The Lord is still working!

The Sunday night fellowship at Greg Gunn's office was wonderful! There was a packed house with many more youth and adults. We began with praise and worship which was outstanding. Tim, which led worship is such a gifted pastor. The dimension he adds to any group is incredible.

The testimony went fine. Wasn't incredibly deep but was enough to share what God has taken me through in my time here on this earth. The most relevant testimony is of course the most pleasing to God: our daily obedience and willful attempt to stay sin free. The Lord hates sin, and, as followers of Him, we should as well.

After the testimony many great questions were asked. I answered to the best of my ability as the Lord led. There is always a rich dialog during this period of the ministry and it tends to create a "family" type environment where people are more apt to open themselves to receive more freely.

After a good time of question and answer, I opened up the usual time of prayer. Several RLM prayer team members came forward and we prayed over the attendees. I asked that if anyone felt the call to pray aloud, please do so. Many people prayed and ushered in the Holy Spirit with their gentle and humble prayer requests.

I had a distinct word that there was a congregated group from within the room that had much doubt so I spoke that to the crowd. I received no response. I wanted to pray for them openly. I then felt the Lord impress on me that there was a woman thinking about her addiction and that if i mentioned the word "addiction" that she would come up for prayer. As I said, "I feel the Lord wants to heal someone of addiction", she raised her hand. I asked her to come forward and pray with us and she was obedient. I felt the Lord's presence and we began to pray.

The Lord wanted me to back off at this time and allow Jim Kimbrough to pray over her and to take lead in the meeting. As I submitted, the Holy Spirit began to work in the room and blessed us all. "Laurie" received healing and as her 4 children gathered around her they hugged, kissed, and prayed together.

Many people had prayer requests and gathered in groups to pray as Tim Good, Pastor Joe, Greg Gunn, Randy Allsbury, and myself went about the room praying for others. The prayer lasted 2 hours with many people walking away washed with the Blood and open to what God wanted of them; allowing Him to work in their lives. God is always faithful! He always wants to hear our petitions and is quick to come to those that will allow Him in to their hearts!

The meeting lasted to about 1am or so. The hardest part of the meeting on me was when I was trying to leave. I KNEW that I was to expect a trying time. The Lord had told me a few days earlier to guard my heart and to be prepared. As I was leaving, a few intellectual college students (about 8) had gathered in front of the exit and started asking me biblical questions. I answered to the best of my ability. I was quite frank and straight forward. I asked the Lord's guidance to see what He would have me say.

As the questioning progressed it seemed to get more hostile in nature and was clear to me, it was not of the Lord. The young men were not trying to be rude, but, I could see judgemental, prideful, and arrogant spirits emerge from them. This went on for nearly an hour. I thank God that my good friend and mentor, Tim Good, had the endurance to stay by my side, in support.

What I basically learned from the encounter was this. That I would be persecuted in my walk with the Lord. With my past life's experiences and spiritual battles that many would doubt and question my walk, and, my actual salvation and intent of this ministry. To be quite frank, this group of guys wondered if I should be out ministering to others and speaking the gospel due to the fact that I was a "new" Christain. That is what I gathered from the encounter.

My response was quite lengthy in the exchange, however came down to this: I serve the same God they do. The situation was not of the Lord, but, He would teach me and them what we needed from the situation. I feel a strong calling to evangelize and feel the Lord is directing my path. I submit not only to the Lord but to mentors, pastors, and accountability partners (Jim Kimbrough, Pastor Joe, and Tim Good) on an everyday basis. I am not in this ministry for anything but to do the will of my Father.

If I were not to be out speaking; If I were not to be praying for others and gathering the lost, I feel strongly the Lord would shut it down. I have put the structure in place with many others to keep me humble and in a state of humility. This ministry is not about me and is not led by me. It is led of the Spirit. ALL Glory and Honor goes to the Lord Jesus Christ!

The bottom line is that these young men did not have evil intentions. They love the Lord. I feel they were just doing what they felt was right and what they thought the Lord wanted of them. In doing so, in the manner they did, it hurt me, which I am sure was not their intent. It probably burdened everyone who witnessed it. HOWEVER, it taught us all something. The Lord spoke to me about it. I asked the Lord to search my heart. I asked Him to search my motives. I gained new strength this week through the ordeal and realized that I am where He wants me to be. He has refreshed my spirit. He has given me new boldness to proclaim His Word!

What Satan meant for evil through the exchange, ended in changed lives. I am quite certain that the young men this week have reflected. And have grown in Him. God is working a wonder in those guys and will use them mightily for His Kingdom purposes. I thank the Lord for them and for the encounter. I thank the Lord for their boldness. I thank the Lord for their insight and wisdom in Him. I pray for them and thank the Lord for their sweet smiles and the lives of all they will witness and minister to!


In Him