Fifteen years ago this month Jason and I decided to take a
weekend away from the kids. We lived in Texas at the time and we decided to
visit a bed and breakfast in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Now there really isn’t much to
do in Ardmore, but the whole reason for the weekend was to get away from the
busyness and the kids. Even though I really don’t remember a whole lot about the weekend, I
know we enjoyed the relaxation, and one thing has stood out to me for 15 years.
The breakfast at Shiloh Morning Inn. They served Banana Fosters pancakes with
pecans. I will never forget the taste, I have searched for something like it
ever since.
Once you get a taste of something amazing you always want
more, or at least you should. Jason and I were given a taste of what a godly
marriage looks like and even though old habits sneak back in and things may
have slipped, I have always craved and hungered for what we had a taste of. It
makes us strive every day to get it back or maintain it when we find it again.
We also got the opportunity to taste what "church family" looks like. We were blessed to experience an atmosphere where we could be ourselves
and not have to put on face. Everyone was genuine and loving and cared about
each other. But even as the world has break-ups in families, so does the church
and our wonderful family soon split up. Even though we went through the pain,
we tasted what church should be and we hunger for it.
Jesus himself said in Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled; and in John 6:35
“I am bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger and he who believes
in Me shall never thirst.” He planted in each one of us a hunger for something
more.
Then he gives us a taste.
I have heard many stories of revival. When I first started
hearing the stories I honestly didn’t fully believe them. I grew up in the
church, but it was a powerless church where you went every Sunday like the good
little Christian and gave your offering and sang the songs out of the hymnal. Then, God gave me a taste.
He gave me a taste of the Living Word. The word that gave
promises and actually fulfilled them. The Word that spoke directly to my heart
and sometimes even cut straight through to clean out what wasn’t meant to be
there. The word that encouraged me and taught me and strengthened me.
Then He gave me a taste of true worship. Music had always
spoken to me, but one day I realized it wasn’t the music, it was God using the
music. He gave me a taste of worship without music and as I worshiped my thirst
was quenched.
As I hungered for more, at a women’s conference, He
gave me a taste of His heart for the lost. It was so strong and painful that
it pushed me to the floor crying out for them to know Him. I was given a taste
of what He feels for those who have walked away from Him; it was a taste of His
hunger for us. After that I wanted even more. I had tasted His love and knew there
was more. I began to get restless and would hear more stories of people who had
had visions or encounters with Him. I Hungered for that. I would look around
and see the people around me, comfortable with what they were getting in church, but I had tasted and I was hungry. I wasn’t satisfied; I knew there was more.
A few years went by with God giving me a taste here and a
taste there and with every taste I wanted more. Then, in December 2012, He gave me a
taste of revival. He gave me a taste of healing; being healed myself and then
watching others be healed. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season
He gave me a taste of what Christmas was truly about. He gave me a taste of
what happened when we drop everything just to be in the Presence of God. I knew
what it felt like to be in a room where the presence of God was so thick you
could no longer stand. Then on one of the many nights we were there, He gave me a
taste of joy. Pure, unrestrained joy. The kind of joy where you laugh so hard
and for so long your abs and cheeks hurt and tears are rolling down your
cheeks, and when you think you can finally catch your breath the laughter
starts again. (It’s the only ab workout I enjoy).
On Valentine’s Day 2013 He gave me a taste of being used by
Him. That was our Valentine's date, spending time in the presence of God. I was on the floor during worship unable to stand. I was able to get to my chair but during the teaching I was asked to come up front and pray for someone. I was still really shaky and couldn't stop laughing and all I could think was, "how am I .supposed walk the few few feet with these wobbly legs?" I managed to stand and with Jason behind me in case I fell I worked my way up front. All I could do was extend my hands and laugh with what
felt like electricity pulsing through me. God healed the lady that night and and put me back on the floor. During my time laying on the floor, I realized my identity. I was given a taste of how God can use someone so
unworthy and unqualified.
After a few months, things began to die down and most people went
back to life as usual, but God had given us a taste. When you are given a taste
you crave more. There have been many moves of God, big and small and with each
move God gives us a taste of the kingdom. With each taste we get, we should want
more. He says “blessed are those who hunger”. I hunger. I hunger to see a
church laid out under the Presence of God. I hunger to see children so bold and
moved by God that they are praying for their friends in school and bringing
them to church. I hunger to be interrupted to do the will of God on this earth. I hunger to see the Gods people surrendered to His Glory and His will.
Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there! ’For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”- Luke 17:20-21
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