Goodness Gracious!

Just wanted to record/share a word that my friend Allison had for me tonight:

1) I am a woman who will feast on the word of God/Bible and hide it in my heart. I will speak into others lives with a place of authority because the words I will speak will not be my own, but will be words that God has already spoken (so much more powerful!) And I will know his character based on what he's said in the past.

2) She also had a picture of me like a dove, representing the Holy Spirit. She said I will be one who brings the good news of God's promises. Just like the dove who brought the olive branch back to Noah, assuring him that the flood was decreasing and there was dry land, I will be entrusted with the promises of God, will see them on the horizon and gather people to tell them of God's faithfulness to what he has promised! She also said that wherever I go, I carry the Holy Spirit, and people will be drawn to the dove-like peace that I have.

I felt like especially the second word about the dove/Holy Spirit/promises really hit home. I don't experience the Holy Spirit's manifest presence as some people I am friends w/ and around do...however, I know that he lives in me and is working in my life because of the fruit I am bearing. And I do sense his presence, it's just not in a way that would make me twitch or speak in tongues, etc. And being in the body of believers I am in, that can be kinda frustrating just to be honest, when it doesn't look a certain way. I often have felt like, gosh am I missing something??

I'm not saying the Lord has completed his work in me. Ha, what a joke! But what I am saying is that God uses us where we are. He doesn't want us to compare our progress/status to others, but rather he just wants us to MOVE FORWARD. I don't want to get stuck. And as long as I am seeking, surrendering, and spending time connecting with God, I will not lack any good thing.

Matthew 7:11 says, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

-and-

Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

-and-

Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

That's something I felt God was trying to tell me tonight during worship is that I don't quite understand his GOODNESS. He wants to reveal to me that he's not just "good" in the bland sense of the word...like...that meal was good, but not great. Or...he's a good friend, but not a close/best friend. God is the re-defined essence of GOODNESS. And I wanna learn about that so I can resemble his goodness more!

His goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life! He is good and he has good plans in store for my life...and yours too! We have to believe that! Lord, help our unbelief.