October 27, 2010

The best thing about this House of Prayer Experience for me is that it offers me an opportunity to be open to God’s leading in a real way. Nowhere else do I experience a sense of the holy quite like this and I am often left in awe. God surprises us everytime. I hope I never grow so weary that I no longer notice nor care.

Of course, I am responsible enough to line up some songs and other programmatic elements while making space for an occasion when those who might come forward for special prayer or anointing or…something else may have time to sense the Holy Spirit tugging on their heart and mind.

I am stil learning to not be afraid of the moments when I don’t know exactly what I will say or be called to do. That’s a great way to keep anyone humble.

Trish said during her testimony tonight that she is “shy”. You couldn’t tell because of the passion with which she shared her appreciation of the pastors’ ministry and for your prayers, too. Even more exciting to me is what her courage did for others listening to her. She stood in front of all of us and shared what it was like for her to come forward months ago: it wasn’ t easy because afterall it was her private business that she was talking about, but yet her need for her family’s spiritual protection was deeper than her privacy at that moment. The result of her step of faith?

The noticeable difference in her loved one that same night ,and at least a shift in attitude gave her hope that the people she loves will be okay in the end. Not only this, as a nurse, she was presented with the chance to pass on words of faith to one of her patient named Al who also showed up for the first time at H.o.P.E!

A mother was in the congregation for the first time and later that week, she sent me this note: “What a moving and joyful experience to have been there! My heart breaks for my child, Please pray for him, too!”

It was also exciting to share news about Ray.

Last week, people broke off in small groups to pray for him. He had been addicted to nicotine since the age of eleven. He is now almost sixty-five! The spot on his lung makes it imperative for him to quit, so he turned to the church to help him pray for a miracle. It didn’t matter to people that he was miles away, living in another State! He has written a letter asking for help as a member of the Forest Lake Church via the web. This is an excerpt of a second note he sent to Pastor Derek in regards to his progress today:

Please tell all the People I said THANKS for the Prayers, and ask Them to keep praying. It may take a while to clean up this 50 year old mess I am in.

Thank you for being part of the humbling adventure that it is to follow God’s lead.

Praying for our joy…and hope for the journey
Pastor Sabine