Currently Listening Wherever You Are By Third Day Mountain of God see related

Today was absolutely fabulous!  To be honest, since I have been back it has been pretty stinkin' awesome!  I went to a new church today.  All I can say is...WOW! 

*******Go back a few days before I left.******* 

I was praying and talking to God about what I wanted my new church to be like.  I've been so enthralled with this Ladies study we have been doing on the spiritual gifts.  I have strengthened myself so much in the Lord this summer.  It has been fantastic!  We've talked about the nine spiritual gifts.  Tongues, interpretation, prophecy, healing, miracles, faith, wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual discernment.  It really has shaken up my world.  I find myself so hungry and searching.  It's been such a blessing.  I've grown more spiritually.  I'm also learning, "to whom much is given, much is required."  Along with this growth, comes spiritual warfare.  It has been so prevelant lately.  Most likely it has always been, it's just come to where I can see it so clearly now.  He really has blessed my socks off! Ok, so I was praying for a church that wanted to work in the gifts and I wanted a church that was ALIVE. 

********Back to this morning********

Me and Charity walk in and think the church is kind of funny looking (igloo shaped and all), but we're excited just to be going somewhere new and wanting to meet with God.  OOOHHH YEH...we met with God all right!  This church service was amazing.  The worship really blessed me.  Every single person on that team is annointed.  I could feel God so strongly.  I couldn't stop smiling.  It was great!  We move further into the service and the Spirit is moving by leaps and bounds.  We have tongues and interpretation and the pastor wants us all to pray.  We have prophecy over multiple people and then he has each of the age groups come up, and the ones before pray for the ones that come up.  The children were the ones who were going to pray for our age group.  You might be thinking...can children really pray?  Oh ye, of child like faith!  I found myself so broken at that point.  I don't know how many little kids came up and laid their hands on me, but this one little kid came and kept rubbing his/her hand on my shoulder and I could hear their little voice.  God spoke to me.  It was indescribable!  Child-like faith...yeh...my desire.  I want to walk in the gifts of God.  What does this require?  Child-like faith.  I know God has called me to so many mighty things.  I see only in part, but that is ok.  All I can say is God answered my prayers, but then again He always does...

I'm not saying I found my church, but I am saying I had an encounter with God I won't forget.  I am excited about what is about to come.  I feel it!  Thank you Lord for your blessings...and thank you Charity for being my friend!  I know this is something everyone else will be jealous b/c they weren't there...haha! 

Update on Prayer Request about my mother!

Currently Listening United We Stand By Hillsong United Came to My Rescue see related

To trust in God-  It can be so simple, yet so hard at times.  We know it is in our best interest to put our hope, our complete faith in Him.  Yet why do we fleshly fight this?  Why is it so hard to give it over? 

I have the most amazing friend who blesses me so much.  I thank God for her!  I know when we don't learn first hand, sometimes we learn through other's trials.  What happens when you don't know how you're going to make it, physically and emotionally without trusting the Lord?  You trust Him.  And when you trust, miracles happen!  I've seen it first-hand.  We have to believe God works for our betterment.  We have to do our part and believe in what God has showed us- through our prayer time, through others, through His Word.  He never fails!  When we hold out our hands and believe for blessings to fall, they will.  How amazing is that- He loves us that much and cares for each one of our needs, cares enough about us that He would send others to speak to us- personal words just for us- to lift us up on the wings of eagles! 

I know God is almighty, but I find myself questioning things.  Questioning why my heart is so heavy right now.  Why I know things I possibly don't even want to.  Ultimately I know God has a reason, but why I can't figure out.  Why through this situation He gave me discernment.  So I pray.  I don't know exactly what to pray, but God knows.  God provides.  God hears my prayers.  God can move mountains.  I love knowing that!  I love knowing that He hears me and He knows my heart so intimately.  For whatever reason my heart has this burden, He gave it to me because He knew I would pray for this person.  He knew I would cry out on my knees for help.  And I'm believing He will bring provision for this situation. 

I know a lady who the Lord speaks to about things- crazy things like He's speaking to me about right now.  Crazy as in why would God choose me to speak to about these things?  She is such a Godly woman and she has such a lovely heart.  God would give her discernment into peoples' lives.  Sometimes she would be so broken because she didn't understand why God would share this with her.  Some of these situations were not ones she could go to and discuss it with the person, some were.  It wasn't always her place.  So she prayed.  Remembering this comforted me.  It's not always our place to hold the person accountable.  It is our place to pray for them when God lays it on our hearts.  God does not do things just to get kicks, especially if He knows how much pain it brings.  He loves his children and He knows sometimes prayer is the only way.  Isn't it AMAZING to know that God puts you on other people's hearts and you may not even know about it.  This person may never tell you God expressed to them concern, but they prayed for you.  They moved Heaven and Earth just for you!  That is such a blessing when I think about that.  Thank you Lord for having people who will pray for me.  Just knowing that blesses me and makes me feel special.  It makes me feel loved.

God has been showing me so many things lately.  Things I never knew could be this way.  I love seeing the bigger picture.  I love it when God speaks.  Relating this back to trusting Him.  I'm learning not to question Him AS much.  I know I know, I'm probably the only one in the world who questions God, hah!  We as humans think we know better- sure!  If we think we know, how much more awesome is it God's way!!!  That gives me such encouragement to know this and believe this.  If you're going through something and you don't know what to do, look to God.  Don't look to human influences that may hurt you, look to the Lord.  Fill your heart with Him- your whole heart.  Don't put others in place of where the Lord should be.  Let God do the work in you He desires. 

Faith is believing without having to see.  Faith is knowing God is going to take those reigns and work it all out.  He will, I know it!  I'm walking in that promise as we speak!!!

Oh, by the way my dad is having surgery Thursday morning.  Please pray for him.  He's going to be out of commission for at least 6 weeks.  He doesn't heal well because of his health, so please pray for his health, a speedy recovery, and peace.  My dad is the type of person who always has to be doing something, so be wholed up in a bed for a long time will be very frustrating for him.  Thank you guys, love you!!!

       

Currently Reading Healing the Eight Stages of Life By Matthew Linn, Sheila Fabricant, Dennis Linn see related

"If I had my life to live over, I'd try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I know of very few things I would take seriously. I would be crazier. I would take more chances.  I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers and watch more sunsets. I'd travel and see. I would eat ice cream and fewer beans.  I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I am one of those people who live seriously and sanely, hour after hour, day after day.  Oh, I have had my moments and, if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them.  In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.  Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I have been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat and a parachute.  If I had it to do over again, I would go places and do things and travel lighter.  I would start bare-footed earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would play hooky more. I probably wouldn't make such good grades, but I'd learn more. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I'd pick more daisies."
-From an interview with an 85 year old woman from the hill country of Kentucky

So I'm reading this book for my Human Development class and this quote really struck me.  Sometimes we take life too seriously.  Lately life just hasn't been what I planned.  What "I" planned...God is showing me that sometimes we don't have to have control.  I think it's awesome.  I have a freedom I haven't felt in a long time.  It's crazy.  I never realized what I was holding back until I came to a vulnerable point in my life where I had nothing to do but trust the Lord.  Guys and girls, when you come to that place, GET READY!  God is going to ROCK YOUR WORLD!!!  It's scary and amazing and exciting all at once.  And then when God starts speaking to you and you can hear Him...oh yes! 
So back to the quote...it really inspired me.  I'm getting to know me and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.  My life isn't over and Lord willing won't be for quite a while.  I want to know that when I do die I have experienced life and I didn't have a reindeer stuck up my butt (Steel Magnolia fans!).  Life is exciting and if you really are open, great things will happen.  I want to be more open.  I want to do things that weren't normally in my character.  I'm not talking go off the deep end, but I feel like God has something SO amazing right around the corner.  I'm giddy thinking about it.  I can't wait!  I challenge you to be more open.  God has something amazing for you right around that corner!!!

Currently Listening For All You've Done By Hillsong see related

Talk about receiving a dose of God's blessing...this devotional really blessed me.  I wanted to share it.  I hope it helps someone else. 

When Half-Way Won't Do, Timing is Everything

Why [did Queen Esther] continue to turn down an offer for up to half the kingdom? Who wouldn't want half of the Persian Empire ? Perhaps someone with a death sentence hanging over her head, someone who sees a dark cloud of ethnic cleansing drawing closer and closer to her people half measures and half kingdoms simply wouldn't do.

People who are content with halfway measures, cheap favors or quick pleasures rarely worry about timing. They want what they want fast, easy, and trouble-free. The opposite is true in the Kingdom of God . It is nearly impossible to bypass quick fixes and easy solutions to wait for God's best unless you are led by the Spirit of God.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

With all of the pressure bearing down on Queen Esther during the first and second banquetswith a death sentence over her head and with her enemy leering at her across from their intimate dinner setting with the Kingno one would have held it against her, had she taken the king's offer of up to half of the kingdom and blurted out her petition. No one, that is, except God, who had carefully prepared a divine solution to an essentially spiritual problem.

Esther might have managed to overturn Haman's death orders for the Jews, but she didn't even know about the plot to murder Mordecai. God had a better idea that would take care of every problem perfectly and permanently , but it would only come to pass if Esther held out through two rounds of good offers for God's very best.

Are you facing serious problems but sense that God might have a better way to do things? Don't run from the wait or the weight that comes with a commitment to seek God's face. He will give you the strength to stand, the patience to persevere, and the reward to justify every sacrifice you make! Seek the King's face, not His hand.