yesterday's DB service...

was so special and I want to record this because God does these incredible things at times and when I don't write it down I forget, and that's a terrible thing.

It was a small prayer meeting. We did not have the great set up that we usually do, and in the end, we did not even have the venue, and so we were out in the open, and while at the start this was something we noticed with some sadness, I think we all knew that God would turn it around like only He can and He did. : )

You know, at our regular Vine services, as I'm sure it is in all of God's churches the world over, we do realize that it's not about all the hi-tech stuff and all our talent, we do realize that we have an awesome experience only because God is in the building, but then...maybe there is room for that doubt to creep in...'hmmm! what if we did not have all the 'flash'?

Well last night was absolute proof that when it's Jesus you're with, He'll make any gathering awesome and somehow stripping away all the 'flash' was like the best thing that could've happened. You know how like in worship at the Vine sometimes, in the middle of the song, the band just stops playing and all we hear are the hearts of the people as they sing in unison praising God, how that is somehow entirely different and special... last night was like that.

We were out in the open, with one guitar, one drum and a few people who were there to love God and seek His face and He showed up in a way that did something different to all of us there. I cannot really put into words what happened, but I'll try... : )

There was a spirit of brotherhood, an appreciation for one another, a corporate strengthening of faith, an openness, a deep longing for more, an anointing for healing and a desire for signs and wonders and to be used by God in any way He would choose, even if it took us out of our comfort zones, there was prophesy and some incredible sharing and there was one distinct moment for me when I KNEW I was in the midst of God's people. I sensed Jesus in them. It was such a lovely, peaceful moment and this is a valuable treasure. Because I know we're all just people, we're all works in progress and we're going to have those times when we'll see each other failing, making mistakes, falling off the path, walking in the flesh ... but to get a God given glimpse like that into their hearts, to see them as He created them, the unblemished version ... I know with this knowledge, it's going to be so much easier to love unconditionally, to understand people when things go wrong, to be there when someone falls, because I feel I've seen what's deep inside and it's beautiful, and that's what God gave me yesterday and I believe it's the kind of special thing He does when He shows up in these 'all is stripped away' moments. Something entirely mind blowing like that.

A new boldness seemed to touch us. Aaron did such an awesome job being sensitive to God's lead and leading the rest of us accordingly and everyone shared some incredible stuff. It's like God spoke through each and everyone there and we left knowing that God was leading us, and we were following and it was awesome. You know that is such an attractive thing. I feel so strongly, that this is what God wants, this is how He works and if we walk like this, the lost WILL come to Jesus. Church like this, which flows out of the hearts of the people, is attractive like nothing else. It really is all about relationships, being open, genuine, trusting and free. It is entirely what the Spirit of the Lord does and being out in the open made us realize something else too. This spirit is really not meant to stay inside the four walls of a church building, it's meant to be out there.

Lord I say this often, but then until you give me some new vocabulary, you just must hear it again... You Are AWESOME!!!