Just doing what my Father told me

Unless I am outside, I always take my shoes off when I flag.  
It feels like "holy ground" and this girl doesn't want to be worshipping with dusty boots!

I am 64 and it has been the last likely 32 years that I have truly felt like my relationship with the LORD has grown - and surprised me so much.  I think it was learning about how much HE longs to have relationship with me, and that HE has a voice which I began hearing ...  

The more I heard Him speak - the more I wanted to hear Him.  And that means I needed to slow down long enough to sit, to wait on Him and to hear Him speak.  This is a much longer conversation and I know that people do not necessarily like it when someone says "God told me ..." but friends, I don't know how else to put it because in my life, most of what I have done in the past 22 years is ONLY because God told me!  It has been wild and crazy.  Its been a "fasten your seatbelt you are in for a ride" last 22 years! 

I went through a time where I wondered "God was that you, or my imagination?"  I went through times when I was brought to tears as I realized I could never have dreamt that up.  Seriously even the ministry we have been called to - was because God said!

SO I know without a doubt that God speaks/strongly impresses on me in so many ways!  Direct conversation that I hear.  Through just sitting and being and listening.  Through Scripture and through the voice of others that He sends. And I know without a doubt that I don't always want to listen, and oh my LORD is so patient with this gal!  

ANYHOW I guess it was sometime early summer God made it very clear to me that I needed to go and flag at our church. And not just at but I knew it was IN the sanctuary!  We are a church going through a transition as our Senior Pastor retired.  And so God laid this on my heart and He would not let go of it!  Several times I was close to going, and continued to put it off for next week.  But on this past Thursday I knew I needed to go and flag in the sanctuary and made plans to go yesterday (Friday) for a little bit.  

I took my flags (actually had them in my car since last Sunday) and headed to the church.  Spent time talking with my friend Lorrie, and then went into the sanctuary!  My phone I had forgotten to charge but I figured I had enough time on it for about an hour of worship music.  And to be honest, I have some rotator cuff issues and I was not sure how long I would be able to flag anyhow.  I was still unclear why exactly I needed to do that.

Maybe it is time to say that I do NOT like drawing any attention to myself.  Yes I know, some people say then how can you preach, or how were you a pastor?  Oh I hope it was always giving God the glory!

Flagging seems like it is pretty "out there" if you know what I mean.  Originally when I knew I needed to flag, I purchased the flags from CALLED TO FLAG which is in Abbotsford, BC.  I love her vision for her business and love that she prays over her flags as they are made.  I have watched her videos on YouTube and oh my goodness, would LOVE to move like her BUT I am 64 with some mobility limitations lol.

I ordered flags and began to flag in my own personal time with the LORD.  Then one day I invited a new friend who flags, to come and spend some time with me flagging.  I was so worried that I just didn't know how.  I remember when I took tambourine in worship classes - it was about patterns.  And Carol from Called to Flag also does patterns.  Anyhow that morning Lois told me that God had given her something to tell me and it was "healing will come when you flag".  Hmm.  I asked - my healing?  or the healing of those who see me flagging?  What is this about?  Lois did not know that answer, but I tucked it away in my heart and memory.  

So when I went into the sanctuary - I also sat and prayed - and asked the LORD what is it we need, or what I need to hear.  He has impressed some things on my heart - but those I am keeping close.  While I worshiped with flags to music on my iPhone, I also spent some time walking/flagging in between rows and sections - around the music teams space and the tech/sound space.  I felt like the flags were welcoming a blessing over those who sat in the chairs.  I also felt like the flagging was about spiritual warfare, and about anything that comes in to the space with people during the week and especially on a Sunday morning.  Let's face it, we are messy people and I think the enemy likes nothing more than to get a toehold in our lives, and to seek where he can steal and destroy.

SO in the cold temp of the sanctuary I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as I worshiped with the flags.  The Holy Spirit and I on behalf of the family of God that meets at Kilcona.  Oh loved ones - you are so loved by Him.   I plugged in the cross, as I felt it was such a reminder of his great love for us!  

I am not sure what Lois meant by "healing will come when you flag" but I do know that I am changed during the time in worship.  This week I also heard from someone who told me how she was overcome with JOY when she sees me flag.  And I hope others are blessed too.  My audience, even though it is so public - is my LORD and KING Jesus!!  

An hour later - I rolled up the flags, put my shoes back on, and carried on for the day!  I did what my  Father told me to do and I had a feeling He was smiling .   Years ago I used the phrase "Dance like no one's watching" and somehow I feel that I did just that! 

Worship with abandon,

j

I love the colours, the shimmer and shine of the flags she makes

check out her website and YouTube

Ready for their ride home - they are about to go back into their bag 
which was specially made for me by Pat Hayes (Leah's mom)