Friday, May 23, 2008

In Awe


It's been a while since I last posted, and so much has happened I don't know where to start. In my own walk with God, I have had such personal encounters with Him that is it truly humbling. As I have already shared, God blessed me through cards sent to me and through a friends at church. He addressed all the needs I had through these people in very specific ways. It reminded me of just how personal God is and that I am important to him as an individual.

This Sunday I went to the alter because I have always struggled with speaking in tongues. I grew up Baptist and was taught that tongues were for Bible days not for today. Then When I moved to Athens as a college student I went to an evangelical church that over-emphasized the gifts of the holy Spirit. They put me in a room and several people prayed over me for hours. Their goal was not to stop until I spoke in tongues. I have felt like "less than a Christian" because I have not spoken in tongues, then moved on to a place where I quit seeking this gift. I basically left it with God with the idea that He would just have to make it come out of me if He wanted me to speak in tongues.

Well, throughout these last few months where God has been really speaking to me, He spoke through a friend that said I really did receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit when I originally went to the alter years ago and asked, I just have to believe that in faith. I have had a few sounds that come to me when I go to speak in tongues, but I have always thought that it was just me talking so I thought it was just babbling. But when I went to the alter, a friend prayed with me and I decided to surrender my tongue to God, both for tongues and in my day-to day-life. I made a decision right then and there to trust God. I decided to believe that He did indeed baptize me when I asked and that the sounds that come to me are really tongues. So at the alter I surrendered and spoke the phrases that came to me. I am going to quit trying to make sense of these things of God and get my brain out of the way, replaced with faith.

I pray that God work through me with the power of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Mpact Girls and the ministry He has given me in my family. I do not want to do these things in my own strength, but I seek God's strength and wisdom to bring Him glory.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

You are precious to God and He has truly blessed others through you.

DebbieP said...

Thank you. God has blessed me to allow me to be married to you and blessed us both with two godly young men. Our quiver is full to overflow!

Debbie C. said...

Wow, that is so cool, I am so glad that you are receiving from the Spirit. You truly are a blessing!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing, that is so awesome!!! God is good!!!

Debbie C. said...

Thanks for your recent comment on my blog regarding family time. I appreciate you understanding and I know you are right, we are "in and not of" this world. Some people just don't get it, even Christians, but that's okay, because God accepts us all right where we're at and is patient with us. I am so thankful to Him for His love!!