Hello everyone! It has been a while since I last posted, so here I am about to fill you in on the action that has been going on in my life.
Last week my dad, brother and I went up to North Carolina for a conference, let me just say, it was a life changer! You don't really realize how little you know, until you understand how much God does.
I learned so much in just four days it was fantastic! My favorite part of the whole conference was the overwhelming love that was overflowing from everyone. To be surrounded by people who genuinely love God is just amazing, that love, that peace seeking, unity loving, love is so contagious, it makes you so full of joy, and you want to go love and hug everyone! It certainly makes you laugh a whole lot!
I do hope that in reading this post you will not think I am some weirdo, (But, if you do, I really can't help that) I want you to gain understanding, and I desire to have you experience some of these things. Also, I want to tell you of my God's kindness just like it says in Isaiah 63:7 (Isaiah 63:7 (NIV)
I will tell of the kindnesses of the lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the lord has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.)
During the conference, people were having visions and dreams left and right, healing was happening everywhere, it was great, the fire of God was there, He was very gracious to everyone.
The first thing that happened to me was this, one of the speakers (Kevin Basconi) said that he felt that we all needed to repent for everything that would hinder us from being with our Father. As I was doing this, I saw a golden bowl filled with clear water being poured over my head, then splashed in my face. At first when I saw this, I didn't think anything of it; it was later on that night when I was in our hotel room that I realized it was significant and what it meant, it symbolized the cleansing, and renewal of my mind. Ever since that moment of renewal, I have had a different outlook, things that I would be easily angered over do not seem to have the same aggravating effect anymore. It's such a wonderful feeling to look at everything with a positive view rather than negative.
One thing a different speaker said was this, "we are supposed to judge one another, BUT, we are not to condemn, yes, God may show us a particular persons sin, but he doesn't show it to us so that we will look down on them, our job is to overlook the sin and to love them." Maybe God shows us someone's sin so that we can help them through it. Or to pray against it, and pray that they realize their sin, so that they will deal with it. I will be the first to admit that I am 100% guilty of Judging someone, then condemning them for their sins; that is not our job! Our job is to love unconditionally and pray for them.
The third day that we were there, a man (James Durham) that has been to heaven many times, almost every day at one point, was going to take us with him, because Jesus had told him to. So, we all lined up against the wall there was about 300 people there, so as you can imagine it was quite a long wait, I was closer to the end. As I stood there my anticipation grew stronger and stronger, I so many butterflies in my stomach; when he finally came to me I was overwhelmed with excitement, first his wife prayed for me, then he anointed me with oil, after that he said just relax, at that point so much was going through my mind! I was scared now that I wouldn't get to see Jesus, then he said relax again, and it hit me, I just needed to relax and let go. So, as I closed my eyes I relaxed and let go of my worries, once I did I went limp, and I can't really find the words to describe this experience, other than it was the peace that SURPASSES ALL understanding, (Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.) it was the most amazing thing I have ever felt. Then I looked into the blackness and I saw Jesus' face. I just want to say, my Jesus is not some weakling, his very face shows strength, authority, and so, so, so much love! Just talking about Him makes me bubble up with joy! He is fantastic.
That same night after the meeting, at about 12:00 a.m. we went up to prayer mountain. I can't exactly remember what they were praying for, but it was named Prayer Mountain because, Morningstar (A church) prayed on that mountain for seven years (I think) and ever since they prayed there, people have gone up there and prayed and meditated on the word, and they see angels all the time.
So, we were invited by some friends to go up there, I am terribly afraid of heights, and we were driving right on the edge of the mountain, it was freaky, but anyway, we made it there alive ha ha. So, when we got to the top my brother Beniah and I went off on this trail, and after we walked a little ways he spots is wider area in the trail and says that he feels the Presence right there, so we go walk over there it was definitely there, and by that time my dad and our friends Elisabeth and Jerry, come walking up; we all walk down the trail a little bit further and then we all stand in silence for a few moments, then Jerry suggested to Beniah to start singing, so we all start worshiping Jesus. Shortly after I smelled something amazing, so I turn to Elisabeth and ask her if she was wearing perfume, she said no and that she was about to ask me the same thing; a wave of the scent came again and I recognized it to be frankincense, by the second wave everyone smelled it! After that, we continued to sing and then we all heard something down the mountain, so we stopped singing and listened, and sure enough, it was an angel singing! It was beautiful!
As if that wasn't enough, we all decided we would walk back alone, my dad and I didn't see anything, but Beniah looked down the mountain and he saw an angel! He said it was blue. Elisabeth saw one walking behind Jerry too! When we got back to the tent where the rest of our friends were sitting they were laughing, they were drunk on the Holy Spirit!
It was so funny listening to them. So we all sat down and I closed my eyes, and a few moments later I heard footsteps behind me. Elisabeth later, told me that she had heard foot steps behind her as well. It was an incredibly blessed night!
One of the biggest things that I realized was, this is how the church should be, the church should be full of love. Not only love, but it should also be full of these experiences. The problem is, nobody is seeking God in there own personal time, so the result is, selfish, groaning baby Christians, who do not strive to go deeper, "So
one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become “unity” conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified.The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole Church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and higher life." - A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
Love comes from Christ, we do not know love until we know Him, and when we seek the Lord, we find true, pure Godly love. This is what the church is missing, this is what the world needs.
John 14:21 (NIV84)
(Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”)
Great post! We missed you in TN but it looks like you had a wonderful time in NC. One thing I might have mentioned when you talked about judging would have been that although we shouldn't judge the person, we should judge the sin. A certain person in my own life has made the mistake of not judging the person or the sin and I believe that it is wrong not to judge the sin. Sin is sin, no matter who the person is. What do you think? I'm sure you agree with me.
ReplyDeleteRight, that's what I mean when I say "judge a person". I think people go too far the other way (by not judging at all) because people have condemned, so now the world says "Don't judge them, only God can judge." In a way they are right, God is the only one who knows a man's heart and can can decide to send them to hell or heaven; but they are wrong in the fact that we are to judge, to judge by the fruits, but we must do it in love. Is that what you meant?
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