Joyska's Journal: there is a fine line...!











Tuesday, August 15, 2006

there is a fine line...!

I had the amazing privilege of having our dear friend Marsha come and hang out at my house last night. If you get my newsletters, you have read the story of Marsha and how God has freed her from an addiction to alcohol... instantly. She has been with us 2-3 times a week ever since. (She lives in the Bellerive apts, where we feed and pray).

Anyway, she was having a down day, and in Lisa's gift of delegation, she ended up spending the night at my house. Of course, the main draw was to hang out at the house of Prayer. Now keep in mind, Marsha lives in the core area of the city. She has never been to IHOP, and has only heard us talk about it. Until recently she thought we were talking about the International House of Pancakes and couldn't figure out why people there had so much extra food to give away!

We were walking out of the main area at IHOP and were heading to my apartment. Marsha was reading some of the brochures and LOUDLY asked "WHO THE HECK IS THIS MIKE BICKLE GUY?" We were walking past the coffee shop at that point and there were more than a few smiles around us... mine included! How refreshingly fun!

Later (around 8:30) I brought her over to the prayer room. There were A LOT of people there (it was misty's set and required for Summer Teen Interns, FSM students, and One Thing interns). The place was hopping (no pun intended). There were numerous "pacers" and "rockers" as well as lots of people jumping up and down, dancing, and of course praying.

Marsha's initial response?

This place reminds me of a pysch ward! She used to be a nurse in the pychiatric wards and said that the pacing and rocking was a sign of agitation and aggression. It gave her a new perspective when you add God! She loved it. At one point, on seeing a young man pacing AND praying out loud, she leaned over and said... That one has schyzophrenic tendancies... and those ones... standing still for two hours... they are catatonic. HA HAHAHAHAHAHA. She was kidding, but it was funny to see it through the eyes of one who had never experienced anything like the prayer room before.

She thouroughly enjoyed being there and about 3 hours later, (around midnight), the cleaning team appeared with the vacuums. Again for those of you who have been here, you have seen these back pack vacs. They look a little like Jet packs... Marsha leaned over and with a twinkle in her eye says, "O great... now we have the Jetsons"

I love it! We came back to my apartment around 1:30 or so, and we chatted about life, about her history, and about why we pray. We brought her back to the city this afternoon as we went back for our prayer meeting in her building. I am so blessed to be living this way!

Thank you Jesus!
Joyska at 8:32 PM

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