Wednesday we came early and tried to go back to the front row seats, but they were taken. Some friends from church were there, so we sat with them ... and they had some pretty good seats, about 8 rows back in the very center section. (Personally, I liked sitting with my friends from church more than sitting in the front row by ourselves, so I was a bit glad that Elvi's favorite seats were not available.)
The morning worship and teaching were very good and I was very much aware of God's presence. When the morning session ended, some friends pointed out that I was coated in gold. It was on my face and arms and all over my shirt as well. I did a quick mental inventory to see if there was some natural reason for it... had I been around anything with glitter that may have rubbed off on me. I had not. So, I was blessed to have this manifestation, but I did not understand what it was about. I don't always understand why God does what He does, but I was glad He decided to do something with me. I love His presence and His touch!
Dan and Elvi and I decided to go to lunch together. As we were leaving the church to go to the car, someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Aren't you Teresa Seputis?" I said yes. It turned out she was one of the lady's, a full time itinerate minister, who I'd met when I was traveling with Bill Hamon in Australia last July, almost exactly a year ago. She was on a ministry tour of the USA and God had told her to go to this conference because there was someone who He wanted her to connect with there. She believed it was me. I also had a sense that God was going to connect me with some people at this conference, so I was not surprised by her sharing that. We had separate lunch plans, but we ended up talking extensively during the afternoon break, exchanged contact info, etc. We also talked about doing some joint ministry stuff together later on. It will be interesting to see what God does with this.
That evening, during a 10 minute break, Mary told us that she'd seen a white feather fall from the ceiling and she had picked it up. She had accidentally lost it, so she could not show it to us. About then, we saw another feather fall, and this one was slowing floating down about two pews in front of us. Brenda went over to catch it. Some other tall lady tried to stand over Brenda to get it before she did, but just as she tried to snatch it away from Brenda, it blew forward to the other side of Brenda than the tall lady was standing on. Brenda was able to step over and retrieve it before it hit the ground.
Mary stepped away while this was going on. Then I noticed a small white feather under the pew. I picked it up. A frined was sitting next to me and wanted to see it. So I showed it to her. Then she said, "I bet this is Mary's feather," and put it on Mary's bible for Mary. She had effectively taken away my feather and given it to Mary. I actually wanted the feather for myself, but if it were the one that Mary had lost, then I agreed that Mary should have it back. When Mary got back to her seat, the friend told her "we found your feather." (I remember thinking -- "We??") Mary looked at it and said, "No, this isn't mine. Mine was larger." So I told her I'd noticed it under the pew in front of where we were sitting. She again said it wasn't hers and offered to give it back to me. I wanted it back really bad, but I knew she also wanted it. Since my friend had taken it away from me and given it to Mary, I thought maybe I should let Mary keep it. So I suggested we share it and I told her she could hold onto it first. Mary then wrapped it carefully in a baggy and put it in her purse. When I saw her do that, I knew that I could not take it back from her because it was too special to her.
I silently began asking God about that. I had this feather and, in a manner of speaking, it was taken away from me and given to someone else. So I asked God to give me another one. Feathers continued to fall from the ceiling that evening, and I watched them float downwards. But none came anywhere near me and I ended up without a feather. I was ever so slightly bothered by that. So I began asking God why He would not give me another one.
"Teresa," He replied, "you must be careful not to allow someone to snatch away the anointing I give to you."
I was not sure I fully understood what that meant, but I guessed the feather was an object lesson and something far more powerful would soon happen. It did, the very next night!
[Previous Article] [Next Article]