Saturday, January 12, 2008

His Own Announcement

Friday night something interesting happened...the worship time was ending, and I was writing a short version of the words for Germany to hand to the leaders of the meeting. Someone began to speak about this summer's outreach in Berlin, but no one could see who was speaking, for he was on the floor! His words became slurred after a minute, and his mom took the microphone to calmly explain that he was okay and just "drunk" with the Holy Spirit. Well, when she tried to continue the announcement of the outreach, she began speaking in tongues for a second, was knocked back, and was laughing...unable to speak, too! Soon there were many around the room who were laughing, "drunk" or lying on the floor.* We continued praying and praising God and exclaiming His wonders. I finished the note, handed it in, and returned to my seat. Almost everyone was back in their seats, listening attentively, and the first guy was now sitting on the stage, finishing the announcement. Everything was suddenly back to "normal." But...
God had made an announcement. He had highlighted the summer outreach and deposited His heart for Berlin. I believe that He also instilled hope and empowered his church for the next season. What I envisioned as happening through delivering a message of words, God did in this most powerful way.
So if you are making your summer plans and are (now) curious and want to be part of this outreach, check out http://www.love-berlin.org/ and join us for a week or two! I think it will be amazing!
*To some of you reading this, it may sound odd or even a bit scary...but when you've experienced God's presence like this, it is anything but. You know it is Him. The Holy Spirit was pouring himself out in our midst and visibly, tangibly letting us know He was there!

Across the Lake

The hotel was on Lake Muegelsee, directly across from where we were in September. As I looked out the wall of windows, I longed to be there again...meeting the people of East Berlin, sharing about Jesus and his love for them.

Such a gift...

Edeltraut Lanz was at the conference, also! We knew each other from Miami, FL about 8-10 years ago. She's since lived in the Munich area. We had a great time together. She helped me with translation and figuring out some cultural differences, and introduced me to many of her friends.

Leader's Conference

What a wonderful group of people! Pastors from Germany, Switzerland, Austria (with a few from India, Africa, France, and Romania just for fun) gathered Jan. 2-6th to worship, talk, and be refreshed. http://www.leiterkonferenz.org/ I went to intercede and share the words God has been speaking about the German people and the church in Berlin. Thanks to help from Jeane and Edeltraut, I had a translation of the written version of the promises, dreams, verses to hand to some of the pastors.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

New Years in Berlin

Sounds romantic, huh? Well, I am hoping that in a different way that it is. The morning I left Ohio I awoke with the words from a song I'd heard once: "Vater, du leibst mich..." I didn't totally know the words until I listened to the song (Ken 'accidentally' recorded it as part of my worship mix for the trip). When I realized it means, "Father, you love me..." I cried, as the Holy Spirit spoke to me about how this is what He has made so real to me over the past year and a half...His love for me...and that is why He wants me to bring this message to the German people. So it is a love story...God is pouring out his love into the hearts of the German people and awakening in them the realization of his love.