- - - BUSTED SHOES @ WATCH-NIGHT SERVICE - - -
God was good to us during our New Years Eve service, which began at 10:00 p.m.
Around 8:45 p.m. I drove our 60 passenger church bus the 26 miles to the Lighthouse Addiction Recovery center, which was founded and is directed by a young preacher in our church (a converted drug dealer - living for God 9 years now).
It was my privilege to transport 43 young adult men and women and two children, to our watch-night service. These people are all residents of the two centers (1 is for men, 1 is for women) which Bro Pete oversees. They are people desperately searching for answers and solutions to the dilemmas which they have inflicted upon themselves through their addictions.
We had an awesome, power packed time of worship and singing
A couple of great special songs…
I gave the three young preachers in our church 10-15 minutes each to preach. They each did a marvelous job!
I wrapped things up with a challenge to pursue excellence for Him, in our lives during the New Year.
Excellence in commitment – accountability – relationships (vertically and horizontally) – faithfulness – etc.
During our service one young lady, who had recently prayed through, danced all over the church for over thirty minutes.
A young man who had also recently given his heart to God, wept profusely off and on throughout the service – offering praise and worship unto the Lord for his new life…. His new hope.
Many filled the altars with tears of repentance – Worship - Adoration.
One young mother of two prayed and wept in the altar for over an hour. (her 1st visit to our ch)
After soaking our altar carpet with her tears of repentance, she asked to speak with me.
She told me…. “ I came to church here tonight for the very first time. I was wearing a brand new pair of shoes. They are both busted.”
I asked her what she meant …. “busted” ? ? ?
She emphatically stated…. “MY SHOES ARE BUSTED!!”
I asked her to show me …..
She brought them to me, and sure enough, both shoes were “busted”.
The top front half of each shoe was literally ripped from the soul of each.
My head was swimming as I wondered where this conversation was going!
I asked her what she wanted to say about this.
And this is what she said……
“I FEEL THE LORD IS TELLING ME THROUGH THE BUSTED SHOES, THAT HE DOESN’T WANT ME TO WALK ANY LONGER IN THE SHOES I HAVE BEEN WALKING IN. THAT TONIGHT HE IS GIVING ME A NEW WAY TO WALK.”
I baptized her in Jesus name and she came out of the water rejoicing in the Lord, in a language she did not understand!!!
We baptized a young couple together, who had only been married 1 month.
Before the service was all over, God allowed me the privilege of baptizing 7 young adults, all in their mid-late twenties.
At the conclusion of the service we brought all 7 to the front of the church and prayed for them that God would solidify their relationship with Him and help them to grow in Him.
We then prayed together as His body, that He would help us to pursue excellence in our walk . . . . for His glory.
At 1:30 a.m. people were still “hanging around” . . . . . soaking up His presence.
My wife and I finally got to bed around 4:00 a.m.
God is good . . . !
I can’t believe I almost forgot this . . . .
A young couple our worship leader has been working with for 5 years, was in our service as well.
The lady had visited before, but her husband and 2 small children came with her on New Year’s Eve.
They LOVED the service, and mentioned that it seemed like the service had just started , and then it was over. Said they would be back.
I think it is awesome for a man that regularly attends a formal Presbyterian church - to sit through a 3 1/2 hr Apostolic service like we had - and still say they loved it!
BTW
They sat on the SECOND row from the front ! ! !
Singing and clapping their hands - acting like they were enjoying it.
There really are people in denominal churches who love God..... and are yet hungry for more.
This man is an architectural engineer
We are making plans for a new sanctuary . . .
I believe God is bringing him in.....For such a time as this.
Sorry to bend your ears Soooooooooooooo long . . . ...
I'm still just a little spiritually inebriated over what the Lord is doing.. . . .
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