There were many things to be grateful for this week. The Lord was moving in miraculous ways and it was amazing to feel His Spirit at work in the lives of those around me. It had been another long and exhausting week however I had once again felt God’s power sustaining me.
Over the weekend I was out of town for a conference along with several sisters and a friend. I spent many long hours on the road which gave me time to think and reflect on the past week. Out my window I observed miles and miles of flat fields of dried wheat and corn, the brooding sky with brilliant rays of sunshine spilling through the cracks in the clouds, the distant flash of lightning and sheets of rain, the rolling hills which were dotted with cows, horses, sheep, and a lone fox ambling over the dry turf. Such simple pleasures can bring a calm and peace as you take it all in and I couldn’t wait to go home and record each blessing in my journal. I took a moment right then to thank the Lord for them and then sat again in silence and absorbed it all. True, Kansas is not one of the most scenic, breathtaking, or awe-inspiring states but it has its own simple beauty. There is beauty in all of God’s creation but sometimes you have to search hard to find it.
We reached our destination very late at night. Our group got very little sleep due to some unfortunate circumstances however; once again the Lord sustained us and kept us safe and awake for the conference and the long drive home.
I wasn’t sure what to expect that day at the conference. I have looked forward to it with mixed feelings for the past several months and now it had arrived. God definitely showed up that day in many unexpected ways. The conference was incredible and I was moved to tears as I worshiped the Lord together with other believers and felt the presence and pleasure of the Lord so strongly. I heard Him speaking clearly to me through what the speakers shared and was challenged to pursue an even deeper relationship with the Lord, learned to be content and accepting of where God has me now, trusting in Him to move me on and direct me in His timing, a purpose to do the ordinary things extraordinarily well, and encouraged to finally see other believers with the same passion and knowing I am not alone on this journey.
The most amazing moment by far was when I was privileged and blessed beyond words to witness over seventy people come to know the Lord and join the body of Christ. All the memories of my salvation day came flooding back and I felt the joy of my salvation wash over me once more as if I had just been reborn all over again. I could hardly contain my joyful tears as I stood with the body of Christ, old timers and new comers alike, and declared that Jesus Christ is Lord as we applauded, praised, and gave Him all the glory due His name. What a memorable moment, one which I will never forget. I wanted to hug all those who had just become part of God’s family. I wanted to welcome them and rejoice with them.
Though the speakers were just human beings like any of us, it was so inspiring to see them not only living up to their god-given potential but also in a meek and humble spirit drawing and encouraging others to do the same. And unlike most renowned speakers, they did not keep to themselves and avoid direct contact with their audience. Instead they interacted as much as they could and made time to stoop down and come along side us all, listening to our stories, questions, fears, and dreams, as they prayed, rejoiced, cried, comforted, and encouraged us. They spoke to us as fellow brothers and sisters in the faith who they were honored to walk along side in this challenging journey. And when you spoke with these men you could sense God’s spirit inside them so strongly, so genuinely and so passionately that it brought to mind the words in Luke 24:32 “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” However, it was not these men who were the vessels worthy of worship and honor; it was who inhabited these vessels. They had merely allowed God’s spirit to fill them to overflowing and because of that He had blessed their ministry and transformed their lives and they could not help but shine His light. I wish I could sense God’s Spirit more often in people as strongly as I did then. After being so discouraged by the spiritual depravity of the youth and others in my community, seeing their love and passion for Christ was like a breath of fresh air. It gave me hope that there are others out there fighting the good fight and boldly proclaiming the truth.
I will be forever grateful for that God-encounter and I pray that my life and the lives of all who attended that conference will be forever and eternally impacted by these men’s lives and that we would all be genuinely changed and filled not with emotion, but with a spiritual, lasting and effective passion for Christ.
Lord, may my life be such a reflection of Christ that others will feel your presence like never before and that their hearts would be stirred and drawn closer and encouraged and challenged in their walk with you. May I be your handmaid, humble and meek. And when they ask of the hope that is within me, I pray I will always give you all the glory.
Did you have any God-encounters this week that you would like to share? Any simple or great blessings that spoke and ministered to your heart? What are you grateful for this week?
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