Praying Under A Tent!!

Hello To All The Beautiful People!!

I feel as if I have been in a whirlwind lately. Unlike Elijah, I have not been taken into Heaven, but there has been a lot going on in my tiny part of the Universe.

The most exciting thing lately happened this past Saturday, here in My Little Town. I joined the community on Saturday morning at 7am, and put up my 1st Prayer Tent at the Jasper Farmer’s Market. I have been planning this for weeks, looking forward to it, praying about it, prepping with some giveaways and info about the Ministry, so that I could present a professional face at my 1st pop-up event.

I didn’t really know what to expect, and in the week leading up to the Market, I was having cold feet. Not that I wouldn’t, shouldn’t or couldn’t attend the Farmers Market, but a brief time of wondering to myself: Who do you think you are setting up a tent in public and offering to pray for people? And honestly, I entertained that notion a time or two, for a moment or two. But then I decided to answer my own question! Who do I think I am? I am a daughter of the Most High King, filled with the power of His Holy Spirit, saved by Grace through faith, called by God The Father, anointed to pray for His people, sent to this town specifically, to minister to these people…that’s who I think I am! I took care of that question! And I might write that on an index card and hang it on my bathroom mirror, because that is good stuff.

It was a dreary, humid, foggy morning at 7am when I arrived at the Park for the Market. I went alone, as my husband was busy taking care of the pets and having his coffee. He is not necessarily inclined to attend a Prayer Tent, so I had to go it alone. A precious 3-generation family helped me set up the tent, which took about 90 seconds but 6 hands, and I was off to the races. I got my table popped up, my tablecloth adjusted, and all my marketing was out and ready for the 7:30am start. The Jasper Farmer’s Market is one of the most excellent things happening in Jasper. Generally speaking, it is well trafficked, the products presented are all home-grown or home-made, the people are down-to-earth and friendly, and I just love the atmosphere.

When the visitors started rolling in, I was there to greet them with a big Good Morning and a smile. Many stopped briefly to find out what I was there for, as I was selling nothing. So it was nice to chat with the community, check out what they had purchased at the various tents, tell them about my blossoming Ministry, and offer prayer. To my great and wonderful surprise, several people thanked me for bringing Prayer to the Park and hoped for all of us that I would keep coming. My youngest visitor was around 5 years old, and she was thrilled with the coloring sheet I gave her with a Scripture from Proverbs; she sat with me for a bit and colored it with the colored pencils I provided for just such an occasion. And I know what you are wondering. Did I actually Pray for anyone? Yes, I did! It is amazing to see God working, and I am so honored that He did His work in front of me. I was honored to pray for a 50-something married couple who had just moved to town from Orlando; they asked me to pray for their new home and their marriage, as they were having a rough time lately. WOW! That is beautiful! They were there together, holding hands, enjoying the morning, and they were vulnerable enough to come to the Lord in public, through a stranger, to seek Him for help and blessing. So the three of us clasped hands, closed our eyes, and bowed our heads, and the Holy Spirit spoke to the Father and the words came out of my mouth; we petitioned the Lord together. A peace washed over us as we stood there in the Park, holding hands, unashamed of who might be watching or listening. It was a precious honor and it blessed me greatly, as well as them. But they were not the only ones. I got to pray with 4 specific sets of folks, for different things, and Jesus met us all at that point of need. We prayed for family unity, freedom from addiction, gave thanks for the day, and thanked Him greatly that we live in a place and time where we can still pray publicly, call on the name of Jesus in the town square, and share His love audaciously. What an experience! What a blessing! I am so amazed that the King of the Universe does His work on Earth through damaged human beings, and that it actually bears fruit. Utterly amazed!

I also received a few honored guests in my Tent! Two of the most wonderful ladies I have ever known stopped by to encourage me and visit for a bit; Sheryl and Steph from my Little Church here in my Little Town. Also, believe it or not, my husband came with a few of our family members, to check out what I had going on. I don’t know what my husband was expecting to see, honestly I do not know. But I think he was surprised, shocked and amazed that people, strangers, were stopping to talk with me about Jesus, and actually asking me to pray for them. For what it is worth, I was truly thrilled that he got to see me take the community by the hand and go to Jesus. Not because I want him to think highly of me (he does think highly of me in many ways, but also thinks I am a crazy Jesus-lady), but because I want him to see Jesus at work. Whew!! You can’t buy that kind of stuff!

I gave out a great many cards advertising the website, invited folks to come next week, offered opportunities to participate in the Prayer Gatherings I have been hosting, introduced the soon coming grand opening of The Sanctuary, hugged, shook hands, prayed, laughed and cried. On a scale of 1 to 9, I give it a 15!!

The Lord is good, all the time. He is worthy to be praised! He is moving in my heart and my home; and He is moving in My Little Town. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for inviting me to partner with You, spend time with Your people, and share the love of Jesus with them. I am humbled, and honored, and blown away.

I can’t wait for next Saturday!! I would love to see you there, just to say HI, get a hug, share a freshly baked croissant, or pray it out about the things that are burdening you most. He wants us to come together, hang out, love each other, and abide in Him. Join me!

All my Love in Jesus!

Leslie~