Wow is one word that can be used to describe the three days of blessedness that I have received. The shut in (6 pm - 6 am) was much needed. Granted, I did battle my flesh & the complaining that was starting to come up. It turns out that 24 hours withou sleep is not easy. However, the shut in was so amazing! The singing was togetherness. Everyone was on one accord. I could easily imagine angels singling along side us. The reading of scripture and the praying was great.
The Lord had placed a scripture that I had wanted to read in my heart. Unfortunately, my brain did not hold it, but God is good. He had Pastor Ruff to read it which comes from 2 Chronicles 7. It's verse 14, which states, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." We read both Chapter 7 & chapter 8, but that verse is the verse that I desired to be read. The truth is that this nation needs a lot of prayer for it. bWe are beyond wickedness, & as a consequence, we are being punished. New Jersey is trying to become another state that legalizes gay marriage. People don't care about each other neither desire to help each other. I mean the Lord had given me that the scripture the other day, which definitely applies to this country. I want this country to be healed. I want my country humbling itself & seeking after God. The shut in allowed a close nit, unified prayer. Unity is definitely what Christians need to help our country.
Not only was the shut in good, but on Satureday, when I studied my Sunday School Lesson to teach, the Lord definitely helped me, revealing thing sto me that I never really knew. For example, problems usually aren't problems, but things that come up in our lives. The problem is our response to the situation. For example, the Hebrews had been delivered by God out of the hands of the Egyptians by a marvelous miracle (Parting of the Red Sea!). Yet, they go to Marah, they find out that there is no water. Now, after the Red Sea was parted & the Pharaoh & his army was swallowed up, you think that they would have been able to see that God would be able to help them out here. Of course, he can't judge them because we have had Marah moments as well. We have a choice when we go through a situation similar to this just like they did. We could either complain & wonder why we are going through this or we can take it to God, praying and praising our way through the scenario that comes up. Many of us, unfortunately (& is why we can't judge the Hebrews) find ourselves settling in for option number one: complaining. When we complain, it's hard to thank God. Our grattitude becomes null & void, with our attitude & demeanor being filled with ungratefulness & bitterness. The problem is not the problem, but our response to it can be the problem.
Teaching Sunday School the next day was even better. The Lord had One on one time with me before the church doors opened up; He knew that I was battling fear & uneasiness. Through His scriptures that He gave me, He let me knew that He was my confidence, that I was to lean on Him for Help, and that fear was unproductive-that He did not give me a spirit of fear, but a sound mind, of power, & of love. He really worked this out for me, giving me the scriptures to lean on, which all come from Proverbs 3. Love it! That was just the beginning. I had a peace that passed all understanding that He gave me & ensured me that I would get if I leaned on Him. It was the first time in months that I had felt comfortable teaching. I taught & learned. Our Pastor pointed out that we have Red Seas that we have to go through & that we need to trust & lean on God and go through them. Moses lead the Hebrews through the Red Sea, which I can only imagine what was going on in their minds when they found out that they had to go through it. I mean we do have these Red Seas. It was so true.
We also covered songs of praise. Our Pastor pointed out again, which I have failed to think of, that powerful devotions come from devotions full of songs talking about the attributes of God & not of ourselves. It's so true. Many Christian songs today are not emphasing Who God is or even mentioning the Name of Jesus. I'm not saying the songs are not good. I'm just saying that some of these songs center on the person & their struggles & how God helped them, but not enough on God & Who He is. The Morning Worship service was AWESOME as well!
I was so absorbed into devotions, I again, had no uneasiness while up doing devotion. I had no shame in moving or dancing or singing to my Lord. When the Word came forth, the Word came forth. The Pastor preached on three things that work against us. 1. The flesh, 2. The world. 3. Satan. We all go through changes. How we respond to them affects the situation. She gave us scripture to help us "cure" those three elements. This worked with the Sunday School Lesson. All of it went together, even the 5th Sunday Night Sing.
The 5th Sunday Night Sing was my first one & definitely not my last (Lord's willing). The singing was so beautiful; the souls all singing the songs was very uplifting. I was so moved of this. The diversity of the service also showed how Christians are One Body in Christ-gender, skin color, gifts don't separate (or are not suppose to) us. We are in One Body with Christ.
The services and the One on one time with God were definitely needed & refreshed my soul. The Lord is SO awesome. These three days were definitely needed & definitely were refreshing. Like a song by Chris Tomlin goes, My soul, my soul magnifies the Lord. Thank God for those services.
Until Next Time...Lord's Willing.
Also: The food between the waiting period after morning service and the 5th Sunday Night Sing was also great, along with the fellowship.
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