Celebrate and Question and Learn

So much happens here all the time; it's insane! Is sure is a good thing God's mercies are made new every morning- and that it's always morning somewhere!

Two Mondays ago, after taking care of my goddaughters, I led a prayer meeting for the leaders of Laguna Youth for Jesus Movement. God's presence showed up there and the people were touched in a mighty way.

Thursday through Saturday was the Possessing the Gates Conference. God changed Laguna last week in His encounters with the people. It was awesome! People have a fresh assurance of what it means to have a relationship with God and how that relationship can be used to change their spheres of society. There were 316 people from over 100 churches in attendance! I had the privilege of being an intercessor for the 3 day camp event, facillitate a small group, and share on how to have a quiet time and how worship is the key to possessing your sphere of society. I also had the privilege of being the object of "hundreds" of pictures! The Filipinos love to take pictures with me! (P.S. At the mall last week, I was asked if wanted to be a model and was given an agency's card!)

We returned from the Possessing the Gates Conference to host a youth group alumni meeting. People who had been part of the youth group up to ten years ago came back to see the changes in the ministry and wish Tita Pat a happy birthday. The leaders and alumni were then prayed over and commissioned to serve God wherever He calls us- but particularly in Muslim people groups around the world.

The next morning was IFL's anniversary celebration day. We had special services at church. The kids danced for the congregation. We provided lunch for the entire congregation. In the afternoon, we had "Amazing Race." The families of the church participated in a scavenger hunt type activity, competing for prizes. I helped facilitate the Bible quiz station. It was so wonderful to watch all the families get so excited about answering Bible questions and doing their group cheers! :-) (P.S. One of the boys from a group was joking around and asked me for my number when I asked him to pick a number!)

That night, we had a costume party celebrating the 21st anniversary of the ministry and Tita's "25th" birthday. Just the IFL family/ staff were invited. It was so funny to see so many people dressed up in 1960's style clothing! The staff sang and danced to Sister Act's version of "I will follow Him." My friend Tennie played the part of Whoopi Goldberg, breaking it down. Tita laughed so hard and so did we! We honored Tita, but more than honoring her, we honored and thanked God for His faithfulness.

Last week, I worked on writing competencies for grade 1 English. I am working to make things more specific. Habbakuk 2:2-4 seems to be a calling for me: "Write the vision and make it plain so that those who read it may run it, may carry it out to the fullest extent for which it was shared. Though it tarries, it will not delay when the time is right for it to be put into place." (summarized) So, I don't know if these competencies are for now or even for this place or for far off in the future. I just know the Lord is leading me to write them.

I am learning some valuable lessons about myself and the way God operates because of the situations leading up to all of the events we just had.

I like structure and administration. I am uncomfortable when things are not visibly planned out.

God likes structure and administration. But He is not uncomfortable when man cannot see the plan.

I asked God for grace to work, trust, and function when structure and administration are different from what I've been trained in. "God, how can You work in chaos?! I know You do because all of these people's lives were touched and changed. But Your Kingdom is one of order. How did that just happen? I don't understand!"

He told me, "Raymi, I have been working in chaos since the fall of man. I've got it down. And remember, My desire to meet with the people is greater than your desire to make it happen. Don't worry." He then had me read Ezekiel chapter 1 to gain an understanding of the "chaos" He dwells in. I don't understand the scenes of heaven. It seems like insanity to my limited brain. But God sees His order, His perfection in the midst of the things I do not understand. Yet, there is an order and assigned task to each "crazy" thing in heaven. I want to partner with Him in making heaven on earth.

This revelation is so simple, but so astounding to walk through. It does not negate the need for administration but shows God's ability to go beyond it. And where there is even a little administration, He says, "Do not despise the days of small beginnings." Small beginnings can be expanded, but small nothings never materialize.

So, I am in this place of separating (at least in my heart) American culture from Kingdom culture in order to see Kingdom culture expressed in the midst of Filipino culture.

Like I said, God keeps teaching me, "Do not despise the days of small beginnings." So often, we want big and we want it now. But that is not the way God works. Don't compare yourself to "big" (powerful, famous, super-spiritual, successful, rich, etc.) people or even little people. You want to know how to get "big"? Just look to the biggest One there is. We are to take only what He says about us as our merit and worth, not anyone or anything else. I have learned to not even compare myself to myself. The past is the past. I look at the past to see where I've grown from, but not to wish for it again. And when I do look back, I try to look with God's perspective in order to prevent condemnation or pride from sneaking in.

Because the Lord sees fit to write this "small beginnings" truth on my heart, I've had the privilege of watching little Aubrey for the last few days while her mom takes her semester finals. This little girl is so little, but I far from despise her. I love her so much! And she is teaching me so much! The Lord has an incredible future for her. He is excited about her little life. And He never changes. If He is excited about this 8 pound beauty, He is also excited about me. As I feed her, change her diaper, and sing over her, I realize new truths about God. I don't do those things because they need to be done. I do those things because I love her. God meets needs out of love for mankind. Mankind needed someone to erase their sins so we could have right relationship with God. So, out of His love for us, He met our needs in sending Jesus to grow up into a sacrifice for all mankind. Because of Jesus, we now can truly experience love. Love is putting another's desires and needs above your own. Father God did this when He sent Jesus. Love is the true measure of a one's worth. And Jesus is worth it all.