Something Donna Parachin taught me early in ministry was to do everything I can to prepare for what lies ahead, but in the moment if the Lord leads you elsewhere, then simply flow with Him. To do otherwise, would be to try to swim against the current, or push back the waves.
Yesterday, I saw this in action in the entire Sunday Celebration and in the testimonies that were shared throughout:
Noah & Florence shared that they felt the Lord calling them to Thunder Bay to serve the Native community. They are in the midst of partnering with local ministries and Florence is working with a counselling ministry while her credentials from Singapore are prayerfully approved. They have heard the Lord, they have planned the way, and now it is time to simply be led by the Holy Spirit and simply flow with Him.
We bless you Noah & Florence into all that God has called for you in this season. May the guiding of the Holy Spirit put you in the places and relationships that will advance the Kingdom of God everywhere you go.
Jennifer Ng shared her testimony of going on a mission trip to Guyana. From the pictures and videos we could see that this trip was a logistical nightmare! They had to travel through remote areas by air, land, and sea! They brought with them totes of supplies, a group of 20 people, and even a drone. They planned all that they could – yet the experiences and situations that Jennifer shared had nothing to do with their plans, but simply the things that God was causing them to flow in. They came up against spiritual warfare, they walked alongside those with suicidal attempts/thoughts, and they simply led as the Lord pointed them. They flowed.
We bless you Jennifer for your obedience to simply go and be available for the Lord. To engage in spiritual warfare and to grow closer to the heart of the Lord. We pray that what you have learned far away, you would bring close to home.
Anita Wong shared a testimony that right after Jonathan & Tiffany Lee’s wedding she led a dear brother whom she has been praying for to the Lord. In the second pew of the church, looking at the cross, in the midst of a… wedding… this gentleman accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart. There is so much planning that goes into a wedding; I saw the young bride & groom coordinating meals, venues, tablecloths, decorations, groomsmen, bridesmaids, marriage registry, music, worship, rings, cookie girls, and even a dog. There was so much planning and preparation that needs to go into a wedding. But I do not think any planning went into the fact that a gentleman would receive the Lord that day. That was a flow of the Spirit, and thank God Pastor Anita was there to ride it.
We bless you Pastor Anita for always looking out for those you can be a blessing to. I know my eyes were on the desserts, where your eyes were on the people. Thank you for being sensitive to the guiding of the Holy Spirit to bring a brother into the Kingdom of God.
All these testimonies… thank you Lifespring for being willing to flow with the Holy Spirit. In life, in work, in family – we want to plan everything (we should do our best!), but even in the best, the flowing of the Holy Spirit is better. May we have eyes to see and ears to hear where and how the Lord wants to use us everyday.
Amen.