and GOD spoke...

I was away this weekend up in the mountains acting as a counselor for my church's youth group. These events are always a mixed blessing: it is amazing to see God work in the lives of the students and HE did this weekend, and I had the awesome privilege to pray over many of the young women's lives. Additionally we as a camp were BLESSED by an awesome band - OUTCRY, who completely and utterly lead us in meeting with GOD face to face each time we met. (Look for the band in the near future, GOD is going to being some AMAZING and AWESOME things with this band, and the lives of the individuals that make up the band -- www.myspace.com/outcrymusic
A mixed blessing because these events drain me, which as an aside confirm the fact that camps, etc are not my gifting. We get back from camp in time to set up, and serve for our evening service. The weekend had been long, I was tired, and in somewhat in a state of needing to be without people. I was sitting there in the production booth during worship, and I had just been told some news that I knew was coming, yet ever the one resistant to change rebelled at the news. As I was sitting there, with OUTCRY playing, and the words of BY MY SIDE and then READY NOW playing GOD pressed on my heart words of encouragement and purpose, the words flowed from my hand with pen to paper with such speed that I knew they weren't my own...

Sometines staying is harder than going. When you stay you have to fight the current demons, but lest you forget those demons will follow you wherever you go unless you rebuke them in Jesus' name they will pull you down, laugh, condemn -- fleeing from life is NOT a solution. Staying forces you to confront change, going allows you to have the perception of controlling change.

You must face change head one - change is part of life, life may change BUT my daughter I NEVER change. You know this, you speak it, you write it BUT now is the time to LIVE it. I NEVER CHANGE - I AM THE SAME TODAY, YESTERDAY, AND TOMORROW - My child I have a plan, a purpose for your life, where you are is where you should be. Do not move until I direct you so. I have orchestrated your life, I know what I'm doing, child remember the words I spoke to Jeremiah - words of a promise, a promise that I have a plan for your life, a plan of hope and prosperity, a plan to not bring you harm. Those same words are your promise - LIVE them. Change My child is what faces you, but more than that you must relinquish control...

I came away from the night -- still tired, but so thankful that after a weekend of pouring out, GOD poured in with words of assurance as well as instruction. As the title of my blog states "ever changing, yet still the same," I feel even more 'correct' in claiming this as my theme for 2007, and it is my hope that with the upcoming season of MUCH change that I do indeed embrace it, that I stay and not run.