Hi Guys, I personally was rocked by the structure, design, loving work and details of this past "listening service." While this was set-up as the finishing touch on the "God Who Speaks" sermon series, I have a strong sense that this was only the beginning of God speaks to many people who came, and through these same people to others.
We will need to grab some rocks to build a monument in the midst of the Jordan River where we crossed on March 16, 2008. I believe this is a watershed moment in this community of God's people.
You are welcome to share your feelings and experiences here....
The Shepherd and Guardian of our Souls ROCKS!
7 comments:
For me, one very unexpected yet very moving and beautiful experience was the expressive dance intercession over people's prayers...I was blessed.
I experienced powerful prayer and a way of speaking to God conversationally that hadn't happened in quite that way before. I wish I had had even more time to soak it all in! I agree that the entire experience was just the beginning of "more".
I had thought that the "differentness" of the service might make some newcomers uncomfortable, but the result was just the opposite from the people I spoke with - they loved it!
Michelle
I was excited about being given the time and space to listen to God.. but at the same time, I wasn't sure how the service would be received because I know a lot of people come just to hear Jordan speak. But YES, the people I talked about it with loved it!
I thought the last supper set up on stage was a powerful way to take communion. And I really liked setting fire to all my sin! =)
I didn’t keep smiling in that special service!
I was floating at first, imitating what Jenny was doing. (Calling the name of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, tried all my verbal skills in all languages to ask God speak to us tonight.) When I was calling and speaking, I felt refreshed and power. When I stopped murmuring, I felt nothing. God was trying to tell me that “open mouth and pray loud can make a big difference”. So I kept those body-floating and lips-flipping movements for a while.
Then, I started crying. I tried to concentrate on listening to God, but tears are the only thing I got. So I question God where the sorrow and bitterness from. But the answer was -- more tears. I didn’t want to scarify people with my wet face, so I gave up the floating task.(It’s ironical that I wrote on my Rock “love” and “happiness”, but during the service, I was the only person looks unhappy.)
My first stop was the confession section. I wrote down my sin and put it into the fire-cup. I wish this could stop the tears. I prayed, and then slowly put the paper into the cup and got hurt by the jumping fire. This shocked the people around me. “Give up the sin quickly, or you will get hurt. Sin is the attacking from the enemy”. Thanks for the warning, Father. I felt no sorrow nor bitter at all, but the tears were still running. (Martin saw my funny smiley face with running tears when I went out and looked for tissue. It’s just way too embarrassing to explain at that moment.)
Then, I went to the mirror section, where people write the expression of hopelessness. I already had an experience of hopelessness and I almost broke the caring Father’s heart. Will I have any hopelessness in the rest f my life? I looked into the mirror -- I wanted to laugh loud, for I got the word from God through my eyes! Trust! So I wrote the “Trust God 100 percent!” with a smiley face on that mirror. Then, I felt a warm-hot hug. Price? What if there won’t be a hopeless situation? What if there is no trade at all? Yes, there won’t be hopelessness in my life and even the situation looks really hopeless, I won’t feel the hopeless, because of the trust. I looked into the mirror again, the smiley face came back. “Hei, girl, you gave your tears to the price section”. This time, I really laughed out.
Then I stood up. After reading the words on mirror from other people, I kept praying for the people wrote on the mirror when I return back for the floating .
At last, Kacie and I went to the communion. I felt calm and freedom.
All in all, Sunday night was always short, but this is the shortest one.
it always amuses me that people worry about "pulling off" something like we had last night. like it has anything to do with us! I've long felt like God has been aching for us to give Him this "in" - I do not believe a single person left disappointed or unchanged. if they were scared off it was not due to our service - it was because they were not prepared to actually hear the voice of the living God and weren't quite sure what to do with it when they heard Him! and I say it as a *big* if. i have yet to hear of anything less than a wonderful experience from anyone!
I was taken back by the Spirit at one point - I had anticipated praying for others more during the service, but well, He just wouldn't stop talking to me :) Kman prayed for me at one point and I just collapsed in tears on the floor. don't even know why. ironically that was the only time I didn't hear God's voice. I was simply overwhelmed by His heart (it was in the compassion station, compassion is one of my gifts, makes sense :)).
and see if you picked up on this Palm Sunday participation tie-in from Luke 19:40 "I tell you if they keep silent, the stones would cry out!"
God Rocks! (and God rocks!) :)
oooops, sorry for the typo and grammar mistakes.
Forgot to proofread.
:P
Hope you can guess what I meant...
God Rocks~!
Haha...Callie! We replied at the same time!
At listening service, I got the message “You always choose the hard way.” Interesting. I shared that with a friend, and she asked “Is that good or bad?” I didn’t know. However, after more reflection and talking with another friend now a couple weeks later, I think I’m beginning to get the message. In broad strokes:
Conclusion 1: God didn’t intend for me to take the hard road, I chose that for myself. This was not predestined for me nor what He wanted. It’s just taken this long for me to get to my restoration.
Conclusion 2: The hard road has its usefulness, both for me and for others, but that again is if I choose to apply what I have learned down that path. Again, my choice.
Conclusion 3: I can also choose to take another way. Things don’t have to be so hard, if I choose for them not to be. So I pray for God to guide me (and let me be guided!) to dance joyfully down the easy path. It is at least worth trying out!
Michelle
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