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This Sunday, I was encouraged and inspired to dream again and reach out for hope. I am desperate for an in-breaking of light in the midst of the darkness that Paul and I have been stumbling through.
Thank you Lord for knowing me. Thank you Lord for seeing my tears. Thank you Lord for loving me. Thank you Lord for saving me. Thank you Lord for pouring down your healing rain to soften my dry heart.
(click on picture for link to podcast)
Everyday, I get the privilege of working with some amazing women. I'm so thankful that the Lord has put me in this position to surround me with these lovely ladies! Working here has given me life long friendships with them and others that no longer work here (that means you Mandi).
Here are some things I love about going to church...
PS - if you haven't seen it yet, you have got to see The Finger of God. It's documentary about crazy Christians going after the power of God. (I say crazy in love because I'm one of them too.)
Today we had a workshop at our church on Prophetic Creativity and it was AWESOME! Mike and Cherrie Kaylor are my kind of people, they are out of the box people and I love out of the box people. I think because I am always shoved into one kind of box and it drives me crazy!!!!!!
Anyway, they were speaking on using our creativity that is a gift from God and use that to express the prophetic word, wisper of God. I'm not talking about painting a picture of Jesus but of asking God and seaking Him in everything we do. God is the Creator and by nature, He is creative. It's time to reclaim the Arts, music, drama and use the things that God has put inside of us. It's not about making religious art/music/drama/etc. it's about making God inspired work.
I was blown away today. They spoke to my heart and God really moved me today. When we got to the workshop part and I started to paint, I was sobbing. Old wounds were being healed and I was being released. I still feel it. I think the best way I can discribe it is I am raw. I feel emotionaly raw right now. God is still at work on me.
PS Mandi - I loved painting with you today. You are an amazing talent and such an encourager!! Let's do it again really soon
In a previous post, I shared an article that was on the front page of our paper about the revival that has come to Bakersfield. I also wanted to share a personal testimony of my experience at the God Encounter Meetings.
This was from Sunday, January 20th...
Paul and I were moved to go to the front of the church during ministry time. I really wanted/needed to hear, feel, experience something that I have seen so many other people experience. Hearing the testimonies of Lucas, Jamie Galloway, Cherrie and Mike Kaylor I wanted to experience God. So, I go to the front of the stage and assume the receiving position. NOTHING… Laughter starts and NOTHING… Mike says the fire of God is filling the house and it’s getting hot – wait I feel something – I’m getting cold! My hands and arms are freezing, goose bumps cold. I’m thinking I’m getting de-anointed. I start praying and repenting… people are rolling on the ground around me and I’m standing there, getting cold. I’m begging God at this point, “please Lord, please, I want You so badly” I bend over, maybe getting closer to the ground will help. Still NOTHING.
At that point my mind starts going and the lies of the enemy are filling my thoughts (I’m not a good enough Christian, I’m not really a Christian, they are just faking, it’s just emotionalism). I started crying and I took my thoughts captive and rebuked all that junk. I decide that I am going to stand here obediently and receive whatever is happening – I will accept the download that Mike was speaking about even if nothing happens.
After that ministry time, Paul and I took Luke to Cherrie for prayer and although Luke wasn’t healed (Cherrie told us that his healing wouldn’t come tonight but it will come), I also received an AMAZING word (and lots of kisses) from Cherrie and left the meeting very encouraged.
That night while I was sleeping I had an angelic visitation. I was engulfed in flames and I was hot – really, really, really hot. At first I was surrounded with blinding white light and then strips of colors, like beautiful fabrics were coming all around me. Then I saw two giant hands bring all the colors together into a garment. Then the garment was placed on me and a voice spoke and said, “Jessica you wear a coat of many colors.” The voice was totally reassuring and I was weeping in the confidence of who God made me to be. Then I was taken to another place and I saw myself praying for healing for a bunch of people – mostly kids (it ties into Cherrie’s word for me about Luke’s healing and confirmed words given to me by Mike Kaylor and Bill Dew). Then I woke up and I was drenched in sweat. My PJ’s and sheets were soaking wet. Waves of emotion come over me still as I think about it and I can still feel the power of that moment.We have been holding meetings at our church all week Meetings that I'm not allowed to call a revival meeting since I'm on church staff and it would be seen as an endorsement of the term "revival" when we are just meeting nightly and encountering God and hungry for his presence in whatever form that takes.
But just in case you were wondering, revival is defined as:
1. restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.
2. restoration to use, acceptance, or currency: the revival of old customs.
3. a new production of an old play.
4. a showing of an old motion picture.
5. an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.
6. an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting a religious awakening: to hold a revival.
7. the act of reviving.
8. the state of being revived.
Just to be perfectly clear - no revival. In Bakersfield there has been an awakening, and a call for hunger, and seeking of God's presence. Just so we are clear and there is no confusion on this matter.
