Lessons Learned (2006-12-25)

 

 

So now that it has been a week since the caroling at FDC, I've got a lot of time to ponder and think, especially since I've had many opportunities to share about our mission trip to Seatac. 
 
There are many lessons I learned. First was the language of the soul. Out of the 11 units we did our "20 minute program", I think in each of the units, within the first minute someone would start crying. Now afterwards, I asked myself why would people start crying so early in our program. Then also another observation is that some of the inmates who would be crying early in the program wouldn't even speak English! Now why would someone cry that early, and then not even understand/speak English? My answer is that their souls are hungering, are thirsting, are craving, and are yearning to be understood. Their souls are yearning to commune with the Living God! So above language, above understanding, and certainly above logic is how the power of the Holy Spirit chooses to work. May we continue to be in prayer for the additional ways each of us can be used for salvation history.
 
Second lesson is the capacity of compassion. Personally after doing 3-4 programs out of the 11, I noticed that I would begin to daze off and not really concentrate. I didn't like that feeling, I wanted to stay connected with the inmates for each and every caroling program. So what I did was for each of the units, I would scan for two to three inmates of which I felt like who were being moved by our caroling. So I would focus on them, pray for them, and really try and connect with their hurts/burdens. Now this is a nice technique, but I share it because I was thinking about Jesus. If Jesus was caroling with us, He could connect with, commune with, and meet the needs of each and every single inmate that we caroled in front of. That's the power, the capacity of compassion, and fulfillment of humans' needs that Jesus the Christ comes to complete!
 
The third major lesson is regarding my personal/calling. For the last several years people have affirmed me that I am an evangelist or have been gifted with evangelism. Each and every time I brush it off and do not embrace the affirmation because I've read on some of those "dumb" spiritual gifts surveys that an evangelist is one who communicates the gospel with people positively responding with accepting Jesus as their Lord. As of today, I've never led someone to the Lord, now what kind of evangelist is that!?!? It wasn't until we went to FDC this time that my idea of my personal calling has changed. While I was sharing my testimony, which I did feel connected with the inmates, there was something special that happened. While sharing, several times my entire body felt very warm, like a long moment of special anointing from the Lord. I would be sharing, entire body warm, and feel like the Holy Spirit was literally pouring out of me. At that moment from the depth of my soul I felt like I was doing EXACTLY what the Lord created me to do. So this anointing I'm prioritizing over those spiritual gifts surveys.
 
After our caroling, I was sharing with a friend how it went. After a little bit of sharing, my friend then said, "isn't that just like what happened last year?" with a little bit of unenthusiasm in my friend's voice.
 
Then my reply was, "yes in many ways it was exactly like last years caroling experience. But did you hear me when I said 163 people accepted the Lord for the first time!? If seeing and being involved with people accepting the Lord gets tiring or ordinary to you, you are definitely in the wrong deal." There were over a hundred people who made a decision of an eternity's time, they are going to heaven. They will be celebrating with the great King, in rooms that have been prepared for them! How can watching instant transformation get tiring???
 
May the Living God who was and who is and who is to come complete His work in each of those inmates that made a life decision accepting Jesus as the Lord December 17th 2006. May those inmates, those inmates' families, and friends hear of how the Son of God came down and completely transformed their lives for the propagation of His light to the ends of the world. Father, thank you that you gave me the eyes and heart to receive how your gospel will transform and needs to transform every level of society. Pour out a special anointing over Peter, Roger, Lee, and Stephen as they and other volunteers minister, pour themselves out, and love on those inmates week after week. Pour out your grace over Hearts Renewal Ministry and your mercy over those inmates that they would again have an opportunity to see your Son for who He is, the Lamb who sits on the throne victorious and Holy, perfect and blameless...

 

- Francis