year was God's doing. He said the chains from my dead end job had been released and He was moving me on because His purpose for me was still very much alive and more important than ever. Dr. Alexander also told me my shackles were removed because of the prayers of the saints---my friends---who have lifted me up time and time again because they knew my struggles and anxieties. Even when I couldn't pray for myself, the saints---my friends--were lifting me higher and higher unto the Lord.

Dr. Alexander told me God was getting ready to do something so spectacular it was going to blow my mind---that He's going to trump even MY expectations. He told me I'm not dreaming. And you know what, I'm really glad I went to revival last night because I needed to be reminded that God is true to His Word---that He keeps His promises and that DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE when you have the VISION!

That means "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age WILL become an Amazon Best Seller in November!!!

Oh...and I think I know why our own pastor doesn't do our revivals...because sometimes, just like you and me, he needs some REVIVING too!