My daughter and I went to the Montclair Plaza to look for a place to get the screen of her cell phone replaced. During the estimated 45 minute wait time we went to the Sweet Factory. You know how when you're trying to break a sugar habit ALL you want is sugar? Yes, so it was the sour cherry balls I was looking for. At $12.99/lb you KNOW I was sure not to go overboard.
Afterward we walked down to Barnes and Noble and AMAZINGLY I did not buy another journal or any other stationary item that is generally hard for me to resist especially being half price. So my conscience, Brenae, was there "to tell me no." Vibe killer. I walked over to the Christian section to peruse the titles. I told her I needed a Talmud; she said I had enough Christian books. I argued that it was Jewish but she was serious about the vibe killing business- and effective. Forlorn, I suggested we walk back to where we dropped off the cell phone, grab some Starbucks and then find a table facing the booth so we can stare at the repairman to see if that would encourage him to hurry.
At Starbucks we placed our order- I had to get jiggy wit it and order an Italian soda which the barrista had no clue about but was willing. Brenae ordered her standard menu item, I paid; we waited... and waited as they called out other people's drinks and placed them on the counter. They called again for two abandoned caramel macchiatos... Who orders and neglects their Starbucks? I mean, this is a rare treat for me so... how can someone leave them there looking all sad and abandoned?
Finally some brave souls walked up to, wait a minute, not claim them but say they're the wrong drinks. Inside I gasped a little. Not only were the being abandoned but outright rejected! A brief discussion commences over the matter and a woman using the assistance of a wheelchair turns to Brenae and me and asks if we want them. We start to decline but she insists that we can find someone that may need the two abandoned "upside down" caramel macchiatos. Uh, sure! We take the drinks and seats inside the store and waited for our order.
Not long after the woman walked out with the correct drink and we all lived happily ever after. That is until I heard the Holy Spirit say go pray for her. You know the weirdest things cross your mind when that happens- all at once too! Then there's that sobering internal alarm that asks "you're telling Him no?" Then you do tha sheepish (stupid) Will Smith thing as if to say "Uncle Phil you know I was just playing." I told Brenae to watch my purse and then bolted outta there.
I asked the woman if she would mind if I prayed for her. Not only did she not mind but her face lit up. She introduced herself as Deirdre and told me she was battling Lupus and recently had a back surgery. She told me how sweet it was that I would do such a thing and told me I smiled the whole time I was in the Starbucks... She told me that it was no coincidence that we were there at that time- that she and her daughter weren't supposed to be there... So there we were at the Montclair Plaza calling on God for her healing and thanking Him for it; declaring it.
On any given day I can think of at least a thousand things that I'm not, or even who I am not. Today, I wish I could say I was willing. That would be an awesome tale to tell. The truth is God was willing. 'Nuff said.
I was listening to the gospels of Mark and Luke in particular Mark 13:11 ... take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
I had no clue what I was going to say to that woman when I was having my internal conversation with Holy Spirit. I didn't need to. Like I said HE was willing. Looking back when He is willing you don't have much of a choice save for get with the program. I mean, there's a choice. The incorrect one has consequences. I didn't know what the Lord had in mind but what if I had continued to sit there at Starbucks waiting for my Italian soda as if I didn't hear what I heard or second guessed it?
Oh, yes, the cell phone! The man at the booth told Brenae and the woman ahead of us the same time- 45 minutes. At the time we dropped it off I wondered how he could promise both at the same time. I decided to check on it early but when I saw the woman that was ahead of us sitting at a table still waiting I was briefly hesitant. I still went to check on it and, voilà, it was ready! Been ready!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:19
No comments:
Post a Comment