Thursday, June 27, 2013

Twelve Days Until ITALY!

We have 12 days left before we leave for our missions trip to Florence, Italy.

I stand amazed at what God has done.

There is so much to do, so many questions that I still have, and so much expectation:

Lord, You know where and why we are going. You know what we are to do when we get there. Prepare my mind and spirit for what you have in mind for us. Go before us, surround us with Your Light and Love. Help us be sensitive to Your Spirit, your direction, your guidance. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Our First Revival Together

This past weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (a.m. and p.m.), Stephen and I were asked to come and hold a revival for Momma's church, Muldrow Church of God.

It was a truly amazing experience, and I am still quite overwhelmed by the impact of it in my mind and spirit. I wanted to try to record some of my impressions here before time gets away from me and before I forget all together.

1. It IS possible to have a husband/wife team conduct revival services (but it requires planning!).
Stephen and I had to sit down and spend time discussing what we thought God was leading us to talk about. Then we discussed the flow of the services--who would speak when and what was theme of each message and which message (speaker) would go first, second, etc. Because God had impressed Stephen with two related messages, we believed that he was supposed to present them first and in order. Because I wanted the messages to flow and be fresh--and not redundant--I decided to record my thoughts, and detailed notes from his messages, and pray about what exactly He wanted me to present when it was my turn. But I wouldn't make specific and final notes until after Stephen spoke. Long story short: God had mercy on us. The message seemed to flow and His message--which resounded through all of ours, unplanned by us and clearly HIS idea--was about the gifts of the Spirit.

2. Stephen and I chose one specific text to use as a jumping off point or starting point for all of the messages we presented.
Stephen and I could not get away from Acts chapter 3 (and 4). We used this for every message, but in different ways. In his first message, Stephen focused on the line, "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I unto you..." His emphasis was "such as I have" and identifying our gifts and talents and giving them, surrendering them, to The Lord. The second night, he focused on .... The third session, I focused on the enemy's attacks--sly--and compared it to mice infestations. We talked about "setting traps." The final session, I spoke on "Holding On" to the dream, to the purpose, to what we're waiting for, through adversity, and I went through chapter 4, talking about how Peter and John had done a great thing, but were under attack for doing a good thing.

3. We decided, at mom's request, that when one spoke, the other would present a song prior to the message.
I sang for the first time in a long time, on my own, as a special. The song I chose was "I Give Myself Away" and I sang it both of the nights I sang. I love that song because it's a worship song, and if I have to sing a solo for the first time, I would rather it be something that I don't focus on ME--but on Him. And that's where I like to be, anyway. In worship to Him.

4. There were many things I never want to forget, and hope to implement, given the opportunity, in my/our own congregation:

A. Mom had many different people activated in the service--young and old. The first worship songs were led by teen and junior high girls (my nieces) who have strong, identifiable gifts in this area. Then an older woman led hymns. The lady who led the hymns made comments of transition between the songs to explain WHY she'd selected them, how they went together. (So you knew the songs weren't random.) Two young boys were selected to hand out mugs to the Fathers in the congregation on Father's Day.

B. The door greeter, Bob McNabb, hands everyone a piece of candy (a kid's candy, butter rum?) when they enter the sanctuary. He gives them a light-hearted word and smile.

C. When you walk in to the church, morning or afternoon, there is a fellowship table and coffee is already brewing. There is a station where you can come get coffee, for free, and sit and enjoy conversation before church (or during the Sunday School, if someone would rather talk). On Sunday morning, there are free doughnuts.

D. On the last Sunday of each month, they have Holy Communion and a pot luck fellowship time after service. There is no p.m. service on that day, every month. (They do not cancel night services at any other time, however.)

E. Momma has, at the end of services, often, prayer lines, where she anoints, prays for, and speaks over anyone who gets in line. EVERYONE (that I could tell) got up and got in line! She anoints them and prays--and a couple of times, prophesied over them.

F. The presence of God, the Holy Spirit, is UNDENIABLE in this church. You can FEEL it in all parts of the service. Stephen said this was the easiest place to preach, EVER, that it was like "surfing on a wave of the Holy Spirit."

JUST A NOTE: I told Stephen that I really believed that Mom should be a mentor for EVERY future minister, no matter where they go, how many in their church, or what denomination. Any and every future minister who sincerely wants to do the will of God needs to be around my Mom and watch her. I wish I could watch her more. Honestly.

5. Another thing I learned was to TRUST GOD, that He WILL PROVIDE. My mind felt "numb" during the revival, as it has been much of the summer. I just trusted God to give me a fresh word because I didn't feel "inspired." I have learned, through the Wednesday night experience, that when this happens, you keep showing up and you keep praying for a break through. We can't "call in sick." We have to SHOW UP and do what He's asked us to do. Sometimes, IN FAITH ALONE that He has called us and will provide. [And He did just that during the revival--and I give Him praise! Saturday night, at 12:15 a.m., He gave me the message, and then he woke me at 5:30 to complete the message.]


New Prayers/Goals after This Experience

1. I am thinking that I need to learn how to play the guitar, so I can sing worship songs with the guitar. I think my voice and singing style is more cut out for the guitar. I also suspect that I would WRITE songs if I knew how to play the guitar.

2. I need to make record of songs I might need to download for any future opportunities God brings.

3. I am really in prayer and seeking God about our next step, His Will for our lives.




Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Revisiting Luke: A Wake-Up Call

I'm reading in the book of Luke this week, and I've got to say--it's been a WAKE UP CALL.

I felt led to start listening to it on the road to Sallisaw one day, and then at the track today. Right now I'm on Luke, chapter 14. Though I'm about half-way through it, I know that I'm supposed to go through it again.

And I'm looking forward to it.

It's easy to forget the PERSON Christ was--the things he said, the things he did. And Luke is a reminder of the kind of person He is: And the kind of person, as a "Christian," that I'M supposed to be.

Listening to the book is interesting, too. When I read, I use pen and highlighters and make multiple notes. But when I listen? I start to seeeeee it.

At the track today, with the heat and the occasional breeze, I started to SEE him, envisioning Him speaking on the rocking boat, on the mountainside, in the streets, and in homes. It was like I could hear Him--and those around him.

"Heal me, Master."

"We are going to perish!"

"My daughter..." "My son..."

And His words of love--of correction, of direction, of guidance, of warning. His Spirit. Shining through the words and phrases.

It was like I was there.

I cannot express how much I love getting into the Word--especially when it COMES ALIVE and is illuminated!!! It's like it's ALL AROUND ME!!!

I enjoyed every second of it. Wish I could "live in that" every day of my life!

But I am committed to enjoying THESE moments with Him. And looking forward to others, more frequent, I hope!

-----------------------------------------

Dinner calls....So I will wait to venture into a discussion of the personal convictions and challenges I've received at the hearing of His Word this day.

(I LOVE YOU, LORD!!!)

Monday, June 3, 2013

Refrigerator Note: "You Have No Idea..."

There's been a note on my refrigerator for several years now, for longer than I've been married, and it went missing this week.

I think, when one of my daughters was rearranging refrigerator magnets, it must have gotten lost in the shuffle.

The note itself was very important to me because it was a prophetic statement by a friend of mine, before I got married, before my daughter, before so many wonderful things changed, shifted, in my life.

It said: "You have no idea the blessings I have in store for that girl."

When it was said over me, I wrote it down and put it on the refrigerator so I could see it every time I went to open the refrigerator.

Though it's gone, I've read it so many times, for so many years, that I have it memorized and I can still see it in my mind's eye.

No matter what has gone on in my life--through the good, the bad, and the ugly--I have been able to read that quote and KNOW that God had a plan, and it is GOOD, for my life.

This evening, as I think about Him, I am so incredibly thankful to be His kid and have the opportunity to serve Him.