This past Friday I took off work to take a trip with my wife to Orlando, about three hours away. Several odd things happened on the trip that I would like to share for your testing and comment (If anyone reads this blog).
My kids spent the week with revival mother in law and my wife was to meet here at the halfway point for the switch back. About three days before the trip Revival Wife found out that a childhood friend from New York had just checked into the hospital in Orlando with after having a mild stroke from a brain tumor. We had known about the tumor but thought it was at bay. The stroke was news. I took off work and decided to accompany my wife on the trip. We loaded up the revival-minivan and headed on our way.
The driver’ side electric window stopped working several weeks ago and this made paying tolls a real hassle. Opening the door and reaching around is embarrassing but what can you do? We are praying for revival in our finances but have not seen it as of yet.
About an hour outside of our destination we began to pray for our hospital visit. I was just praying in the Holy Ghost and my wife began to sing. Just as she started the sweetest presence began to fill our van. It was so nice. Just at that moment I looked up and saw a bald eagle flying in front of us. I lived in Alaska for a while and saw hundreds of eagles there so I know what they look like. I had never seen one in Florida before and here it was flying in front of my van as the presence of God filled the van.
I though that this had prophetic significance. Just then we pulled up to a toll plaza. I said to myself, “If His presence is here, than this window will work.” I reached for the electric window and it worked! I immediately gave glory to God!
When we got to the hospital and found our friend, it seemed that half the world came at the same time. First the therapist came for therapy time, than her brother came with his son who seemed indifferent to our being there. Then, the oddest of all.
Our friend had been wheeled into the day room with everyone else. I wanted a more intimate setting but what can you do? As we were sitting there, the brother walks in with a special guest. The father of one of the most famous basketball players in the country. Half the world knows this athlete and he even had a song out about his father so this guy is more famous than the average sports parent.
I wasn’t impressed and in fact thought this was another distraction. I shook the man’ hand and said, “God bless you.” To which he said, “He already has.”
huh?
The man then goes into a self help pep talk about positive mental attitude and belief in self for the next 15 minutes followed by a long conversation with the brother about the ills of the American social and criminal justice system. It was getting late, I wanted to see my kids, I was not interested in becoming a groupie. I felt that it was not time to pray for the woman because of the lack of faith in the room so I waited, and waited, and waited.
Finally God had the woman moved back into her room and the brother continued with his love fest of the star’ father. We were able to serve the Lord’ Supper on Good Friday and pray for her healing.
I was hoping that when we were done she would be jumping and leaping and praising God. She didn’t. She was speaking more clearly and we could easily understand her for the first time. As we left we were a little dismayed that we did not see more power in action but we know that we did our part and that the rest was up to God.
We shared the elevator back down with a couple that looked distraught. I did not get a word but the tears in their eyes moved me. I asked them if I could pray for them. After they said I could. They were there because the wife has breast cancer. I do not know if she was getting chemo or if she just found out but I knew I had to pray.
I laid hands on her and it felt like all of heaven rushed into that elevator. We got to their floor but I just kept praying. We got to the ground floor, the doors opened to a bunch of people and I just kept praying. They were respectful and stayed off the elevator. I cursed the cancer and declared healing. I prayed that the husband would be encouraged and have the strength for this season.
I don’t know if this has happened to the reader but I got so hit by the Holy Ghost that I could barely walk! I stumbled out of the elevator. Bid them farewell and God Bless you and stood in the parking garage trying to find my bearings.
It felt like that was the whole reason I was in Orlando. That was why I had to wait so long to pray for our friend. I have no idea who that lady was but I would bet that not only is she healed, but God is going to use that family in ministry.
