The Importance of Testimony

When and where do we get to share the testimony of all God is doing? These are the stories that bring life to the tasks set before us. These are the seeds that grow faith in others. The examples of what God is willing to do again and again.

Last night, Jeff and I got to serve with some amazing people. We were asked to form a prayer team to minister at a worship night the young adults were putting together at our church. The group leading was made up of people in their late teens and early 20's. Since there is no Junior Holy Spirit, it was easy for me to get up under their leadership. Learning to serve whomever Jesus raises up is key to being part of the adventure.

The music was amazing. The stories shared between sets were raw and vulnerable. The atmosphere had been strategically set for Jesus to move. This is the place when The Father's love is thick and Holy Spirit draws on the hearts of those who are ready. I love not only participating, at times like these, but I also enjoy watching all that's going on as you see The Spirit move in and out of the crowd. This is what it looked like:

In the front, near the stage, kids were unashamedly worshiping. They didn't care what they looked like. There was no one there to tell them they were doing it "wrong" (lol). This must have been how David appeared as he worshiped daily before God. In the middle of the church, one young lady was reaching over the chairs to lay hands on a man in the next row back. His friends joined in on the prayer. Up in the crow's nest, where the behind the scenes crew hangs out, a man was comforting a boy who had just lost his own father. Laughter and tears were everywhere and the music continued.

As for me, I was approached by two boys who came up for prayer together. They looked to be about high school age. I almost missed them because I was moving to the other side of the room at the time. We have to keep our eyes open for these kinds of opportunities. I thought it odd that they would come up together. It is my experience that boys, especially this age, tend to be private if they are wanting to become vulnerable. Instead of questioning it, I just asked Holy Spirit where he was going to go in this situation. One boy began to share, "I just need 'change' in my life." He wasn't specific. The other boy said that he felt stuck in some things he couldn't seem to break through. This is how it begins. I tuned into see what Holy Spirit was showing me behind what the boys are saying. Now I knew where to begin.

I asked the boys if they were Christians. Had they allowed Jesus to come in and become part of their lives. They both answered an emphatic, "Yes!" Now I knew that this was going to be fun. "I'm going to do something a little different," I began to share with them, "I'm going to activate the two of you so you can pray for others." I had one lay his hands on the other while I followed Holy Spirit's lead. When this happened, I saw a whole plan laid out for this young man. Heaven had a lot in store, so I prayed that a spot light would be shined directly on him. Tears began to stream down his cheeks. I continued to share all I saw as I drew on heaven's "movie" I saw streaming his future. I reminded him that David was able to fight Goliath because he held on to God's promise that he would one day be king. This boy cried harder as he grasped his new hope and future.

When the roles were reversed and it was time to pray for the other boy, I felt that the thing keeping him "stuck" had to do with his family. I asked the first boy to place his hand on the back of the other boy's neck, right where it connects to the back. This is where our past seems to hang out, so that's where we went in. As I reminded this boy of all Jesus did on the cross, I was able to begin declaring that all his past has been crucified with Christ. He didn't have to be held back by anything that may have been passed down from one generation to the next. The boy got excited. We continued on wherever I felt Holy Spirit was taking us. In the end, I had one boy crying over God's goodness and one jumping for joy. Jesus does what he wants to do. It doesn't have to line up with my logic or reasoning. I just remain open and listen carefully for my role in the partnership. Who wouldn't want to be part of that?!?

Both boys left knowing that they now had a new promise and new assignments. They were activated into being able to pray for others on their journeys. This is how we grow people up in the kingdom. This is what Christianity gets to looks like... people loving on people and hope restored. I'd love to hear your testimonies so we can continue to pass out these seeds of faith.

Wake Up Calls In The Middle Of The Night

You know those times when you wake up in the middle of the night with something completely consuming your mind? I had one of those moments last night.

I am beginning to consider that these early morning "wake up" calls may be from heaven. Often times they come as answers to a question I've been asking. Sometimes they are directional and I can determine which part of a fork in the road I should pursue. Last night, I felt like a porthole to heaven had been opened. 

I woke with a thought. What if this is that moment when every possible healing I'd been going after was available. In my sleepy state, it felt like an advertisement... "For one moment only, you can have any healing you would like to ask for." Immediately, several other thoughts came, "You're just dreaming. This is silly. It isn't really happening." They came so fast, it felt like balls being pitched in a batting cage. There was only one way to stop them... Start swinging!

Once my brain cleared, I went back to pondering the thought that originally woke me. What if it was true? What if I really could have any healing I asked for in this moment? What if Jesus really meant it when he said, "You have not because you ask not. I only do what I see The Father do. Greater things will you do."?  What did I have to lose by believing that all those things were true? I began to ask. 

My mind became a parade of family and friends who needed Jesus to heal them. I asked for each ailment to be healed as I saw it go by. I noticed that a lot of the problems people dealt with had to do with "tasks" they felt obligated to perform. Isn't that interesting? Could the feeling like you had to do something actually bring on pain? Do we sometimes take on the role of a martyr when we endlessly serve in our jobs or in the lives of others? Could bitterness attach itself to something that started off being good? Maybe at some point we stopped thinking of how this could help someone else and we began to be consumed about how it was hurting us (taking away our freedom, our choices, our self being in the #1 position).

Danny Silk, in his book 'Keep You Love On', describes this kind of activity as being a "rescuer". We feel powerless unless we can find a place to rescue someone by taking on their tasks, cleaning up after them or finding other ways to meet their needs. This is actually an unhealthy co-dependency. It's not wrong to help others, but it is possible to go too far by taking on the entire burden ourselves. The results can leave the other person powerless, unable to handle their own issues and becoming totally dependent on us for their happiness, comfort and peace. At this point, haven't we just replaced God in their lives? We've become their savior. It comes at a price for us as well. We were never meant to carry such a heavy load. Our emotions are consumed, so our bodies respond... in pain. What a mess!

There is a solution. Become powerful and empower them to do the same. It's easier to give someone a "hand up" than it is to carry them on your back. Sometimes we need to teach others to do those things we've been doing for them. Sometimes need to stand by while they figure it out, ready to coach when necessary. Sometimes we just need to repent about having stepped into the role of God in the lives of others. There are lots of options.

So, whatever happened to the dream like state I was in? I actually fell asleep as I sent all my friends and family through the porthole of healing I was seeing. I woke up this morning with everything I just shared with you. I hope it helps.