[sel-uh-breyt] (verb): 1. to observe (a day) or commemorate (an event) with ceremonies or festivities; 2. to make known publicly; proclaim; 3. to praise widely or to present to widespread and favorable public notice, as through newspapers or novels; 4. to perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies;
In each country, the Lord has spoken a word to me about what that month was going to entail, and this month it was "CELEBRATE!", just like that in capital letters and with an exclamation point. He spoke to me about how our squad as a whole had been struggling the last couple months with selfishness, turning the focus from Him back to ourselves: our problems, our process, our growth, our needs, etc. Clearly, that needed to change and this was going to be the time to do it. So, this month was going to be all about re-alignment and re-focus and straight celebration of the Lord: who He is, what He's done, what He's doing, His plans, His heart, and all of the other things about our God that are just so darn good, which is everything.
Since I've really just begun growing into hearing from the Spirit of the Lord, I always really appreciate when He sends a confirmation of what He's speaking to me about, and this was definitely one of those times. Our ministry this month was partly about getting the stories of ICM out into the world so people can see what the God is doing here–making videos, showing pictures, and writing stories that CELEBRATE! His work here and allow others to CELEBRATE! it too. The other half of our ministry was going into the villages to attend church and give words, interact with the pastors, conduct interviews, meet the people, and pray and do whatever else the Spirit led us to do. Let me tell you what, the followers of Jesus in India know how to CELEBRATE! Him. All the churches we've seen are decked out in bright decorations. Worship songs are upbeat and interactive. Prayers are passionate. The congregations are constantly responding to the messages being given with "Amen!" and "Hallelujah!". They are in a state of CELEBRATE!ing.
4 In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name, make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
-Isaiah 12:4-6
So that's what this blog is going to be about; we've been able to CELEBRATE! what the Lord has been doing here all month and now you can, too. Here are some things we've seen God do just in the short amount of time we've been here:
Turn an entire Hindu family of high caste to turn away from their idols and turn to Jesus, despite the possibility of losing their caste benefits because of their profession of Christ.
Convict a teenage girl of her dual belief in Jesus and worship of idols and place it on her heart to ask for prayer against it.
Raise up 400 new pastors who will be sent out into coastal Andhra-Pradesh to plant churches.
Provide for the completion of the construction on the Cross Building, which will host conferences for pastors and church planters and give them a place to stay during these events. If I'm not mistaken there will also be worship events and gatherings of the like there as well.
Bring people to ICM who have skill sets to help with their social media and websites to more effectively get their messages and stories out to the public, and to equip others to continue working on them after we've left.
Cast out demons of depression, oppression, disfiguration, anger, hatred, and whatever else that was present and not of the Lord.
Unite the body of believers from all over the world.
Hear prayers for healing–physically, spiritually, and mentally–and answer them.
Give the means to several pastors of coastal Andhra-Pradesh to share their stories with the outside world.
Baptize a 76-year old man who found his faith in Jesus by hearing the Gospel via loud speaker in his village.
And these things are just what immediately came to mind! If this isn't cause to CELEBRATE! Jesus and how awesome He is, then I don't know what is. It's been really incredible to not only witness these things firsthand, but to hear all the ways He's working through the rest of our squad as well. So here's my charge to you: today and every day, take some time away and just focus on CELEBRATE!ing the Lord. Don't ask for anything. Your requests, your needs, your wants, can wait. Just let yourself praise, thank, and CELEBRATE! our good, loving, faithful, wise, and powerful God. After all, He deserves it.
