"...they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the rushing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." -Acts 2:1-4
It is the closing of year numero 2 of being on staff with InterVarsity. It is hard to believe. It seems like yesterday I was filling out that heinous 15 pg. application just to get an interview. It has certainly been one crazy and exciting ride!
I'm beginning to believe that if God was an engineer on earth, he would make the best roller coasters!
Have you ever been at a point in your life where you just need God to give you fresh breath, a rushing wind of renewal and regeneration? This is where I am. In fact this is where our chapter is. It has been a great year of ministry. We have developed a strong core of 12 missional students this year (where last year there were about 7), we've seen 8 people make decisions to follow Christ, one of those becoming one of our best evangelists in the chapter, 25 people are in small groups, 11 students are involved in cross-cultural relationships (compared to 2 last year), we've had 2 GIGs (Groups investigating God for non-Christians, which there have been a big fat 0 for the past several years!), and students are beginning to take initiative in sharing the gospel with others and serving the community.
And these are just a few highlights of the year. After such a busy time, we. are. tired, and in need of a fresh wind from God.
Today we are having a meeting to close out the year with our students who will be part of our core next semester. I was thinking through the evening and what we would plan and say. I began praying that God would use this time as he did at Pentacost. A time where his Holy Spirit would descend upon our group so prevalently that they would be filled with all that he is and become empowered to go!
I'm not talking about going out and speaking in tongues to people and all that, and make them think we've "had too much wine". But to go and share Jesus with the campus. To become so consumed with God that they can not hold it in anymore. That they, we, would allow God to direct our very steps and words so that the campus may know God. Sure. We'll probably be told we've had a little too much wine, or just out of our minds, but what better way to be than crazy for Jesus?
Often this semester, I have to admit that I wanted God to send his "tongues of fire" NOW. I didn't want to wait for students to develop spiritually and all that. I was impatient, which grew to frustration. I forget that in Acts, they had to wait too. And on top of that they were in hiding in the beginning. So many times I skip to the end of the story and pray for the finishing results and forget to enjoy the rest of the story and the great character development that goes along with it. What is a story without a plot, conflict, growth, and finally the end accomplishment? A piece of poo that's what!
I don't want my life, or our chapter to be a piece of proverbial poo. I want it to be a full novel that is turned into a global blockbuster hit! Think Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter status! I want our story to be shared with all so that our Director gets academy awards and all the praise from the actors guild for his spectacular accomplishments.
I mean think about it.
We give so much praise to those creative thinkers who know how to shoot a camera at interesting angles and tell people how to talk a certain way that's captivating. How much more should we honor and give adornment and praise to God?! The one who created all life. He doesn't just shoot the camera, but he made the camera! He doesn't just tell us how we should speak, but he created tongues and language so we can! He doesn't just choose a shooting location that has interest, but he created them and painted the sky with his own hands!
May the things we do in our "lifetime movie" be filled with such that God is given the honor and worship he truly deserves!
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