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Do You Have Your Groove On?
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Pocket Full of Quarters Trek 2013
Do You Have Your Grove On?
Flatwoods, West Virginia
By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isa 40:31 NIV
All day, I kept thinking how good it felt to be back in the “grove.” This is the 10th Pocket Full of Quarters Journey and I definitely have a “way” I do things. I looked up the word grove and it means a settled or monotonous routine. Well – my way is settled but it certainly isn’t monotonous. Then I looked up the phrase, “Get your grove on” and I loved it. It means to have fun dancing or to get one’s “swerve” on. Yep – that’s it. I dance my way through these journeys and when I’m listening to God and following directions, I definitely have my “swerve” on.
It occurs to me that you might like to know what this “grove” is. It definitely has a pattern:
Meditation, Prayer, and Bible Study
I start every morning with an extended time with God – meditating, praying, and studying the Bible. I always end my time asking God for knowledge of His will for me and the power to carry it out. I “prayer walk” America as I travel which means I pray for the people in the cars, malls, parks, houses, busses, ambulances, schools…I pass. I pray every time I step outside my camper for the people who have been there before me or will be there after me. The main reason I post pictures is that I hope you will join this prayer walk.
Praise and Worship
I travel listening and singing to praise music. I go to church on Sundays and other times I pass a church worshipping. I worship by lakes, oceans, on mountains, and in green pastures.
Drive and Stop
I ask the Holy Spirit where to stop. When something gets my attention or someone makes a suggestion, I assume that is the Holy Spirit talking and head in that direction. When people invite me to their area, I try to say yes but I also try to leave enough between destinations to do the work of the journey – otherwise – it would be more efficient and cheaper to fly places. I limit driving to two-three hours a day unless I have a hard deadline. While I do speak and do events along the way, the wandering and responding to the Holy Spirit is the calling of these journeys
The 6 E's
People call what I do evangelism but on the Pocket Full of Quarters Journeys, evangelism only one of the E’s of the Divine Encounters God sends. On these journeys, I do whatever God puts in front of me. Unlike evangelism events where we use a specific “process” to give the Gospel to as many lost people as possible, on these journeys, I’m often spend hours or days with people. I call this work the 6 E’s:
E1 - Evangelize: Giving the Gospel and leading people to Jesus.
E2 - Encourage: Encouraging the discouraged.
E3 - Exhort: Reminding Christians of “who” and “whose” they are. I can be direct and firm but surprisingly, this is what people thank me for the most.
E4 - Exorcise: Satan is a thief that comes to kill and destroy. It makes me furious when I see him and his demons torturing people and I’m getting bolder daily about praying with people to bind the foul demons ruining their lives.
E5 - Ease: People need help. I try to ease the pressure, pain, or work of the people and situations I see. This can be everything from carrying groceries, doing yard work, helping decorate for a Bible school, spending time with a lonely person, or going through grief scriptures with the broken hearted. I’ve been known to mediate arguments, break up riots, write business plans, and teach people how to shake hands and answer questions at a job interview.
E6 - Educate: People tell me their stories and issues and I use scripture, parables and life stories to teach Biblical principles.
Write and Post
My evenings are filled with writing stories and posting stories and pictures.
Today, I woke up and spent time with God. I worshipped on tops of mountains and by lakes. I prayed for people. I “evangelized” to two college students who both promised they were going to read the tract and pray to meet Jesus. I spent a time “educating” and “exhorting” a lovely, sweet, and innocent Christian 19 “preacher’s kid” whose current boyfriend isn’t saved and likes to “party” more than she is comfortable with. I loved seeing Biblical “understanding” came into her eyes about why her parents are worried. I also gave her a “lesson” on how to lead her boyfriend to Jesus. It’s been cold and rainy all day so Shiloh and I have stayed wet and cold. I need to pull out my jacket and lose the sandals. I’m writing this story, posting pictures, and saying goodnight. Pray for the 2013 Pocket Full of Quarters Journey. Tomorrow I get to go to church.
So yes, for today, I have my “grove” on – my “swerve” and it feels great. Do you know what your “grove” is? Do you have it on? If you do, you know exactly what to do next. It feels like you are soaring as if on eagle’s wings. If you’re not sure have it on, you probably don’t. It's easy to get it back. Let’s talk. Email Cheryle
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