Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.
Fighting through the "crud" this morning, as evidenced by the fact that it's 2:36 a.m. and here I sit at this computer. But that is another story for a different time.
We continue to watch as God moves and changes Vineyard Recovery Church.
What we do know at this time, is that we are a place of healing and restoration.
An entry point, if you will, for those who have never had an encounter with God.
We unlock the doors every Saturday night, and prepare to meet with God, through the worship, the teaching, the coffee and just hanging out catching up.
Does that make us unique or exceptional? I think not.
We're simply trying to be the community of believers He wants us to be.
With this in mind, we come each week to watch God at work, and cooperate with what He would have us do.
Last Saturday night was no different.
For the past 9 weeks, we have watched as God has brought someone in who needed ministry (to be prayed over). Maybe they had a need for physical healing...maybe it was for inner healing....it could be for salvation. Whatever the need, the one who came encountered God and went away with the knowledge and experience that (1) God is indeed real, and (2) that God does love them. The funny part in this whole "Minister to the One" thing that is going on, is that each week it has been someone different who has never attended VRC before.
This past weekend, it was an individual who was downtown and stopped out front to see what was going on. A member of our core group struck up a conversation and extended an invitation to stay and hang out. Invitation was accepted and they came in. During the teaching time, I could tell that what was being taught was hitting home with the person. We were taking a look at the power and love that stands behind the Twelve Steps, and the extent of how much God does love us.
Ministry time began, and our visitor was the first one to stand and move to be prayed for. Once again, God validated that He was definitely interested in the one. The one who is hurting...the one who is convinced that they are damaged goods and are beyond God's ability to restore them. After the ministry time, I struck up a conversation with our visitor and found that they felt as though the message was entirely for them and no one else. They thanked me for us being there, downtown on Saturday night. They assured me they would be back.
As we wrapped up the meeting, I thought to myself, "What if we had not been here tonight? Would that person have fallen through crack and never had an encounter with God?" I don't know the answer to that thought. I just know that I had a lot of gratitude for God giving us a meeting and a place where we can make a difference in the life of One.
God on you...
mb
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