God is doing some awesome stuff...

Last night, I went to the Kabaht House (not sure if I spelled that correctly, I probably didn't at all, please let me know) here in Redding.  Some of my friends live there.  It's basically another house of prayer here that people are welcome to come to.

My friend, David, was trying to get us to stop thinking linearly.  When we think linearly, we're missing a lot of what God has for us.

We've got to have our boxes broken.

I don't know if I can explain it all clearly here.  We were all stretched.  A couple of friends of mine needed to learn to co-create with God.  I can tell it was really good for them.

I needed go get more into the river.  Last night, I went from being in the puddle to being knee deep in the river.  I need to get to a point where it's over my head. 

I love getting drunk in the spirit.  I love seeing the gold dust.  I love it when God uses me to do signs, wonders, and miracles.  Impartation is one way to get those gifts.  The laying on of hands is a very common way of receiving the gifts, receiving the gold dust, or getting drunk in the spirit.  And there are greater things, like being supernaturally transported to other places, walking through walls, bi-locating, etc that I would love to see happen in my life. (of course, I want there to be purpose behind it too, not just being able to walk through walls to walk through walls, but maybe for emergency situations or whatever, and birthed in the love of God)

However, you do not necessarily need someone to lay hands on you.  Just ask God.  You can receive it right there.  I knew this, and David pretty much reiterated it to me.  I don't know if he thought I didn't know it, but it's good to be reminded of that anyway.  I do not need someone who has walked through walls or been supernaturally transported to lay hands on me.  I can do the same things because of the God that I know.

I'm realizing more and more that I don't have to agree with everyone.  OK, I knew this, but it's been difficult for me to a) feel loved by people who disagree with me on a lot of different issues and b) show love to those who disagree with me.  But it's getting easier.  And I don't have to totally agree with Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, Van Mason at RedHOP, or a number of other people.  But it's incredibly important that regardless of our opinions, we need to be in unity with other brothers and sisters.

So about the courting thing...I'm still totally committed to that and will remain so.  A friend of mine is pretty much saying to forget about courting or marriage and just focus on God.  I agree with that, but at the same time, it is a desire that God put in is.  It's kind of hard to just ignore.  But God definitely does need to be the most important, and nothing else matters. 

I want to be careful not to force this on others around me.  This is just a conviction of mine and, though I do have strong opinions on dating and the soul ties that are created, they are just that, opinions, and I just state them and let God deal with them in you if he needs to.  I know there are successful marriages that come out of dating, so I'm not saying it's an entirely bad thing.  But I do feel courting is a better way, and one that has been tested so much for and has had more success.

Is there anyone that I'm interested in?  I'm not going to lie, the answer is "yes" but it's at the foot of the cross to be crucified, and if it's God's will, he'll bring it back and it'll be so much better.  I also want a job first, and I believe God wants me to have that job before the holy spirit directs me to move into that direction.

OK, my back window...I still need to talk to my mother about that.  I'm still on my parents' insurance.  I don't know how much they cover or anything.  Fortunately, there is a place I can probably find a back window for a blazer for really cheap.  So I'm not all that worried.

One last thing; David mentioned last night he didn't believe in the tithe.  Now I know I mentioned someone over a year ago that didn't believe in the tithe, and I went to hear him preach and I didn't feel quite right about it.  This was different.  He recognized that God required 10%, but also recognized that it's all God's!  So the paychecks he gets at work aren't his paychecks, but God's.  Instead of asking "how much should I give" he asks "how much do you want me to keep, God"?  He gets enough to take care of his needs and gives the rest away, and it's more than 10%, so the tithe is pretty much natural.  I do believe that the tithe belongs in the local church too, though some of my friends disagree.  But I'm not concerned about agreeing on everything.  I won't die for the tithe.  I will die for generous giving.

OK, this post was really kind of scatter-brained, I think, but just some things I had to get out, and I really have a lot more to get out.  I hope some of you liked reading this.