Let me back this up a bit if I may. Days ago there was a heavy rain in my area. I was heading out to walk and a storm came in. Strong winds and heavy rain. I waited until the storm passed by and then Holy Spirit said come and walk now. It was amazing, there was not one car parked in the parking lot where I walk. The little brook that I walk by tended to be dried up but not after that rain fall we had. There is something so refreshing and soothing at the same time when I hear the babbling brook. I was at the end of my walking trail and just about to head to my car and Holy Spirit says to me "Turn around 3 times to my left and I did and then He said turn 1 time to my right , I did." You needed that background because it plays into the rest of the story/journey/adventure.
I was really on a mission as part of my trip to Dalton, GA. Holy Spirit sent me on an assignment along with a day of shopping. Also and most important, visiting with my son and mother for the day. My mother is 90 years old and she made the car journey with my son driving about 90 plus miles each way for our day of fun and fellowship. My son was transporting a precious piece of my family lineage. Remember when I shared with you all that there was a portrait of my father that was drawn when he was younger (younger in the respect that he already had his 4 children, us that is?) He transported it and I then brought it back home with me. I found the perfect spot for me to display it on one of my walls. It is a pose of him with a gentle smile. My niece gave me a painted wooden block a few years ago that states "Be Blessed." That now rests upon the top portion of the picture frame. A tiny bit of my family heritage/inheritance that we did not attain when he died. I shared that story on this blog before.
The plan was to meet at the gift shop. We did and we all did a bit of shopping since it was a Christmas Open House at the store that day, 20% off of sales. No sooner do I arrive at the gift shop and the owner and I briefly converse and share what has been happening in our lives. The family comes into the shop and I then introduce them to a few people I know in this lovely gift shop. I see Cynthia is there that day also. She is the woman that months ago when I stopped in for prayer when heading back from Atlanta the owner kept sending in people to be prayed for so I prayed with her and these people but never really did receive prayer that day. I refresh her memory of that incident and I then proceed to tell her that I still need that prayer she was to pray with me. My family is seated in comfortable chairs and waiting to now check out their purchases. I asked if it was ok for me to get prayer. They said fine and I then go into the prayer room with Cynthia. She places the oil upon her hands then she tells me to do the same. The prayer commences and she is praying a power filled prayer for me. At one point she stands up and tells me to remain seated. I feel if I can describe it as if it was a melting taking place inside of me and I relax and something that needed to be removed from me was then removed. Then she starts to speak a beautiful prayer over me and mentions a few times "sounds of heaven." She also saw me as my child like faith following God's direction and His staff when He beckons me to do acts of faith. As she prayed that the image comes to my mind of the day at the walking trail in which Holy Spirit had me do the turn arounds. She also spoke that He is pleased that I bring forth the sound of heaven via the rain stick and that it will increase she may have said it will be either heightened or become louder? As we conclude in prayer I share with her that she did not know that my blog has the very words "sounds of heaven" in it. I did not share the full title of my blog for my instruction is to not tell people the blog name and Holy Spirit guides people to this very blog. She thanked me for the confirmation. Ok so as we conclude in prayer I keep hearing that a family blessing should be prayed over my family that is there with me. I did the courteous and respectful/orderly thing I ask my family if they would like to go into the prayer room for a blessing prayer, they declined. So I go back into the prayer room and share that with Cynthia and I say to her that I still think a family blessing prayer should be prayed. We did right then and there between her and I.
After that gift shop stop we then go to Tuesday Morning, then TJ Maxx and did a bit more shopping. Then we had a lovely lunch/dinner and I then went my direction home and they went their direction home. Isn't that true love? My family took the time to drive and meet me so we could visit and bring me my father's portrait. The funny thing is my parents really did not get along too good but I know they will get along in heaven for all eternity. My son joked with my mom that grandpa was on a road trip with them. Sorry Grandpa, his car ride was in the trunk though. Now that I think of it he also road in the trunk of my car on my journey back home too. So as to fit and not get jostled around. I will share pictures of earlier in the day. There is a body of water I cross over on this journey and it was so beautiful yesterday morning. The fog was rising and burning off of the water.
So onto marketplace ministry today. Wow what a powerful experience I had today. I suggested that we sample a variety of a newer brand of popcorn we sell. See, I am really good at engaging customers to be a part of the sampling experience. One lady even assured me today that her husband would not try the popcorn because he likes the way he makes popcorn at home. Guess what? He tried it, I gently suggested that he should just try it to compare it to the one he makes at home. I think this popcorn brand is a winner. Guests liked it. I have found that guests when I sample food items in the store tend to like more favorable savory type of samples as opposed to sweet type of samples. Unless, it is the old fashioned/original recipe Hershey's Chocolate bar. That is the one with the old time looking wrapper on the chocolate bar.
As I was engaging guests there were a few travelers heading back to Chattanooga. I tell them I just passed through there the day before. As we continue to share long story short...the female guest mentions the church she attends. It is the church in which I went to a "Women of Fire" conference weeks ago. Oh my gosh we were in the same services Imagine That. God always has a plan and purpose doesn't He? She shares her testimony with me and as she is speaking I keep hearing the words "Abundant Blessings." I shared those words with her I think it was 2 or 3 times in a row. She said the abundant blessing already began. Sure enough as she was heading out of the store I do believe with a bag of that popcorn her family sampled that they purchased I reminded her again of those words and blessed them with travelling mercy.
I decide I will not be making a trip home for Thanksgiving this year. I feel led to stay in town and to offer my hospitality services and bless others on Thanksgiving. I asked to please put me on the schedule to work my few hour shift at my marketplace ministry job. It is good to bless families on this family oriented holiday. I truly do get blessed more than you can imagine when I see families gathering to enjoy the holiday or even just picking up food orders for their family to enjoy that very day. God is GOOD, God is FAITHFUL and I love, I truly love God with all I am and all I hope to be and with all He sees me as being. Do You?
You know the cd my son suggested I get last week. It has blessed me immensely all week long and in the car yesterday also. "Look Up Child" was the song I had on replay mode yesterday.
This is important too. The owner of the gift shop said I had to go over and meet an author that was selling and signing copies of her book. I introduced myself to her and we chatted a bit. She was originally from Franklin, TN and I shared how I moved to TN to accept a job there a few years ago. I told her how I have a blog and she wrote down my name I wonder why she did that. I purchased the book and I know just the person to give it to.
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| Hey I think we all tend to have the same smile. Blue eyes definitely win in this picture. My brown eyes are outnumbered by the blue eyes. My son definitely has my fathers pronounced cleft in his chin. Spending time with family truly does matter. I needed this far more than I thought. This picture was taken at the end of our day of sharing. I miss them. I talked to my daughter this morning and I sure do miss her too. |
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