TACF Journal

So, today was hair appointment day. Yup. Me and the dogs… Getting the locks cut is always a milestone for us. They, because it allows them to see again, and me because; just because, I guess! Happily the dogs were right-on-time for their appointments. They get the whole pampered treatment; you know, bath, haircut, pedicure, ear cleaning; and the groomer puts these pretty bows in their hair when their done. Mm-mmmm! My wife will be very pleased with me!

Now for me, there aren’t so many hairs left up there to get too excited over, but I still like to have my favorite hair stylist do the job. Unfortunately, I was a little late arriving to my appointment and was immediately concerned when the receptionist told me that my hair stylist, Juanita*, was with another client and someone else would cut my hair today. Don’t know about you, but I have found that extending my hairs to ‘the unknown barber’ is usually very scary – I never quite know what’s going to happen! I could say in a very spiritual voice that I felt a “check” in my spirit; or, I could say it was my hair follicles jumping around trying to hide! But really, it actually was a “check” in my spirit. But I didn’t know that it had nothing to do with how handsome my hair was going to look, as you will understand later.

“Could I wait for Juanita?”

Carefully checking the log book and the hair requirements of the client ahead of me, the receptionist said I could wait. “Whew!” It was a close call. In all honesty, my only other option would have been to make a new appointment later and come back. So waiting was a good thing.

If you hang around TACF long enough, you are sure to hear Pastor Carolyn talk about being “naturally supernatural.” The idea is to be listening and observing in the supernatural realm while we carry out our very natural business. Like, getting a haircut! For me, I have to work at this. Especially when I’m “on a mission!” Over the years I developed the ability to focus like a laser beam on the task at hand; unfortunately, the “task” was usually in the natural realm – groceries, haircut, maybe that new grill I’ve been eyeing. To be naturally supernatural requires a stereo laser beam – one that can focus on the supernatural at the same time as the natural.

Fortunately there was a Reader’s Digest magazine on the rack so I thumbed through to find the jokes while I waited:

“The evangelist shouted from the platform, “If you need a miracle, come here quickly.” Turning to the first in line he asked, “What are you here for?”

“My hearing…” responded the man.

Quickly the evangelist placed his fingers in the man’s ears and prayed for their healing. “How is your hearing now?” he enquired.

“I don’t know,” replied the man. “The hearing’s not ‘til Thursday.”

Ouch! “Well, at least I’ll get my hair cut today!!” You see, my stereo laser was still mostly in natural-mode only. But the Holy Spirit was already at work, determined to over-ride my laser at just the right time. This is good news for me, good news for my hairdresser, and it’s good news for you too, because I know you will probably need your hair cut soon!

With the other client now sitting in the back with her head under a big cone shape contraption looking like something out of an early episode of StarTrek, it was my turn to step up to the chair. Juanita thinks my hair is the greatest! I don’t think she says that to everyone, but even if she does, it makes me smile. But then she started telling me in her broken English that she had undergone some major dental work three days ago and was in terrible pain. Suddenly my supernatural detector turned on. OK, in truth, what’s there to turn on in this situation? This is good news for me, good news for Juanita, and good news for you too, because the truth is, you don’t have to be particularly supernatural to figure out that someone could use some prayer when they’re describing their pain to you in terrifyingly graphic detail!!

Now, Juanita and I have talked about the Lord before; I happen to know she is a Catholic lady who truly loves Jesus. I also know that loving Jesus in this particular haircutting store can be a major hindrance to continued employment. Praying on the job could get her fired… “Lord, show me how to do this, and how to do it quick! God we’re not going to have time for multiple ‘Is it better now?’ scenes!” Gotta do this as privately as possible… Hmmm…. Floor to ceiling windows across the front of the store, floor to ceiling mirrors across the entire side wall where all the stations are… looking in the mirror, it seems like every one in the place just happens to be watching Juanita cut my hair… Hmmmm….

Suddenly the haircut is over. It’s Action Time!! Right in front of the mirror. Right in front of the window. They’re all staring at us... Worse, they’re all laughing as they stare at us! Are they laughing at us too?? And that’s when faith rose up on the inside! This was good news for me, good news for Juanita, and it’s good news for you too, because God’s faith can always rise up in His Sons and Daughters!! “Juanita, does it still hurt right now?” I’m just making sure – that way I AND SHE know for sure that God has done this thing.

“Yes, yes, it hurts bad! Can’t touch it!” She grimaces as she presses gingerly on the related spots all over the left side of her face.

“May I pray for you?” (“Yes!”) “Can I put my hand on your cheek?” (“Yes.”) “Lord, touch Juanita…” And I told the pain to leave and the face to be made whole in Jesus name.

The surprised look on her face kinda gave it away, but I had to ask anyways (actually, I asked twice, ‘cause I always want to be sure of my facts!). “Does it still hurt?”

“No! Look, I can press my face again – no pain!”

I happily paid for my haircut, gave Juanita a nice tip, and left the building with a big smile and a happy tune on my lips.

This was good news for me, good news for Juanita…. And it’s good news for you too! You see, Jesus said, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8, NASB)

God wants you and I to fine tune our laser beams. In fact, it is His plan that the supernatural mode be the dominant mode of your stereo laser! However, He also said to “just do it!” to quote the running shoe company. I want to hear from God’s Throne Room with ever increasing accuracy; words of knowledge, prophecy; and that’s going to happen. But there will always be the “just do it” times!! Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Let’s just do it! Perhaps God will go with us! And even if He doesn’t He is still God!!” (1 Samuel 14:6) If you don’t remember the story, let me tell you that GOD WENT WITH ‘EM!!! Just like He went with me this afternoon!! And He’s just waiting to GO WITH YOU TOO!! And that’s good news for me, good news for Juanita, and it’s good news for you too!

Now if I can only remember to pick up the dogs this afternoon….

*Not her real name