So, I'm at Hillside Intensive in PA. What a blessing it has been so far.
God has been revealing so many new things. For example, He has been showing me just how unknowable his grace, mercy, and love are. The more we experience it; the sweeter it is! The more we see it; the more we want it!
There have been a pretty good selection of speakers and musicians here in the past 2 weeks...wow! It's hard to believe it has already been two weeks. Rick Pino, Sean Feucht, Bryan and Katie Torwalt, Leonard Jones, Awaken Wells, Erik Smith, David Fritch, Daniel and Natalia Hazelwood, Charles Stock (Pastor of Life Center Church in Harrisburg, PA), and many more.
Each musician is a true artist. I can't really say that I have liked one better than the rest. It seems to me that each God uses differently. He has used each of them uniquely to reveal different things to me. It is a real journey. It is hard to choose a best part, because I know the best is yet to come!
What I have learned...so far...from some of the people...
I would write about all of them, but my brain might get tired out from all that thinking :)
Rick Pino: Wow! What a humble guy. He is just so real when he talked with us. He talked about the power of music. Rhythm makes you want to move. Melodies affect your soul. Lyrics affect your spirit. It is our job to be a voice for the Lord! Also, he talked about consecrating yourself to the Lord as the Nazirites did. Spending time with the Lord will cause you to draw closer to Him and grow in relationship with Him. Probably my favorite thing he shared was about popularity and influence. The culture now almost demands us to be popular...it says if we aren't popular, we are nothing. Well in the Kingdom of God that is NOT true!!! First, he said that we should be famous before God and to get your identity from the one who can truly give it...that's God just in case you were wondering. He already knows you inside and out, because he made you. Psalm 139. Also, there is a big difference between popularity and influence...popularity changes with the wind....influence changes the wind! Rick's messages have been challenging me to really find my identity in God and spend time with him. I want my heart to look like God's heart.
Sean Feucht: Well, I didn't really know who he was coming into this thing. As he has spoken, I found out he has been on some crazy adventures with God. He has traveled many places around the world with God. He was one of the founders of the BURN 24/7 movement...it all started as quiet time with God in a dorm stairwell. Crazy! He has a real heart for the nations and carrying/bearing fruit that remains. He has talked about building a relationship with God in the secret place. It allows you to carry that with you wherever you go once you have built a strong bond with Him. God's heartbeat will become your heartbeat. The more we are with Him, the more we become like Him. This has challenged me to get into that secret place with God simply to know Him better...and to do what I was made to do ---> worship!!!
Bryan and Katie Torwalt: It was so cool to see these two in person. I had actually heard of them before I came to school here, so I was excited to hear their story. They led worship for 3 nights of the school. It was really cool to be able to watch them usher the corporate body in to the presence of the Lord. Bryan spoke to us during one of the morning sessions. He also talked about getting away into the secret place with God. He said it is so important, because you need to learn to be aware of when God walks into the room and speaks. That was really cool for me to hear, because so many times we sing and talk about Jesus being our best friend. If we have a best friend that is a human, we usually notice when they come into a room. We notice if they say something; we don't ignore them. Man, if Jesus is closer than a brother, I sure want to know when He is in the room. I know he is on my side and always has my best in mind! We also had a Q&A time with Bryan and Katie. It was so great to just hear their hearts for leading, and how God has really brought them on a journey with Him to be where they are today. It made them real people instead of just singers.
Leonard Jones:If you want to hear some crazy music, check out Leonard Jones. He is really skilled at his instruments. He has definitely inspired me to practice more. He was telling us he practices anywhere from 4-8 hours a day! He's no novice either. I think he was telling us he has been playing the guitar (along with 13 other instruments) for the past 40 years. Now you might think that after that long you could stop practicing, but that is not his plan. Leonard told us that he plans to continue to get better and better. He doesn't want his lack of skill to keep Him from playing a melody the Lord puts on His heart. Now while I probably won't have 4-8 free hours in a row every days, I will take what I can get!
Daniel & Natalia Hazelwood: What an amazing couple!? Natalia is one my family group leaders. She is such a strong woman of God. She has been in and out for these 2 weeks, because she was speaking at a women's gathering in Texas. Daniel has been leading some of the soaking sessions along with teaching a class about keeping our minds in open communication with God. This will allow us to receive revelation and insight on different concepts and scriptures. It is absolutely mind boggling. Verses I have read many times suddenly become completely new! It's wild. For example, we were talking about John 1:1 --->In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.<--- From this we see that Jesus is the Word. Now when we call on God, He answers us with the Word. So essentially, He is answering us with Jesus. Now when Jesus left the earth, He sent one as a comforter---Holy Spirit---to live inside of us. So then there is the trinity---all three are one. Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are one together. So the answers are inside of us. We just need to ask God to take away veils that blind us from seeing what is already in us. Our bodies are new and redeemed We are new creations in HIM!!! How beautiful.
Now if that doesn't confuse you, I don't know what will. I am still working on understanding it myself.
There has been so much more amazing worship and teaching. It would take me pages and pages to write it all down. One other thing I just thought of---we have been learning about the Tabernacle of David. What a place! Some scholars believe this Tabernacle cost---either $1 million or $1 billion per square foot!!!! (I know that's a big difference in cost, but either way that's a lot of cash to be putting down on a Tabernacle.) However, it is for the Lord so money is really no object. King David got over 4,000 full time musicians to play 24/7 worship for the Lord. That is so crazy!
So there was this little shepherd boy on the hillside that God called to be his mighty warrior through song. His nation was changed through the worship of the Almighty Lord. The generation after Him knew no war...only peace! Whoa! So this school is meant to give us a place---the Hillside---to get close to the Lord. To draw near to His heart and then be launched into the nations to exalt His might name.
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