But you know what? I'm so glad I let go of that stuff - and I know, I know - I'll have to do it every day - "Let Go, Let God" - over and over again. But I don't mind. It's so freeing!!! You would not believe it! Unless it's happened to you, of course. ;) But, seriously, the truth sets you free, y'know? It's like a huge breath from living in deceit that we don't even realize is there...and then we step into God's Light, God's Truth, and it's so refreshing and incredible.
So...onto the good stuff! ;) (As if that's not good, but, you know what I mean.)
I had an incredible day yesterday!!! Really, really amazing day. I can't put some of the things that happened to words. And, no, I didn't go to the Novemberfest. : ) I could hear the screams and loud music from Lighthouse, the Christian thrift store that's nearby, though. I went there yesterday afternoon with my dad, and I got a bunch of clothes! I was excited. I love thrift stores; I don't care what anyone else says! They just don't know what they're missing. :D
Soooo...where do I start? OK. You know the passage I shared earlier, in the post before this? About denying ourselves and letting God lead? That's pretty much summed up in 'Let Go, Let God'. I'm sure you've heard that before. One of my good online friends (even if she doesn't know it) has a little picture on the sidebar of her blog, Girlz 4 God, that says 'Let Go, Let God'. BTW, her name is Emii (short for Emily), and she is such an incredible, blessed, wise young lady. I'm hoping to make my blog a little more like hers, especially posting more often.
So. Following God with my whole life, everything that I am, like it says in the verse. I was warming up to the idea a couple of days ago. Actually, I've been warming up to it my whole life, if you know what I mean. Every once in a while I'll dip my toe in that river, but then I'll shiver and pull it right back out. I'm praying for the strength to dive right in, and I'm grateful for God's grace that allows me to even come anywhere near Him. Something I'll mention later.
I woke up the next morning, the night after God had given me that verse, and tobyMac's song was playing on the radio: "I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul...don't want to walk away..." God? Ya think?
By the way, sorry if some of this blog post doesn't make sense! ;) This is just what's on my heart....and sometimes my heart doesn't always make sense. :)
Anyway, yesterday, after going to Lighthouse, my dad and I stopped by the house of a lady who had a daybed that was on Craigslist, because I need a bed and all - I've been sleeping on a mattress, by the way, not just on the floor! :) So we got there, it looked great, and I was really excited, and then Dad called Mom to talk about the price and everything, and while he was on the phone, I talked to the lady (whose actual name I'm not going to share, but I'll just call her Miss Angela so I don't have to keep saying 'the lady' all the time). I was thinking about going out to the car to finish my book, but I decided to stay inside and talk to Miss Angela, and I'm really glad I did!
It turns out she's a strong Christian and a counselor like my dad, but also a prophet! She just mentioned it briefly while we were talking, and then (after asking permission from my dad and I) she actually prophesied a little about my life! It not only greatly encouraged me, it amazed me even more at God's power and His love for me, and it changed my perspective on prophets and prophetesses. I mean, I guess I always kind of saw them as great men and women of God in 'Bible times', but kind of, well, weirdos in this modern time - I know, I'm kind of ashamed to admit that. I know now - really know, not just in my head - that they are just people that God is speaking through, and they're just being obedient.
Also, I know to be very attentive yet cautious when someone asks if they could share a word with me, of course, because you don't know if they're actually listening and obeying the Holy Spirit or just doing it for their own pleasure and fame (not that I'm, like, an expert on this stuff or anything, 'cause I'm totally not and this has never happened to me before, but our pastor has talked about it and I've talked about it with my family before and everything).
But it was so evident that it was the Holy Spirit talking to me through Miss Angela. It was amazing!! She had known me for about ten, maybe fifteen minutes, and she described me perfectly (especially my more spiritual feelings and stuff, which even my closest friends don't know about me), and everything she said lined up with what God has been telling me recently, and even some things I wasn't fully aware of yet. She said that, too, kind of - that God has placed these things in me that I'm not aware of yet ('nuggets', she called them), all fruits of His Spirit that is in me, and they will come out and I'll be like, "Woah! Where did that come from?!", but that I should know that this is His Spirit being poured out as a result of His love and grace for me.
She also shared that the hearts of teen girls will be drawn to me, and me to them, because they feel safe with me. Younger girls and boys also, but especially teenage girls. And I just revel in God's glory, and His amazing Plan for me that I don't know and don't deserve, but I will trust Him.
There's more I wanted to share, but that'll be for another post. This one was long enough!!
God bless you, everyone. May your week be filled with God's grace and love and power, and may you give to others what you've been given.