So, I've come to realize over the past few weeks something profound about myself. I need rest. Kind of obvious huh? It hasn't been so obvious to me. The way I usually operate is I work early, take a nap about every other day to catch up on sleep (that's just me), get homework done, read the Word, and then decide whether or not I have time to hang out with peeps. My whole operation shifted this past few weeks. Here's how:
I decided that in every aspect of my life "I am on full-on mission"(which is totally awesome and true), at work, at school, at the grocery store etc. I decided to just squeeze quiet times in other places. I pray(ed) out loud in my car the mornings that I open, I read my Bible on my lunch break, and in my quick spare times between classes I would read one of my books. However, any time that I had free I had been quickly filling up with a bunch of 'let's hang out's. This has been awesome, I LOVE getting to know every one of you guys better and it brings me so much joy hearing your successes and areas where you need prayer. I just forgot one small thing in all of this confusion. I did not leave time for me, not one minute.
Things that I thought were just me wasting away time and were pointless like watching tv, listening to music, and shooting BB guns were actually really cathartic for me. I realized that I NEED these activities for myself so that I can rejuvenate and once again go out to BE on mission. I am realizing in myself that I am an introvert. Interesting. I need my times alone, and I get drained by being around others for too long. This realization has brought new life to me! I am taking time out of my day to sit and watch tv again, to play with my puppy, to read a book, to play drums. I feel alive again, and all it took was some good old-fashioned vegging out.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Spirit Filled
Hey guys! Wow, I have been feeling so blessed lately! God is so good, and I want to share a few things God has been doing through the Holy Spirit lately in hopes that you guys would possibly be encouraged!
As some of you know, there was a seminar called Empowered at one of Rock Harbor's satellite campuses in Long Beach (The Garden) and Jenna and I got the chance to go check it out. The seminar's main theme was the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and how to communicate with God through His Holy Spirit. Might I just say now that this was one of the most ground-breaking experiences I have had in my life.
The night of the first session of the seminar the speaker, after teaching on the Holy Spirit and the role of Him in Jesus's life, led us in a prayer. As we were all praying standing in our seats he asked that if anyone felt the Holy Spirit that they would come forward and receive prayer from a staff member. I decided to go forward because I was shivering and overly weak (as happens when I encounter God through the Spirit). The man ended up praying that I would feel the Spirit and the He would come dwell in me. WOW! I had NEVER felt the Spirit in me like that before! I felt an extreme urge to burst out in laughter, but I kept it in (which you aren't supposed to do). I ended up on the ground kneeling before God, and I had a very personal encounter with Jesus Christ through a small vision.
After that night I felt so encouraged and amazed that I couldn't hardly sleep! But I did. And the next day was a whole day filled with similar experiences: people crying uncontrollably, laughing, shaking, and some falling over as the Spirit descended upon them. There were seminars on how to pray for Spiritual Healing as well as interpreting Words of Knowledge. The night was finished up with the whole group standing in front of the stage receiving the Spirit, many many people singing and speaking in tongues (wow) and others interpreting it while the rest of us prayed for others who were encountering the Spirit personally.
Needless to say that that weekend was eventful. I had never experienced anything like that before in my life and it changed my deeply. God met me those nights. And so Sunday came around and I felt so close to God through the whole day at work and in church. That night I got baptized. I didn't think I would ever get baptized, and it was an indescribable experience. Thank you to ALL of you who met me afterward and gave me a hug. I felt so happy I was nearly in tears.
Since these two experiences I have found myself changed in the way I interact with other as work, school, supermarkets, everywhere. All of the sudden I have been brought new life and I all want to do (and have been doing) is share it.
This is simply a personal experience I had with God, but I encourage you ALL to seek Him earnestly! HE WILL MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE! You guys are all awesome, and I wish to pray with you all very soon.
As some of you know, there was a seminar called Empowered at one of Rock Harbor's satellite campuses in Long Beach (The Garden) and Jenna and I got the chance to go check it out. The seminar's main theme was the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and how to communicate with God through His Holy Spirit. Might I just say now that this was one of the most ground-breaking experiences I have had in my life.
The night of the first session of the seminar the speaker, after teaching on the Holy Spirit and the role of Him in Jesus's life, led us in a prayer. As we were all praying standing in our seats he asked that if anyone felt the Holy Spirit that they would come forward and receive prayer from a staff member. I decided to go forward because I was shivering and overly weak (as happens when I encounter God through the Spirit). The man ended up praying that I would feel the Spirit and the He would come dwell in me. WOW! I had NEVER felt the Spirit in me like that before! I felt an extreme urge to burst out in laughter, but I kept it in (which you aren't supposed to do). I ended up on the ground kneeling before God, and I had a very personal encounter with Jesus Christ through a small vision.
After that night I felt so encouraged and amazed that I couldn't hardly sleep! But I did. And the next day was a whole day filled with similar experiences: people crying uncontrollably, laughing, shaking, and some falling over as the Spirit descended upon them. There were seminars on how to pray for Spiritual Healing as well as interpreting Words of Knowledge. The night was finished up with the whole group standing in front of the stage receiving the Spirit, many many people singing and speaking in tongues (wow) and others interpreting it while the rest of us prayed for others who were encountering the Spirit personally.
Needless to say that that weekend was eventful. I had never experienced anything like that before in my life and it changed my deeply. God met me those nights. And so Sunday came around and I felt so close to God through the whole day at work and in church. That night I got baptized. I didn't think I would ever get baptized, and it was an indescribable experience. Thank you to ALL of you who met me afterward and gave me a hug. I felt so happy I was nearly in tears.
Since these two experiences I have found myself changed in the way I interact with other as work, school, supermarkets, everywhere. All of the sudden I have been brought new life and I all want to do (and have been doing) is share it.
This is simply a personal experience I had with God, but I encourage you ALL to seek Him earnestly! HE WILL MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE! You guys are all awesome, and I wish to pray with you all very soon.
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