 |
| "We are fools whether we dance or not... so we might as well just dance." |
I don’t really know how to describe the RIDICULOUS amazingness of this first day. Slept for AGES, which was amazing after all that travelling. The five of us who were her e from last night began a spontaneous worship moment in the beautiful ‘worship room’. Then at about 13:00ish, I went for a walk around the property Students were arriving all morning and afternoon, and we kept meeting each other, learning names and where we are all from. There are 23 students this year, so it’s grown a bit! It’s so incredible hearing everyone’s stories of how they heard about the school, and to see how God has brought us individually here to be part of this special experience. There are 3 of us South Africans (!), a girl from Norway, a girl from Switzerland, and a German girl who’s been in Denmark for a while. And then a whole lot of Americans, of course! And yet we all have hearts for worship, hearts that want to explore the Father’s love for us. It’s like being in a room with a whole lot of perfectly tuned string instruments – as you begin playing, they all beginning humming softly. That’s like us – as everyone talks, we resonate each others’ songs. So all in all, quite a great afternoon! But it had NOTHING on this evening...
The whole day we students had been roaming around alone, because all the staff were preparing supper and a surprise (they tell us there are going to be lots of those... yay!). At 6, we went up to the office / dining room where a fairy-tale dinner awaited. The room was decorated with beautiful candles and amazing table settings. And above each of the tables, a branch was hanging, with our names printed on bits of material hanging from them. We had to find our names, and sit at that table. A few staff members sat at each table. Jonathan began the evening off by welcoming us. He said that over 40 years ago, his father had dreamed of this farm. And that even before that, God had known that we would be here for these 60 days. Over a hundred years ago, some trees began growing... and then a little while back, they chopped them down, sanded them, made the table that we were sitting at. Every detail of the table was made with us in mind. This is our home now, for these 2 months. This is where we belong, this is where we are safe.
We then began a 4 course meal. Before each course, staff members would take turns introducing each of us at each of the 4 tables. They read out some fun facts about each place we came from too (the National Library for the Blind and Grocotts got a mention, HA HA!). And then they gave us each a gift of a hand-bound book of poetry (with blank pages so we can add our own stuff), a copy of “The Little Prince”, a copy of Brennan Manning’s “The Furious Longing of God”, and a notebook in which they had written prophetic words for each of us. What the heck?! The read out a brief declaration (from those words) over each of us tonight. I have never felt so loved by people who hardly know me yet! It was a completely overwhelming experience. This is what they’ve written in my book (before they’d ever met me!):
· I’ve always thought that on a lovely summer’s day, one ought to relax. You abide in the true vine – Jesus. You don’t have to strive, work, perform or do. Take a deep breath of the summer air and be still. God says, “When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant” (John 15:5-6). You are growing strong roots deep in the soil. Your branch is shooting up, up, up, and you shall bear perfect fruit. The One who will do it is faithful.
· You are the singer of new songs. You tap into the melodies, they flow out of you because heaven is inside of you. Psalm 34: “I will bless the Lord at all times. His praises shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”
· You gather together the hearts of the people. You are a trend-setter.
· Ella, allow the Lord to shine His love and affection down upon you. He wants to romance your heart into a season of extravagance and mercy. He wants to reveal His amazing kindness to you. Allow Him complete access to your heart, for He will treasure you like no other. He is waiting to pour out His abundance into your life. Allow the kindness of His affections to woo your heart into full health again. He wants to value you in everything, including your smallest desires. What is important to you is important to Him, and He will stop at nothing to show you your value. Give Him access to your complete self. He wants to revolutionize your reality with the reality of His love. Strongholds will crumble, walls will fall, and you will sing. His love is the wave that carries the melodies of your heart from the deep sea to the shores of everyday life. You were created to soar. The Lord is giving you your wings to fly into His freedom.
HELLO?! Wow. That’s all I’m saying!
At the end of the meal, Melissa Helser said a few things too – that there was no need for us to impress them, or to perform for them. We have already made it here – and now this is the time to lay aside all fears and insecurities, and let the song of our lives come out. This is family, this is a safe place. We are going to sink our roots deep into God, so that we find the deep, rushing water underground. She also said that we already belong, we are already family, we are already grafted into their root system. I love that! But my absolute highlight of the evening was when they prayed for us right at the end. The staff all got up, and moved around laying hands on us all – all the while singing and praying over us. I have NEVER (and I mean that honestly and literally) heard such an amazing sound. Surely that is what heavenly, angelic worship sounds like. For those of you who have watched the movie “As it is in heaven”, it was a little like that scene when all those thousands begin to sing together... but millions of times better. I remembered that sympathetic-strings thing again – every part of me was resonating as that sound came out and swept us all up.
I’m writing this all down now so I don’t forget this crazily awesome night. And now straight to bed – and dreams of what tomorrow may bring. If this was the start, I don’t think I can even imagine how these two months are going to go... :o)
No comments:
Post a Comment