Hi Pastor John,
I just wanted to share some thoughts with you about last Sunday’s meeting. There are absolutely no words to adequately express how I felt during that meeting! Out of this world, heavenly, love bombed, vulnerable, lifting of burdens, free, at peace, humbling, and happy; to name a few. It felt that God designed and tailored that meeting perfectly just for me! Jesus really does give us exactly what we need with His perfect timing! His love is so overwhelming that we can’t even imagine it within our own minds. I’m so thankful for his loving kindness toward me, and I can truly say that “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!”
Every meeting seems to get better. I thought my last meeting in February was my best. Now, I believe this last one trumps even that! Every meeting is different, and I love all of them. It’s kind of like what you said about certain saints that you’ve met over the years. You said, “That’s my favorite one!”, but then someone else comes along and you say, “Now, that’s my favorite!” But you realize that they’re all your favorites. It’s kind of like the meetings. They’re all my favorites.
I absolutely loved your explanation of the “meeting place.” It’s not a carnal construct like a physical location or place. When Jesus prayed to the Father, He asked for his disciples to be with Jesus where He’s at.
John 17:24 “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
You said that that prayer wasn’t for his disciples to go to heaven, but where Jesus was at presently, in the Spirit. Because Jesus hasn’t ascended up to heaven yet, his prayer was for them to be in that place where He was. That’s our meeting place with Jesus. Unified in spirit, having fellowship with the saints, being led by his spirit is our meeting place. Also, being of the same mind, judgement, heart, and love for one another in Christ. His Spirit, you said, allows us to call on the Lord and serve Him with one accord.
I’m so thankful for the Family of God! I really enjoyed listening, a couple of weeks ago, to Tom’s song, “The Family of God.” One line says, “when one has a heartache, we all share in the tears, and rejoice in each victory.” Because we’re family, I felt comfortable enough to become vulnerable and share my testimony of pain, and the happiness that followed. In a way, it was very therapeutic for me with Jesus being my therapist! Thank God He has taken that pain in my heart away and replaced it with happiness. He gave me an outlet of dancing, from my heart, in front of my family, and He gave me the opportunity for my family to get a small window into my heart. I wanted to share those memories because they touched my heart, and I knew it would touch others as well.
I really enjoyed what you said about happiness. You said, “Don’t be settled on being happy because He’s got something better in mind for you.” That’s so very comforting to know that promise. More happiness every day, yay! And then you said that manna gets old. There’s new manna tomorrow! I don’t know exactly what’s in store for me next, but I know He gives us the desires of our hearts. All we have to do is be in His will and ask sincerely! I don’t want to pitch that tent of happiness just yet, because I know there’s more blessings coming my way!
Love, In Christ,
David