We have officially been in Siloam Springs, Arkansas for one year. Evidenced by our lease expiring and having to sign a new one soon. At first glance our year here has not been as expected, until you look under the surface at what is really going on. Our expectation was a season of new things and a season of growth. This is exactly what we experienced, but not how we expected.
We got caught up in moving and the exhilaration of moving to a new place. The first thing that we felt though was trial and hardship. Our first three months or so here were a bit of a crash landing. Let me say though, that there are not many better places to crash land into, other than the community here at The Pointe (our church and place of ministry). We were supported and encouraged through Jesus by our peers and mentors here. This looks like weekly being prayed for and ministered to in person.
Maybe you have experienced this also. Personally, what Jesus was telling me in my time with Him was matching up with the prayers and encouragement of the church around us. This is a small thing to a God that knows everyone and is speaking to everyone at the same time, through the same voice, the Holy Spirit. Interesting though that this is a revelation and such an encouragement to myself.
Here is just one of my cherished thoughts from our church at this time. Our friends David and Grace would pull us aside every week at church to pray for us together. It is so simple, intentional and personal. Their impact was profound to us, and we had only just met them in the last month or two. I know that the Lord impacts their lives and I have experienced their obedience to Jesus and the love that He poured out through them. I want to say to them "Thank you! You are a blessing from the Lord to us!"
Weekly and monthly we were growing in Jesus and becoming more and more familiar with His love. We were also growing in the Lord ourselves. It was why we moved, and the Lord answered our prayers and our desires. We are becoming more accustomed to how the Lord speaks to us in our hearts both through the Bible and through our outward actions.
In our outward actions, I am referring to 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4 where Paul reveals ways that Jesus impacts our lives. I am sure this knowledge was given to him by the Holy Spirit through revelation. I am also sure that he saw what he was describing on a daily basis, both in himself, in new believers in Jesus being developed and molded and in seasoned believers.
It is a joy to me to see others recognizing gifts from the Lord in themselves. I am sure that this understanding comes from God and not from the mouths of others or from the mind through thought. I love to watch the light turn in understanding, almost as if to say, "You mean that comes from God? He does things like this in me? Its a gift from Him?" I think the reason I love this so much in others is because it is still an intense revelation to me. God gave "me" gifts? And I get to use them all the time? And He is not going to take them away from me? I love His gifts, chief of all that he lived a perfect life, died on our behalf and was raised and He is still alive! He didn't stop there, He gave us the Holy Spirit. He is still living and active even now in changing peoples hearts and speaking to them! What a gift. Thank you Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment