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Jesus and Solitaire - "Tell My Kids Im Tired of Doing Things Alone"

Mark Virkler's picture

The following blog is from Pastor Joe Brock, a close friend, and upcoming blogger to the CWG website. Enjoy!


I was a youth pastor in the early 90’s. In 1995 I graduated college and moved into a full-time associate pastor position. My family was involved in a church plant and in time, I became my father’s associate pastor. Who says God does not have a sense of humor? So for the next few years I served the church in a number of capacities, all the while growing and experiencing the things of the Spirit. As time when on, my wife and I realized that the path we were on was parting from the direction of the church. So in an honoring parting of ways, we left the church and the denomination, determined to continue to follow the Lord.


I have always loved books. Reading the thoughts and encounters of others has helped me see the world and the Lord through a much wider lens. It seemed inevitable that I ended up working for a Christian bookstore. What I thought was going to be a year or so ended up being a 7 year stint. I went from being an assistant store manager to receiving my own store where I spent close to 4 years serving the people of Northern Indiana.

The first bookstore I worked at was a college bookstore. Being adjacent to the actual college I graduated from allowed the store the opportunity to work with the college and cover all their textbook sales. The precious lady that handled this aspect of the business for us retired. The big boss told me he wanted me to assume this responsibility. So for the next few months I worked with the college professors getting ready for the next semester’s classes and the materials they needed. This meant a LOT of data entry for me. My job was to sit in the back of the store away from the sales floor and enter into a computer all the information needed for our future college textbook sale. It was while I was doing this data entry one day that Jesus shook my world up and changed me forever.

God gave us one Book to show us how the life called Christian is supposed to look. I question where some of the methodology we see in churches comes from. There was Modern but that gave way to Post-Modern.  Now we have the Millennials. I’m not quite sure what’s coming next. What I do know is that the same Bible each generation has centers on one thing – the manifestation of God’s Kingdom on earth. I am all for social media, technical breakthroughs, and new ways to share the Gospel. These can and should change, but what we’ve lost is the simplicity of the Gospel to be itself. The Gospel message is the power of God unto salvation so if we simply proclaim it and let it be itself, this message will lead to the sick being healed, demons manifesting and coming out, and God’s voice breaking into and penetrating our world. What we coin as supernatural is the natural way God lives. A Spirit-filled believer needs only to BE for the things of the Kingdom to come. And this is precisely what happened to me.

One afternoon as I was sitting in the back of the bookstore doing my data entry, God did something that I did not expect that changed my life – for the better – to this very day. As I was sitting and typing, wearing a cowboy hat I found (I am not sure why I had this on), to my upper right I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. The ceiling in the room was very tall so the movement I saw was elevated up toward the ceiling. I turned to look up at the movement and what I saw up in front of me was what has been termed an open vision (See Acts 10:9-17). Please know that this completely caught me off guard.


“Tell My kids I’m tired of doing things alone.” 


There, sort of hovering upward and in front of me, was Jesus sitting at a table facing me with a deck of cards in His hands. I knew this was real because my mind was focused on my task and this happened so immediately, my mind didn’t have time to engage – it was just there.  I could only see Jesus from the waist up because the table covered His lower extremities. As He sat there, I saw Him flipping the cards over, looking across the table at the cards that had already been laid down. He wasn’t looking at me or at that moment even acknowledging me. His focus was on the cards.

Then all at once, His focus came up off the table and looked me straight in my eyes. He was no longer flipping cards; He was staring directly at me. There was a pause and then He spoke directly to me. What He said rattled me so deeply it changed my entire life in an absolute instant. While staring at me He said directly. “Tell My kids I’m tired of doing things alone,” there was a pause and from this, He went back to flipping the cards. It was at this moment I realized He had been playing solitaire. Remember, solitaire by definition is a game you play alone.

It stunned me, and it broke my heart. My King, my Lord - Who parted ways with His Son to bring me back home - was lonely. My God was lonely. How could this be? He was God. How could God be lonely? It was from this I began to see my Lord in an entirely different manner. God was lonely because His kids didn’t understand just how much He longed to be with them.

This was unacceptable; absolutely unacceptable. Over the next few years I had a number of additional encounters like this where God shared with Me His often loneliness from His kids thinking He wants to be served more than enjoyed. This is NOT God’s primary wish. His primary wish is we realize that in everything we do, He wants to be involved. From cutting the grass to going to work, to our moments of brokenness and despair – our Father simply always wants to be with us. It is now an imbedded part of my life to share with people how much the Father loves and longs for them and to help teach them to hear the intimate and exclusive words the Father has just for them.

As you read this, if you truly long to make God happy, spend more time with Him. You are His central desire – yes, you! He controls the universe by His words so He is not overworked or exhausted. He enjoys you; He loves you, and was willing to part ways with the perfection of heaven to enter our sin-sickened world to bring you home. If this is what He was willing to do, stop thinking He’s angry with you – it does not line up with His heart or His Book.

So as I close, I say to you - stop letting Jesus play solitaire. He does not like being alone. He doesn’t need our companionship, but He sure does want and enjoy it. He wants you. Don’t stop until you can easily sing and fully believe that…


He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves me, oh,
Oh, how He loves me,
How He loves me oh


                                                                                                                       

Related Resources: 

How to Hear God's Voice!   

Related Blogs: 

How to Hear God’s Voice   
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Comments

Anonymous's picture

I haven't had an open vision yet, but I've been hearing Him and feeling Him saying the exact same things you've described!! The Father IS drawing us into deeper relationship with Him in all that we do everyday... it's so remarkable and it needs to be told!!

Keep writing !!!

Anonymous's picture

I confirm that! The blog by Joe Brock is exactly what I have been hearing from the Lord only from a different perspective: We're not expected to do life alone! This calls to mind the "me" generation, which I am a part of. We gloried in being independent and doing it all by ourselves...at least I did...and how did that song go...? "I am a rock, I am an island."

Now it's a relief, when I have come to the end of myself and see that I cannot do life "all by myself", to know that I have access to the God of the universe; I can choose to be in His will and ask for His help-the One who can do so much more than I!

I'm letting others know that God is there to help and that's His four letter word: HELP!

Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration,

Elizabeth Higgins

Anonymous's picture

I am like you. It is scarey and it is cool that we don't have to do life alone. When we call out for HELP! Here He comes. God is so fun!

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4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice DVDs

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice DVDs

by Mark Virkler | 10 Discs

This DVD Set of the 10-hour course will draw you into a classroom experience with others who are learning to hear from God right alongside you. It follows along with the LEARN 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice notebook (available for $4.95). Because Dr. Virkler is teaching directly from this booklet, it is recommended that you purchase both the LEARN notebook and the complete book entitled 4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice. You will want to meditate on the teaching and do the exercises found in the large book if you intend to fully internalize the skill of living daily out of God’s voice.


Looking for the new Abridged Edition? See this blog post to learn more and order.


Price: $69.95

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice DVDs - Abridged Edition

by Mark Virkler | 3 Discs | 10 Sessions

A complete description is available by clicking here, where you will find information on the 60-minute version of this product. The main difference is that these 10 sessions are shorter, averaging 40 minutes each. You asked for it and it's finally available! The same core teaching now abridged, making the sessions easier to fit into your Sunday School class, home group meeting or lunch hour Bible study.

Price: $39.95

A Stroll Along the Sea of Galilee DVD

New life for your daily devotions!

The #1 Tool in the World for Introducing People to Hearing God's Voice! Pop this into your DVD player during your morning devotional time and let us paint a scene of you and Jesus walking together along the Sea of Galilee. We'll encourage you to ask Him one of the following questions, "Lord, what would You like to say to me?" "How do You see me?" or "Do You love me?" We then guide you into using the four keys for hearing God's voice, which are: quieting yourself down, fixing your eyes on Jesus, tuning to spontaneity and writing.

Price: $2.95
Counseled by God DVD Series

Counseled by God DVDs

by Mark Virkler | 4 Discs

Just Released: 35th Anniversary Edition

The foremost training series in the world teaching you how to become emotionally whole by hearing the voice of the Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6)! A genuine word from the Lord heals the broken-hearted. All the “how to” books can never do what a rhema word from God can do for the inner man. You will learn to let God speak to your heart and counsel you about the basic emotional pressures of life such as anger, doubt, depression, condemnation and inferiority. You will learn to let God replace these with His opposites, as His voice releases His grace within your heart. Those whom the Son sets free are free indeed!

Price: $59.95
Prayers That Heal the Heart DVDs

Prayers That Heal the Heart Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition DVDs

by Mark Virkler | 15 Sessions | 7 Discs

Prayer counseling that breaks every yoke! Everything you need to experience deep healing of your soul and spirit. Did you know that you don’t need to be continually plagued by negative thoughts, feelings, pictures or memories?

It is not part of the "human condition" to feel the constant nagging of doubt, insecurity, or anger. No matter what sin you are trying to overcome, what lie you think you’ll always believe, or what traumas your heart has suffered in the past, you will receive total freedom and restoration by praying these prayers in faith.

Price: $69.95

Everyday Angels DVDs

By Charity Virkler Kayembe

You can partner with Heaven’s angelic hosts!

Do you have guardian angels? Does God want you to know them? Find out what Scripture reveals and how YOU can interact with the company of Heaven!

The supernatural realm permeates our natural world! Therefore, experiencing angels should be an everyday occurrence–we simply need to open our spiritual eyes to their reality and role in our lives.

Price: $59.00
Hear God Through Your Dreams DVDs

Hear God Through Your Dreams DVDs

by Mark Virkler | 5 Sessions

The DVDs and CDs correspond with the Hear God Through Your Dreams book and for maximum growth and internalization, we recommend utilizing it along with either the CD or DVD set. The book provides an outline to follow as you watch the DVDs. Also included are application exercises and classroom activities. (Note: There are 5 sessions on 3 discs.)

Price: $39.95

Hearing God Through Your Dreams DVDs

by Mark Virkler and Charity Virkler Kayembe | 10 Sessions on 3 Discs

Learn How to Hear God’s Voice, Even When You Are Sleeping

Receive divine counsel nightly. Increase emotional health, wisdom and creativity.

Recorded live at Catch the Fire in Toronto!

Price: $49.95

Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions DVDs

by Mark Virkler and Charity Kayembe | 14 Sessions | 6.5 hours

Build a theology and experience the role of Kingdom emotions to engage and release Kingdom power! Jesus, moved by compassion, healed (Matt. 14:14). You can, too! Discover how Kingdom emotions can be born in your heart to carry the Holy Spirit's power to perform healing, as well as turn on healing genes while turning off inflammatory genes. Experience God's Kingdom which is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17)!

Price: $59.95

49 Lies DVDs – 49 Religious Lies Jesus Told Me to Stop Believing

by Mark Virkler | 6 Discs

49 Video Sessions are included

This package includes 49 professionally taped sessions, each 5-12 minutes long which is my testimony of breaking free from each lie. I discuss what the lie is, its impact on my life, what Jesus spoke, my prayer of repentance and the new freedom I experienced which allows me to step into a new life in Christ.

If you have ever believed any of the following lies, then this book is for you: "Emotions are soulish;" "Money is evil or secular;" "It is wrong to seek vision;" "Don’t trust experiences;" "God gave me a mind and expects me to use it;" "Politics are evil;" God is always beating on me;" or one of 43 more such detestable lies...

Price: $49.00

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