Finally...South of the Border...that is...Columbia, SC

back to Our Walk of Faith

Well, it's been a while...Tuesday is when we actually left the Cuthrells house...they dropped us off in Moravian Falls at almost the exact same time that we arrived at their house one week earlier...crazy because we had no idea that we would stay so long in one place!! Oh, but what a blessing!!! When we arrived at the prayer fest, we said a teary good-bye and Chris and I went in to the big tent. The words to the song the band was playing kept ringing in my mind "Take me back to my first love...Take me back to my first love." (That's where I am right now...I don't remember ever feeling this in love with God! Even in the tiredness of travel and service...there is such joy and peace in God!) Well, we went on in, but the worship was really different from anything either of us had experienced. I was a little uncomfortable, and wasn't sure that we were in the right place...I began praying and asking the Lord to show me if it was okay to stay. We were sitting near the back and all of a sudden, God sent Matthew (a guy remarkably similar in appearance to Matthew Gunn, one of my brother's friends from forever ago). He began asking us questions and sharing his heart for the Lord and it was authentic. Then he told us that he was one of the people who helped set up and organize this 21 day prayer fest. Confirmation...so we stayed...we pitched our tent (a little sad because the book's subtitle can't be And We Never Opened the Tent, but also excited to see what God would do in this place...) We met a lady who is on her way to Brazil in the tent beside us, and then we walked down to have smores at the bonfire. After talking to several interesting people and learning that IHOP can also mean International House of Prayer, we were pretty tired and decided to head to bed. That's when we met Zack. He grew up on the streets, struggled with drugs etc., but then he found Christ. He is so in love with Him. He quoted the same scripture that the Lord used to give me peace when it was time to leave our oh, so cute apartment on S. 4th St..."Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man does not have a place to lay His head"(Matt 8:20)...more confirmation. thank you, Lord! It was a little cold that night, so we zipped our sleeping bags together and found that verse in Ecclesiates to be true "On a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone?" (4:11) The next morning, we went through the Hall of Repentance the organizers set up...the scripture was really powerful and The Passion was playing...It's good to remember how unworthy all of us are of the love, grace and mercy that is extended to us from God to Jesus!! There were 24 prayer closets set up with different themes, so we prayed and read a bit. Then we walked through the hall they set up to teach about Israel and the 3 feasts from Leviticus 23 that the festival is based on. The Festival of Trumpets--a call to us to repentance; The Day of Atonement--Jesus is our atoning sacrifice; The Festival of Shelters--Jesus is our rest. We arrived during the Festival of Shelters interestingly enough...the Israelites lived in a tent during this festival to remind them of the time that God brought theme out of Egypt...hmm, and we were staying in a tent as well ;-) Okay...a little more of God's timing...Chris and I came out of the big tent as Melvin and Melva Williams drove up! I was just about to turn my phone on to see where they were...Another blessing...fellowshipping together with them and learning about what God has done in their lives. (Melva is part of the intercessor prayer group from home...the first familiar face we've seen since leaving Jordan Lake. We thought that they might be coming, so we asked for some warmer clothes...thank you, thank you, thank you) We learned about Israel and met some people who live and work there. One guy actually helps feed the homeless there at a place called the Jaffa House--there's a neat story about one of God's way of doing things....ask us sometime and we'll tell you. We also learned about a man named Lonnie Frisbee that apparently was the catalyst for The Jesus Movement, the revival that took place within the Calvary Chapel Churches, and The Vineyard. I'm interested to learn more about that. (If the Lairds or Amy or Jason Vreeke or anyone else knows about those movements of the Holy Spirit, we'd like to know more.) This is a picture of a shofar...it was the "trumpet" used by the Israelites when they blew the trumpets and God knocked down the walls of Jericho. It was their battle cry. The trumpet blow also represented the beginning of a new month.
On Thursday, The Williams were leaving Moravian Falls and offered to give us a ride (and to let us take a shower and to take us to lunch!!) Columbia, SC was on our hearts and minds, so we asked if that was on their way...it was, so we were able to spend a little more time with them (They hold the record right now for furthest in one day...over 200 miles!) (Another thought...God has been providing couples so far...it's been a time of girl time, guy time and couple time...kinda neat how God ministers to you where you are!!) Well, lunch was good...a little too good to Chris...we were about over 30 miles from Columbia and all of the sudden Chris said...I need to find a bathroom right now. Melva quickly pulled over at the closest gas station. Chris made a bee-line to the bathroom, and I picked up a map. I wanted to find a library in Columbia...none were marked on the map, but where there is God, there is a way! Jonathan Rabon spoke up from behind me...what are you looking for? He said it a second time before I realized that he was talking to me. I asked about the library and he told me and showed me on the map where it was. Then I asked if he knew where Christ Central (the organization that we worked with in Biloxi) is located in Columbia. He had actually been looking for is earlier this month!! It's located one street over from the library. I couldn't believe it. He's also involved in a church that supports the Christ Cental in Wagener!! I went to the bathroom, but when I got back, I found out that he was going to lead us to the library!!! So we got an escort straight to the library! Amazing! The library was closed, but we found the Salvation Army (where we stayed the night last night) and then we found Christ Central. What testimonies of God's power?!!! We met person after person at the Salvation Army who has been changed by God!! Karen-who's been clean 3 years (and her story of faith...giving to God 1st and His taking care of her rent, food, and utilities when the budget didn't work out on paper) Rosa (pictured on the left)-who's known the Lord 24 years and was feeling tired and worn out has been renewed by the Holy Spirit and she's sharing the morning devotion...it was great this morning (She was also friends with Redfern that we met in Biloxi...another awesome story if we ever get to share with you in person)...Lucky's been clean for 2+ years and he gives God all the credit...he went from a hustler on the streets to serving in the kitchen where we helped with breakfast this morning! We met another couple who met through the program at the Salvation Army...He used to ride with Hell's Angels, but now he is the handy man. They just got married last month, and she works on the computers that the residents can use. Then there's Bridget--she's been in the program 1 week, but she met God about 3 years again while she was in jail through Psalm 139. She gave us 4 packets of hand sanitizer...a precious commodity on the road because they are light-weight and easier to pack than a bottle. I'm afraid that I'm leaving someone out...so many awesome stories of God's redemption in such a small amount of time! It was really great meeting everyone there and we're thankful to Kelly who God used to show us around and to give us a place to stay. I guess now it's on to Christ Central...we met Philip (who was on the run from God, but He caught up with him at Christ Central 9 years ago, and he's been working their ever since.) who put us in touch with Pastor Jimmy (who we met in Biloxi). He's in Wagener, and it looks like God is going to allow our paths to cross this afternoon. We also learned of the Thursday night service and meal. (On our way from the Salvation Army, we stopped at McDonald's where we met Melvin (not the one from Smithfield) and we invited him to go with us. He walked with us there, but he wouldn't go in, so we prayed for freedom from alcoholism and anything else the devil might be using to hold him in bondage. Pray for him when the Lord lays his name on your heart!) The service was wonderful...We met the director Sylvia Sylva, an awesome woman of God...and the 1st Presbyterian Church of Columbia was there to help with the service. The music was wonderful and the message was relevant. (Two things that happen with the Holy Spirit is involved...God keeps reminding me a lot lately that the Holy Spirit is our teacher and He reveals truth to us from God's Word if we will ask Him!) The message was from Psalm 3... When you are surrounded by your enemies or life seems overwhelming...Focus on God! Trust in God! Rest in God! Wow and what rest there is in Him!! After the service, we helped serve the meal and we met some people from the church...They offered us a place to stay, a shower, and a place to wash our clothes...Isn't it amazing how God provides? We haven't taken anyone up on their offer yet because God has provided soooo much that we are just patiently waiting for Him to lead us and to show us the next step. We did accept a ride back to the Salvation Army from Frank and Kristen...their story is similar to ours in some ways...they've been married only 1-2 months less than us...anyway...we're not sure where we're headed after we up-date, but at least you know where we've been until now! We hope that you are relying on the Lord to meet your every need and that you are taking every opportunity to boldly proclaim your story about His glory in your life!! God bless!