When the Spirit Comes in Power

And did He ever.

While I still do not comprehend the plans the Lord has in store for my life, I know now with certainty how deeply He is calling me to serve Him. All the Lord seems to have placed on my heart over the years about my vocation and my calling was powerfully confirmed this weekend. The infusion of grace was so strong that I have not even begun to process what happened, and I don't think I have the words to explain it yet.

The conference itself was excellent (although I could have done without the 1970s praise & worship music !!), with wonderful grace-filled speakers, workshops I thoroughly enjoyed, blessed times of prayer and praise, and an adoration chapel in a tiny room at the hotel.

Speaking of grace-filled speakers, Peter Herbeck is the author of a book bearing the title When the Spirit Comes in Power, which I plan on buying soon. He was our speaker on Friday night of the conference, and this guy is dynamic and funny, one of my favorites from the weekend. As soon as I get a copy of his talk, I will post a few quotes from it, as it really challenged and encouraged me.

The first workshop I attended was on overcoming obstacles to Boldness in Evangelization, presented by a young woman who teaches law at a university. She began with quoting the exquisite love poetry of the Song of Songs... 'you have ravished my heart, my beloved'... she spoke of how we are fully known and fully loved by the Lord... and she reminded me of the truth that, when it comes to evangelization, the key is not courage or fearlessness, but love! (besides, 'perfect love casts out fear'!) I know this so well but can never be reminded of it enough. Truly, the very beginning of evangelization is that I know with all of my being that the omnipotent Lord God of the Universe is ravished with love for me. How amazing is that!

By the way, Albuquerque is lovely -- quaint Old Town, the sunshine, the starkness of the desert mountains. And there's something spiritually symbolic about the desert...

I'm going to New Mexico!

I'm a little bit stunned sometimes at how quickly the Lord works...

In three days, I will be going to a National Charismatic Leaders' Conference in Albuquerque, and I just got my plane ticket yesterday!!

Not more than a week ago, my friend Tammie, who works with the Charismatic renewal in Seattle, invites me to come to this conference on the weekend of Nov. 10-12 (and it's by invitation only!). I looked over the website (interesting), looked up flights (exorbitant), and promptly responded to her that, while I would love to go, it's just too last minute. Well, the Lord had other plans for me! After talking on Sunday with another good friend, who is also attending the conference, I completely changed my mind. So I emailed my boss who let me take Friday off, someone I know is graciously helping to sponsor my flight, I can stay with Tammie in her hotel room, and now I find myself headed for New Mexico!

The conference looks really wonderful, with amazing workshops and speakers, and I'm also thrilled to get to see some sunshine. While I am somewhat involved in leadership at my church right now, this took me entirely by suprise. I am so curious why the Lord wants me there...

I'll post all about it after I get back.