The first Year Team meeting we had, September 6, 2011, included a sweet and challenging time of prayer and discussion with Elizabeth. I asked for prayer about future, namely dreams desires...being: phd/teaching, getting married, missions. It was a sweet time of honestly looking at my heart...yet challenging because Elizabeth was like I'd really encourage you to lay these desires down (marriage and grad school) and see if they are what you want or the lord wants. I couldn't stop thinking about it for about a week afterwards. The motives...not that they won't happen, but I think I gained a perspective I needed.
I don't want to cling to these desires...rather, lay them down and trust the Lord. And I know in my heart that I cling to/idolize them so often. Even still, all these months later, I'll have to wait and see what the lord does!
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Wednesday night service on October 26, 2011.
I very rarely go to the Wednesday night service at church, but wanted to go last night because I heard Dwight was going to be talking about speaking in tongues.
During the worship, we were singing the song that says, "Jesus, my passion in life is to know you. May all other goals bow down to you..." I was praying and laying down my goals before the Lord AND all of a sudden, it was as if someone was blowing in my left ear. Wooshing past me. It was audible and my whole body shivered.
No one was sitting on either side of me. Just to be sure, I turned to look at the people behind me. The guy directly behind me was sitting down, bowed over in prayer. The guy behind me to the left was completely engrossed in worship.
I thought: wow, Holy Spirit, you are with me! Then I started laughing because of course He is. Was such a sweet and personal reminder of His presence.
THEN Dwight began talking and he read Acts 2:1-13.
Verse 2 = And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
As I got there and was sitting alone, I was thinking why am I here? I wish I wasn't by myself. And it was such a personal, sweet reminder that I'm not! In that time, in His reminder to me that I am safe and secure with Him, I let my guard down. I surrendered to Him. The Lord increased His blessing to me that night with more giftings. Yet, the greatest gift was His presence. A great reminder to me that when I lay myself down, the Lord is ushered in...
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Steve's sermon this past Sunday (February 5, 2012) was on surrender. Frankly, it knocked my socks off. Was well delivered and incredibly challenging. How much does the Lord want of you? ALL of you. Your time, your giftings and skills, your relationships, your money, your things...everything. How much are you willing to surrender to the Lord? That is the question. It is quite a hard question, yet I think the times when I truly surrender to the Lord are the greatest times of walking without fear and full of freedom.
http://www.wearestandrews.com/sermons.aspx?ArticleId=1046
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As I was cruising through old emails to write this post, I found one reminding me of a prophetic word for me in the bulletin on September 4, 2011.
For a lady named Elizabeth. You know the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, but you have recently felt dry and isolated. The Lord wants to refill you with His spirit and fill you with a renewed hope. Expect great things as you humble yourself and allow God's people to come alongside you.
This was the Sunday before Year Team started and I love it -- especially looking back and seeing that prophecy come to fruition.
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