longing for an encounter

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Do you long for an encounter with Jesus? Do you just have a deep seeded need to reach out and feel Him?

As Christians we should have this feeling every day of our life. We need to be longing after Him and craving His presence in our lives.

I long for an encounter with Him. I long for His touch. His presence.

I long to feel the weight of the Holy Spirit pressing firmly down on my head. I love the heavy feeling of His Spirit looming over me and the way it takes my breath away.

I ache with an empty hunger for more. More of His Word. More of His Spirit. More of His almighty Presence.

My heart cries out for a fresh touch. One that renews. One that restores. One that reminds me...

Of Who He is...

Of His power..

Of His Love..

A touch that sears my skin and leaves the invisible fingermarks of God behind.

A touch that anoints. A touch that penetrates deeply to the yearning in my spirit.

I long for His embrace. His covering. His sweet mercy.

On my face, I cry out in sheer desperation of the Lifter of my head to minister to the deepest recesses of my being. I want. I seek. I long. I yearn.

For the deep mystery of Him to be revealed to the inner depths of my spirit.

As His presence fills the room, my spirit rejoices! Lord you are good! You are life to us.

Breath on us Oh, God and let your Holy Spirit consume our hearts and light a fire in our souls that we in turn ignite those around us. Let Your fire burn in us and engulf all that we come in contact with . Show us Your Glory!

He showed up....

Don't you just love it when God moves in our midst? When He just shows up and shows out and you feel His presence on your skin like fire? Oh, yeah. There is nothing better than a face-to-face, all-consuming, glorious encounter with our Lord. Nothing.

Last night at church we had THE most awesome worship service. My husband felt God leading him in a new direction and so last night after our song service, he told the church that we were going to worship a little differently that night. He said that we were all going to have a few minutes of silent meditation and then we were to let God lead us into worship, however that may be.

We had several minutes of just silence. Amazing, loud silence. The kind of silence that just speaks. I, then headed straight to the altar and got face down. I just felt God calling me there and I have grown to love my time at the altar. I think I could sleep there and be completely at peace.

One by one, our people began to worship. Someone stood and read a passage of scripture. Someone else stood up and gave a short testimony. Another person recited their favorite memory verse. It was peaceful. It was so reverent. It was a Holy moment in time.

You could hear pages turning in bibles, as people were letting God speak through His Word. You could hear the muted sobs of His people feeling His spectacular power moving about the sanctuary.

A sweet voice began to sing, "I love you Lord. And I lift my voice..." One by one the whole church joined in and we sang in unity and love to our God.

Over the next hour, many scriptures were read. Many praises given to our Lord. Testimonies were shared. Numerous choruses rang out from our lips. Hearts were opened and love was poured out. The Holy Spirit was all over the place! His Presence was abounding in each crack and crevice. The air was so thick with with the sweet aroma of Christ,  it was hard to breathe.

Slowly the voices grew quiet. The pages in the bibles became still. Our spirits were once again silent as we enjoyed the peace that overflowed from our time of communion with Him.

We had met with Jesus. He had shown up and He had shown out. We surely encountered our Lord in the sanctuary and we walked out of the church different than when we walked in.

We had been in the mighty presence of the sovereign King and His glory was beheld by all.

Oh, yes. We had church last night. And it was good..

"Glory ye in His holy name; let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

Seek the LORD, and His strength: seek His face evermore."

(Psalm 105:3,4)