This is no longer "Short-n-Sweet."

So, I just blogged last night, but the Lord is on the mooove. This afternoon (and yes, it's only 2:30, I know) was a good one! I have work duties in a half hour, so I'll try to be concise.

Allow me to set the stage a little: last night, I was praying for God to fill me with faith. This is not a new prayer for me. Specifically in 2010, faith was a difficult thing for me. Faith became something of an intellectual battle at times, at other times it was something that demanded experiential proof, and in others still it just felt so wishy-washy that I wasn't sure I had any at all. It saddens me to admit that, but I'm being transparent here.

Now then: last night, I was writing to God in my journal, confessing that it would have to be HIM filling me with faith, because I've been trying and it hasn't been working. But I asked. It's something that's been laid on my heart, especially since noticing that verse in Hebrews that states that it is impossible to please God without faith!

Fast-forward to this afternoon: it's small group time, 1:00. We met up at Nix's (one of our leader's) house, all 6 of us girls with her. We listened to "Fly" by Jason Upton, a song I was first shown by Shinae. The background of this, for those of you who aren't familiar with it, is that Jason Upton recorded this song of Spirit-led, unscripted worship as the only vocalist... and in the recorded version, he's joined by other voices. If you check out the official story from those involved, they've come to the conclusion that those voices were angels'. Sweet!

But that's not what spoke to me today. (Sorry, I'm jumping around here.) This week, our speaker, Bill Payne, is speaking to us on the topic "Truth Box", highlighting truth (and therefore, the person of Jesus) as the most important aspect of our faith. [See John 18:37 for Jesus saying that it was for truth that He came.]

To connect that thought with the one previous, during this song, God revealed to me the lies and deception that I've come under in the past year that's been stifling my faith: ideas that I was just one of those people who doesn't feel God, who can't connect with Him, who won't be able to walk in His presence and directly within His will... that I won't find intimacy with Him because of the way I'm wired, the way my mind functions, or just because of the unattainability of His Spirit.

But no!! God virtually just swept those thoughts away. I began with thinking about how undeniable the spiritual realm is to me, then moved on to the way He's chosen to reveal Himself to us through His Word, His Son, and His Spirit... I can't explain it. I want to delete everything I've just written because it's not doing it justice, but I don't think I'll be able to get much closer.

Ultimately, God instilled faith in me - He reaffirmed me and the call He's placed on me to be here, and I was touched by His presence. Nix keeps sharing with us more and more of the ways God is shaking up this DTS and changing things from our expectations to His plan, and it's exciting. He's doing things and taking us places that are new for all of us, not just us new students.

Thus, I am encouraged.

And now you know.

Along those lines of encouragement, I'm so encouraged by each comment you guys leave :) Great to hear from you and thanks for taking the time to read and respond!