How many of you love a great party that gets extended? It’s not like those selling household item parties that you get pressured into booking one so you can invite the same people from the last party and everyone feels obligated to buy or at least host a party. No way, this party that our Big Brother Yeshua is throwing is not contingent upon spending lots of money or signing up for hostess duty; it’s a matter of receiving what is being freely given in this season. With this in mind Dave and I headed out last Thursday to Fort Mills, South Carolina for a meeting held by Morning Star ministries. I was excited that Dave would be able to partake of the excitement, the anticipation of a crowd of people who had come for healing, for impartation and maybe some just had come to check it out. More than that going together would give us common memory, shared experience, two points of view to revel in the glory of the Spirit’s move. Aren’t you glad that there are four accounts of the Gospel, so that we can see it from the eyes of those with a different view point? Abba was gracious as always on the trip, though it rained which made driving a bit more difficult, we did not complain because rain is much needed. We arrived at our hotel around 3 and decided to go for a swim, we had the pool to ourselves and the sun was peeking in and out of the clouds. We next decided to go and get a bite to eat so we walked to the Shoney’s next to the hotel. We had a great meal. (update on my eating: pizza, taco salad, fried shrimp, fried okra, steak, fruit salad…) Dave wanted some Blue Bell since we are far enough South for the stores to carry it but we really didn’t want to hunt down a grocery store so we decided to walk over to some stations and see if they had any. They didn’t but we had spotted a place called Fiesta Plaza and decided it looked worth walking over just to see what all it had. It was like a breath of home, little shops with stuff from Mexico and other types of shops as well. The food courts had various Mexican foods available and guess what; a Blue Bell cream shop where you could buy by the scoop, perfect. Dave got his ice cream and then we were shopping around and found a place that sold the Mexican shirts that he likes so we got one for him. I had wanted some new black sandals for a while and when we had walked in there was a Bass shop that said all sandals 70% off. I not only got sandals but a purse as well one that I had been looking for. The music was great, indoor fountains, like I said a breath of Tex-Mex in the middle of our trip. Walking out of the mall Dave comments that it could really start raining and then what were we going to do. I said, ‘get wet’! We walked back to the hotel and just as we were on the sidewalk a couple of splats hit us, by the time we were up the stairs it was pouring, we of course had made it all right in time.
Next day we were up and running ready to get to the site and get our chairs set in a ‘good’ place. I had pushed away trepidation the night before that the crowed might be so big that we would not be able to keep up with each other. They had mentioned shuttles to and from parking lots so it sounded like we might not have easy access to the car through out the day and we were taking a cooler with drinks. As I said, however, I pushed these thoughts away and said, ‘Yeshua, this is an extension of Your party, so You work out the logistics.’ We got to what was the old Heritage USA facility a bit after nine, the service was to start at 5 that evening. We were directed in the farthest parking area which proved my fretting unfounded as it was not that far and only those needing assistance in walking would need a shuttle. We walked to the stage area (this meeting was to be held outside) and found that hose with chairs were to sit on the hill where a big screen had been placed, the stage area would be standing room only. No problem we were able to with other early arrivals to situate our chairs where we could see the stage and the screen. There was a wonderful breeze blowing and the day was bright with sunshine and promise. I was interviewed by a gentleman who was doing a documentary on the Lakeland revival and was able to give an overview of what Abba had done for me. Shortly after another gentleman walked up and apologized for having stood and listened as I was being filmed so I was able to give him an even more in depth account. He shared with us what the Lord had been saying to him. We agreed that it was patience and love that allowed people to come to the maturity and access the right time, right place for the right reasons. It was a very enjoyable time. Dave and I then decided to walk around and check out the booths. We saw several food booths, one which promised Brisket sandwiches for a reasonable price, we decided that they would get our business for lunch. We stepped inside the building (where the PTL shops had been. Dave and I had never been there when PTL was going on but recognized parts of the building from having seen it on TV from time to time) into the bookstore. I had not planned on buying any books, I know those of you who know me are saying ‘yeah right’. Really, I had decided just to scope out any and right down titles and I would get what wanted later when the ‘wow’ book factor was not in play. I was glancing over the shelves when I came upon the prophetic display and suddenly I was rocked by a wave of the Spirit. I’ve never in my life had books expel a wave of the Spirit before. I thought, okay, maybe there’s something here I’m supposed to get but Oy, which one? I picked up a few and didn’t feel any compelling so I walked away to look some more. Who knows maybe I was reacting to something other than the books but found myself there again and again the rocking back on my heels happened. I then got into a discussion with one gentleman about a couple of the books we had read and I was able to point him toward a new one that was just coming out. It was after that discussion I decided there must be a book to buy from that lot. Then I saw on the bottom row, two books that I knew the authors and trusted their ministries, now the dilemma, which one? Dave settled it by handing me money for one of the books and saying, ‘get them both.’ (It was greatly fitting in that on the way home I read over half of one of the books to Dave and we were greatly blessed.)
(more later)
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