Day 4: The Babushka

Wednesday, January 20th, 2016
Revive FLORIDA

Once again, I was up before the sun -- getting dressed and out the door to the morning prayer meeting with Revive. I don't like having to get up this early. I'm not used to it, but none of that matters because I'm committed. -- Committed to HIM. -- Committed to the cause. -- And committed to being a part of this move of God in my community. I'm not going to miss out on what could be a major event in my life, just because my flesh likes to stay in bed a little longer.  My flesh is just going to have to submit!

There's something awesome about stepping into a sanctuary at 7 a.m. and experiencing the tangible presence of God. Tangible means you can touch it!  It's real!  Is it because it's so early in the morning that the world isn't able to infiltrate the atmosphere yet? I don't know all the logistics.
I just know that God was there waiting for us -- waiting for me!

Jon Russell was 
strumming his acoustic.

Voices echoed in praise!

Heaven came down 

and kissed our faces.

What a way to start the day!

After breakfast and a time of training, we broke into groups to go visit local churches and pray blessing over them. Before taking off, each group spent time in prayer asking God for guidance. In my prayer huddle, one of the guys had a vision. In his mind, he perceived an image of a very old lady with some sort of hat pulled down over her head. She was weathered and worn. He said he'd never experienced anything quite like this, but he was overtaken by the idea that God wanted to heal the old woman.

Okay!  God works in mysterious ways. 

We all agreed to keep his vision in mind. We piled into our car and took off to the church listed on our map. Upon arrival, we found ourselves at a little Menonite chapel with a Christian school attached. The kids had been playing on the playground and were heading back inside to return to their studies. As our team parked and got out of the car, another team came over to us and said they had mistakenly come to this church instead of the one down the road.  They had already prayed with the school principal and were heading out. They were hoping we'd go visit the other church.

We were fine with that, so we turned and headed back to our car.  As we started the motor,  Lowayne suddenly spoke up from the back seat, "Hey wait a minute, there's the old lady I saw when we were praying -- The one God wants to heal!"


"Really?" I responded.

"There she is! -- The one with the scarf on her head."  
He announced with excitement. "I can't believe it -- 
it's her!" 

I looked over to where he was pointing and saw a little babushka woman and her husband.

"Let's go then!" I urged.

We all got out of the car 

and the adventure began.

While I grabbed the bag filled with Bibles,  Lowayne, Casey and Darin approached the elderly couple and  engaged in conversation. They were the gardeners of the church property. At first they were a little quiet and hesitant. As I came into the circle I looked at Lowayne and asked out loud, "Did you tell our friend here that you saw her face in prayer this morning and God told you He wanted to heal her?"

I looked into the old woman's face and smiled. Something melted right then and there. The Holy Spirit was already at work. Slowly, she began to open up and share. Yes! there were prayer needs -- many! We spent the next twenty minutes or so huddled in a circle interceding on her behalf.  When we finished, I turned to hug her and something very interesting happened. -- I felt her break in my arms.

In that moment, she let go of all the cares 

that were weighing her down and

God ushered them off the property.

"Please!"  she whispered as tears streamed down her face.
"Pray for my husband. He needs strength."  

I looked around the circle at my crew and stopped at the old man's wrinkled face.

"Would you like prayer too?" I asked. "Prayer for renewal and strength?"
He nodded affirmatively.

The guys huddled around, laid their hands on his shoulders and began to intercede. A holy boldness came upon us and we prayed down a blessing - complete with the anointing of God.

I don't know what to tell you.  

It was like a moment frozen it time. 

It seemed as if all the world stopped while God bent down and met the specific needs of this little Christian couple, who faithfully -- even in their old age -- labored on the church property, raking leaves and pulling weeds for God. I stepped back and took the whole thing in. This Mr. & Mrs. suddenly looked as if they were ten years younger. Their faces glowed. Their smiles were like the smiles of children, surpassing all the cares of the world. They were refreshed, renewed -- their
countenances totally transformed.

Before I knew it we were driving off in the car and they were waving goodbye. If that wasn't enough, it got even better. As we drove Lowayne home, we discovered that this Christian brother lived a rather quiet life. Visions like this were certainly not a part of his repertoire.

God could have given anyone of us that vision,

 but no... He gave it to the one person in the group 

who was the most unlikely person to embrace such a thing.  

With that, we were convinced -- beyond a shadow of a doubt -- that God, Himself was in our midst -- leading and guiding us to specific people with a specific purpose in mind. I believe that's what they call Divine Appointments.

There were more encounters as the day went on. We
stopped for coffee at Duncan Donuts and prayed with
several men and woman -- young and old. It's wonderful
to see how open individuals are to receive public prayer.
I get the impression that many are sick and tired of
 keeping God in the closet. Today, they embraced the
HOPE that was presented to them!

They weren't afraid to bow their heads,

 close their eyes and receive a blessing from God.   
They welcomed it!

Later in afternoon, I teamed up with another group:  Jim, Joel and Teresa. We found ourselves in a local college cafe and happened upon a young Russian girl. We weren't chatting long before we discovered that this beautiful, young, nursing student was a Christian, desperately in need of prayer -- both for healing and for her studies. We gathered around a table, held hands and prayed for God to move in her life.

She was so uplifted and excited that God

had found her in the midst of her turmoil. 

As we left, I couldn't help but notice her smile and confidence as she went in the other direction to rejoin her friend and study. She texted me later, thankful that our paths had crossed, promising to pray now for us, as we continue our outreach into the community.

It never ceases to amaze me  

just how personal God can be. 

 2 Chronicles 16:9b  says...

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth 

to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."

Today, it was evident that God saw the babushka and her husband, as well as the nursing student  (and who knows how many others.) -- He purposely reached down and touched them in their need.    

Don't you see?  

That's because HE's committed, too!  

Revive FLORIDA is a a Partnership Project. He's committed to us! He's committed to the cause of loving people!  He's committed to pouring out HIS heart in this city!

I love that! And that's why there will be no further discussion about the difficulties of getting up before sunrise!

In this together,
Gail