"Miss Bessie and... "Church off the Chain!"

Last night was just an amazing interlude in the day of a life. That is for sure! One of my closest and dearest friends is a woman by the name of Rochelle. She is an incredible woman full of love and comapssion who works as a social worker for the elderly. One of her giftings is her special love and her way with elderly forgotten people...and the poor. It touches my heart so much. The stories she has shared with me are amazing to be sure...but then Rochelle is one amazing woman! Rochelle grew up in the inner city of Detroit, Michigan..I grew up in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio. She is black and I am white and we both have seen the ravages of racism in our lives growing up where we did. That is one whole big other story! At any rate Rochelle told me the other night she would be preaching at her church on Wednesday, so I told her I wanted to be there to support her in that, because I have never heard her preach before and this was her first time. So last night I stopped at my house after work before I headed out to Rochelle's church. I had forgotten to take the big trash can from off the curb, so down the driveway I went (in high heels of course:) to roll back the trash can ( you just take tinier steps thats all:) haha..) when I looked up and saw this very elderly lady across the street from me rolling her trash can back. I immediately stopped and walked over there and asked her if I could help her with it. She looked up at me and smiled and said "Oh no darlin I think I can get this." " Well I would be so happy to help if I can!" I said. She smiled at me and said" I've seen you out in the yard over there...did you just move in?" "Yes maam, just a few months ago"(I was living in the "hood "in Nashville, and now I have an adorable place with a big back yard and trees and flowers in a charming little neighborhood, and I don't hear gunshots in the night anymore! Thank you Lord...) " Well my name is Bessie and I have lived in this neighborhood for over 56 years in this house right here.....I was married for 56 years...my husband died just a few years ago...." Her eyes teared up...I thought as I looked at her"Oh my gosh!! 56 years...that is totally amazing. Her eyes were still moist and shining. I reached out and put my arms around her and hugged her and said "Miss Bessie that is so amazing....to spend your life with someone for 56 years and to have lived in the same house all these years...I bet you have seen so much!" I pointed out the beautiful Peony bush across from us that is getting ready to bloom...(One of my very favorite flowers!!) She told me her favorite flowers were red geraniums. She told me a story about the man who used to own the house on the corner and how the two yards where the town house I am now living in used to be covered in Peony bushes. The very spot I am living in used to be a huge garden! That blessed me so much. She began telling me how she washed her curtains that day and soaked them in epson salts before she hung them out on the line outside. "Won't you come in and see them?" she said. I said "Epson salts Miss Bessie?!!"" The only thing I have ever soaked in epson salts before has been me!! " She laughed as we walked in her house. She said"There they are!" so proudly," and you don't have to iron them either when you soak em like that!" Well there they were in all their glory...pretty as a picture little cottage curtains...ruffles and all!!:) I said "Miss Bessie they are just beautiful!" she said" Go on..you can touch them.." I was amazed! They looked like they had been perfectly ironed and felt like they had been starched! I knew I really needed to run on and get to Rochelle's church so I hugged her goodbye. When I got to my house I looked out in the back yard at the big pots of red geraniums that I planted last weekend. " I felt the prompting from within "Go on... just do it!!:)" I picked up one of the big pots full of the red geraniums and trotted across the street...it was heavy!! And I was still in those little black high heels:)...rang the doorbell, and watched Miss Bessie's face light up "Oh Honey!! What have you gone and done!!"

"Happy Mothers Day Miss Bessie!" I said as I choked up a bit...I imagined myself handing the red geraniums to my Mom who just recently passed away. "Oh honey they are just beautiful...you just shouldn't have done this...."I said :Oh yes Miss Bessie...oh yes! It is my greatest pleasure to do this!" And it was....it truly was.



As I got in the car I called Rochelle to let her know I was on my way. She said "Why don't you sing tonight before I preach!" I said "Oh my gosh girl...I mean....well uh...I uh....well!" "Patricia...get in that house and just bring a track...I want you to sing tonight! I said "Lord have mercy Rochelle...I mean I guess I could....welll......uhhh" You would never have thought that I have ever sung a day in my life!!! This sure isn't the way it has always been for me. You would never know now that I have spent most of my life touring, recording, and singing professionally.......before audiences of thousands and thousands of people.Have you ever seen the movie "The Natural"? It is one of my favorites...I relate to Roy Hobbs in that movie..."Yeah...Ive just been out of the game for a little while..." he said. What do you do when you have a gift and a passion for music from God? It never leaves...it is a gift. ( I will have to write about this at another time...it is a story in itself!!:) Well the long and short of it is ...my other dearest friend, several weeks ago insisted that I go buy a couple of tracks..Linda said "Patti...just go out and get some tracks and sing in the house..I mean you are singing already.... just get ready!!" I said "Ready for what Linda?!! Singing at the reception desk at my job!!? Right." I have to remeber that God's promises are for real!! If He says something he will do it! Our job is to believe! "OK...OK...I'll do it!" Well I ran back in the house and looked at these two tracks ( I would rather sing live with just a keyboard or guitar I thought...sometimes I just have an aversion to tracks!!) I looked at the one which I have never even sung and the Holy Spirit said" Yeah...that one! WHAT!! I said...Oh my gosh! I grabbed it , ran down the stairs, got in the car and started listening.... and singing...it feels safe in the car!!:) I thought this is crazy.....what am I doing?!! And this track is just off the chain...funky...horn section....loud!! Oh my gosh...what if this is just too much? I kept driving...and listening....


I got there almost on time! The church is in a small neighborhood.... in the hood!... mostly a black church with loving hearts and the sweetest pastor. I went in and Rochelle was already seated on the platform. I sat behind a row of little children.....sooo adorable. The service began and while we were in worship I opened my eyes and looked down and one of the little girls was looking up at me..I smiled at her, closed my eyes and continued singing in worship...when I opened my eyes I looked down and she was still looking up at me....now along with three other children. Then she started motioning to me..I smiled at her..... but sensed something...I looked up and Rochelle was looking at me from the platform and she mouthed to me"She is deaf" My heart was gripped. At that moment the little girl walked around the pew to me and reached up with her arms to me. I was done!! Just go ahead and put the fork in me....I was done!!!....I picked her up and held her so tight and kissed her little cheek. She sat close to me for awhile, and then the pastor introduced Rochelle, who then introduced me....I was J E L L O!! Yes indeed folks!!! J E L L O But something happened!!! I started to speak about the song that I was about to sing called"No Limits-Breakthrough" and how it was time to believe for the impossible and breakthroughs in our lives and I started to tear up...I was speaking to myself too. I was so overwhelmed, but I didn't cry...and Rochelle was standing right behind me saying"Yes!" "Go on now!" "Hallelujiah!" "Tell it straight girl!" and I didn't want to hear later "Girl don't make me have to come over there and tell you to go somewhere and "setdown"!:)...ha ha ha.... no one says it like Rochelle anyhow!! When they started the track and I opened my mouth my heart was pounding out of my chest..... suddenly I saw an explosion in the Spirit!! I felt like a stick of dynamite! Everyone got up on their feet, and I think the sound system kept going in and out , but it didn't matter!! I could feel the Lord's presence so tangibly in me and in the room, and the faces I was looking out at were so sweet, and receptive, and everyone was smiling and clapping and being blessed...it just didn't matter if my voice wasn't perfect...the children were dancing, people were given hope and me.....I had opened my mouth and sang my heart out for all it was worth in front of God,( with God ), and everyone, and Rochelle preached about recieving the Holy Spirit like a woman from another world...totally off the ever loving chain!!

And that group of little ones....those precious children! My new friend Lisa who is a friend of Rochelle's has had a huge battle with drugs and is now walking in recovery and helping other women who have struggled. She is going to have a home now, built by "Habitat", her very first home, and this was the first time I could celebrate with her! She has two adorable little boys and one of them was baptized Wednesday night..... , and some of the other children recieved the power of the Holy Spirit last night. It was such a humbling and powerful thing to witness...these babies filled with His Spirit....I trembled and wept. One of the little girls walked over to me and took my hand and stood so close to me and just kept looking in my eyes for the longest time...it was so powerful.... and precious. .(Isn't it something that we as adults can barely hold a gaze with someone for less than thirty seconds at most.... sometimes.) She has three sisters and her Mom and Dad were right there just beaming...what a sweet family. And what a special night...one that I won't soon forget. Dear God,I pray that you will continue to help me to overcome this fear and give me the strength and courage that I need to do what you want me to do.

As I look out my window upstairs I see everything turning so lush and green and the beautiful ivy climbing up the huge tree in my backyard..I see the old swing hanging from the tree...I remember how I used to love to get in a swing when I was a little girl and go as high as I could and laugh and laugh...I want to do that again....I want to laugh and laugh and get in the swing and go as high as I can!! But now, he has given me another picture.... I can see His hand holding the ropes .....It makes me think about something Jesus said.... Matthew 18:3 "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdon of heaven." I want to enter in...how about you?