What a wonderful day to talk about the goodness of the Lord. The Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blessesHis people with peace. (Psalm 29:10b-11) and No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
DEEP CALLS UNTO DEEP Deep calls unto deep! By invitation only, about 25-30 pastors and leaders were called upon to set everything in their lives aside while they delved into a week of waiting on God and seeking His face. Our precious shelter in Sseya was once again a simple dirt floor that became a precious place of “Holy Ground”.
The week was filled with times of deep repentance, asking for and giving forgiveness, and laying aside our own desires to know Jesus MORE. One day Bill taught on “Who is the Greatest”, and learned that we cannot even enter the Kingdom with pride or bad attitudes in our hearts. We learned that God demands complete obedience, and lack of it will put a block in our lives. People were releasing heart attitudes that hindered the Kingdom or withheld God’s presence from consuming our lives. …to preach the gospel-not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power(1 Corinthians 1:17b) Eternal foundation stones were being laid in each life. Stone upon stone, line upon line, precept upon precept!
CLOTHED AND IN HER RIGHT MIND One day, Pastor Josephine approached me and asked that I come and pray for a child who was mad. The girl was about 8 years old. She was found completely naked and running wildly through the tea plantation. She was taken into Pastor Josephine’s home and clothed, but she was terrified. I asked Pastor Bosco, Julius, and Geofrey to join me. We hopped in the back of the motorcycle truck and bounced along the path to her home. When we arrived, I found a very frightened little girl who was unable to look me in the eye. She was shaking as she cowered in the corner with her hand over her eyes. A righteous anger arouse within me. We began to command the demon to leave in Jesus name. The girl became calm. She looked at me and spoke in Luganda that she was afraid of me. I backed up knowing that many children fear the whites. Pastor Josephine prayed with her and lead her to the cross for salvation. We all began to worship the Lord in song. The child looked on with wide eyed wonder. Two days later, Pastor Josephine reported that the girl wakes up in the morning singing and she sings the entire day. She Lord has replaced her terror with the SONG OF JOY!
COMMUNION WITH JESUS When a young man wanted to marry a young woman, in the Jewish custom he had to ask both the father and the young woman. The groom-to-be would offer the girl he wished to marry a cup of wine. If she picked it up and drank from it she was saying, “I will marry you”. After worshiping the Lord, His presence became so sweet. It seemed inappropriate to do anything but to continue in some form of worship. He was calling us to commune with Him. Jesus is saying, “Will you drink My cup? Are you willing to drink all of it? Will you receive the good? Will you receive the suffering? Will you take the scorn of bearing My name? How much do you love Me?” The worship team began to sing softly. Each person came forward with a quiet heart. They each took a cup of juice and a roll. This time we wanted them to have a large portion. We wanted them to have a deeper and a longer communion with the Lord. We set no time limits. They each found a place somewhere on the grounds whether it be under a tree, in a chair, or on their face on the dirt where they could be alone with their bridegroom to commune and fellowship with Him. The sweetness of Jesus was flowing over everyone. The music drifted out to the further person as they each fell in love with Jesus all over again.
TESTIMONIES There were many testimonies from the week of transformed lives. One man in his twenties had moved from Lira to Sseya and was going to Bible School. He became offended with someone in the village and returned to Lira. He shared how God had moved upon his heart, and he had recently moved back to Sseya. He knew he had to spend the rest of his life in God’s presence. He will be one of the young men starting the Discipleship Training in January. His love and joy is so beautiful and contagious. Other reported dreams that God had given them. It is so interesting how God gives people dreams that they can relate to. They fit within their culture and have meaning within that context. Jesus talked about wheat fields and fish, things that the people related to. Some of the dream that people reported had to do with banana plantations relating to revival. Jesus knows how to touch the hearts of His children, even when no one else does. I love to listen to the stories of how God talks to their hearts and they respond to Him.
There were physical healings and healing of the heart. There were people set free from years of bondage. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8b)
THANK YOU Thank you for your prayer. We know the great fruit that we are able to see here in Uganda is because of your prayer. Many of you have paid a price to see the gospel go forth in Uganda. Many of you have interceded for the Kingdom to advance here in this dark land. Your labors are not in vain. The One who has numbered the hairs on your head is the same One who keeps the eternal records. GOD BLESS YOU! The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place. (2 Chronicles 30:27)
People were releasing heart attitudes that hindered the Kingdom or withheld God’s presence from consuming our lives. …to preach the gospel-not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power (1 Corinthians 1:17b) Eternal foundation stones were being laid in each life. Stone upon stone, line upon line, precept upon precept!
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