Recap....(long)

I've been so busy the last couple of days and will be the rest of the week as we prepare for our Children's musical "Xtreme Praise" this Sunday night. Costumes, routines, songs, oh my! :-0

I must tell you how amazing my weekend with God was!! He spoke thru His vessel Priscilla Shirer at Going Beyond and can I just tell you that it was beyond anything I could've asked or imagined. I had been asking Him in the weeks/days before the event to refresh me, to revive me, to ignite me and to show up so clearly that I could smell Him! (yes, I know it's weird but I love to smell things - it's an illness really haha) I was volunteering for the event as an "Encourager" and when our ministry leader asked me to do that I was kinda surprised. See, I'm a social kinda gal and usually work the bookstore or greet and really enjoy it, but I was truly looking forward to this new role - though not exactly sure what it meant.

So, we get there and we're going over our "directions" for the various roles and they asked a few of us who were encouraging if we could cover concessions during our down time and I tell ya, I clearly felt the Lord say "NO" to that one. Now, I have to say that when I'm in a volunteer setting and there's a job that needs to be done and it looks like no one really wants it - I'm the one who jumps in - usually purely from guilt - not a giving spirit - believe me! So it was hard to sit there and not lift my hand for the job but I seriously felt the Lord heavy on me NOT to do it. THEN they took all those volunteers to a different area for directions and the rest of us stayed to pray and prepare our hearts for the evening. The leader from the LifeWay team, Melissa, tells us to open our Bible to 1 Corin 15:58. I did and as she read the Words I nearly jumped out of my seat!

See, we've been going thru some "drama" in our church and I have inadvertently been pulled into it - not in a BIG way - but big enough to distract me. Thru all that's been going on I have CLEARLY heard the Lord telling me 2 distinct things. "Be Still" and "Stand Firm". So, if you haven't opened your Word yet let me just tell you what 1 Corin. 15:58 says, "Therefore, my dear brothers (sisters), STAND FIRM. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (emp mine) I KNOW!! I nearly ran a lap right then and there! We hadn't even opened the doors and I was already gettin' a Word! LOVE IT!!

So then we get started with some INCREDIBLE praise and worship with Alex Williams and his praise team and then the special artist Vicki Yohe blew me away! Let me just say that girl can SANG!!!!!! (not sing, but SANG!!)

Ok, I have to pause for a second here to tell you that at this moment my baby girl is sitting in the living room singing "Nearer My God to Thee" and "Shall We Gather at the River" and I'm about to have a fit!! LAND SAKES! Jesus, you're so good to me!

Ok, I'm back. So Priscilla spoke from Exodus on how the Lord led His people out of Egypt - a place they were comfortable in, a place that held them captive, a place that felt like home to them even though it was NOT their Promised Land. Since this is turning into a novel I'll just share one thing the Lord spoke to me CLEARLY about. When the Israelites set out for the Promised Land they pretty much had a straight shot into it (well a bit east and a bit north but you get the point) but God had a different plan. He led them in the opposite direction from the Promised Land. The Lord reminded me this weekend that sometimes when I go thru things that aren't easy it's Him leading me thru them. He's not doing it to hurt me, He just knows that it's the BEST route for me at that time. That going the easy way WILL NOT benefit me. That as His child it's my role to simply follow.

There's so much more I could share and maybe I will - but right now my baby girl is wanting me to come sing with her - so I'm outta here!