There and back again

It almost seems strange that an entire year has gone by since I was last in Poland. An entire year!
It's wonderful and amazing to see so many familiar faces, and it's a blast getting to know the new ones.
This year is different in the sense that less of the responsibility falls on me. Last year I was the lead singer on every song, whereas this year I'm only lead singing and playing for half of each set. It's different, but good.
While I appreciate the rest it gives me, I can't pretend there were no reminders to be humble needed. One can grow accustomed to being the center of attention, even when all intents are to redirect and focus that attention on God.
So, it is with great pleasure that I can say I have learned to let go of the reigns a bit. This week I am leading worship with two of my best friends. I'll never get these moments back and I'll never get to try them over, so instead of griping about communication problems and last minute set changes, I'd rather just enjoy the ride. It's like we're all riding the wind of the Spirit, seeing where it takes us. The freer I allow myself to be, the more the Spirit can move me.

Similarly, the more the Spirit can move through me.

A day or two ago many of the people gathered here spent the better part of three hours prophesying over each other in the upper room. Only certain people were nominated from each team here to do the prophesying and then we formed pairs. I was nominated from team Albania and stepped forward to flex my newly discovered prophetic muscles.
Talk about fabulous! Opening yourself to God in this way, listening to hear what He has to say to someone, oh it was amazing! It got to the point that, as I heard more clearly, I could speak more specifically into people's lives and my partner and I could even tell what profession or hobby someone had that God wanted to speak into.*

Honestly, what impacts me most about this isn't how fun and awesome etc. it was to grow in a spiritual gifting. What I am left with is the beauty of God's heart for people. When you begin to listen to God's heart for other people you begin to see them as He does, and so the effect is twofold. You see more clearly a beautiful God, and through that you see more clearly His beautiful people.
I was purposefully, intentionally, connecting with and seeing through love.
There's no way that doesn't leave a mark on someone.




*(I do realize that this type of stuff isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I believe in an all powerful and creative God who can very well do crazy awesome creative things that we don't always have to understand. It's definitely part of the fun!)