When you think that the load of life or stress or schedule -- or whatever-- is about ALL you can take-- it rains!! Literally. Like, in your apartment! First -- above is a party photo from Friday, with Vincent (who served on the Connexxion staff for 1 year plus), along with new friends Vincent (in cap), Constantin, Alex, and Dominique, a neighbor.
It was Saturday night (well, Sunday morning, about 12:30 a.m.!). We had just had our 2 & 1/2 day big Connexxion ZOOM conference (about 60 attenders, from 9 nations-- that is big for us, with dozens of detailed, quality logistics involved!). We had cleaned up the church.
Some friends drove to my apartment to help unload 2 carloads of conference folders, pens, books, tablecloths, orange juice and cases of water bottles, etc. We were exhausted. But the electricity in my apartment went out twice. The source? Water was dripping from my kitchen ceiling, around a lamp, and when I turned it on-- poof!!-- the power shut down! It ended up that a neighbor's hose connection from their wall tap to their washing machine had a leak. What horrible timing!
The ironic thing is, earlier that night we'd topped off the conference with a 10-year anniversary celebration and banquet -- where I had given a short word about some things that God had taught me over the 10 years, but especially in starting new groups. About believing God that He wants to "rain" down (I used that word) the Living Water of His Spirit on people and nations ...and campuses. I talked about a true story in the Bible & a prophet of God named Elijah (1 Kings 18:41-46).
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The power of the LORD came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
A prophet named Elijah warned the evil king Ahab to eat quickly, because Elijah had "heard" a heavy rain-- although there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Before that God had promised him, "When you go to see Ahab, I will send rain (after a long drought)."
I thought that was strange. The word "sound" of rain. I mean, when you grow up in Florida on the bay and understand the stormy summers, or have lived in rainy climates like Vancouver or northern Germany-- you know a bit about rain. You see rain-- in the distance when the sky turns gray and cloudy, or there is a sort of sheet hanging against the horizon. You smell rain-- when it gets near you, the air smells sort of wet and sweet. But the SOUND of rain? That only occurs when the showers are about a block away from you. At first, Elijah's servant did not even see a cloud. Finally, after 7 views, there was just 1 baby cloud, about the size of a man's hand. I figured that Elijah must have heard rain, with his "spiritual ears." You know? The whisper of God. There was a promise from God: no rain.
1 Kings 17:1 - "Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.'" There followed a great famine.
Then a new promise, after 3 years, we see in chapter 18 - "After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 'Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.'" Spiritual ears heard the fulfillment of a promise of God. A heart of belief brought on an awakening of the "soul senses" to know that something was just around the corner, simply because the Lord had said so. Elijah did it-- does that have to be so hard? The cool thing about my apartment's kitchen "rain" story: I have been able to meet my neighbors more through this experience (along with 2 policemen & a few fire department personnel!).
Wow-- can i believe God for BIG STUFF? Do I "hear" the fulfillment of His promises? Can I still persevere when I get a "no" 6 times? What has God shown you about listening... about believing?
What is the thing that you "hear" now only with your "soul senses"?
We have a tradition-- sometime around the Christmas Season we soak up the atmosphere at the Wilderness Lodge at Disney. Sometimes it's warm enough that Northerners are outside swimming in the pool/ lagoon.
My niece now has a german teddy bear!
Heather & Bruce discovered a special bakery on the Food Channel -- Babycakes! Its showcase store is in NYC, but they also have a kiosk in Orlando at the Disney Marketplace. They have yummy desserts that are gluten free, (also vegan, aka without eggs), which made everyone happy.
I love the Wilderness Lodge-- it's fireplace is as majestic as the tree. Think: Grand Canyon or another mountain- situated national parks' lodge.
So the waiter asked my dad: "Can I get you a little more tea?"
Christmas smiles! :-) No matter when you schedule it, I'm never fully ready for the gift exchange until the last minute.
Right beside the campus is a 
Our first meal was in the student Mensa (cafeteria)-- yummy!
