This is the Night Watch in the Prayer Room where I have spent most of my time for the last 2 years now. Many of you have asked the question, "What is that 'thing' you are doing in Kansas City again?"
Well, do you have a minute? Good. Let me tell you a little about my life deep in the Night.
3 years ago I was working at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Fort Worth, Texas. I was working hard, living life, going to church, saving money as the Lord had asked me to in mid year of 2004, and asking Him the same question I had been asking for 5 years....
"Is this all there is to loving You God, church once a week (maybe twice if I have time) work, work, work, paying my bills, having some fun, but carrying this on going pain with in the walls of my heart....where is God and what does He think of me?"
When God spoke to me about going back into the food industry I kicked and screamed for another way, but it was so impressed in me to do so. It is a very dark and wicked, worldly vocation. I knew He knew this yet He would not relent on me going. After a few weeks and much softening prayer time I willing said, "Yes, I will go, under one contition, when I go for the interview that I am given Sundays off for church (in the resturant biz getting Sundays off is really unheard of) and if I get Sunday's off I will know You are in this."
Interview day came. I waited 2 hours for the G.M. to arrive at the store. He called after being in Dallas traffic and told the hostess to tell me to come back in 3 days. Now at this time I am working at my old church's daycare, which was not an easy thing to get out of work early. But the 2nd time the let me go early for my interview.
I arrived with not much wind in my sail that day. The G.M. looked over my application, peered at me through his long fingers on his face, asked me a few questions as to why I left the former Pappadeaux I worked at on the other side of town. Then he asked me if I had any quesitons for him. "Yes I do. I can only work here if I can have Sunday's off for church, will that be possible?"
"Sunday's? Ya that will be fine."
Thus started one of the most difficult yet rewarding jobs of mine to date. I was so excited to work there, every day that I left I would go home and study during my 2 week training period. I wanted to know all about the fish, where they came from, what was the best way to eat them and with what. When I was at the resturant I would clean up and keep things straight just because I was so thankful for this job, I knew God had something for me there. I prayed in detail and He answered it.
Spring of 2005 came around and the church I was going to at the time, Beautiful Feet Ministry (a homeless church near downtown Fort Worth) was planning a trip to Kansas City for a weekend at International House of Prayer. I was so excited, I had heard about this place for 6 years but had never been able to go for one reason or another. I was determind that nothing would get in the way of me going this time. March came around and 11 of us headed off North on 35 for 9 hours of road, sunshine and conversation over radio.
What was waiting for me 564 miles ahead was more than my big Texan heart could handle, I was about to run right into all my nights full of tears and prayers answered in one day. We arrived on a Thursday afternoon to register for the conference, by the evening worship time I was crying out all my cares, worries and longings. "I want to see You Jesus. I miss You. It has been so long since I have heard Your beautiful voice." (The last time I heard His voice was when I told me to open a savings account and start saving, that was a year and a half ago.) Friday afternoon I was watching people mix and mingle during a break in the conference and I spoke this inside, "Jesus, I would love to be a part of a community like this back home, jeans and t-shirt, lovin You kinda people." His voice broke in so clear and full of peace, "You are moving here."
....to be continued.
