PART 2 - THE TAMPA TIMES - DOES ANYBODY FEEL ME ON, "YOUR WORD IS YOUR BOND?"

Greetings -

This is Part 2. Here is the link from Part 1of "THE TAMPA TIMES."  http://lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/2011/03/tampa-times.html.

Also, here is another related link, "BEFORE TAMPA..." http://lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/2011/03/before-tampa.html

Last paragraph from Part 1:

What did I discover?  Bob and his "company" didn't have a license for a boarding house arrangement.  The official record revealed that it was a single family home.  I called and spoke to one of Bob's representatives.  I was told that the subject licensing was pending.  What?!  I'm no expert but I knew that the boarding house deal was not legit.  Of course, our Lord knew all of this - yet - He let me move in unaware of that matter.  2 Kings 4:27 - KJV says, "...and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me."  Not once did I sense that it wasn't our Lord's will for me to move into that house.  I sought Him about my dilemma.  I said something like, "Lord, I'm a Christian.  I can't be in this shady drama.  And You know I have limited options with no job..."

PART 2 BEGINS:

I digress before I return to the boarding house episode.  This situation happened on the day that I was led of our Lord to seek donations.  On that day, I met "Reverend" (I'll call him Fred) who was walking down the street.  Around his neck, he wore an identification badge with his photo and notification that he was a pastor.  I shared with Fred about some of my story.  He told me that he was in the business of helping "the least of these."  My impression was that he was part of some sort of nonprofit organization that helps the needy.  I shared with Fred that I was in search of work.

Fred assured me that he could give me some work in his organization.  He gave me his number to set up an appointment.  Over days, each time that I would phone Fred, he had an excuse for not meeting with me.  Typically, I'm not one to pursue beyond about three attempts, but clearly our Lord told me to continue to pursue the matter.  After more than a week of phoning, leaving messages and speaking with Fred to get yet more excuses, I really began to question our Lord about why He desired me to keep calling Fred.  Our Lord didn't explain.  I had to obey Him, regardless.

On some days, Fred would return my calls to say that he had emergencies or that he was going out of town and so had to cancel our appointment.  Finally, after about two weeks of such actions, one day I was going, on the bus, to a Christian bookstore.  I don't remember who called who but I spoke with Fred and he agreed to meet me at the transfer point before I boarded my second bus to reach my destination.

Fred assured me that he was minutes away from where I was and that he would, very shortly, meet me there.  I waited a reasonable timeframe.  When Fred had not arrived, I phoned him.  He then told me to meet him where he was located.  I reminded him that he had told me that he would come to meet me.  He responded angrily.  I forgot exactly what he stated.

In my spirit, I sensed our Lord let me know that it was "lion time."   For the two week span with Fred, I had been in lamb formation.  Please know that I love Fred, but it was time to address his nonsense.  Now the lion in me "pounced."  I sharply said to Fred, "The Lord told me to go to the Christian bookstore."  I don't recall, verbatim, what else I said but I do remember that I said something like, "That is where I am going.  I'm not coming to meet you."  I told the "good Reverend" that real Christians keep their words.  A few more choice statements were delivered to Fred.  I ended with something like, "The Lord told me to leave you alone!"  That said - I disconnected the call.

About a month or so later, you may find it a surprise to know where I saw Fred.  That Tampa "chapter" will be posted later.

I arrived and entered the bookstore.  I made a few
low-cost purchases.  The desire of my heart was to have a comparative study Bible to compare versions side by side in one Bible.  I couldn't afford it.  Our Lord placed me back in donation solicitation mode.  He told me to go out to the bookstore parking lot to ask for donations so that I could make a Bible bookstore purchase.

After greeting them, I said this to the people who our Lord led me to ask, "Would you like to make a donation to a worthy cause?"  When they would ask what the worthy cause was, I would reply "me."  Then I would briefly tell them about my love for our Lord and a few other Christian related expressions.   

I got a couple of refusals.  A group of women got out of a car.  After my request, a couple of them stated that they might help when they came out of the bookstore.  One woman gave me a three dollar donation and suggested that I go back in the bookstore to make my request to the personnel who worked there.  The Lord had told me to go to the parking lot and that is where He wanted me to stay.  I thanked her, and politely told her of what our Lord had instructed me.  After about thirty minutes, our Lord sent His saint (I'll call her Sarah) to buy the Bible for me.  Sarah agreed to help me, and asked what I wanted in the bookstore.  Our Lord led me to respond that I would tell her when we got in the store.  Sarah agreed.  Once there, I led her to the comparative Bible section.  I sensed in my spirit which comparative Bible our Lord desired that I select.  It was about $50.00, which caused me to hesitate.  Anyway, I went for it in obedience.  Sarah, without hesitation, agreed to purchase it.  I offered her the three dollar donation that I had received earlier in the parking lot.  She refused to accept it.  I thanked Sarah for her generosity.  

When Sarah finished at the register, we had a brief conversation about our Lord and she shared with me what church she attended.  She gave me her number, and we went our separate ways.  The next day our Lord led me to phone Sarah to give her a message from Him.  I believe also that He gave me some scripture content for her - my memory is fuzzy on that aspect.  Sarah didn't answer her phone.  I left the message on her voice mail.  Later she phoned me in tears - joyful tears.  She explained that the message that I had shared was precisely what she needed.  She expressed how the message blessed her.  Our Lord blessed us both - me with the Bible and Sarah with the message.  Thank You, Lord!

Our Lord presented another donation solicitation opportunity for me.  He led me to contact one of my
out-of-town relatives (I'll call her Ada) to request financial help.  My family knows my inclination is NOT to ask for financial aid.  Accurately, that WAS my inclination, for as long as we can remember, until our Lord told me that that was a pride matter with me.  I needed to be humbled in that area.   

Ada agreed to mail me some funds.  The funds didn't arrive after a reasonable time.  I phoned to inquire.  She gave a reason why she hadn't sent the funds.  This went on for more than a week.  She continued to give reasons why she had not done it.  My inclination was to cease to inquire.  But our Lord urged me to pursue it.  At some point, I came to realize that the pursuit matter was not only about me but about what our Lord was doing in Ada.  She is a Christian, but keeping it real, at that time, she was more carnal than spiritual. 

Anyway, one night I dreamed that our Lord had me to strongly rebuke Ada for not keeping her word.  In the dream, I sharply said to her something like, "The Lord is angry at you because you told me that you would do it, and you didn't do it."  And in the dream, I  told her that the Lord would judge her for not keeping her word.  The dream was quite vivid and when I awoke, I was troubled for Ada because the dream made it crystal clear that the Lord was VERY angry with her.

It was early in the morning after my dream when our Lord told me to phone Ada to tell her about my dream.  I hesitated because of the early hour.  Our Lord urged me to phone.  Ada didn't answer.  I was led to leave a voice mail message about the dream.  Ada didn't return my call, but about two days later, I received the funds from her.  I mailed her a thank you card.

To be continued...        

Sandra

Written Tuesday March 15, 2011

Copyright 2011