A Sunday In St. Martin

On our Lords day we made port on the island of St Martin. This was our 4th visit to this island but a first for my parents and children. We had very loose plans for the day which mostly entailed patronizing local vendors. As we moseyed down the cobblestone streets topped with short pastel buildings of the main downtown area on route to the Yoda museum I suddenly saw a sign which caught my eye “King of Larimar”. I can’t explain why but as I was looking for some special gifts to bring home to loved ones I felt compelled to visit the shop! Asking my 5 family members to wait on the benches I raced down the side street following signs to the store entrance. Inside I was greeted by two very kind ladies and quickly found several perfect well priced gifts. Intending to quickly pay and rejoin my family I pulled my credit card out and casually mentioned that one of the gifts was for a “spiritual mother”. After speaking those words I felt a press on my shoulders holding me in place, stopping me in my tracks, and my spirit began to reel! Abounding with zeal the store owner responded “we knew it! You are a spirit-filled Christian like us!” 

Immediately the presence of God fell as a heavy warm blanket and consumed the atmosphere of the room. Stunned we each froze in amazement and looked around at each other exclaiming: “I’ve got chills…on my face…and arms!” The three of us began jumping up and down in unison squealing with excitement like we were on the front row of a wild revival service! The Lord’s hand fell heavily on this moment. Quickly we grabbed hands and began to pray. 

As before the Lord hid us and no one else entered the store during that special time. The Holy Spirit began to prophesy over the ladies and a great portal to Heaven opened over the store as a new anointing was released to dominate the forces of darkness on the island. The Lord promised them that the witches they would encounter on the island would be terrified of them and they would crush fierce lions under their feet! The Lord opened a very special door for these ladies and placed an incredible anointing on their lives that could never be taken away. Something new had happened! Exploding with tears of joy the owner expressed to me that she was a Hindu but the Lord saved her and came into her heart and now she lives for Him. She explained that she prays over each piece of jewelry and many customers had returned to testify of their experiences after wearing the pieces. With tears she recounted to me that many people have come into the store for prayer and ministry over the years but God had never sent someone in to pray for her! 

Both ladies expressed that they had begun the day with sadness over having to work on a Sunday instead of attending church but God had a better plan! Church had come to us! We embraced as true sisters in Christ, took a photo together and I left that store completely drunk in the Holy Spirit, full to splashing overflow. Even as I record this glorious work of God which I had the privilege of witnessing I am still overcome by the power of this sudden encounter. 

Dear friends, if the wondrous events I’ve experienced in just the beginning few days of this new year are any indication as to how the rest of the year will go I can tell you with absolute certainty that you are in for the Kingdom adventure of a lifetime!