Updates

Our year started off with great trips to Arkansas and Mississippi! We were invited to lead worship for revival services at FBC Batesville, AR, and witnessed God at work to bring renewal to His people there. Sweet times of prayer and worship and listening to God’s Word together, in spite of instances of sickness among the Pastor and visiting preacher. Our God reigns! Kim led the women in a One Thing Worship Retreat for 2 days leading up to the revival services, and experienced an amazing time of prayer and listening to God with the ladies. One woman said she was not looking forward to putting herself in “time out” with God for a whole hour, but as she stilled herself before Him, she heard Him speak through His Word to her Spirit. She shared with the group, through tears, how beautiful it was to hear God speak to her! Glorious!

We came home for one day, then Kim led in another One Thing Worship Retreat in Williamson, GA. This  was a group of Moms who homeschool their children (such a talented, creative group of women – my heroes!) and planned this time to get away to hear from God and enjoy time together. Beautiful!

One Thing Worship Retreats are keeping Kim busy, and she is loving it! Her first one of the year was in North GA at Camp Pinnacle with FBC Social Circle. These ladies entered right in to God’s Presence and many shared of their experience as they heard from the Spirit of God! All praise to God!

Then it was off to Mississippi to FBC of Van Cleave. We watched the Spirit at work to bring several to Christ and many more to pray at the altar every night. It was beautiful to see the church gather around their leaders to pray for them and encourage them! We loved spending time with the entire staff!

We are humbled and grateful to go any and everywhere God sends us. His praise will ever be on our lips!

 

God’s idea. Gen. 2:15 “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Adam was created for fellowship with God. In Eden he perfectly understood and carried out his purpose: worship.

Worship is relational. As Adam enjoyed personal communion with God he also understood his purpose. They were intertwined. He worked in the garden and kept it. First act of lifestyle worship. And there was joy unspeakable.

After the fall, after Eve was deceived and Adam disobeyed, they were driven from the garden. Intimacy with God changed. He would never leave them, but because of their sin, there was separation and death. And labor and toil and struggle and murdered and banished children, and grief.

But God….

promised that One would come from Adam’s offspring who would bruise the serpent’s heel; who would bring many sons to glory and redeem intimate fellowship with the Father. Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, dwelt among us.”But to all who did receive him, who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

As we are brought from death to life, our relationship to God is restored and we now “worship in spirit and in truth.” While we are not in Eden anymore, we can live our lives here on this planet purposefully through lifestyle worship.

Work is holy as it is done unto the Lord. Whether you work on Wall street, in a classroom, or swish toilets, all is worship. “I appeal to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

God’s idea.

Our first ever One Thing Worship Retreat was a beautiful day spent in the Presence of the Lord with some very special women!

I’m so grateful to Martha Wilson and Touching Hearts Ministries for hosting this event for us and for every person who accepted the invitation to come away for this One Thing.

Our Father never disappoints and his beckoning to come away with Him for the sheer purpose of being in His Presence was water for our thirsty souls.

Below are some comments and pictures of our day together with Jesus.

Thank you Lord for inviting us to dwell in the house of the Lord and to gaze upon your beauty. We are transformed in Your Presence!

Comments:

“I came with a list that I didn’t need because He wanted to visit and talk to me, not listen to my petitions.”     Penny B.

“Stilling myself in the presence of God helped me to hear Him more clearly.”

“Loved the time to really seek the Lord! Loved the worship times! Had a true encounter with the Lord!”

“Renewing, rejuvenating, life-giving, reordering – something I want to incorporate into my life on a regular basis.”      Toni H.

“a beautiful and refreshing gift of time, just to spend soaking in His Word and in His love!”    Juanita S.

“Beautiful day, taking a day to be in the presence of the Lord away from distractions. Blessed.”     Chris

 

 

 

God blessed us with a tremendous move of the Spirit at Milstead Baptist Church in Conyers, GA this past week. How we praise and thank Him for his grace and power poured out. Jon Reed brought a powerful Word every night and the Holy Spirit moved to bring people to Jesus! It just doesn’t get any better than that! Here is a comment from Pastor Doug Craver: “What a great blessing Joe and Kim Stanley were to us during our revival at Milstead Baptist Church. we all felt God’s presence during our praise and worship time. Their testimonies of salvation and God’s love and faithfulness encouraged our hearts greatly. I thank God for their ministry. It has strengthened His people at our church. Thank you for coming and sharing God’s love with us. You are truly a blessing from God. I know that God will continue to use you to bless and enrich the lives of His people. We thank God that our paths crossed and look forward to a time when we will worship together again. Thank you for helping us experience God’s blessing in such a beautiful way. There were twenty five people who prayed to received Jesus as their savior. Thank you so much for coming.” Your brother in Christ Pastor Doug