Well a great nights sleep was wonderful. I can think clearer. I also have some great stuff to share. Sit back and enjoy.
Yesterday while flying to south Texas I had time to do two favorite things, read and pray. As I mentioned I am reading, "The Blessed Church, by Robert Morris pastor of Gateway Church and where Ken and I are attending and soon to join. I had mentioned in a previous blog that my husband bought me the book and it began impacting me very early into the first few pages. The book I thought was only about the history of Gateway. However that is part, the deeper message is for everyone. There are life principles for the individual and applications for the work arena. Well it has not disappointed one bit. I am still not halfway done but have already had to close the book several times and pray over the rich treasures, one of which I will share in a minute.
But as I closed my eyes, the plane making a descent into the McAllen airport, I heard myself praying in the Spirit and a phrase I repeated rung in my ears. It was so forceful that I almost audibly said it. I'm sure my fellow plane mates would have thought me a bit weird.
After a full day of work as I waited to re-board a flight home I used Google translator to try and determine what I was praying that morning. Ta kishe mon, translated - Embrace my church! Wow, I was awed.
I praise God that my spirit recognizes how much I love people, long to encourage, minister out of my pain and use everything to His glory. I take all those things the enemy thought would destroy and beat me down as tools to reach others that are hurting, wounded, and in shame to prove that there is a God and He is our all in all.
I got on the plane, had extra seat space around me to enjoy, got out my dinner and book to enjoy on the flight home. I began to read and had to stop again after chapter twelve, the Feed and Lead chapter. How many times have I read the conversation between Peter and Jesus from the twenty-first chapter of John. Jesus is asking Peter, "Do you love me? Then feed my sheep." He asks it three times. (Strange isn't it that later Peter, three times, denies knowing his friend Jesus) Peter answers each time, "Yes I love you." Well I had never done a word study on feed and tend but how it is explained here is rich truth for this mature believer. I then cried knowing that before I read this chapter, earlier that morning I was praying "Embrace my church."
I guess you would have to have been me in that moment to get the full impact of what this meant but it helped me see this blog on 'broken' as not only healing for me but for the church, the unchurched.....PEOPLE. Wow! No matter if my audience is one or many I am humbled at the opportunity to lay my life down before you, my readers, knowing that everyone will be blessed.
Lord, I submit my life to You. I have promised to be the real me in this blog for the world to read. I know you will draw the people who are to be on this journey with me to this place. I give them and myself into Your mighty hands and ask that everything I say and do bring honor to You. Amen
So back to my mountain trek and when last we were together we were having a bonfire. I had offered up my critical nature, my anxiousness and now for offering #3, the best for last. My impatience. I ask God to help me be more long suffering especially with those closest to me. As I stand to purge this sin on the fire I ask God to forgive me for being "short" with people at times. May the nature of Christ fill me so I can be a blessing.
With that one burning to ash I bow in reverence waiting to feel the Spirit of God wash over me. In a very small, small way I think of what it must have felt like as Moses left the mountain after the glory of God visited him. You can't leave the same. You are speechless. But above all you know that power has been transferred and you are a better vessel for God to use.
I gather up my satchel and wait as the fire begins to die down. As soon as the embers are cold it will be time to trek on. Great things are coming.
No comments:
Post a Comment