the apostles left the sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
- Acts 5:41-42
what an amazing attitude.
they had been put in jail and then flogged for preaching Jesus' name. and yet they still had that kind of attitude.
when i read that i was blown away. i want that kind of attitude of service and love.
one day i'll be there.
hopefully.
the performance was awesome. God truly worked through each and everyone one of us on that stage.
before it started we all went into one of the side rooms and had one of our group prayer sessions. then we went out and passed out programs to everyone.
andy did the praise time, and we all stood in the back and worshipped in our own way.
wes started it off by introducing the group, then we went right into the dramas. everything went exceptionally smooth, nobody messed up anything. well, its kind of hard to mess up when its not really you up there on stage, but God working through you.
after the song that i get explain was over with i picked up the microphone and started sharing what God had laid on my heart when i was in the shower. i didnt say all the things that i had wanted to say, but i said most of them.
vance says that i was preaching. i dont know about that, but i was just saying what God told me to say.
actually, vance gave me one of the best compliments that i have ever received in my life. i hope he doesnt kill me for quoting him, but this is what he said while talking to nicole:
he's preaching up there. man, he's gonna be good.vopanopcope roposopcopkopsop.
anyway, God truly is amazing. and i consider it an honor to be used as one of his servants.
the altar call was given by nicole, but no one came. nicole almost looked a little disappointed.
then, andy closed the night out. he gave us some words of encouragement by telling us that even though no one came forward, people were still moved and hearts were still touched.
after it was over with, this became really evident in everyone that we talked to. everyone kept telling how great it was and how much they enjoyed it. a couple of people even expressed interest in joining the group.
it was awesome to finally get up there and perform what we have been practicing for so long. i think we have another performance in a couple of weeks. im excited. maybe this time i will remember everything i wanted to say.
anyway.
im on what you might call a spiritual high right now. you might even say that im on fire for God.
it all started with the skillet show a few weeks ago. and its been uphill from there ever since.
my prayer is that it continues forever. that the fire never burns out, and only gets stronger.
people are noticing the change. some of my good friends are wanting to know what has gotten into me. and you know what, for the first time in my life i am being honest with them about what is going on.
i've been witnessing to my non-christian friends more and more lately. like i said in a previous entry, im not ashamed of my faith anymore. its not enough that i just wear a w.w.j.d. bracelet and a christian t-shirt from time to time anymore, now i have to live it each and every day and preach it as well.
my only concern is that i am going to loose some of my friends, especially one in particular. im afraid not only that im going to loose them, but also that im going to push them away from God by witnessing to them.
i just pray that God gives me the right words to say to show them the love that he has for me without pushing them away.
so many things have changed in my life lately too. i've started praying a lot more, and for the first time in my life when someone asks me to pray for them, i actually do instead of just saying that i will. i also started doing my daily quiet time again, reading scripture every day. worshipping a lot more. listening to mainly christian cd's. been getting down on my knees every day and asking God to mold me in the way that he wants me to be so that i can take up my cross for him.
a friend asked me if i was turning into one of those Jesus freaks. and i guess that i am, and that is an awesome thing to be able to say.
since this has happened to me, God has shown me that i have basically been a luke warm christian for a long time. and thats almost as bad as not being a christian at all.
the really cool thing is that i am reading the book of acts, and i have read it so many times before. but this time, now that i actually have this hunger to learn and now that i am sincere about my faith, he is showing me so many things that i never realized before.
im going to the crush again tomorrow night to see bleach and plankeye and a new band called pax 217, whom im really looking forward to seeing. its going to be a good show and i hope it makes satan really made that i am spending another weekend worshipping God.
i'll probably go to another christian concert on saturday night with kayla since we arent having bible study this week. i also plan on going to kindred again on saturday.
then sunday is church, drama group, and church again. i love weekends. the week days just fly by and the weekends seem to last a lifetime.
rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
one day.