His Presence is Our Priority

Well, what a week it has been!! (I'm sure I will be making a similar statement every week...)

This week, I believe, was a bit busier in particular though...

We began the week (or ended last week) on Sunday Night. We had Family Night and the ever-so-wonderful Sean Feucht came for a little indie worship night at our house! 

You should all check out Sean's music...He has a new album called Songs for Nations he wrote while actually in each nation. He asked God to give him a song for each nation he visited and this is what came of it. [there are two different links...my favorites on the album are "Finish What You Started (North Korea)" and "Make Me a Lover (Norway)"] :)

So anyway, Sunday night we had Family Night. We had Sean and some people who are friends to Fire and Fragrance here in Harrisburg. We also had a bunch of people who are pioneering Tab (Tabernacle of David) over and then our little school of 21. All in all it turned out to be around 60 people or so gathered in our house for a potluck and then a worship sesh in one of the living rooms and leaking into the entry way. It sure was glorious. And hot. We had to open up all the living room windows. And they didn't even open all the way because we have little stoppers that keep people from breaking in through the windows. Hahaha. All that to say Sean carries a joy in his worship that I have not seen before...I love it. 

 Here is a little snippet of the *Glory* that went down. This is only the very first 2 minutes, so if you have ever been in a Holy Spirit worship service, you know it just gets increasingly better ;-)

Then the week was wonderful as well...

We also had the amazing privilege of having Chris Burns from Burn 24-7 be our teacher this week. He shared the floor with our 333 House Dad teaching on Identity, Intimacy with God, the Secret Place, and (my favorite) the Tab of David. (This wonderfulness might also have to do with my not being sick anymore...XD )

Because we were so honored to have Chris with us all week, we went to New Jersey Monday afternoon/evening to support him at Resting Place House of Prayer where he was also speaking. Let me just tell you, Chris spits fire. I mean...the dude drops. He carries a depth into the message of Sonship that I have not heard before (and that is a topic that a lot of pastors like to cover). He continues to be one of my favorite speakers...

One of the more profound things he said that struck me this week (now the religious spirits are going to be upset) is that the goal on earth is not to get people saved. Let me repeat that: the goal on earth is not to get people saved. 

What does that mean??

The goal on earth is to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth, live a life centered around the presence of God in intimacy with Him, and salvations should become a byproduct of that. 

What does that mean??

When you live a life centered around the presence of God, your presence begins to shift atmospheres because you have Holy Spirit on you. Every Christian has Holy Spirit in them, but not every Christian has Holy Spirit on them. The Holy Spirit on you is what makes you attractive to those who don't believe. When you have Holy Spirit on you, you have made yourself a resting place for God's presence. When you have Holy Spirit on you, He is not just in you, but also with you and others can feel Him to. But getting people saved should not be the priority. The priority is loving Jesus. The priority is bringing His presence to earth.

The priority is His presence.

One time, I was at CSU East Bay and I was with a few friends walking around looking for students to pray for. I had a FREE HEALING sign that I was carrying, and my friend A. was a little ways ahead of me. He began to talk to a guy walking past him, and the guy walked straight up to me, got about 6 inches or less from my face, stared me in the eyes for a good 5-10 seconds, stared at my sign, then looked back up into my eyes peering closer.

"NO!" He shouted storming off. No one had said anything about Jesus. No one had asked to pray for him. I hadn't even said a word to him word.

This sounds very strange, I know, but I knew the second that boy walked up to me that he was sensing Holy Spirit and something inside of him was afraid. Normally I would freak out at someone so close to my face, but when he looked at me, I just smiled back. Even when he inched closer and I began to think, "What the heck?? This is weird..." Holy Spirit quickened me. "Look him straight in the eyes." So I did. In fact, I opened my eyes a little wider, still smiling. I knew this guy was going to see the power of Jesus in me and he did.

Wow. Why did I tell that story? I dunno... Oh well.

This is a picture from the church parking garage. I just thought it was pretty and wanted to share it. :) 

Something else we touched a lot on this entire week is what it means to truly be a lover of the Lord. What does it matter if you have all the riches and the King of all Kings doesn't even know your name? What does it matter if you became the next big pastor, preacher, evangelist, etc. and Jesus doesn't even know who you are? Because you didn't share yourself with Him. 

It was said this week (and I believe this is true) that what if God purposely chooses not to "know" certain things about us because He wants us to tell them to Him. God knows every bit about you, but He also wants you to share yourself with Him. He knows what you need, but He still wants you to share those needs with Him. He wants to hear you say it. He wants you to lay down your pride and acknowledge your need for Him. He delights in our dependency. He wants you to share yourself with Him and delights when you do.

It's kind of like when you are in love someone and you want to spend as much time with them, getting to know them, letting them get to know you...but in order for that to happen, you need to spend time with Him. I need to spend time with Him. We all need to spend time with Him. 

Anyway....so have I told you about Work Duties yet? If I have....I'll tell you again :D

So every day (except weekends and Wednesdays) we have Work Duties. Mondays and Thursdays the work duties are at the church. And just as I knew would happen, I was put on one of the Bathroom teams. That means we clean the bathrooms, which actually is not as bad as it sounds. It sounds absolute horrifying, but it really isn't. Everyone I have ever spoken to about work duties has said that there is so much glory in cleaning the bathrooms. Haha. I just Sheila Shine everything (stall doors..trash can..paper towel dispenser..door handle)....and sometimes mop.

The work duties at the house are a little different. One day we all clean our rooms. Another day we clean whichever part of the house has been assigned to us (I'm on Second Floor and Dining Room) and then other odds and ends around the house when you have finished. Here we were going to begin cleaning out the Maintenance Room (we ended up not finishing).

Yesterday, I ended up in the Carriage House (where most of the boys live), making the guest beds and straightening up the rooms for when we have guests stay with us. I had to laugh because I had a flashback from prepping for August 6, 2011, the first One Voice Prayer Gathering, when I was in the barn cleaning up the guest rooms and making the beds. I always end up on hostess duty. I enjoy it :)

I know I just left out, like, the majority of my week in what I said, but it is so hard to encompass all of the teachings and the rest of our fully busy days... A little insight will have to do...

Well, everyone, I love you very much! And to Germs and Shadow...I miss you the most. (haha.)

Until next week!

Xoxo,

Cheryl..