PART 6 - THE TAMPA TIMES

Greetings -

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY!

Scriptures are from the King James Bible.

Photos compliments of Sandra
Copyright 2011

This is Part 6.  Here is the link to Part 5 http://lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/2011/04/part-5-tampa-times.html

Last paragraph from Part 5:

Before I moved from Doris', I had obtained a job as a telemarketer.  I worked there, and so disliked it that one day, I said to our Lord, "Lord, please get me out of here."  It wouldn't have been decent and in order for me to quit because I needed a job and nothing else had developed.  While I was there, I performed the best that I could but it, frankly, wasn't a good fit.  Well, after about a week, our Lord did get me out of there.  I went to jail.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

One RESURRECTION SUNDAY (Easter) day I went to the neighborhood Wendy's where, again, the customer service was poor.  Many people know, as I do, that customer service has considerably declined.  What makes it more poor is that now, in too many instances, managers behave just as poorly, if not more poorly, than those who they are charged to manage.  My experience has been that some managers have the title but not the managerial skills.  There are instances when they are not professional, personable, or competent.  Frankly, numerous unpleasant attitudes abound in customer service positions.  Overall, bad attitudes have increasingly become the case in much of society.  That said - whatever it is - it is NOT bigger than GOD.  The joy of the Lord continues to thrive in the souls of the righteous - Hallelujah!       

In the next paragraph, I will resume with THE TAMPA TIMES, but pause here to share a good report.  Last year, here in D.C., I encountered a young store manager who was superb.  It was so surprising because of his youth.  In this particular situation, a complaint had been addressed to the manager.  With admiration, I witnessed that young manager impressively manage the matter with professionalism, firmness, efficiency and effectiveness.  He controlled the entire situation.  His attitude and actions rendered me deeply affected by his managerial skills.   I shared with him how impressed I was with his conduct, and that I would contact the appropriate store office to commend him.  That same day I reached a store representative to express my profound appreciation for that manager and his superb skills.     

At the Tampa neighborhood Wendy's that particular day, I expressed concern to an employee about her poor customer service attitude.  She became belligerent.  A manager was present; he did nothing to reprimand the employee.  One thing led to another.  The manager threatened to call the police if I didn't leave.  I had not done anything wrong.  I was led of our Lord to remain there to wait for the police.  Some readers may believe that I should have just left to prevent more drama.  Our Lord told me to stay there.  I obeyed.

Two policewomen arrived.  They spoke to me and the manager.  His request to them was that I leave and not return there again.  I left with the officers and was instructed by them not to re-enter the store.  That Wendy's is located in an area that is situated very near other retail establishments.  There is a parking lot area there that is shared by Wendy's and the other establishments. 

Once I left the police officers, I walked over to a nearby bench and spent some time there.  The officers had not yet left the scene.  The police cars were parked in the parking lot.  As I walked to go home, I did as I usually did - cut through the shared parking lot to go home.  When I did that, the officers arrested me.  I asked them why because I hadn't disobeyed their request not to re-enter the store.  One of the officers informed me that I had walked on Wendy's property, the parking lot.  I informed the officers that they didn't tell me that I couldn't walk in the parking lot.  What they told me was that I was not to re-enter the store.  And I didn't even know that I was on Wendy's property in the parking lot.  The parking lot is shared.  How was I to know what part of the lot was the property of Wendy's?  

The officers knew that they had only informed me not to re-enter the store.  Regardless, they arrested me.  It was RESURRECTION SUNDAY in broad daylight.  There were numerous witnesses to this drama.  GOD showed on!  Glory to Him that I was in "whole  armour" mode, as instructed in Ephesians 6.  Verse 11 says, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."  And I had oil in my lamp as instructed in Matthew 25.  Verse 2-4 says, "And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." 

On that RESURRECTION SUNDAY, my gratitude to our Lord was heightened because He had, numerous months prior, again stressed to me how important it is for me to memorize scriptures from the King James Bible.  How glad I am for my obedience to our Lord because on the day of my arrest, I  had plenty of KJV scriptures memorized and stored in my spiritual arsenal.  Those memorized scriptures were plentifully used during this drama.  Throughout the Bible, we are told to be ready because we don't always know what events are coming or when.  As the officer handcuffed me, I was spiritually ready.  I began to loudly praise the Lord and to sing to His glory.  Glory to GOD, I had no shame.

One of the officers placed me in the rear of the police car.  The other officer left the scene.  Just prior to being driven off to jail, all of a sudden, the Holy Spirit came mightily upon me.  Isaiah 61:1 says, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me..."  I began to joyously sob and praise the Lord.  I was overcome in the Spirit.  I prayed, sang, quoted scriptures from the King James Bible,  and praised our Lord for more than 25 minutes -  all the way to jail!

To be continued 

NOTE: Please click on the link below to view photos.  Thank you for your indulgence.
http://www.photogplaza.blogspot.com/

Sandra

Written Friday April 22, 2011

Good Friday

Copyright 2011