Dancing in the Light

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Name:
Location: North Platte, Nebraska, United States

I am a christian wife, mother and grandmother. I am a licensed Social worker and a licensed Christian counselor. I am most proud of the relationships I have with God, my family and friends all over the world. I have been blessed beyond my dreams.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Perpetual Feast

I just returned from the most amazing weekend. I attended the workshop at Sunset in Lubbock. As we arrived early on Friday morning, and I saw all the cars in the parking lot, my heart rate immediately increased. The anticipation began to build because I knew what a feast was in store for me and I was excited!!
Workshops are wonderful! After living in Lubbock for many years, attending the School of Preaching, and later teaching in the women's program there, Sunset, is especially dear to my heart. I have participated in many workshops in that place and came with high expectations. I was not disappointed. The workshop offered many classes, many opportunities to have your soul fed. There was a vast smorgasboard and one could choose the class and topic and speaker they felt would best satisfy their hunger. In between sessions, there was a bounty of wisdom and encouragement available for any who sought it. Present were Sunset Instructors, having trained preachers and preachers wives for decades. There were missionaries, back from the field, ready to share both successes and struggles, hungry for the morsel that would recharge their spirits and ready their souls to return to the work. They brought with them a love for their mission and a desire to share that love with any who would listen. Also in attendance, were ministers and their wives from this country and others, some in big city works and others from rural congregations, all of them taking a weekend sabbatical to come and refuel. Their love for their work, was evident in their faces as they spoke of the members, the growth, the new ideas from back home. The joy in their faces as they greeted former classmates and instructors was a beautiful portrait of the love God's people have for one another. Then there were Sunset students attending, setting up booths, in hopeful anticipation of graduation and heading off to their fields, here and abroad. And, there were the Sunset Church of Christ members, ever faithful in their support of the school, ever encouraging in their words and their actions, humble and proud at the same time, humbled by the far reaching effects of "their" ministry (SIBI) and proud of those who had walked their halls, gained the education, gone into the field and had returned for this weekend, filled with gratitude and love for ministry. The singing was beautiful, the lessons inspiring, and the fellowship amazing, and there was love everywhere. I tell you it was a veritable spiritual feast.

I came away, full and satisfied, spiritually recharged and ready to do whatever God would have me do. I love feeling that way and wished it would last forever. As I thought about this, it occurred to me as I attempted to take all this in, that for sometime, I had been almost fasting spiritually. Sure, I spent time in the Word, as I prepared for the classes I teach at church or the workshops I am speaking at. And, I attended church events and services. I talked to christians on the phone. And I even did a devotional blog. But having spent two days in the Word, surrounded by God's people, fellowshipping with His children, too busy to even watch the news, I realized how hungry my soul has been. I realized I had allowed the Spirit, the Word, to feed me only enough to keep me alive. The sad thing was, I could have taken in so much more. I could have taken in enough to thrive rather than merely survive. It was always there, I just hadn't taken advantage of it. And so, with penitent heart, I have made a commitment to feast on God's Word and the rich blessing of Christian fellowship more . I will make more opportunities to talk with God and His people. I will put forth the effort to be more encouraging and more spiritual so that others can be fed, too. I will do my part to perpetuate the spiritual feast so that all can be filled and refueled. And to quote Scarlet O'Hara, "I will never go hungry again!"

May you all be filled,
Neva

12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

You were so much a part of that feast dear sister and I know I speak for all the ladies who were there---You were amazing. You touched our very souls and inspired us. Thank you,I will keep reading your blog--what a great outreach!!

Love
Liz

9:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Neva,
I hadn't seen you in so many years. It was so wonderful to be with you this weekend. Your lessons were very inspiring. I am so proud of you. You are an amazing woman! I hope Ned appreciates you. I am going to try to get you here for a ladies day. The sisters would be so blessed.
Email you soon.
Love
Karin

2:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
I was so encouraged by your lessons at the workshop. I am returning home full of ideas, zeal and enthusiasm. I am so glad I met you. I pray blessings for you wherever you are. God is using you mightily.

Lauren Cross

3:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You were so wonderful. I loved your lessons and bought the cds so my husband, my mother, and my church sisters could all be encouraged too. Thank you. I know you put in a lot of time on them. You are a very gifted speaker and a writer as I am finding in reading your blog. Keep up the good work.

Sarah

3:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just got out of church, told everyone about you. The elders said to see if you'd come speak for us. I know California is a long way. We would provide airfare and an honorarium. What does May look like for you? Think about it. Check your schedule and I will call you.
Love ya,
Rachel Brooks

3:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I read the comments of those who attended the workshop. I am very proud of you. Your writings have changed my life and I am sure your lessons changed lives too. Wish I could have been there.

Jean

8:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey, girl
Sorry I missed you when you were in Lubbock. Know you did a great job. I would expect nothing less. Love the blog, read it everyday and share it with mom and friends.
Love to you and Ned
Kel

9:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your lessons touched my life and my heart. You have renewed my conviction that I can have a powerful ministry as a woman in God's work. thank you for that.


Nancy

9:52 PM  
Blogger TREY MORGAN said...

Loved the post today ... made me miss the workshop even more. Next year I REFUSE to miss it.

I heard you did a fantastic job.

:)

7:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am so proud of you. You use the talents God gave you so well. You are maturing in your ministry and have become a truly gifted speaker. Keep sharing the word.

Melinda

7:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Not "Nat's Wife", :)

As I said before, I've heard you do good in the past, but this weekend you did GREAT! Wow, I'm so smart to have asked you to speak at the workshop! I'm grateful for your sweet spirit, your genuine love for the lost and the powerful way you presented the Word this weekend. I'm truly blessed to be your "sister".

Keep "teaching the Word"!

Love you,

Betty

1:21 PM  
Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

I feasted as well! I hear that some people don't even go to the classes... I am sure they are just waiting to listen to the tapes.
Glad about your responses, hope you can go to California!
Kathy

2:20 PM  

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