Airplane Encounters: The Egyptian Gent

This past fall, in November, I sat next to a Catholic Egyptian businessman, around 42 years old, divorced,  living in Canada, and working in a very similar industry to mine, and we had this crazy 3-hour conversation about being stirred up for the things of God. I knew before he said anything that he already had a relationship with God. I could feel it. 

I remember the moment I knew.

I was coming back from having used the lavatory, and he got up with a smile to let me into the middle seat. The second he smiled at me, my spirit leapt inside as it recognized that his spirit was alive, too. I made myself comfy again, but I could feel the energy and curiosity coming off of him. He was going to talk to me soon. I knew it.

I had happened to have my Bible sitting out as I was doing some reading and some journaling, and suddenly he leaned over to say “I like it that you read this book”.

And then the discussion began, as he asked me about my relationship with the Lord, and I was able to excitedly tell him about what an amazing journey it has been to fall in love with GOD.

I took him all over the Bible as I shared my favorite passages and explained that God has ruined me for anything else other than Him. Throughout the conversation, my seatmate kept telling me that he had never had a conversation like this before in his life.

He left greatly encouraged to live life with passion for Jesus.  He was already a believer, but what happened that evening was God laid his finger on this man’s heart and said “I want you. All of you.” 

We never know how our passion for God will inspire and stir up other believers.  It was particularly awesome to have this conversation with a businessman. God wants to shake up the Christians in business (shake them up in a good way), and use them to take the Kingdom to the business world. 

We have been in contact here and there since that happened, and I know that our conversation made a deep impact on in his life. Praise God!  WOOHOO!

Revival starts with the Body of Christ waking up to its full destiny!

Thursday Night Airplane Encounters

This has been a heavy season of traveling. I knew when I first “signed up” for a large enterprise project that it would require tremendous amounts of traveling, but that God would be faithful to make this next season exciting even with all the airplanes, taxis, late nights, restaurant food, and the intense workload.

And WOW has he been faithful!

Several things are on my heart about this season…

1) It’s a time for me and Jesus to honeymoon together. At home in AZ I have a million things clamoring for my attention. All good things. But, nothing’s like a straight up dose of the manifest presence of God and him sitting next to you sharing secrets from his heart. And there’s something that happens when he has you all to himself. Mmm… he is worth it all. 

Don’t misunderstand me, it can be a real struggle at times for my relational, extroverted self, but that’s probably exactly why I need this time. If you’ve read the “My Story” tab at the top, you know that Italy was a key season for me spiritually because I had so much time with JUST God, and no one else. Sure, there were 2 million people around me, but I was relatively alone most of the day, at least on a social engagement level. And we all know how much I like to be around people, and how much I relish deep, intense conversations. Well, with me and God, it’s no different. Other than being even more intense, perhaps. And we certainly get personal.  I’m practicing being more and more honest with God about where I am at and what I’m feeling. No point in hiding it if he knows it already, right?! That’s a rabbit trail, though…

2) Another thing on my heart is the marketplace – the mountain of business!  Folks, there are so many people in the corporate world who have not been wrecked by the love of God! Oh, for them to know it! For them to experience this!  AH, I live for corporate America to fall in love with JESUS!

I’m all about fellowship, but I don’t like being caught up in a Christian bubble. The world needs the fire-starters to go out among them and just LOVE them, just LISTEN to them, just be FRIENDS with them.  When life gets tough for my colleagues and clients, we will have a deep conversation, and they will share with me where they are at emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. That’s when Jesus can step in and blow their minds with just how personal he is, and just how GOOD and KIND he is. Yeah, God! 

3) I’ve been having what I call my Thursday Night Airplane Encounters....

I’ll sit next to a passenger, and next thing I know, we are in deep conversation about God. 

I never start these conversations!  So far it’s always been them! And I’m going to start posting summaries of what happens during these encounters. WOOT.