When the Holy Spirit moves in visible ways, my only reaction is to just stand in awe of God’s power, presence, and purpose. What an incredible weekend it has been!!
On Saturday we held our annual ladies event at FBC Blairsville. Times of Refreshing is an interdenominational event that seeks to draw women into a deeper relationship with Christ Jesus. Yesterday we hosted over 135 ladies on a very rainy Saturday for an incredible time of fellowship, worship and teaching. I hope to have some pictures to post very soon.
Our theme was “Light at the End of the Tunnel” and everything centered around “HOPE”. The day began with our ladies praise team taking us to the throne in praise and worship in an amazing way.
Nancy Carter gave her testimony of how the Lord has sustained her through her own personal journey with heart disease. In addition, heart disease claimed the life of Nancy’s 29 year old daughter only months after she gave birth to her own daughter. Nancy’s second daughter also has severe heart disease and has gone through several procedures and surgeries. Nancy’s testimony of trust and hope in Christ despite the tragedies in her life was so touching.
I taught a Bible study lesson entitled “Hope for the Heart” from the books of 2 Chronicles and Isaiah and used a rope as a visual aid–a hope rope. At the end of my message, I tied the rope to a huge cross which was displayed on stage and reminded the ladies that only when we tie our hope rope to the cross of Jesus Christ and the blood of Jesus will be secure and safe.
At the break we handed ladies index cards that they could write a prayer request on and after the break, while the praise team sang, the ladies made their way to the altar and laid their index card on the hope rope that was tied to the cross and laid across the entire length of the altar. It was a very powerful visual for many present.
Mary Frances Bowley of Wellspring Living in Atlanta was our featured speaker. Click here to find out more about Wellspring!! Mary Frances’ message was about the pathway to hope and how that pathway is repentance. She presented the gospel in a beautiful way with vivid descriptions that drew women gently to Christ.
Kristin Adams provided our special music and let me just tell you, she is awesome!! Kristin often does music at events where I speak. She came out of the audience with an a capella version of “Amazing Grace” that just about caused me to come undone right there on the front row!! She followed that with “Mercy Seat” and when she sang the part of the song that says, “come running, come running, come running to the mercy seat” several ladies spontaneously ran down the aisle and fell on the altar weeping and praying. We hadn’t even given the invitation yet!!! It as an incredibly moving time and lives were impacted for Christ. Kristin finished with “Our Hope Endures”, which was a perfect way to finish the day.
Each lady took home a river rock with the word HOPE shellacked on it as well as a handmade bookmark with our event focal verse on it. They were both beautiful.
I stand in utter amazement that the Lord would allow someone with such a horrible past like mine to serve ladies in His kingdom. I am so thankful for the opportunity to minister.
Today our pastor finished his series on “Celebrate Recovery” and we did the FBC version of “Cardboard Testimonies”. Oh my, it was very, very moving. You can go here and hear the message and see our “Cardboard Testimonies”. Once you get to our website, click on “MultiMedia Center”, then click on the “Celebrate Recovery” series, then click on “Recycling My Pain”. A second box will open and you need to click on the tiny blue television on the right to hear and see the message. The ‘cardboard testimonies’ are at the end of the message.
I am humbled and honored to have been part of all of this and I am totally exhausted. Have a blessed week!
