I came home from work to find my electricity turned off. Oh yeah, it is Friday. I guess I thought David, the renter, would probably have turned it on, but I was wrong. Thus I was in the dark. No computer, no light. UGH! I frantically called Terry--who I had plans with in a while-to see if I could sleep at her place. Belma was not home and I had just told her I would be there tomorrow. So here I am at Terry’s. She and Darrell and DJ went to a late movie. And I am savoring my last night (although I will have internet at work) at the computer in a week… yikes!

I have now shared in details what God has done three times--to Robin first, then Darrell, and now Terry. But there is no doubt this was the most significant simply because of her involvement in it. It was really an awesome time and awesome talk. We ended sharing communion, which was the most significant of all.

She believes God brought me here to teach me the very thing I learned so I could have that for the ministry He has for me--whatever that is. I suppose, despite all the great things I see the Lord has done, I am a bit ministry gun shy. And I can’t say with as much certainty as she can that God brought me here for this--though I know it was His desire to accomplish this (so maybe it is semantics), but it was still pretty awesome. It was so interesting to hear her take on things. And I know that is why she believes as she does: because of what she has seen on her side of it all. Since God gave HER clear instructions during these months I think it is easier for her, seeing both sides, to see God’s future plan. I am just excited there is a future!

She truly delighted in it and saw it as awesome as I knew she would. I am not ready to share it with eveyrone. It is truly a pearls-before-swine situation--I think this is one where I must be led by God. It is not a testimony to the masses deal like some things are. But that is okay, when the time is right I will know. But it is revelation for sure. And I think I know it even moreso because of things that have happened in the last week or two even. I have had opportunity to live it out and it is HARD. This very day I was praying up a storm of pleading to God to make His word alive in this area--but as I stepped out in faith He did it. And how can it be real if the practice cannot be played out?

Tonight, I sit entertaining thoughts of moving. Where am I going to live? I think I know. But church is the mystery. I want to do what God wants. I think many times He lets us make our own decisions but I need to pray before I decide He is doing that. I have a few options, but only one seems easy. I won’t really be near anywhere logical to attend.

Terry saw my heart last week.

It was a ministry time at church and people needed prayer and Darrell had us just go lay hands on people. Terry and I ended up at the same person--there were only four and only two were ladies--and still high on the word of God in me and the passion for prayer that has been rebirthed--I was praying from my heart, I FELT that prayer--it was all over me. But I was kneeling beside the lady and not praying very loudly because someone else really was. But tonight Terry told me she happened to open her eyes for a second and saw me praying for her and saw my “heart of intercession.” I had no idea, but she really nailed it. She had some insight there. For now I take it with a grain of salt--I like what she said, but I want to be careful.

She thinks the things I admire so in her--the passion to pray for anyone at anytime--are because I have that anointing in me and she wants to anoint me to go forth also in a “double way.” That is what she says. I don’t know. I know I believe it. I know what she says is my heart. It HAS been my heart. From the day I discovered the power of agreeing prayer I have wondered why we always pray FOR people and not WITH them. But Terry was the first person knew who always stopped and prayed with them. I mean, it is absolutely epidemic! Yesterday even when I called to tell her of the job, she was so excited and then the next thing out of her mouth was “let’s thank Him.” We didn’t talk ABOUT what God did--we instantly stopped to thank HIM for doing it. I think God is so honored by that. But I am ashamed to say I do not take the initiative that way. But I am trying harder and committing more. It is not as automatic--I have to force myself. But today I did. My educational assistant always asks me to pray fro her and her husband. She is a sweet older Hispanic lady who admires my faith (that had to be God since I was such a mess so much of the year!) and today I bit the bullet as she shared and said “let me just pray for you now.” We were on a break and the kids came in even as we were praying. But man, quick as it was, her eyes welled up with tears. “Thank you so much,” she cried. That simple act had touched her heart like no words of comfort could. Why does that surprise me? The very thing changed my life.

I believe--I don’t have a word or anything solid, but I believe--that whatever is about to change in my future it will involve intercessory prayer in a POWERFUL fashion. How the heck that is going to happen in deep northeast Texas is beyond me--but it is in me and has been since Nov. 21. And it is growing.

What Terry said to me regarding prayer was very encouraging. And it seems to me that what has happened in the past few weeks is no accident in how prayer has been integral just as it was six years ago. I shared with Terry how some of the very revelation came on the same interstate highway in Texas as some of the first one six years ago. But this time I was going the opposite direction farther down. I think that is metaphorical for now--I am in a similar area but in the same direction farther down. It won’t be the same way prayer was involved last time or the same place or even the same people--but it will be the same power--in a greater measure.

Meanwhile I plan the next road trip--the trip home. I decided to take off early next Friday. I can’t get on the freeway at rush hour with a trailer. So I asked to leave at lunch. Rae will drive me here to get my car and trailer and I will get on the road by 2 or so. I will either drive to Phoenix or Tucson--I won’t know till I get a feel of driving with the trailer. I will be on flat land so I should be able to coast, but we will see. I imagine day two I will drive to Midland or Odessa. Then on Sunday I will trek the final 7-8 hours home to Quitman.

Quitman is home. Crazy as that sounds. Wild as that seems. Quitman is where I grew up and became whole. It is home. And people are surprised because I claimed to hate it--but I don’t. I hated how I left--Sue--Chadwick--the vocal issues. I left when I had nothing left. I return alive with everything. He is my all in all and so I don’t need anything.

I am reenrolled in graduate school journalism classes for my job. I am excited about that. Meanwhile I am hoping to go shopping before I go home. I have little appropriate to wear to teach college. To be a professional on that campus at my stature and appearance, I must really dress up. So I want to hit Macy’s and other stores here in LA where the selection is wider. Lots of changes for this job. Miss Internet is finally going high speed too! I have to for my online class (and of course, that makes it tax deductible!) I am so excited about the job and hope it DOES turn permanent. But I am ALSO excited about the commute! That is a God thing. Period. But I can’t wait.

I have to go to bed for now. I had a great night but after two nights of scarcely sleeping I am wiped out. Tomorrow I get a trailer hitch on my car, finish moving out of my apartment totally, pick up boxes, a prescription, etc. and generally get things together.

Tonight I bask in Him and sleep in peace.