Something I can’t seem to get off my mind: A couple months ago at church I went up to ask for prayers because I was feeling tension within me about several things and it was exhausting me. I rarely feel the need to go up when prayer is offered at churches, but this Sunday night I was feeling this nasty physical tension and in all honesty, I had been feeling like my prayers had been hitting the ceiling lately. I guess I was just hoping that God might have something to tell me. I made my way up to the center and two young women put their hands on me. Once one of them had finished praying, the other said that she wanted to share with me what she had seen while the other had prayed over me. She said she was seeing two strong images that she couldn’t shake.
The first image was an eagle. She saw an eagle flying fast and hard and fiercely- fearless in the winds around her. She said that she felt like I was building up great endurance right now, she didn’t know what for, but that I’m about to get disciplined and deeply rooted like never before and that in that discipline I’ll be the strongest I’ve ever been, I’ll run the fastest that I ever have..that I was on the ledge of something beautiful and I’m about to soar into air of the strongest, purest freedom I’ve ever known. As she was speaking I remember the message version of Matthew 6 verse 26 coming to mind, “Look at the birds, free and unfettered,…careless in the care of God…”
And then she continued.
The second image was stones being laid for a kingdom- a beautiful castle sort of building. She said that she sees this image as a continual and ongoing, even in this moment of her looking into my eyes and putting words to the images she was seeing, process- that bricks are carefully being placed from a sturdy foundation on upwards in order to make an impenetrable fortress. As she spoke and even now as I’m typing these words out, I am reminded of all the thousands of people and places that have led me to the doormat of the adventure that’s about to swing wide open in front of me. The Bible says that after the Red Sea parted for the Isrealites’ safe passage from the Pharoh’s army trying to keep them enslaved, that they picked up twelve large stones from the sea’s floor and arranged them by the shore as a monument for what the Lord had done for them so that even the generations to come would never forget where they had come from and how they were beautifully rescued. During this process of fundraising so far, I’ve allowed myself to remember my “twelve stones”- I’ve allowed myself to sit and rest and give credit to the people and places that have molded me into the person that I am in this moment. I’ve been spurred on by incredible people. Men, women, peers, even little ones…so many people have bent over, made their way to the pile of bricks, handpicked the perfect stone, and placed their brick on the walls of my heart, on the walls of my life. And here I am, a couple months back, staring into the eyes of a sister in Christ who doesn’t know anything about me except for the fact that my name is Lillabea and that I was sinking in grey for some reason, so I had come up for prayers, and she sees a castle in the making, rising even as she speaks. She said that just like the eagle, this building has strong winds surging towards it, yet the building isn’t fazed. It stands still. It stands strong. She said that when she heard my name and held my arm she felt growth emitting from me and that she saw a Godlike, fearless freedom on my horizon, that the Lord was making me an absolutely courageous, brave young woman who will be used to do big things to expand the Lord’s kingdom.
This woman had no idea about this mission I’ve been preparing for, she just felt like sharing the images she had been seeing while her hand was on my shoulder..it’s stuck with me like glue and encouraged me in ways I can’t articulate. I don’t believe that I have ever felt the Holy Spirit foster joy, peace, and strength in me like I am feeling right now.
I’m currently feeling loved and encouraged and supported. I don’t think that I’m capable of being more thankful than I am for those of you that have held my hand and kept me in line in the 18 years I’ve been blessed to live so far. All I can think is hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UPDATE: I leave for what they call The World Race Training Camp tomorrow afternoon until the 16th! I’ll be meeting the team for the first time and we will sleep in our tents and learn about all the different cultures we’ll be experiencing and listen to wise teachers and worship together and pray for what’s to come, hand in hand! Lots of beautiful experiences to come! I am roughly at the 50% mark on fundraising, so I’ve got a ways to go! If you feel led to support me financially either one time or monthly, it’s very easy to donate. Just click the button that says “Donate!” and fill out the info boxes that follow!
I’ll blog about training once I’m home, but for now I’m just thankful to be where I am in the here and now- standing on the floors of my home with friends and family loving me well. GOD BLESS ALWAYS! I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU TOOK IN READING THESE WORDS!
