Going Beyond

This is just a short post about this past weekend because it's a Sunday night and I've got work in the morning with many things left to do before bed...

After what I'm beginning to call a Two-Service Sunday morning, a pot-luck at church, a whirlwind Babies R' Us tour and the cause of the shopping hit-and-run: my boss's baby shower, I have to admit, the forefront of my mind is just a little crowded and exhausted. But just beyond the sudden fright of the "Diaper Surprise" shower game and the left-over effects of the food coma from this afternoon, I can still hear the praise team back in San Antonio, still feel the Spirit moving on me and still hold the special gift of the Holy Spirit that was this conference in my heart. I completely agree with Priscilla Shirer when she said that there was something about that particular event, in that particular town in that particular church that was different than anything else that I'd ever experienced. I went to a Going Beyond event last autumn in Tulsa, well Broken Arrow to be exact and that touched me in an entirely different way because I was at a different point in my life just, what, six months ago! But now, I am completely surprised and elated that this conference met me in my need, both times.

Even now as I sit typing this, in my hammock at home in Flo Mo, it's a typical Texas night: atypical. The wind kicks up every now and then and I have to hold down laptop, journal, Bible, blanket and hope the water bottle still has enough in it not to go flying over the edge of the balcony. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I catch flashes of lightning. Aside from wondering if I should finish tonight's devotions inside, I am struck by how like a memory lightning can be. Without thunder, it is silent, like some of my memories, just flashes of emotions or scenes from this weekend: my sister, center stage at her school concert (first time I've seen her onstage in about 7 years!!) as her boyfriend, my cousin and I shout the house down for her, getting to church early and bleary-eyed, dinner at Papadeaux in San Antoino (YUM.), hands raised in praise, the tears running down a sweet old lady's face as we pray for God to meet her in her hour of need, Priscilla totally in the Spirit as she pulls out the greater points of Judges 6 for us, and bracing myself against the roof of the van to not go flying out of my seat as we hit yet another bump on the 5 hour drive down there and back (both rides kind of blend together... riding in the back of a 14-seater van is SO overrated). To say the least it was a wonderful weekend!!!!

And now the lightning is getting closer... I really should go inside... I'll try and post again on Wednesday!

G'Night! and God bless!