And God Said, “Knoxville”

Janine BateSOn's GPS Life Journey Story

And God Said, “Knoxville”

Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” John 13:7 ESV
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It was a Midwest warm spring day in 1997. The dirty mounds of parking lot snow were now melting into streams of winter’s last grips. The burden of layering coats, gloves, hats and boots gave way to clothing not quite warm enough for the late March wind. This would cause my walk from the parking lot to my company’s front doors to be a sprint instead of a leisurely after- lunch jaunt.

I had been in my car eating a brown-bag lunch listening to the Moody Radio program “Focus on the Family”. I half-heartedly listened while munching my sandwich. I heard stories of how God had brought estranged families together, healed long-standing emotional wounds and helped strengthened parents in their walk with God.

My walk with God at this time was weak at best, or, so I thought! I did not realize that the Holy Spirit was working with me by placing people, circumstances and yes, radio programs in my life. I felt this growing spiritual hunger to know more, be more and contribute more. There just had to be more to life than this!

The Moody radio program ended with a prayer thanking God for His blessings, asking Him to protect families and to awaken those who are listening so they, too, may know God’s love. I crumpled up my lunch sack, grabbed my purse and started briskly walking to the front doors.

Where I worked was about a city block away and as I was walked, I started talking to God. If they could talk to God on the radio, I could do it now. “What am I supposed to be doing with my life?” “My life has no meaning and I feel lost”, “WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?”.  Immediately, I heard God say “KNOXVILLE”. I didn’t hear the cars passing on the street or feel the new spring breeze. I stopped and felt a warm glow of love, peace and a new found sense of purpose. The purpose wasn’t clear to me but I wasn’t about to question God. His purpose became clear within the next six months.

My husband’s elderly parents lived in Knoxville. When we told them we were moving their way they were elated. The family homestead had become too much for them to manage. We moved in and helped them locate and move into a smaller home within only a few miles from our place. My father-in-law strained his lower back during the move. As the pain grew with the passing days, he could do less and we were now helping mom and dad with their daily chores, medicines and trips to doctors. 

The back strain proved to be pancreatic cancer. Within a few months hospice moved into their new little home. Dad had weeks to live. He asked us to take care of his funeral arrangements and to move mom in with us. We realized that God started working His plan six months earlier.  In His pristine wisdom He was prepping us for work He needed done. That was twenty-five years ago. Today we have a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our faith is strong and we understand now why God said “Knoxville!”

A NEW STAGE IN LIFE
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I’m Janine Bateson and my husband is Ken. God’s message for us back twenty-five years ago was absolutely perfect for the work He wanted done in that stage of our life. The glory is all His! Completing GPS Life Journey twenty-five years later, God has given me a new message and GPS turned that message into a Personal Life Mission Statement, which perfectly fits this new stage of life. What a beautiful gift. The ultimate purpose for each of us is to live our life glorifying God. We are to make a difference in the world by sharing our gifts to influence others to know and love Him! And now understanding my purpose, I am so grateful that God once said “Knoxville!”

God has me working!  My mission is to glorify God by working to save babies from abortion and sharing God’s word with women who have had an abortion. God has given me a pregnancy clinic in Maryville to work with. Good is Good!

Janine Bateman is a recent graduate of GPS Life Journey at First Baptist Church, Lenoir City,
Tennessee.