On Sept. 28, 1998 I went with Gracie to Columbus Vineyard to attend a Weigh Down Workshop. I had attended a few services prior to this event, and was very fulfilled with its format. Therefore, I was going with great expectations.

There were a series of three classes that year. I didn’t lose a lot of weight. However, I lost a ton of baggage.

One eve in November, during the last class, we had a Blessing Night. During this event, attending members call upon The Holy Spirit to speak blessings upon one another. As a catholic, I’d never experience an event like this. I was all in for The Holy Spirit to take over. The following were the blessings spoken over me:

*I will never shame Him.(Being raised Catholic in the 50’s and 60’s ,I never understood grace.)

*I must rest in Him.( Being somewhat OCD and a worrier, I had to rest in The Word.)

*He will never leave me.(With strict Catholicism, and being fearful of the next explosion at home…I was a train wreck!)

*I will dance before The Lord( I knew that this one was directly from The Holy Spirit. I danced with my older siblings to Dick Clark every night. My husband said, ”I fell in love with you watching you dance.”).

*I am coming out of my cocoon (thus, I wear my butterfly ring. God set me free of a great deal of baggage that night.)

*I will SOAR with big wings.

*My marriage will improve. (Lord knows, twenty years ago, we both had a lot to learn, and forgive.)

I was overwhelmed and flying high that night. Little did I realize, that The Holy Spirit had just begun!