I know this is a month late! Anyways on the 13th of October, was my squad mate Zach Curtis' birthday. A couple teams who were stationed in Darwin got together to celebrate his birthday on a local beach. We had a great time star spinning, eating s'mores, worship, and sitting around the bonfire. Definitely one of my favorite nights on the race thus far. This star spinning that I speak of is a little game that a couple of us played. Basically, you pick a star to stare at and someone counts to 15 while you spin in circles. When they get to 15, they turn on a light on and you have to run towards the light. I know it sounds silly but it was great to allow the inter child to come out. To say the least, I was sandy and dizzy after a few rounds of star spinning.
A girl on my squad who has an amazing voice played her guitar and lead us in worship. The spirit of the Lord was so tangible on that beach in Darwin, Australia. That idea in itself is a reason to worship Jesus. Praise God that we can worship in spirit and we do not have to go to a building to worship our Savior. During worship people were prophesying, giving words to people, and just breath life into one another. To look around the bonfire and see my brothers and sister dancing, singing, and looking up at the stars brought me so much joy. The Holy Spirit was at work in us that night. Man, it was powerful to see Christ's church worshiping Him with their whole heart. I worshipped in the corporate setting for a few songs then I went down the beach to pray and play in the sand. I love the beach. My parents can testify to my love for the beach. I was crawling in the sand at six month old. So to go off and lay in the sand while looking up at the stars was very worshipful to me. One way I love to worship God is in creation. To think that Jesus spoke everything into being yet humbled himself to death for chosen people.
There is a song that I often listen to called, "Power in the Cross." One of the lines in that song says, "now the daylight flees, now the ground beneath quakes as its maker bows his head." There is so much power and emotion aroused at those words. The very ground the very earth that Jesus spoke into being quaked as Jesus said it is finished. To look up into the stars that night and hear the ocean in the darkness just made me think about the grace and love our Heavenly Father has shown us.
After worship we just had a big dance party and more s'mores.
It was a great night. Happy birthday Zach Curtis! I am so thankful we got to celebrate your birthday and worship God together. Can't ask for a better party than one where the Holy Spirit shows up on the beaches of Darwin.
