05!

Wow, as I was sitting in my room listening to awesome worship music there was a stirring in my soul!

As my night went on and I prepared to go to sleep I picked up the T-shirt quilt I made so I could fold it and put it away. On this special quilt are shirts mostly from my teen years. I looked at one piece in particular and noticed the date; 2005. This shirt was was from the year I went to nationals for a Fine Arts competition with my church youth group. Looking at this shirt brought back memories of what happened when we came home after nationals.

While at nationals we had awesome worship times with guest worship leader Jeff Deyo. Oh how you can get lost in worship listening to his songs! I remembered I knelt down during worship and sought and pleaded with the Lord to fill me with His Holy Spirit and to give me the evidence by speaking in tongues! It didn't happen that night and I was a little disappointed, however I didn't stop seeking and knew it would be in God's timing. I believe it was a couple weeks after we got back home on a Wednesday youth group night that I was standing with my eyes closed singing and enjoying worship. All of a sudden there was a sweetness that came upon me and I opened my mouth and all that came out was a series of quiet "la la la's" and they sounded beautiful! I had received the gift of tongues that I had been wanting! I was so happy and excited!

 In 2005 I wore that same shirt one Wednesday evening when I sang on our youth praise and worship team for the first time. Yes, I was nervous, but I sang backup with a good friend and I just closed my eyes and sang to my Lord. It wasn't so hard after all!

In 2005 I had finally gotten the courage to raise my hands in worship on Sunday mornings. The first time I expressed my worship in this way was funny! When I put my hand up I felt something on my fingertips; I looked up and saw that I was brushing the nose of a tall friend next to me! He smiled at me and he didn't try to bat my hand away; I think he realized that this was the beginning of me openly worshiping. That memory always brings a smile to my face!

In 2005 I had a pair of favorite jeans with holes in the knees because I would close my door, turn toward the sunlight streaming though my windows and pray so fervently!

In 2005 I started writing songs on my piano after I finished a poetry assignment for school. The assignment was to write a song and my mom, who was my teacher because I was homeschooled, thought the words were so pretty and she encouraged me to write more! They were very simple but it was me pouring out my heart. That was the beginning of writing songs for me. They are still fairly simple, filled with my heart and all from the Lord!

In 2005 the Lord was awakening this worshiper. Tonight He reminded me of where I started so that my fire won't burn out! That I have grown so much. That I am not 13 anymore but I can still have that passion and more for the Lord when it comes to praising Him!

I thank God for bringing me back to 2005 so I can go even further in 2017/18!

That is why I want you to remember the gift God gave you. God gave you that gift when I laid my hands on you. Now I want you to use that gift and let it grow more and more, like a small flame grows into a fire. 2 Timothy 1:6