Last year the summer of love journey ended in San Francisco and we spent many nights meeting at a Church that has been trying to push back darkness for a number of years.  The name of this church is called Promised Land.  The ministry called IHOP or International House Of Prayer is close by also and they are closely connected with this church.

Several of us cooked the one good meal a day that the group got while in SF where some of the team of IHOP called home. As you can see it is not the Hilton.  These young people come from all over the country and give a large portion of thier lives to pray day and night for the Kingdom of God to come to SF.

The one day that I got to go out with the team we were assigned streets to go to and worship the Lord.  Our assignment was the corner of 5th and Market. Very few people who passed by even took notice that day.

I said all this to give you an idea of what kind of young people that went down several nights ago to the streets of San Francisco and were viciously attacked by homosexuals in the area.  And they think we are guilty of hate crimes when we just speak our views.

When the people of CA made a stand for righteousness by voting that marriage was only between a man and woman it really stirred up the forces of darkness and hate and violence is showing it’s head.  Please pray for these young people and for Promised Land Fellowship.  Below is a video of a first hand account of what happened to a group a few nights ago on the streets of SF.

Last year when I was on the Summer Of Love tour across country God placed an angel of mercy into my path named Jennifer. We first met in the kitchen of the place we stayed in Nashville, TN. and with each stop along the way I felt our relationship grew stronger. I really believe she was a divine appointment.

Jennifer and her three children and another young man came on the trip from California pulling a trailer packed full to assist in feeding the SOL group. Believe me that was a monumental task with an unbelievably small budget. She worked to the point of exhaustion many times.

I drove a friend’s car from Nashville to Albuquerque, NM while he drove a big rig for the group and then he retrieved it in order to go pick his wife up at the airport in Phoenix. So my destiny was to get on one of the hot worn out buses to drive through the desert to Sedona. I was so dreading it and praying for God’s grace. Jennifer came to my rescue and invited me to ride with her since her oldest, Kyle, wanted to ride on the bus with his friends. I can’t tell you what a relief that was to me.

We arrived at the pitch black ball field where we were to set up tent late that night. That was a trip in itself but she and her family helped me get my tent up by flashlight even when she was exhausted unto tears. I did not know that we were in rattlesnake territory at that point and now as I write this and think of our wandering around in the dark I shiver. I hate snakes, and rattlesnakes…oh, my word.

Jennifer and her family left the tour at the end of our scheduled time in Sedona to head back home for a wedding. Her plan was to pick back up in LA. The group’s next stop was San Diego and I was there only one day and I had just about an hour before put my tent up in a dust field when my cell phone rang. I heard Jennifer’s voice say that she was on her way to San Diego to pick Kyle up and wanted to know if I wanted to come home with her for a break. Well, that was a no brainer for me.

She and her husband Larry and their family took this worn out old women into their home and treated me like they had known me for years. As I told her yesterday she is a very unselfish generous person. There long term plan was to move to Moravian Falls, NC where they already had land to build. Her plan was much shorter than Larry’s at that point. However, before I left their home for San Francisco out of the blue Larry got a call requesting he fly to Charlotte for an interview for a job here. He flew into Charlotte the day I arrived back here from Redding, CA. Well a wind of change hit their lives, suddenly. They made him an offer he could not refuse.

They sold their home and pulled up stakes and arrived in NC I think while we were in San Diego responding with the Red Cross to the wildfires. They have been here 9 months and we have not been able to reconnect for some reason. When you move to a new territory the adjustment is huge. You go through grief for those relationships left behind while you are a sojourner in a strange land. It is bad enough when you are a southerner moving to another southern area, but when you cross that cultural line it is like moving to a foreign country. You don’t even speak the same language.

Also when the move is God directed you add an additional battle. If God is moving you then you move right into spiritual warfare. Don’t think the enemy of your soul is going to be exited about your arrival. He moves in to try to abort God’s purpose. It is a hard transition especially when God does not reveal to you His purpose for the move. That is where faith comes into play. Once you obey and move without knowing where He is leading then He directs you step by step. The word says He orders your steps. I have seen the faithfulness and protection of God to defeat the enemy and bring forth His plan.

A few days ago I got a call from Jennifer and she came over for lunch yesterday. It was like there had not been a 9 month interval in our relationship. What a joy for me. I have found that is the way relationships go that are divine appointments. You always seem to just pick up where you left off. I pray for divine appointments in my life and others because I know their value. It is like finding a precious jewel.

****ADDITIONAL COMMENT:

After publishing this entry on the blog I received an email from another dear friend that I made on the SOL tour, Denise who lives in Pensacola, Fl with her husband Thomas and beautiful son Joshua. I wanted to share her comments also: “I was so happy to see Jennifer in the picture. Tears well up…to remember how nice she was to us. She is such a kind lady. She was always trying to relieve the burdens…she never caused any! She always thought of Joshua and the children on the Sol tour and got them special treats. This meant a lot to me, being that we at that time were not able to afford to get Joshua any toys. I remember one night at Motts Theater she had bought Joshua a stick that lit up in the night….he was so excited! She tried to make it fun for the children. We got to give other sticks that light up that night to other kids and what a blessing that was.
I pray that they are all doing great.
I remember one day she let Thomas and I ride in her vehicle in San Francisco and was telling us how the lady in San Francisco had donated so much food. Another time, in Wichita she picked us up (there was quite a few there doing a laundry trip) from a laundry mat, when someone forgot us and left us there for hours. We all crammed into her vehicle…I thought for a moment I was back in Japan…more people can fit into a vehicle than you think! Anyway, I, as you, have quite fond memories of her. I haven’t spoken or seen her in a long time, since the Sol tour, and it is good to know that she is doing good.”

You know sometimes we feel like we are not doing anything of value for the Kingdom of God and we just don’t realize how an act of compassion or kindness is changing the lives of those to whom we extend our hand. Moses….what’s in your hand.

My sweet friend Josanna.

Josanna’s hard working brother, Jason.

While on the Summer Of Love tour this summer I met a few awesome God fearing young people who really had fruit of the spirit in their lives. Josanna and her brother Jason were two of these special people. Josanna and I connected within a few days of this adventure. On our last night in Nashville two young men of the group felt we should have a foot washing. The idea was for the young generation to wash the feet of the older generation and then reverse the order so there would be a spiritual connection and impartation between generations. However, many of the young people didn’t get it and only wanted to wash their friend’s feet. Josanna and Abby came and asked me if they could wash my feet. After that type of experience you are connected.

Jason was on a work scholarship for the trip and he worked very hard. He and I worked together many times preparing and serving food. He always had a smile and showed he had leadership giftings.

I have not heard from Josanna since I left the group in San Francisco. I have thought of her often, but never got around to calling or emailing. Two weeks ago I got a call from her. She is now back in Texas with her family and working as a Nanny for a four year old. She called to tell me that she and her brother were sending her mom to a conference here that the Cause was having starting tonight. She wanted to know if her mom could sleep on my couch. Ok Josanna, you spent too much time on the road with the SOL tour. I told her she could not sleep on my couch, but she was welcome to a bed in our upstairs bedroom.

Patti, their mom, arrived this afternoon and I picked her up at the airport. I left Chuck shut up in the bedroom sleeping. He is feeling some better today and has slept most of the day. I know that God is healing him because he is sleeping without coughing. I have held him captive in the master bedroom trying to keep Patti and I safe. I am standing on Psalm 91, “No plague shall come nigh my dwelling” and drinking airborne and spraying Lysol.

After meeting Patti I know why I liked her children so much. They both were home schooled and Patti and her husband purposed to teach them to have a servants heart. They did a very good job. God has been so good to bring divine connections into our lives and this family is one of those.

Once again the moving of the SOL group was delayed because of finances and setting up places to stay.  Some of those who had been resting at Jennifer’s home were now back with the group and Bob and Wilma had now joined us.

We used Sunday to rest and prepare to travel to San Francisco on Monday August 6th.  I was very thankful for my long reprieve of sleeping in a bed and being able to take a hot shower.  We thought that we would be bedding down in a church in San Francisco, therefore I thought my days of living in a tent were over….not.

We got up on the 6th and loaded up Jennifer’s vehicle and headed to San Francisco with Bob and Wilma following.  There were actually three routes that could be taken and all three routes were used by different ones of the group.  We chose the middle one thinking we would have more scenery and yet not be on the very slow coastal route.  It was not very scenic and seemed to be a very long trip.

The area kept reminding me of Israel.  The word talks about Israel blooming in the desert and this part of California is irrigated desert and grows all types of fruit and vegetables.  It was a little weird to observe so much growing in a very dry area.

We headed to San Francisco thinking that we were going to stay at a Church and while we were traveling there the eraser hit the board again.  Some of the team got there ahead of everyone else and the Church had made wonderful arrangements for the group, but there was no place for the large vehicles to park.

Hour by hour we would get reports as to where we were to go.  The final word did not come down until just before we got to San Francisco. We were to head to Pacifica to pitch tents in the field of a Christian School.  I quickly had to mentally adjust to the fact that I had another week in a tent.

Pacifica, CA was on the California beach line.  There were tall cliffs at the edge of the water and a lot of very green trees and pretty flowers. It was a nice area and being on the coast it was very, very cold at night.

We arrived ahead of the bus group and had the pick of where we could set up a tent.  Wilma and Bob set up toward the back on an elevated area by the school garden.  I was going to do the same, but saw the evidence of droppings that looked like deer to me.  Everyone said it was rabbit.  I thought to myself that must have been a huge rabbit.

I moved over to the soccer field close to the road.  However, when I got set up I noticed that the same droppings were all over the soccer field. Yuk!

While in LA the group was pretty dispersed.  Those traveling by bus were still staying at Angelus Temple, some were at a local church, some of us in private homes and the rest set up around Maht auditorium which was on a college campus in Pasadena. I believe it was called Wesley College.

The strain of all the circumstances that we had been through were taking it’s toll on people and strife which started as they were coming to CA was escalating.  Patience was running thin with some.

The Christian body is not much different that an ordinary family.  There are such diverse personalities and levels of spiritual growth that you are bound to have friction at times.  Spiritually there are brand new babies, toddlers, grammar school….all the way to elders. I hear so much about the new generation that is coming and I am excited about it, but they will not reach their destiny without the elders(mature ones).

We have seen a whole generation arise today that have been basically raised  themselves or to the other extreme their parents have waited on them hand and foot.  They do not know the basics of everyday living.  They are self centered and just kind of expect the world to hand over what they want.  They do not respect other people’s property and will lie, cheat, or even murder for what they want.

This generation is now being saved and bringing that lack of character with them.  They need the elders to love them, discipline them and guide them into developing Godly character.  They don’t need friends, they need moms and dads.I do want to explain that there is a remnant of this new generation that are mature beyond their years.  They have had good natural or spiritual parents that have sown into their lives and you recognize them immediately. They have integrity and they show honor to one another.

The word says in Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”  I began to realize on this trip that this new revival would only last if this young generation learn to honor their spiritual mothers and fathers.

Jennifer, Naomi and I bought food, prepared a dinner meal and transported it to Pasadena while they were there.  One night I bought enough chocolate candy to give everyone two pieces.  You would have thought I gave them gold nuggets.  Jennifer also rescued some more from the group that needed a break.  Two sisters from Ohio, Hannah and Meagan, came to stay for a couple of nights.  Hannah especially needed rest to overcome an upper respiratory infection. By this time the Lacey’s had a house and trailer full.  Their family of 5 and 5 more.  What a family!!

Despite it all, the Lord showed up in the worship sessions and the group had some very good outreach results.  The Lord’s mercy and love is just beyond our comprehension.  He can overlook all our flaws and still love us and minister to and through us.  Praise His Name Forever!!