Sweetness and Sorrow

Sweetness & Sorrow

Saturday

This was mostly a travel day after meeting with Kim and several women from FLC San Antonio at Starbucks for breakfast and a few more words of encouragement. I enjoyed the interaction between a mother and her tender, intelligent, conversant child. It made me miss my grandchildren all that much more. And it brought a smile to my lips.

Our GPS took us on a wild goose chase for a while through Austin before we finally found a suitable place t eat lunch, Freebirds World Burrito. Awesome cool place. They have Death sauce there and Pot Brownies (baked in small pots) and let you form tin foil sculptures and decorate the wall with your creations. Sweetness.

The most notable travel time was through West, Texas, the site of the fertilizer plant explosion. This is a toen where people park on one side of the street, pulling in head first, not parallel. We began in the center of town, on a crest of a hill, overlooking farms and fields. 

The rail road tracks on one side, the uptown side on the other. The Antique shop was open and a lovely young lady served as store keeper. This store used to be many things. The walls were old worn brick, the ceilings peeling antique white paint. A faint painted remnant of the old grocery store sign could still be made out on the outside wall. 

We browsed. Made a few personal souvenir purchases and continued to explore the other side of the road, only to come back over soon afterwards. Most businesses close here by noon or 1 PM on Saturdays. We counted a couple restaurants and at least four bars. A floral shop, insurance, thrift store, antique shop and Scoops, a sweet ice cream shop which had only opened five days before. Sweetness.

“We believe West is coming back,” the kind woman at the counter told me. From the looks of things from here, West was already sweet and strong and beautiful.

There was a family already sitting at a booth when we arrived. A mom and her children came in shortly after we did. An older couple soon flowed in and sat up at the counter. Lesa paid for the ice cream of the young mother and her children. Scoops accepts checks, cash, VISA and Mastercard but they don't run debit cards. While there, we found out how to get to the explosion area. We were encouraged to stay at the Inn run by the mayor. We already had hotel arrangements near Dallas.I would have loved to stay there, meet the mayor, pray with the town council. Since everything was closed on Saturday, its unlikely any thing would be open Sunday. Father's Day.

We had no idea the kind of destruction we would see, nor the way hope looks when it is alive and well in the hearts of a shattered community. The photos do not describe half of it.  Sorrow.

We cried. It looked like a war zone. Only a few of the homes looked completely bulldozed and cleared away. Some people left everything and have not returned. Street a after street. Half the town suffered great property losses. Shattered window glass. Caved in roofs. Siding blown off. Brick exteriors. Gone. Charred remains of studs. A chimney stands alone. House after house after house after house. The elementary school. The Middle School all closed down, all in such states of damage that they will most certainly need to be bnulldozed down themselves. But carefully placed in many yards were starts of hope painted by little children with warm sayings. Each one unique. “God Bless West. “ “HOPE.” Swirls of different colored paint. We cried.

We saw several young boys and their dad each using heavy equipment, breaking up what remained from cement slab foundations. As we drove around again to give them a painting of hope I made on the road for such purpose, this family was walking up to the street at the same time. They had not lost a home, But they knew someone who had, and who lost a son. I gave them the painting and said they could keep t for themselves or pass it on to the family they knew.

This day was emotionally exhausting, draining, devastating. We all agreed that this is nothing compared to what we may see in Oklahoma, where the tornadoes ripped miles and miles of peoples' lives apart.

We are getting ready to go to TD Jake's Father's Day service in Dallas this morning. Worship, praise and thanksgiving is a welcome respite. Sweetness.

Oklahoma bound soon.

Activation

ACTIVATION

Friday, June 14, 2013

The theme for the day, “Activated,” was evident at the beginning of our day in Cypress near Houston, and again in San Antonio at the end of our day, appearing to me like a bookend holding up the rest of the travel time.

After everyone got ready to leave Cypress, Texas, we pulled out enough extra Communion glasses that we brought along for such purpose. We readied the glasses, the Matza cracker, the reddish grape juice so we could  take communion with our beautiful host family around the kitchen table. 

The children sat around the table, mostly attentively, while Lesa shared about family, connectivity and the sacrifice of Jesus and what the wine and cracker represents. Tears flowed from Lesa's eyes during her sharing and off scampered the youngest daughter, who reemerged moments later, handing tissues to Lesa. 

“Take eat, this is my body which was broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And the cup, which represents his blood that was poured out for you, so your sins would be forgiven and taken care of, take, drink.” After we prayed, I sang what I could remember of the old hymn, “The Lily of the Valley.” It was one of the best communions I have ever been part of.

We drove together to experience some sort of Texan pastry, the name of which escapes me, then to Chick Fil A for the kids and us to eat together before we hit the road toward Houston. Tears freely flowed from all of us as we parted company for now, eager for the day we will meet again. It surprised me how raw and on the surface my emotions were. I felt everyone's sorrow and cried along with them almost as soon as their tears welled. Our hearts were heavy after such joy. It took us a long while to shift our attention to San Antonio and ministry we would do there to bless and support the team from Virginia who would be waiting there.

On the road again down 10 West, we got turned around after a pit stop down a two lane road that looked at first like we would need a four wheel drive for. I got excited about the wild flowers on the side of the road. Stop here! We stopped to get photos of a gate and wild flowers.

We passed an antique truck painted with the flag of Texas but missed the photo op. Maybe its already online somewhere. It was really cool. Jessi would love, it we all agreed.

This was not the truck we saw. It was more rounded in the front and back, but you get the idea. I found this image on flickr   and cropped it a bit to give you an idea of what it looked like. http://www.flickr.com/photos/javidjamae/3031246607/

Sometime during our travel time, back in the Houston area, Denise saw a female motorist in need, and stopped and helped her. She was re-activated. She got what we are doing and is paying it forward again herself.  ("Do you love me? Feed my sheep." ) We celebrated her all over again. Activated 2013 is an appropriate name!

Oh, how glorious and wonderful our Father's love is for all of us! So rich in compassion and mercy and kindness!! He desires our friendship, a relationship, a partnership, and a marriage with each one of us!

We met the Freedom Life San Antonio church leadership team at a burger joint that had a huge room for a long row of tables. We all sat around one table. It was a loud, busy place. 

We requested to meet them in the quiet and privacy of their home after dinner so we could share what God is doing on the road with us, share Words of encouragement for each one of them, and bless them. 

The time of ministry today was rich and rewarding and emotionally charged. We love what God is doing in San Antonio with Freedom Life Church team. You should ask them how God brought the corp team together. It really is quite a witness about God's divine connections and appointments and miracles he creates to make things happen in His way and on His time. 

This morning we will meet with the women at Starbucks for food and fellowship. I can hardly wait! My heart is already tightly knit together with the women of San Antonio, Texas. I left a piece of me in their hearts last night and hope to deposit more of all I am in Christ, in them, activating them for their ministries and their next things.

A Piece of Home

Thursday

A Piece of Home

The changes are subtle at first until you hardly realize the changes came at all. Hills iron out flatter and flatter. The trees become shorter and shorter and more and more sparse. The lakes and streams fewer and farther apart. The wild flowers getting hardier and tougher. Our individual hearts melting into one.

Our singular uniqueness, evident in necessity for the need of the Body, and beautifully harmonious with the task at hand. Mary described it so well. We are taking our places. Falling in line. I can see how the body of Christ works in this miniature working model. It is beautiful.

 photo by Mary

Driving down so many highways, I brought along my love for herbs. I got excited to see plants in much the same way that Missy and Mary got animated to notice Mellow Mushrooms popping up all over the south. Mary brought Lumbar. Missy brought her sister's daily Word journal. Lesa brought her car, which, incidentally, the oldest L***** boy noticed right away as we passed by his lemonade stand in front of his new neighborhood. He waved enthusiastically with an ear to ear grin, sandy blond hair gleaming in the sun. What a warm Virginia-Texas welcome!

RABBIT TRAIL: Mississippi and Louisiana seem to be Elder heaven. I love Elder berries and flowers.

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Elderberry.html

 I use them so much in herbal remedies and they are often hard to find in the fall and winter months when they are called upon for their healing properties for colds, flus and immune system strength. Herbal companies frequently run out of them. I am looking for a private local source. Note to self: grow elder bushes.

In Louisiana I saw bowl sized Marsh Mallow flowers growing, a little here and a little there, splashing the otherwise green landscape with pink and black.

Http://fineartamerica.com/featured/pink-marsh-mallow-wildflower-carol-senske.html

But this was a short lived glimpse. No one else in the car noticed them; we drove by the small patch quickly and never came across any more.

In Texas, Jeruselum Artichoke flowers tall and proud, like mini sunflowers, congregate across the sides of the two lane highways, 90 West and Route 1960. I love, love, love Jeruselum Artichoke tubers!

See http://www.theprepperproject.com may 25, 2013 post

They are also known as Sunchoke. They are nutty and flavorful and a good potato substitute for diabetics; they do not spike blood sugar.

The fiesta like orange and yellow daisy grows close to the ground along roadways here too. (see http://livefree.typepad.com/living_free/2013/04/wildflower-days.html)

In Texas we discovered Cattle Egrets. They look very much like the white egrets in Virginia waterways, only these live in grassy areas.

Http://10000birds.com/cattle-egret-at-floyd-bennett-field-brooklyn.htm

We brought a piece of home with us to deposit into the lives of our friends outside Houston. Bringing familiarity, validation, love, acceptance, connectedness, prayer. History. Fellowship. Car. Lumbar. Herbal love. Peace. Hair and nails.

I even heard from an old high school friend who is also a Texan transplant, asking if I would be in Houston area. We did not get together in person, but we spoke on the phone. Connection. History. There is comfort in that somehow.

photo by Mary

But our host family brought a piece of home for us to dwell in; their loving family, their warm hospitality, good home cooking, a comfortable, safe place to rest and enjoy family togetherness.

Tomorrow we travel to San Antonio to pour into a new church plant we have connection with, we have history with and love for. Stay tuned.

Contrasts

CONTRASTS

Wednesday

This day was a day of stark contrasts: Abundance, poverty; opulence, decay; contentment, desperation; new, old; hopeful, hopeless; full, hungry; sinner, saint; rested, exhausted.

And it all began as we left the most beautiful resort in Biloxi while “Who Are You” by The Who played overhead in the parking garage as we made our way out to Gulfport to pray over a business full of women. Our hostess lead the way from the resort strip to more and more desperate areas. Empty lots littered the landscape like gaping holes in a gleaming mouth, giving way to more and more neglect and disrepair, tall grass and a general aching in the air.

The team did what we do best: loving and caring for the women who were open to our prayers and giving them a listening ear. We surrounded Rebecca as we ministered to her needs. 

A later report indicated that something lifted for her which is a miracle in her case. We continue to trust God over her for a complete and perfect work. We prayed for her son as well after I heard the word, “son.” Indeed, she only had one son, a good son, and we prayed for him, too. These prayers were only the beginning to what would turn out to become a very long, fulfilling, rewarding and exhausting day.

Irene was next. 

I felt like a horse behind the starting gate, muscles ready to spring into action, quaking at the thought of being able to let lose and run free. Urgent. Urgent! Oh how difficult it is for me to just rest and be in the moment when I do not know what to expect, when I don't know what the plan is ahead of time, when there are so many needs, when I want to get to the point, and go on to the next and the next and the next. Check. Check. Check. These are people not empty boxes ready to be checked off. Connect. Casual. Connect deeper. “You are eager, aren't you?” Ilene stated. Giggles from everyone ensued.

Tears flowed from all of us as pointed scriptures, read by Missy and Mary, pierced our hearts making their mark. Abba, Father. Daddy loves us so well.

We went on to the Feed My Sheep Ministry in Gulfport, who had plenty of volunteers to feed the hungry. We were given permission to minister to those outside, (as long as we did not give anyone any money or rides) where we prayed for a woman with tattered feet, weathered face and a friendly demeanor. She in turn prayed for us. She was in a hurry to join her friends on bicycles.

No one was at the Battered Women's Shelter due to a communication glitch. But it was well. We all felt a sense of urgency to get to New Orleans while we were still in the office building earlier.

New Orleans. WOW. We determined to go to The French Quarter. I felt like a tourist and grew impatient.

When will we get to minister? When will we get to pray for somebody? Casual. Connect. Natural. Be still. God will open something up and that He did! At first, the area was saturated in a heaving heaviness, like a sigh that's ready to be let out but never gets past the lips. As we walked the streets, things lifted. The atmosphere was slowly changing from dark to dawn.

In front of a bar called Krazy Korner, a huge man with his name tattooed to the underside of his chin and neck, Big Tiny, quipped about my bottle of water. “You're not gonna have any fun drinking water.” “I carry the party inside,” I grinned back. Open door. We began to engage Big Tiny in conversation, found out his story and spoke into his life. He is a good man and needed reminded of it. He was clearly touched as tears welled in his eyes. We prayed for him and blessed him and he posed for photos. He pulled me into his sweat saturated shirt and held me tightly as everyone snapped away. Missy was glad he did not hug her. This was getting fun despite our initial trepidation about ministering in New Orleans.

Big Tiny, a homeless woman named Donna, a street musician, and a cafe waiter named Hezekiah, were all appointed by God for us to love, serve and pray for. Just as it was approaching dusk, we left and trailed through the city looking for an open Starbucks and were awestruck at the beauty and contrasts in New Orleans. Old, new, rich, poor, quaint, open, well maintained, neglected. From trepidation to confidence, we all felt a deep connection to New Orleans and knew we had to come back again and spend more than one day next time through.

We left the city as dark dropped over the landscape and made our way down Route 10 west bound toward Houston. We traveled for a couple hours before stopping for dinner after 9 PM, then got back on the road to our last minute arranged hotel another hour and a half away. We arrived exhausted at 1 AM. I immediately dropped into bed, oblivious to the activity around me as everyone else showered.

Today we are heading to Houston. Denise, here we come!

Simple Pleasures & Worthy Treasures

Simple Pleasures & Worthy Treasures

Tuesday- Today I am reminded over and over again of Thanksgiving and gratitude, with joy and rejoicing in my heart, for simple things. Simple things that may get taken for granted any ordinary day. (These past four days have been anything but ordinary. Sharing close quarters with four grown women could never be ordinary unless you have grown up with three sisters. I had a little advance training for this; I have two sisters. One extra girl is not much of a stretch for me.)  I am thankful for my kind Daddy God who showed me glimpses of His sweet Goodness. All day.

Simple pleasures. Kind-hearted Alabamians (is that a word?) People of Alabama have been extremely kind. Every encounter here has been positive. The people are friendly. Southern hospitality is alive here. Downtown Mobile Historic District appears thriving. We pulled off the highway to find a lunch spot as we drove to Mississippi, our destination point. Perhaps we would even find someone to show kindness to, but I had to go to the bathroom. Urgently. We did not choose to eat there but the restaurant appeared big enough for me to see if there were public bathrooms. I wandered around like a mouse in a maze looking for the facilities and found a HUGE lobby for a grandiose hotel: The Renaissance  Battle House Hotel, built in 1851.

The door hardware was ornate. The paper toweling was thick, posh and PRINTED.  WOW. I got excited by paper hand wipes. If that is not simple, I don't know what is!

 In the meantime, the others wandered in, too, since it took me a while to meander and find what I was looking for. They struck up a conversation with a middle age woman named Emilie.

Sweet Emilie. She could have been or done anything, as a former Marine, former civil servant in the city, mother, and more, she is a faithful steward of the facilities, a housekeeper, that showed us extraordinary kindness. She loves this hotel, and took pride in its ornate detail. She showed us where things were located, as she checked for things that were out of place, a piece of paper, a fuzz ball, anything. She pointed out areas of interest including an award winning conference center, whispering arch, Tiffany windows, the rooftop, where she showed  us city details such as the navy's newest ship still being built, a Catholic cathedral,and stories of glamour. Emilie is a PR of public relations. The hotel is blessed to have her. She  could be Director of Tourism for Mobile.

She did not talk about herself except to describe how she came to work there, so there was no natural opening to do what we do best. We were delighted by her warmth and it appeared the feeling was mutual. She took us to the gift shop in person so we would be sure to find it. Mary has been on the lookout for postcards to send her kids. (It is a dying past time) The lady at the check out line shared my first name. I could see right into her soul as she rang up my own postcard purchase. Nothing was shared, really, except for pleasantries, but I could feel we connected somehow.

 As we walked out the hotel into the street to find a place to eat, our Biloxi hostess, Terri,  called with details regarding her plans for us for the evening. We decided to forgo lunch and settled for muffins at a Mostly Muffin bakery to eat along the road to Biloxi, where we would meet Terri, her mother, her 19 year old daughter and a Baptist pastor she is friends with. She provided us  two rooms ( TWO !!!) and took us all out to dinner (WOW!!!) and entertained us for an opening night show that happened to be at the hotel that night (WHAT?!!!)  Our work in Biloxi is arranged for the next day, she said. Well, who could argue with that? The woman at Lifeway's voice echoes in my ears, "Oh no, you're NOT!" Gulp. Acquiesce graciously. Thank you. I am blown away. If I had long hair, it would be blowing straight back.

We all took turns, as the doors opened, to minister, love and encourage Jessi, a young woman determined to get her life together and going in a better direction. She is a precious Treasure and Terri's creative daughter who loves, loves, loves, her job at Dollar General and has been pondering spiritual matters without a clear direction. I poured God's love into her and described it in detail, Graham Cooke style, so she would begin to glimpse God's intense love for her. I held out two pretend ice cream cones: Vanilla, Chocolate, you choose. Life or Death. You choose."

 She said,"Life is my favorite flavor." Sweet Jessi.

More simple pleasures I am extremely grateful for: Extra bedroom mirrors, built-in hairdryers with green night lights, complementary bottled water, my own bed, falling asleep before 10:30 PM, the Gulf Coast, old friendships,  seafood, and Gelato.

The same favor we showed Bo yesterday in The Galleria parking garage, got returned to us in kind today, like a mirror reflects what is before it.

I am eager to roll up my sleeves and work today with the two volunteer groups Terri arranged for us to serve alongside. Resisting the feelings of guilt, stemming from thinking I need to work to earn my keep, I am  reminded that God loves me just as much as he loves His other worthy treasures that we are here to find and show His extraordinary goodness to. And not put limits on it, like I think I need to be or do anything to deserve his provision. He is Good. He is Kind. He is Love. He is Provider. That is who He is and that is what he does. For me. For His other Treasures. For you.

Faith & Works

FAITH & WORKS

Monday:

Susie, Missy's sister, created a daily devotional like journal for each day we are on the road. This day's entry, like all the others, perfectly fit with what The Lord is doing in us, through us and for us.

James 2:14-24

When I heard that this was our scripture reading, I got super excited. This is our first official go- do- random- acts -of -kindness day, to see what comes up and to whom we minister God's love!

We arrived in the Birmingham area, Trussville (which I immediately began calling TRUSTVILLE in my mind), and checked in early. We had a short travel day from Atlanta and wanted to get out there and do whatever it was that God opened for us. “We can go to the Mall or we can go to downtown Birmingham, but we can't do both,” Lesa said. “You choose.” Mary, Missy and I sat in the car as Lesa checked us in. God had another teachable moment for me.

In my heart I wanted to go into the shopping district but I thought to myself that this is selfish or it would seem self centered, of course the greater good and need would be in downtown. It would turn out, however, quite the contrary.

The downtown area was not bustling like Atlanta. It was not like Norfolk, with tons or restaurants and shops and people walking about. It looked more like a financial district with offices, railroad, auto body shops, automotive repair garages and other industrial businesses. We parked on a bridge and walked several blocks down hill to get lunch and see what came up.

 There were beautiful old buildings with ornate detail and rustic old painted signs, cool old doorways,

 brick roads and a discarded umbrella next to the the Red Cross Building in the alley. You will have to look on Mary's Instagram for that picture. It is awesome.

 We saw a 60 year old Coca Cola machine that still worked and a beautiful wrought iron gate which held us back from an interesting courtyard filled with sculpture and patio furniture. According to a man who just happened to walk out a door next to this place at the same time we wondered about it, that it belongs to a world renown iron artist, Brad Morton, who had cast many sculptures, including A Nun, at St Vincent's hospital.

The only people we saw in this area were working.

We joked around with the cafeteria workers as we made it down the line at the restaurant we found but other than that, there was nothing to do in downtown Birmingham except take a few photos and head back out. We went to scope out the location of the restaurant we had an appointment with a minister and his wife later that evening to make sure we could find it and then went to The Galleria several more miles down the road. The Galleria is a huge mall with two parking garages. We parked in the garage next to Sears. We did not know what would come up at the mall. We were not there to go shopping shopping. We were “shopping” for treasures!

We had not gotten out of the garage before we found a huge need. I walked by a car with a hood up, a young man sitting in the driver seat on a cell phone. I was stuck on the cowboy boots thing and women needs. Lesa did not walk by. “ Do you need a jump?” Bo said yes and he did not have any jumper cables. “We'll go buy you some. This is Sears.”

Bo worked there and showed us where we could find them. He was in shock and in awe. His mother had been telling him he is blessed and highly favored. I learned this after I had told him the same thing seconds before. We got the cables, and jumped his car, but not before another Sears co-worker, Derek, came to help. I engaged him in conversation, asking about him, drawing him out with leading questions. Turns out, he needed prayer for direction. I heard the word,”SERVANT.” I asked more questions. A church goer doing service in an area that is not his passion, I probed further. He desires to work in the basketball ministry at church. His current schedule is unstable and will not allow for it now. So I prayed more for a stable schedule or open doors for God to make it available for him to volunteer and serve in the area of his passion. Then I joined the others to pray for Bo. “PASTOR.” I asked if he was considering being a pastor. Turns out he had been. As a college student pursiung civil engineering and real estate, I perceived there may be tension between Pastoring and the marketplace. I encouraged him that they were not mutually exclusive, that the marketplace needs pastors as well. Turns out his passion is going back into his hometown, the most poverty stricken city in Alabama. He wants to shift the atmosphere ethere and transform the city and the people to break the poverty spirit of that town using real estate, and ownership.

After the battery charged we followed Bo to the Sears Automotive shop to buy him a new battery. We hung out with him and fellowshipped together for over an hour in the wait room. It was marvelous to see God touch Bo in this way.

As our time to spend treasure hunting was now over, we left the mall and made our way over to Lifeway Christian bookstore to get a greeting card for the couple we were meeting for dinner that night. I suggested we get a car sticker in preparation for the tornado ravaged cities that reads,”Clergy.” I found a Pastor sticker and a Clergy card that hangs from the rear view mirror. At the check out line, a Christian woman stood patiently as the clerk had computer problems. The system was down and would not accept a debit or credit card. Lesa said, "I have cash. I will pay for her stuff.” The lady's response was short at first. “Oh no you won't!”When we insisted that this is the reason for our being there, she relented her stand and accepted with thanksgiving. “I can't wait to get to Bible study to tell everyone!”

We made our way back to the restaurant where we would be meeting Ralph and Deborah. These two saints put their lives on the line and togo where the Lord leads. They left everything 6 months ago to come to Alabama from California. The church position they were coming to did not work out as they anticipated. We came just at the right time, with the right word to encourage and bless this beautiful couple. We became instant friends and over dinner, they spoke revelations of God's love, grace and rest.

One particular topic Ralph shared especially spoke directly to my heart. “It is Christ IN you, the hope of glory. God, in Christ, is IN YOU. Since Christ is in you, then when you touch another person, in reality, they are being touched by The Lord himself. How did things transform for the people who Jesus touched? When I touch someone, its with the delibrate intention that they are being touched by the Lord himself. I don't worry about whether they are healed or not, receive results right away or not. I know they have been touched by God and God is working things out for them.” He also shared part of the scriptures from James that began our adventure: Faith without works is dead.

It was our turn to speak into their lives. We encouraged them that the gifts and word in them were exactly what the body of Christ needs, and what we needed. That the mission trip would not be the same because of the words they spoke. That the revelations of grace, rest and love and the touch of Christ now has altered they way I would do ministry from that point forward. I welcomed them to come to Virginia. “We need your ministry in Virginia. If not coming to stay, come for vacation and come see what God is doing in our area." 

Lesa also did what she does so well, and encouraged them to dream and make their vision plain and write it out, without limits of time or money. “If you could do anything, if you had all the money and time you needed, what would you do?” She recommended they write it out separately and then come together and discuss it and tweek it together and see what God unfolds for them during the process. 

As we got up to leave, Ralph took us, one by one and prophesied words that echoed words others spoke only one day before. (For me he said that all night he saw a Railroad crossing sign over me. That I was for a long time stuck at the tracks, waiting for a train to come along and the train never came. He said he saw that I had been hindered up to that point. He said that God has removed what was stopping me. That He would continue to work in that area of transformation which had begun recently (human connection on a deep, deep level). For the first time in my life, I felt like I was gently touched by Jesus. My heart melted. It was more tender and kind and loving than my father's touch ever had been, as sweet as those touches were. I long to transfer that kind of touch to people, not just a powerful touch with Light and electricity and healing, but gentleness and kindness and love and joy and peace and rest as well. I never knew that it was possible to be touched in this way.

The card was given, with a surprise hidden inside and we parted ways. I hope we will see these remarkable missionaries again. And we saw God answered Missy's prayers for the first several people we meet to minister to and bless would "be easy and received well." And they were. God be praised. We returned to the hotel to worship, praise and pray and receive Communion. What a fabulous day.

The Romance Dance

The Romance Dance

SUNDAY We made another simple discovery today. It takes a bit longer than an hour and a half for four women to get ready and out the door. Missy and Mary did not have time to eat breakfast and Missy applied her makeup in the car. We were on time for the Atlanta Bethel prophesy team. Pretty much on the dot on time. Whee.

Image from ibethelatlanta.org/site/index.html

The church meets at The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) building on Hunter Road.

By the time we arrived, the worship band was already practicing, the chairs were set up, the children's area had all the signs posted, the coffee table was set, everything seemed in its place, and peace had pervaded the place. We waited in the lobby along the front windows for Hector and his team to arrive.

On one wall in the lobby hallway there was a map of the Atlanta area with the home groups pointed out. I did not count them as we waited but I saw that these home groups are going to explode and pop like popcorn all over the city. An ember has blown across the city and it is catching the whole area on fire. Later, after worship, I saw a huge flock of birds who were at first congregating on the ground, get stirred up by the presence of the Holy Spirit, which caused them all to take off in flight all at once and scatter, filling the sky, and in every direction, across the city.

image from aaccessmaps.com/show/map/us/ga/atlanta_metro_sw

Then one by one, we went in to a room for the first part of the Dance lead by Daddy God. For those readers who may not be aware of this, the Bible refers to God, who is our heavenly Father, as Abba Father. Abba is a term of endearment and can be translated Daddy. So Daddy God began The Romance Dance with each one of us, one by one.

The words of prophesy for each of us were accurate, and reflected what we already knew of one another. And embellishing the fabric of our gifts, were seed pearls and sparkly sequins of detail that took our breath away with more amazement, excitement and anticipation. Not only did Daddy begin the Romance dance. He gave us fitting clothes to wear for the occasion.

image modified from skyjules.com/mirrored-cloud-wings/

Before the service, the Intercessor team surrounded us like a rope to pray over us and gave some more words of prophesy and encouragement. We were well taken care of, as the Bethel people are kind and hospitable, and procured seats in the third row in the center. Worship was beautiful. The presence of God could tangibly be felt in the room. I recorded a brief clip of one of the songs we sang. If I can figure out how to post it here, I will, so you can experience a piece of the dance for yourself.

The service was excellent and I felt honored to see what the Spirit of God is doing in this group of head over -heels- in -love -with- Jesus Christians. They are up to big things; the supernatural is normal and extravagant generosity makes sense. The Lead pastor acknowledged our presence, along with other notable visitors in the room. It was not necessary, but we were honored in the presence of the congregation. We felt welcome all over again. We happened to be come the day the introduction of the new pastor and his wife, who had only arrived from Redding, CA a few days earlier with their 4 daughters, occurred for the whole church. They shared their hearts and in a nutshell, what I see, Daddy God is romancing this group of people too. They are heading toward huge things.

The constant comfort of a daddy image by Missy Smith at Bethel Atlanta

I did not want it to end, except for the rumblings of our bellies. As the intercessor team prayed for anyone desiring prayer up front, we were introduced to several more people as we made our way out the aisle. One of the women, Suzanne, walked past me to talk to Lesa and as she did I felt and saw a big container of power go past. When the opportunity presented itself and I knew the timing was right for it, I gave her a word of prophesy about this. I felt like the words coming out my mouth were packages of power, pointed and marked for a bulls eye. The packets of power feeling confirmed one of the Words I got only minutes before. The Dance continued. I called Suzanne our first fruits. She was activated this day as well.Glide. Twirl. Do-See-Do.

Suzanne sent another beautiful lady out to the car to get a special book to give to us.She felt God was going to use us to go deeper into intercession and wanted us to have this book. She came back in drenched from the downpour outside. Sacrifice. Love. Generosity. Dance, step, twirl.

We ended up not being able to find the restaurant we intended to go to (GPS took us on a wild goose chase, but we got to see the city and pray over it and experience the beauty of mid town.) On our second attempt, we finally came to the recommended burger joint.

I have been on the look out for cowboy boots but never saw any. I was reminded that I do not need to force anything to happen.

Grindhouse Killer Burger

Most excellent veggie burger I have ever eaten, made from two kinds of beans and quinoa, smothered in grilled onion, mushrooms and swiss. The salad was made from deep leafy mixed greens, pickled red peppers and blue cheese crumbled on top with other bits of raw veggies on top. Everyone else had real beef burgers.  The Romance Dance swayed on.

We went into the downtown area after lunch and intended to walk around the area but a downpour kept us from our initial plans and we found a two story Target instead, parked in the adjacent parking garage. I have never seen women get so excited about a two story ANYTHING let alone a two story Target. We loved the shopping cart escalator device. As big as Newport News and Hampton are, I still felt like a little country girl in the big city as Mary and Missy experienced abandoned delight at these simple pleasures.

We discovered The Container Store was across the street so we went. It stopped raining and the dark heavy clouds did not deter us from going. It is basket heaven over there. It began raining again as we made our way back to the parking garage, so we ran into CVS to find postcards. As we waited for the rain to let up some, I connected with and loved people near the front door. Step, sway, twirl.

Once back into the car and on the road again, the GPS took us through winding roads through the old money parts of Atlanta where the homes for sale are on the market for over $10 million dollars. (I know because I looked on the Realtor smart phone ap.) It was like a ride in a park. Glide. Spin. Slide.

Outside the city, heading toward Alabama, the city scene made way into hills, forests and fields, wound over rivers, expansive gray skies and green upon green monochromatic landscapes. I never realized how beautifully hilly this area is. Twirl. Glide. Gaze.

Alabama opened with at least two National Forests, one after the other, against the backdrop of the mountains to the west. Swing. Glide. Swirl. Breathing free.

The hotel was only an hour and a half from Atlanta, midway between our next destination. As we rounded the bend past other hotel chains, much to Missy and Mary's delight, we saw our hotel, and peeking just above the roofline, was the Mellow Mushroom road sign, a beacon to the pizza place they have been romanticizing the whole trip for Lesa and I, who had never heard of it. And then the familiar orange and black shield: Harley Davidson was right next door, in between the Mellow Mushroom and our hotel. A little further down the road, an Antique Mall Shop and a nail salon, all within walking distance. We will have a few hours free time later and can use them in any way we want. Sashe. Turn. Glide.Swirl. Spin.

We fellowshipped as a team in the whirlpool hot tub at the hotel after dinner. Slide. Twirl. Dip.

What else could we do as a response to His Romance Dance but soak in His sweet goodness and love and return it right back to Him in praise and thanksgiving? Ending the day with Communion and prayer, capped off by sweet slumber, we were kissed by Daddy God all day in a Romance Dance that swept us off our feet and captivated our hearts again and again.

image by Missy Smith Communion in Alabama