What Really Counts

Let me tell you what's been happening over this past weekend, which will give some context for why I'm choosing to avoid a segment of blogdom at present.

On Sunday, at the church we attend here in Winnipeg, to use the classic Vineyard phrase (although we're not presently in a Vineyard), "God showed up." True, God is always present, but there are times (Mt. Sinai, Elijah on Mt. Carmel in the OT, the day of Pentecost in Acts, for example) where God's presence is much more "obvious" -- it's often called the "manifest" presence of God.

I can't speak for the other 70+ people who were at the front receiving prayer, but I know that for some of the young adults in our home group, it was a profound time encountering God and feeling called out to a deeper walk with Him. Watching from the stage (after I had been prayed for, I was playing my bass with the worship team, which gave me a cool vantage point), I was blown away to see the freedom, the passion, the celebration in the dancing before the Lord. These are people who I know very well, and I'm very aware of two things:

1. They aren't the type to "fake it to fit in" -- they're very honest, down-to-earth, real people who aren't interested in religious games or putting on a good show while in church.
2. We have been talking almost constantly among ourselves these past few weeks of the hunger we all have to see God move in our lives like He has in the past.

I think Sunday morning's ballistic prayer time (which became an exuberant celebration time of worship) was the beginning of God's answer to that heart cry.

Last night's home group was another example. Worship was passionate -- all 9 of us! -- and our prayer time for each other went for over two hours. The gift of prophecy was flowing; there were prayers of forgiving others (with some deliverance from demonic attack resulting); there is such a sweet sense of community among the young adults in that group, as hurts were shared, people were encouraged; God was in the house!

These are the things that stir my heart, that awaken a sense of humble gratitude to God that I'm privileged to be a part of this group's story, and that -- in short -- bring "life" to my soul. These are the things that I want to invest my time, energy, and life in. Seeing God bring life and freedom to people that I care about. Seeing people fall more in love with Jesus.

That's what really counts.