Astrid's Blessing

On Sunday, Astrid Arriagada, a Chilean youth pastor visiting Georgetown over recent weeks, shared with our congregation a word from God. With a translator helping us, she traced through her family history the blessings she has experienced because of the faithful men and women who were missionaries to her country many years ago. And because of this blessing she received, she serves God in order to be a blessing to others.

But the most powerful part of her testimony for me was the part where she said that she had received a word for us at Georgetown Baptist. She shared Isaiah 63:19 through 64:1, "We are yours from of old; but you have not ruled over them, but they have not been called by your name. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!" Astrid believes that God wants to move through our church in a new way, by the power of his Spirit. I'm not sure of all that means, but I couldn't stop thinking about all that she had said to us that morning. What will a new move of God's Spirit look like here? What do I need to be doing now to usher him in? I'm definitely excited about what this might mean. Dios esta aqui!

Not only that, but during the invitation time, I prayed with her. After we prayed, she turned to Acts 3:6-7-- "Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong"-- and she pointed at me and prayed over my hands one at a time.

I don't yet understand the full extent of Astrid's blessing, but I want to. May I and my church receive the blessings and challenges bestowed on us that day. Amen.