What do you want from church?

When you think about church, do you think of miracles and the supernatural? I must admit that I don’t think of those things at first…I think of awesome worship sets, Spirit-led sermons, my church building…that’s so limiting though. Others have had numerous bad experiences in the ‘church’ and have associated Christianity with all wrongs of the church. The thing is that God wants the church to be more than that. I think it’s more about the people. There would be no need for a building if there were no people to fill it. Just like that rhyme with the corresponding hand motions that goes something like “Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the doors and there’s all the people!” I do want to make it clear that I am truly blessed by my church, and I know that the Spirit is moving there mightily. I strive to love it as the bride of Christ. I’m very excited for the Easter service this Sunday, and I hope that people who have been thinking of going to a church this Sunday will join me or a friend. However…

As I’ve studied Acts throughout the year in my small group, I learned about how the crazy things happening in the church were normal occurrences. Healing, deliverance, and more that resulted from devout prayer among other things. As Francis Chan asks, do I believe that it’s possible today? Maybe I wouldn’t think it was so crazy if it was happening regularly today. Yes, it’s difficult to imagine what a gathering at church this Sunday for Easter would look like if the church of Acts was before my eyes. I think it’s possible, do you? I don’t want to know what’s going to happen next at any gathering under Him, and I want to see the Holy Spirit move as He wants to. I want to expect the unexpected. What’s stopping us from accessing all of His power? Don’t we want more?

Watch the video of Francis Chan (author of Crazy Love; awesome, entertaining, and passionate Chinese pastor I saw at Passion Conference)…http://relevantmagazine.com/basicholyspirit#disqus_thread

This can happen in the church today. Do you believe it? Do you want it?

“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” -Acts 4:31

Now if you want it, we’ve got to make some changes. Act. Pray. Change.

WOW

GOD IS SO REAL AND ALIVE AND ANDDDDDD

I am just so blown away right now. I can’t go to sleep. I don’t know how to describe this feeling. I might call it freedom. I might call it joy. I might call it grace. Or power. Or humility. Or sacrifice. Or love. Sacrificial love. No one but God knows what’s going on in the deepest parts of my heart right now, and all I can say is that God. Is. Real.

I pray that you will encounter Him. Experience Him. Feel Him in your insides. Know that it’s His voice because you definitely did not come up with that idea from your own brain. See His love shining in others. Yes, it’s great to try to understand God (you’ll fail if you try to understand everything about Him, because He’s such a big God. That’s the beauty of this journey though…not knowing and walking by faith not by sight) and try to figure out what He’s offering us, and He can encounter us in those ways. Through the Bible, through prayer, through conversations. Whenever and wherever it might be, I don’t want you just to think it’s God, I want you to be so overwhelmed by something inside of you that it’s undeniably our own, loving, tremendously amazing God working in your heart. It’s the best feeling in the world. It’s overwhelmingly beautiful and joyous. It’s a source of strength I’ve never felt before. He transforms. He renews. He frees. Just by trusting Him, I don’t have to worry at all. Why? He is and does everything! Isn’t that comforting? Do you believe that?

Hmmm, so I guess I would say that I’m just free to be joyous. I’m bubbling on the inside, and I just wanna shout unto God with a voice of triumph. To lift His name up FOREVER. And everrrrrrr. His presence tastes so good, and I pray that you will get a taste with every step you take. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him” -Psalm 34:8.

Grateful

With the class of 2013′s “halfway there” celebration and continuing discernment for leadership, I’ve been almost forced to reflect on the past two years. It’s been an incredible ride. It has most definitely had its ups and downs, and I’ve always come out not only alive, but stronger…and I truly believe it’s only because of God.

I mentioned in my last post that I realized I need to be more thankful. I’m learning more and more how much more grateful I should be…we had our Third Day Gospel Choir concert today, and the song that’s stuck in my head? Grateful…Ironically, it’s the song that I don’t know very well. As I play it over and over in my head, it’s starting to sink in…

Throughout my past 2 years in college, I’ve struggled with failures, stress, loneliness, identity, self-worth, and more. You can get a taste of that just looking through my old blog posts (which is always interesting for me, haha). In those times of hardship, I always thought it would never go away. It was always so difficult and all I could think about at the time. However, those aren’t the moments that immediately pop up in my head when I think about my time at Tufts. I’m SOOO glad those moments of trouble won’t last always. Instead, I remember the moon bounces at Relay for Life, the birthday surprises, the beautiful moments at retreats, the decisions made at KRUP, the late-night Shaw’s trips, Gospel Choir concerts, and so much more. Those are the moments I will cherish for years to come…none of those moments were of loneliness or hurt, they were moments when I was with people. Being in community has been absolutely critical for my growth as a person and as a follower of Jesus…they have shown me so much about what it means to live out your beliefs.

In the moments during the past 2 years when I thought I wasn’t changing, I can now see that God was always there and was leading me to the place I am now. Freshman Anisha is completely different from current Anisha. Freshman Anisha could have NEVER imagined being in a place like this. He’s made me stronger, more confident, and…He’s simply transformed me. I would have it no other way.

I’m grateful for…

Tufts. Friendship. Family. Opportunities. Love. Honesty. Fun. Laughter. Silliness. Change. Joy. Suffering. Dancing. Rest. Music. Humility.

A voice to sing with. A bed to sleep in. Eyes to see. Air to breathe. People to cry with. People to hug. People to lean on. Community to grow in. This blog to share this 51st post with anyone willing to read it.

God, “I’m grateful for all You’ve done for me.” (click for lyrics)