Something happens when you surrender to God,
you open up a pathway for God's love to flood in.
Something happens when you allow God to take control,
you end up standing at the pulpit shouting.
Here's the story:
This month I preach at least once or twice a day. Tonight was no different. I was up preaching and because it was my fourth night this week at the home church I needed new material.
Kale and I walked down the muddy red dirt roads to church with Nice singing and chatting, really excited for whatever the night had for us.
We arrived to church just after dark; there was no power so church was also dark. A few candles were lit and a few cell phone lights illuminated the room.
Tenj opened us. We spent the first half hour in prayer and thanksgiving. I surrendered and confessed things to God. I prayed and I cried out.
I had prayed a surrender of my agenda, my plans for the night; I just wanted to be led by the Spirit.
Kaleena preached first and then it was my turn.
As I stood up to preach, it started to rain. I began my talk on worry and anxiety.
As I preached the rain got heavier. I love the sound of rain on a tin roof, but this wasn't light pitter-patter. It was deafening rain.
I am pretty loud so I preached on. The rain got louder, it was so loud that I was yelling and my translator was yelling.
The rain was truly refreshing. I was filled with so much joy. I stopped and lifted my hands to the Heavens. I stood at the pulpit laughing and said, "Let's just praise the Lord. Let's just dance to the sound of the rain” I surrendered my plans; I wasn't going to yell out a sermon. I just wanted to rejoice in God and worship Him in all his goodness.
I danced like a fool to those African beats. I danced for the Lord and he filled my soul.
A funny thing happened about 2 minutes into our singing and dancing, the rain stopped and it was silent. The song ended and I sat down with a heart filled with love still laughing.
God is good. He is here with us. He is in church with us; he is at home with us, in the car, at the market, on a run, in bed…
He is inescapable and his love abounds.
