Capital #3: Columbia

November 20, 2023

KAF Session

Before I went to SC, I spent a few minutes and asked God what as on his heart that I needed to pray. I did a KAF session (click here to learn more about KAF). I finished my session and didn’t hear anything. I sat there for about 5 minutes - listening and watching. And just as I was about to put my stuff away, a HERTZ rental truck pulled into my cul-de-sac.

That was my sign! But what did it mean?

Hertz:

A unit of frequency (1 cycle per second)
Franchise (something that is replicable)
Old German word for “Heart” (herz). This is the meaning that most resonated with me. I didn’t know what about the heart, but I felt this would be an important facet of my prayer time in SC.

Driving To Columbia

The drive was uneventful. Before I started my prayer adventures, I had been in the habit of driving 5 mph over he speed limit. God’s gonna have to help me, cuz I hate driving the speed limit. But on the way up there, I remembered that when I used to drive to Tennessee to visit family, I would drive 10 mph over the speed limit. And that was pretty standard for most folks on the highway, So I took some liberties, sometimes. 5-20mph. But the 20 mph was just while passing or just for short stretches. I had just purchased new tires and the car was driving like butter over the highways. Even at 90 mph.

FedEx

I did see a Fed Ex Custom Critical Truck. I just looked it up today:

FedEx Custom Critical is a premium North American over-the-road transportation provider for shipments that need extra attention and care. When you need solutions for custodial control, quality management, temperature control, or high-security capabilities, FedEx Custom Critical delivers—for both truckload and less-than-truckload shipments.

Our cold chain and security expertise makes us the ideal carrier for transporting healthcare products and government shipments, or hazardous goods and high-value items. Whatever your specialized needs, you can trust FedEx Custom Critical to give your shipment the extra care it requires.

You may be wondering why did I focus on the FedEx truck versus the XTRA truck? I had a dream a few years ago that invovled a FedEx truck. And there have been a few instances when FedEx trucks have stood out to me. So when I saw the FedEx truck this time, I decided to capure it and look up the meaning later.

Is this how God sees me? He has a special assignment, and He sends me? I’m honored.

Arrival in Columbia

I find parking and identify the Capitol building. I walk around the facility, pray in the spirit, and take pictures of things that stand out to me.

First thing I see upon approaching the capitol is this African American History Monument
Saw a bride in the midst of Salvation Army signs
Marker of where the first state house was built until Union soldiers burned it to the ground (good for them).
Monument going all the way back to 1817.
I saw some retaining walls - but they didn’t really grab me - but they were there in case I couldn’t find anything else.
Beautiful massive tree with extensive branch work.

African American History Monument

Monument Plaque

The Bride and the Army

Bride on capitol steps

Bride in the midst of the Salvation Army (TSA)

Beautiful shot of the front of the capitol.

TSA kicking off annual Bell season

In the moment, I did think it was neat to see a bride on the capitol steps. But I forgot to meditate upon it while I was in Columbia. But on the way home, I thought about the bride and Salvation Army images I saw. It immediately reminded me of Revelation 19:6-9, 14, 19. I was looking at a picture of the Bride and the Lord’s Army on the capitol steps.The Bride had prepared herself and his Army was announcing the launch of a new campaign.

“Alleluia! For the[d] Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’

14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

I am not saying that God has a natural physical army that's about to start fighting in the streets. I don't know about all that. But I do know that there are people who, as a collective, are fighting on various fronts, in various ways, to prepare and protect this nation as we approach the November 2024 elections. I feel like God is saying that those people are ready and prepared for spiritual battle.

Potential Retaining Walls

I saw several retaining walls, but they didn’t really grab me. However, they were options in case I couldn’t find anything else.

Tree Canopy

This has nothing to do with my prayer time, but there were a few large beautiful trees whose canopies melded together to create this beautiful image. My photos don't do them justice, but here goes.

Additional Outside Images

In the Capitol

I went inside and did the tour of the inside. There were obviously some artifacts from Civil War but not nearly as much as there were in the Montgomery, AL capitol. To my surprise, there were a lot of their artifacts related to the Revolutionary War. The tour guide said they purposely focused more on the Revolutionary War than the Civil War. I didn’t get a good explanation of why. I didn't get a chance to ask the tour guide, and no other staff members had a cery convincing reason. I didn't press it, but enquiring minds want to know!

Top Left: Mary McCleod Bethune, Pioneering educator and college founder
Bottom Left: Revolutionary War Painting
Right: South Carolina Ordinance dissolving its union with the United States.

South Carolina Chamber of the House of Representatives

John C. Calhoun, seventh vice president of the United States from 1825 to 1832

Lunch Break

I decided to grab something to eat and then return to the capitol to pray.

I found a cool vegan-friendly restaurant and paid for my meter via parking app. But when I returned to my car, I had a parking ticket. They couldn’t find my payment in the system. My first instinct was to think that it’s the enemy (Satan) just trying to agitate me, distract me from the business at hand. Of course, I wanted to be like WTH. But I was like, I have evidence that I paid, so I’ll deal with that, instead of getting upset. I then get in my car, my phone connects to bluetooth and automatically these lyrics start playing:

"No, the enemy can’t take what I have or change who I am, I belong to you.”

These are lyrics from the song "Belong to You (Enemy Can't)" by Here Be Lions.

Bam! That’s all I needed. This ticket was nothing but a distraction. And the song was confirmation that the enemy tried to accuse me, bring judgment. Accuse me of “theft” basically. It’s the worst he can bring against me. But I was going to add this to my prayers for Columbia: being wrongly accused.

Twelves

During lunch I encoutered several numbers related to the number 12. It's significant because in Biblical numerology, the number 12 represents government. And that's what I was there to establish, God's government.

And allow me a moment to clarify my belief. Christianity as introduced to this land now known as the United States by white Europeans is oppressive and violent and unbiblical. It has given God a bad name with all of humanity. That is not the government that I seek to establish. There is no way to reconcile the atrocities white people have committed in the name of Christ with the teachings of Christ as communicated in the New Testament. Jesus said go make disciples of all men - not slaves. The Book of Galatians says that indeed there is neither male nor female, Jew nor Gentile, freed nor slave. We are all one in Christ. So for this land of so-called "Christians" to base its economic system on a tiered racist system of freed and enslaved is entirely antithetical to the scriptures and the heart of God.

So the government I seek to install is one where all men and women are treated equal, where we love one another, walk in forgiveness, patience, and kindness. We don't just give lip service to the principles in the light but are stabbing each other in the back to advance our own personal agendas in the dark.

That being said, below are images of 12s I saw.

Restaurant in Columbia.

My table number for lunch.

Address of a building I passed in walking back to my car.

My parking meter

THE Retaining Wall

Initially, I was going to use the a retaining wall by the African American exhibit, because if I had to choose, why not? But after I returned from lunch, I saw that there were benches in front of the monument. That reminded me of tha cpitol in Montgomery. And I realized that this could be a retaining wall. This exhibit is literally a wall upholding the lives of African-Americans in South Carolina and, by extension, the United States. And if it’s upholding African-American life, then it’s upholding all life (as in a rising tide lifts all ships). Again as in AL, I had found a non-traditional retaining wall.

It felt so right coming to that conclusion. And again, as in Montgomery, as I sat on one of the benches to get into a prayerful position, the sun came out in full force. A sign of God with me. Amen.

Wrongly Accused

The fee for my parking ticket was only $8. But what about all the other people who have paid steeper penalties - even to the point of their blood being shed. So I repented and prayed for justice and righteousness to be established for the innocent. And I prayed for those who HAD committed crimes - for mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

The following scripture came to mind.

Daniel 6:22 - Daniel had been accused of breaking the King’s law and had been thrown into the lion’s den. But Daniel survived. He says: 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

Then in Daniel 6:24:

24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Not only were the men killed, but their whole families were judged with them. That's truly some old testament justice.

Fortunately, because of the work that Jesus has done on the Cross, I don't have to pray for God to execute that kind of judgment. I prayed that God would cut off the life force and energy that is behind those who operate out of a falsely accusing spirit. That he would root it out copmpletely. Please note, I’m not asking for anyone to be killed. I am asking for the spirit behind the false accusations to be uprooted completely, because the scripture says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spirits and principalities…

And I prayed that God would be the vindication of the unjustly accused.

Parking Ticket Update: 12/22/23

I returned to Atlanta and promptly drafted an email to appeal my ticket. $8 is chump change, but it's the principal of the matter. So I drafted - but never sent! I didn't realize my mistake until after the appeal period had passed. I was devastated when I realied my error. But I sent the email anyway with a week left to pay (within 30 days). I went online to pay the ticket, but couldn't find my citation. I called the parking office and they told me that the ticket had been voided.

Say whaaaaaaaat?

Then on 12/21 I received an email in response to my late email:

"Thank you for contacting the City of Columbia Parking Services Division. We apologize for not sending you a response stating that we waved the citation as a one-time courtesy."

Absolutely an expression of mercy and vindication. And if He did it for me, he'll do it for others as well!

Young Man

The African American monument is a very open space. So while I was sitting on the bench, quietly meditating and praying, various people would come into the space to look at the exhibit. One young man - who looked mix between black and hispanic - came with his friends and took a picture in front of the monument.

He looked over to me and said, “Hey Auntie. What you doing? Just chillin?” At first, I was like, is he talking to me? I almost looked over my shoulder. The last time I was called "Auntie" by a stranger was when I was in Africa.. But I nodded. Then as he passed by me he said: “I hope you have a blessed and phenomenal week and rest of your life.” I thanked him and wished him the same.

In hindsight, I wish I had engaged with him more - but that’s a lesson for next time. But I did get up and look at the panel he stood in front of. Why of all the panels did he select this one? It was the one titled “Emancipation. And he stood next to the woman in the forefront. So I prayed for him and his generation: that they would be the ones to build upon the work that we “aunties” and those even before us had done, and bring true freedom and liberty to this land. I blessed him and his generation with faith, boldness, courage, love, your heart and wisdom. And I prayed that there would be a “mixed” coalition that arises to bring emancipation.

And I prayed for that everyone who enters the space while I was there, that they would capture something righteous - that it would impact them. That they would choose life.

Delusion and the Heart Connection

I will tell you that the Confederate presence wasn’t nearly as strong in SC as it was in AL - and even in GA.

In 2015, South Carolina removed confederate flags from the Capitol grounds
They had a huge monument celebrating black lives on capitol grounds (2021)

But this time when I prayed about delusion, it was another group’s delusion that was highlighted.

Those who are OK with the “status quo.” Those who think that they will escape when s- - - hits the fan.

Esther 4:13-14 came to mind:

13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

And this is where the “heart” connection came in. I prayed against a spirit of complacency. And then I remembered a song I listened to on the way up to SC:

Arise and Shine by Here Be Lions

Arise and shine

Come out of the darkness

Walk out of your chains

Arise and shine

Come and give Him worship

Glorify His name

This is the sound of a people

Coming awake, coming awake!

This is the sound of a people

Shouting Your praise, shouting Your praise!

These lyrics speak to a people waking up. Standing up and pushing against the status quo whatever that looks like.

Citation: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/scientists-discover-new-organ-spanning-entire-human-body/57TASV6UOBS23FYT2AU7JEAIZA/

Deliver on the Promise of Diversity

I have made it a point to pray that God would deliver on the promise of diversity in this nation. The potential of this national has yet to be reached. There is a reason so many diverse people live here. There is a reason for it. The scripture below encapsulates the beauty of diversity. May it be manifest in and through this land.

1 Corinthians 12: 1-27

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb[b] idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus [c]accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are [d]diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works [e]all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is

given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Unity and Diversity in One Body

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink [g]into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no [h]schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

The song that came to me after reading this scripture: TOGETHER.

Such an apt description of where we are as a nation. As humanity.

In Closing

Final points of prayer:

That God would connect the retaining wall in Columbia with the wall in Montgomery, with the wall in Atlanta.
That God would raise up his lively stones to man the wall.
I took communion. And took a small stone I brought with me from home, covered in clay, and "planted" in the ground.

Mobile Home

As I was driving home, I saw two mobile homes being transported on a truck (at two different times). First time, I just noted it. Second time, I was like, wait a minute, what are the odds?

What came to me? God, are you saying that your HOUSE/HOME is on the move? Your presence is on the move? You’re moving to a new location. And this was key for me, because one of my assignments is to “build God’s house.”

As he told the people in Haggai to build his house; Why should his house lie in ruins when they have houses to go home to?

I have no idea how to build "God's House" but I do believe this national prayer tour is part of that process. So to see the mobile homes moving speaks to something happening in the spirit.

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