Saturday started off with some worship early in the morning on the beach…what a good way to start off a morning…the best thing was, it was student lead and student inspired!
After breakfast we had a bunch of free time. Volleyball, hanging out at the pool, swimming in the Gulf (which by the way was beautiful), great conversation, and napping! After lunch we had our afternoon gathering.
I have to admit, I started a bad habit Friday night that lead into Saturday afternoon’s gathering. I would look over my notes for the teaching while we were worshipping.
Sometimes we get so distracted and so enthralled in what is currently facing us we forget that during worship we are supposed to be worshipping our Creator, not thinking about what is for lunch or what we need to finish on our to do list.
But anyway…I was looking over my notes and I can remember the exact song we were singing while I was doing this…”O Happy Day”. I heard God say “what are you doing”? And in all my humbleness and wisdom and practicing James Chapter 3 (taming the tongue), I replied “You are God, you can’t see what I’m doing? I’m looking over my notes”! What a way to talk to a God that gives us unfailing love, grace, and mercy huh?
So I heard Him say “worship me”. It was one of those moments that you don’t question why, you just do…
As I started to worship my Daddy God, I found myself on my knees in full submission to Him. As I continued to worship the feeling I got was like when someone hugs you and doesn’t let go. His presence was so overwhelming all I could do was cry. And it wasn’t like God was trying to smite me or “deal” with me, He was loving me. So there I was, on my face, a big ball of mess!
As we started the last song I heard God tell me “you’re not going to teach”, I was like what? He then told me again “you’re not going to teach, let go of your agenda and let me be God” Normally at this point I would start stating my case and come up with a good argument. But not this time! As the last song started to finish, I got up and asked Chantal is God was telling her she needed to say something to the students. She smiled and shook her head yes, and I told her it was her time.
To be honest, I don’t really remember what she said, I know it was good and it was what God wanted said at that moment. He then told me to tell the students to throw away their agendas that they brought with them on Sand Blast, and allow His agenda to take over…and boy did it.
What happened in the gathering room at Surfside Retreat Center on June 11, 2011 was one that people who went on Sand Blast will never forget…it was a time that the Kingdom of God was felt…it was a time when the rule and reign of God was presence and gentle…it was a time when people made a decision to turn and walk towards Jesus, no matter what happened in the past, no matter how much they felt like they didn’t deserve it, no matter who was next to them…
One thing remains….
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