Encounters, Flights and Destinations

Heeeeeey fraaaaaans! It's a while since I've shared! As an adult, life is "life-ing" LOL......like real talk! I could go on and on about life and the different things I have encountered since my last blog, but I'll share that at another time. 

Encounters:

In February, of this year, 2023 I was standing at the "tech station" trying to charge up my phone before I catch this direct flight to L.A. Before I talk about my first encounter, as I was driving to Nashville, I heard HOLY SPIRIT say, "acts of kindness" and random acts of service, and "cash app". So I'm always like, OK, I'm not sure what this all means, but, OK GOD, HOLY SPIRIT, I'll be obedient. For me, that's growth, because I'm usually trying to figure out the "ends and outs" of things. Not today, I surrendered and stayed open to hearing. On my drive up, I was wanting to stop at Lebanon Outlet, but as I looked over to the exit, that thang looked like a ghost town....LOL, and quickly, I made up my mind to stop by Opry Mills. Now, I had already made my mind up, that I wanted to get a special gift for an individual in my life and I knew exactly what I wanted to get, but had no idea, if the mall had a store that carried what I was looking for. As I began to walk through the food court, I promise it was as if Holy Spirit began to direct my path, and send me to the exact place I needed to be. When I walked up to the booth, I was enamored, as it has to the "T", what I had come in the mall for. To make a long story short, remember I made reference to Holy Spirit saying "acts of kindness"? Well, when I was checking out, I saw on the checkout that I could give a custom tip. That was not what I needed to do. I then asked the young man that helped me, did he have Cash App, and of course he did. As I sent him the cash app, I began telling him what I heard Holy Spirit speak, and how I found his booth. He then tells me that he had been up since 6 am, which is 7 am my time. Me not having this moment with Holy Spirit until 11 am CDT, but HOLY SPIRIT was setting things up because he initially was not supposed to be there today.  Times like these just excited me, because it just assures me, that I hear him. During the week I had a moment where doubt began to creep in, and I started questioning if I heard God. What I was reminded of, is that I'm only responsible for my obedience, and people's response to my obedience, or their NONE acceptance, is none of my business. And having an awareness of this has set me free. 

Flights and Destinations:
Ok, so I'm at the airport, and I was walking, it was as if HOLY SPIRIT was speaking to me concerning the people around me, as well as myself. I was checking around me, and no two individuals look the same, some are carrying visible luggage others aren't; some are dressed for the present, some are dressed like they're are going to the beach, and some, look like they were going to bed. LOL, but concerning everyone around me, how they look, and what they're carrying, as far as I can see, it's not hindering them from getting to their gate/ destination. Some are traveling alone, in groups, a couple, and even still, they're not concerned with the next person. It's so diverse, and what has blessed me, is the fact, that no one is judging what someone has on, or the luggage that they're carrying. Why? Because I believe people understand, that though we may be in the same building, outside of here, there's a flight and destination that we each have to wait to get on. Many may end up on the same flight, but nonetheless, the focus isn't on the temporary delay but on enjoying the process of getting to the destination. 

What have I learned at this moment? Well, I'm so glad you asked!

As Christians, people who say they love the Lord, we truly major in the minors, and focus too much on trying to "make" people look right! Or, many times, we try to be their "Savior". Now our assignment, according to Matthew 10:5-6, is to focus on those who are lost and to teach them. When we gather together in our places of worship, we are to gather, have encounters pour into (teach/ prepare), and send out, those who are Christ followers, as they are more equipped to reach those who are lost, through the posture and place of LOVE! In the word, Luke 19:10 states that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. 

Jeremiah 31:3 AMP tells us: "The LORD appeared to me (Israel) from ages past, saying, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you and continued my faithfulness to you." 

What I am beginning to understand more and more, is that you can draw bees quicker with honey, than you can with vinegar. It takes LOVE, to draw people. It takes a mindset shift, in order for change to even take place. You can't focus so much on the destination, that you don't enjoy the process.

In Christendom, it's like we want people to be the finished product before we even help. A lot of times, our focus is wrong, we're focused on church attendance, or numbers, when our focus should be on "Kingdom". For we are kingdom citizens!! Hebrews 13:14 tells us: "For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come."  But while we are here, make every moment count; there are encounters to be made and destinations (places and spaces) assigned to us.  Now, in order for us to have these GOD moments, we have to get and be in position. That's one thing I learned while traveling. But too, we're all headed somewhere, and just because an individual doesn't look, sound or act like you, doesn't mean they're disqualified from the promises GOD has assigned to them. 

Today I'm reminded, to embrace the moments, as they contribute to the moment, as well as where I'm headed. 

Until next time, it's your homegirl, and sista fran,

🫶🏾💕🫶🏾- E.Marie