Learning As We Grow
Yesterday we had a wonderful time hosting Jessica Goodman (Featured in Hope Has a Name) and her talented crew at Salt Life. For those who don't know her, she has a gift of ministry and encouragement through song and preaching, and is the founder of Village of Hope in Bartow, Florida. God has also been releasing prophetic arts to her and her staff as a way to reach people for Jesus. She encouraged us greatly, and it was a wonderful time of connecting and flowing in Holy Spirit as a congregation.
Flexibility is one of our greatest assets in partnering with God to accomplish His desire in any given moment. As artists, we need to be so selfless that it doesn't matter if we even get to give what God has shown us for ministry. We need to be willing to lay our talents at His feet and say, "Not my will, but Yours be done," and trust that He is using whatever we are offering, even if we can't see it in the moment. I have been so blessed and humbled by the attitude and willingness to wait some of you have shown (sometimes for 3 weeks!), and also by the instant flexibility of shifting gears when God changes your original impression and leads you to apply your work in a spontaneous way. You have been so sensitive to Holy Spirit, and it has shown in the reactions we have received from those to whom you have ministered!
I want to encourage you to stretch those spiritual senses to discern and be sensitive to the corporate flow going on. Father works on both 'levels'- ministering by His Spirit to Individuals, but also corporately moving us forward with Him to grow as His body.
Sometimes our work will incorporate the corporate flow and how it relates to the individual God has shown us. They may be a part of the revelation God is giving corporately. So try to remember to keep open as you paint and write, not just beforehand.
So, try to be sensitive to what He is showing you during service and don't dismiss it if it doesn't quite fit with what you originally perceived. And please respect pastors if they decide service needs to take a different direction! The focus is Jesus, and not us, right? So no taking offense or insisting something HAS TO be shown on any certain morning, please. (No one has been like that, I just wanted to put that out there so no one gets tempted to be offended by a sudden change of direction.)
Please remember to invest intercession into this ministry, and for whoever is scheduled each week!
Please take some time to encourage and welcome our new people:
Wilma & Jeff Fisk
Ammie Bonner
Kayla Duncan
(We now have 17 people in our rotation! )
New People - be sure to read the preparation page and check the calendar on the website for when you are scheduled: