Room full of women, all hearts and kindness, praising and worshiping God and I felt it.
I felt what Heaven is going to feel like. It is going to feel like love, love incarnate sitting next to me, just loving me and I could hardly stay standing for the realization of it. Close my eyes, breathe in deep, let the tears escape past the eyelids. I was standing in love and on Holy ground and it was overwhelming and amazing.
As worship was over and we sat down I felt surrounded and filled by the hope and promise of who God made me to be. It was like God was saying, "This is who I made you to be, do you feel it, little one? Go and be all I made you to be."
In a room full of love and acceptance being who God made you to be feels possible. It is like a big Ole "OOHRAH" of Jesus's love and grace and you just feel empowered.
Before worship started I read a verse that had been placed on our table. It said, "GOD holds me head and shoulders above ALL who try to pull me down. I'm headed for HIS place to offer anthems of praise that will raise the roof!" Psalm 27:6 MSG
Before we started singing I had written that verse down and started doodling an image of a father lifting up his daughter into the air, her arms stretched out onto the paper table liners.
After we sat back down I was a woman on a mission. I colored in the Dad and daughter, then I just kept adding more and more to it. I would think I was done, but then a voice said, "Keep going." So I did. Then when I thought I was done, He said, "Add more." So I wrote words into the sand. "These words are for somebody, baby, so listen well."
Okay, now I am finished with it. "Nope. See that sun, it needs a verse. Look up on google for a verse about light. and see the water, you need one there too, might as well get both sides. And see that sky, do one there. This is going to be good."
Okay, now I am done. This feels good.
"Hey, baby, why don't you put a verse on the girl about being God's child and one on the Dad about how I am the Father."
Okay, okay, I can do that. Now I am done, right?
"You are so cute! Add a little baby turtle climbing into the water in that corner, just so it will all tie into the message I had Karmen give this weekend......Alright! Now it is done. Thanks, baby girl."
And then I walked away from it and just let it be after the lesson.
A little later a woman came up to me and asked if she could have that drawing. She told me those were all the verses that she has been given over the last few weeks to help her through a rough patch. God works in such amazing and mysterious ways. He empowered me and then used me to reach someone else. It was not about my talent, it was just a crayon drawing after all, but it was about His speaking into our hearts and us listening. He used a 40 year old stay at home Mom to reach a woman I had never met and He did it through crayons and a Google search. (God uses Google, let that one soak in for a minute!)
It is miraculous what God can do in the hearts of us and others when we come together in love with open arms for each other and for Him. That is church. When we just lavish each other in acceptance and grace and welcome, God can work through that and it is a small glimpse of what Heaven will be like.
Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be.
Ladies of Christian Fellowship Church in Columbus, Ohio, you are doing it right! Thank you.
1. Sing the wondrous love of Jesus;
sing his mercy and his grace.
In the mansions bright and blessed
he'll prepare for us a place.
Refrain:
When we all get to heaven,
what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
we'll sing and shout the victory!
2. While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
clouds will overspread the sky;
but when traveling days are over,
not a shadow, not a sigh.
(Refrain)
3. Let us then be true and faithful,
trusting, serving every day;
just one glimpse of him in glory
will the toils of life repay.
(Refrain)
4. Onward to the prize before us!
Soon his beauty we'll behold;
soon the pearly gates will open;
we shall tread the streets of gold.
(Refrain)
