Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Round One

Today classes officially began
It's 10pm here which means it's 3am at home and I am EXHAUSTED! However, I cannot fall asleep with out writing to you about today. This is only because I have NO idea what tomorrow brings and today was just that good that I don't want to leave anything out. First off, let me just give you a bit of information that is vital for later in this post: worship was exhilarating. The presence of God was so evident, it was beautiful.

We went to class after worship service for one of our 12 speakers, Donna Jordan. We have twelve 1 week intensive courses. YWAM flies in speakers from all over the world (missionaries, evangelists, preachers, etc..There's a rumor going around that Heidi Baker is our surprise guest speaker in 2 weeks! I hope it's true) just for them to pour into us. Donna Jordan is presenting the course "Listening to God". It was incredible. She covered 1) God is preparing the Bride- You and I and 2) Relationship With God- 4 levels. She said the greatest treasure is God; Not materialism. Family with Him. He's our Dad :) I've heard this over and over again: "Live for eternity. Not for down here." But really, I pray you guys get this. This is truth! What are you doing down here that's preparing you to come face to face in a big embrace with our God? Everything you're doing should be working up to that because that's all we have now and in the end. Without Him we are nothing and for Him we do everything. Anyway, that's my little tangent. Back to class, she stood at the front of the room, windows surrounding us, the wind blowing a perfect breeze, and there was a stillness in the air. Silence and an ease. Standing there she told us of how there were angels lined all around the classroom. And that they were there because Jesus was there, He was walking around us. And she said she has FOUR angels. One big army one who stands in front of her and 3 others, intercessors, who stand behind her. Now, I don't know if some of you remember how I always say I believe I have 2 angels with me. Well her statement confirmed my belief. I always said I have two and people would laugh and say things like oh you think you're special?! Yes, in fact I do. Just as special as you were when He formed you in your mother's womb and just as special as you were when He took the time and laid out the plans He has for your life, too. Yeah, WE ARE SPECIAL. And it also is based on the fact that Psalm 91 says He will send His angelSS to hold you... I love my AngelS :)

She said that Jesus loves us and that Jesus wants to know us as His friends. But that it would cost everything. I sat there thinking, you're not kidding. She said we must be willing to let go of what you know as worldly greatness, approval of man, and their standards of "righteousness" to seek truth:Jesus. Who is willing to become a friend of God? And literally throw away every comfort for the promises that we're made over your life? She told us she has been married for 41 years. We all said wow and gasped and some applauded and she stopped us and said, "Yes, you can do it too. You have to die. Everyday. Die to yourself." If that's how marriage works here, it should be even more so with our God, right? She said picture this...you go to my wedding. The groom is waiting at the alter, the bridesmaids come down the aisle, the flower girl comes down, then the doors open to reveal the bride. And here she is in jeans and a sweatshirt, walking slowly, looking to the left and to the right to see if there is someone better sitting in the seats. How do you think you would feel if you were the groom waiting and watching your bride do this to you?

God is so good you know...Donna asked my friend to share a story about what God did this morning during worship. So as I am standing there praising God, God opens my spiritual eyes. I saw two angels come down right behind my friend J who was standing literally diagonally to my left. They came straight down and one stood behind J and the other walked in front of him. I asked God what are they doing? And I saw J more clearly and the angel was pulling off this old stiff armor off of his right arm. The angel removed some more parts and a once very stiff almost non-present J fell limp into the angels arms behind him. The angels then moved him straight to the back and I watched them carrying J's limp body. I asked God what are they doing? Where are they going? Because I could no longer see Bc of the crowd. As I'm watching all of a sudden two doors burst forth and all I see is light and J standing right in the middle of this. And with a huge smile on his face, he takes off running towards the alter. Completely exuberant. I shared this with J after service and I could see goosebumps on the side of his face but he didn't say much except wow, thank you. Later on in the class, J comes up to me and asks to sit to discuss what happened this morning. He proceeds to share about how he was always very skeptical about people saying they've seen things and whatnot but that he just shared with his group and they talked about it and those people shared how God can work in various ways and that then he went and spoke to Donna. She further explained some things and asked J if he could share the story. And with the grace of God, J said it was not just his story it was ours. He then told me his side of things and how during worship he let go and felt like he was loose and . So what I saw, he was physically feeling and spiritually going through. So he kindly asked me if it would be ok with me to share. I said ABSOLUTELY! I just knew that God wanted to do something. So we shared this encounter with over 80 people in our class. For God's glory and honor. Lord so amazing....love so amazing.

1 comment:

  1. Eternity is not what begins when we die. Eternity is woven into every word and action of our daily lives. Eugene Peterson.
    Glory to God! ❤
    Lilly

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