
You never know what to expect from a Pastor until you really see him in person and in action-similar to Joel Osteen.
This man had innocence, kindness, and sincerity in his voice and it was clear that he loved people just like I do. Not just love people, but want the best for them each and everyday.
For myself, the Gospel setting is new and I am not accustomed to such intensity. Everyone has their own individual preference and experience and this may work for one, but not for another. As a learner of life, it is essential for me to be open to these new experiences and taking the Lord in with open arms.
A great pastor sat in front of my eyes preaching for those who needed to be saved and turn to Jesus.
As a purposeful child of God, I receive satisfaction from his words, the spirit, but mostly from those around me. When I stand and observe the expressions of hope, desire, passion, desperation, fear...When I see their slight movement...their hesitation...they bend their knees...they stand up....they raise their arm...their hand follows with slowness or proud and purely ready...they want to believe....the need to believe....all they have left is to believe.
It is not about me, but is their time to connect, to shine, to feel something bigger than themselves. A proud parent is satisfied and keeps scanning, scanning, and scanning the room with big eyes of love and appreciation. With each breathe and moment, they are moving closer to a better life with the Lord. He called those who want to be saved, "Come, Come to the stage." "Keep coming, just keep coming." He did not want anyone to feel shame rather he wanted them close and ready to accept the Lord.
"You shoot a dead man with the gospel. He comes alive."
Reinhard Bonnke
As Pastor Bonnke preaches-the momentum and spirit is rising and rising. He truly does have the presence and the spirit to connect with a whole stadium of people. After all, he did bring 74 million people to Christ primarily in the region of Africa.
His partner Pastor Kolenda joined him leading a healing session for those who are sick within their body. He asked the audience to raise their hand if they were sick within their body and it felt and appeared that everyone raised their hand except for me. My friend even said, "Well, maybe I have something." How genuine were all these hands? Do we all just secretly want to be healed inside from not just an illness, but our life, our feelings, our fears, our challenges?
When I was in Puerto Rico, I witnessed a significant amount of healing. When I was in the Philippines, these sick children and adults were being healed by God daily. But there was something different about this as it was instantly on the spot with the touch of a hand from the person sitting next to you to another.
With God anything is possible. With his spirit, anything is possible. With prayer, anything is possible. With all three, get ready for the ride of your life. PCR
This can be very intimidating to some and very inspiring to others. God did not make me as the person who nods her head and takes in everything she learns. He made me to analyze, evaluate, listen intently, take everything apart, and put it back together like puzzle pieces. While those who experienced healing deserved everything they received-something is sitting and still stirring inside of me.
All the dedication to those in poverty, illness, prison, natural disaster-could it all just disappear for them? It seems surreal that people dedicate their whole life to helping others and then people can just heal. This is not doubting what is the most powerful of the world, but it is questioning why this can't happen more or does it? Are there different ways of being healed? Absolutely