EMPTY TABLE

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no
bitter root grows up to cause trouble..."  Hebrews 12:15

      While attending the National Women's Aglow Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, I had a vision.  John Wimber of Vineyard Ministries International was the guest speaker.

      After speaking to the ladies he began a time of ministry in which he called upon the Holy Spirit to come in power upon the women.  The power of God came in waves over us causing holy laughter to break out in various parts of the packed conference center.  Sounds of weeping and moaning could be heard as the Holy Spirit touched buried hurts among women.  To me, this was not a new experience because it was happening at the Vineyard church I attended back home in Temecula, California and at charismatic conferences I attended in recent years.

      During this meeting I felt happy and didn't want to deal with any past hurts, so I scrunched down in my seat so the power wouldn't touch me.  But it didn't work; the power of God swept over me and I had a vision of a scene from my early childhood, before the orphanage.  In this picture, which was like watching a TV screen, I saw a group of children sitting on benches on either side of an oblong wooden table.  Studying the scene, I observed a tiny little girl with stringy brown hair.  Her head was barely visible above the table.  She looked so forlorn sitting there wide-eyed, whimpering softly, staring at the empty table.  Along with this child, which I instinctively knew was me, I saw my brothers, Norman, Lionel, and Stanford sitting on the other side of the table.  Seated next to me was my big sister, Frances.   Their faces all bore the same sad expression, staring at the bare table.

      At that point the Lord spoke to me, saying, "You are holding bitterness against your mother and father for not providing food for you when you were a hungry little girl.  I want you to confess this sin to Dorothy.   You must forgive you parents, then I will forgive you."

      I was shaking and about to cry, feeling the hunger pangs of that neglected little girl.  I had not been aware that I was holding resentment those many years.  Through this vision the Holy Spirit revealed what had been locked away in my memory from childhood.

      I found Dorothy, who was seated several rows back.  At this particular time we were both serving on the California South Area Board of Women's Aglow.

      I said, "Dorothy, the Lord said I need  to confess my sin of bitterness I've held against my parents.  Will you pray with me so I can confess this sin?  Then the Lord will forgive me."

      Dorothy said, "Yes, I'll pray with you.  Let's sit down right here and do what the Lord says."  I confessed my resentment and bitterness at my parents for not providing food for me and my brothers and sister.  Dorothy prayed over me and I felt the bitterness lift from my heart.

      According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth Jesus promised that the Father would send after Jesus ascended into heaven.  The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin so we can confess and repent, clearing the way for a right relationship to God.  The Bible also says, 'confess your faults one to another that you may be healed.'

      Praise God for sending the Holy Spirit to help us and set us free!