BY JENN RAY, GRACE ATTENDER
My experience with Rooted has been interesting and different I would say. I've come from a background where prayer, the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the spirit, and living for God on purpose are common. When My husband and I came to Grace Church, God was very clear about what he wanted me to do. He wanted me to sow myself and to be a part of what he was doing here. So, when the opportunity came to join the Rooted pilot group I felt Him nod and knew it was something I was supposed to do. Since the beginning of this year, God has been stirring His pot of anointing on the inside of me. He has been talking to me about unleashing the power and the gifts that He placed inside of me. So I knew that joining this group was going to help do just that; it would also be a time for me to develop stronger disciplines and structure in my life as it pertains to serving Him.
By the second week of class, I found my heart breaking as I heard some of the stories and situations that people were facing. I heard some views about God, His word, and the church that although I had heard before, it hurt terribly to hear. I want everyone to know God and to have a powerful, passionate, and intimate relationship with Him. Hearing people struggling so much in those areas was gut-wrenching for me. I found myself in complete inner turmoil. I wanted to scream, tear up the room with prayer, and to cry all at the same time. I began to ask God, ""What is happening, why are there so many questions about you? Why don't people really know that you are the answer to all these issues? Do your people really know You? I have to help people to know you, God."" The pain was excruciating; so much so, that when I was asked how my group was going, I just began to cry. I knew what God wanted me to do, however, I wasn't quite sure how to do it and for the first time in my life, I felt slightly uncomfortable being powerful. I wondered if what was in me was too much for the people around me. I felt so different; different experiences with God, different gifts, different color skin... I felt like I just stuck out like a sore thumb.
Today, I believe that is exactly what God wanted. During the prayer experience, I wept for a while just crying out to Him for help to be who He called me to be regardless. I asked Him to give me wisdom on how to help His people the way He wanted. Then I prayed for each of them. As I prayed, He gave me insight into their lives and spoke fresh words of knowledge regarding each of them. During our debriefing, I offered to share the words I received with each of them. Some were eager to hear what God said and later gave feedback of how necessary and confirming the words were in their lives.
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In addition to being received so well, I've gotten to see faith in God well up in the hearts of every person in the group! Their smiles are different, their outlooks are bright, and their countenance is more joyful than ever! There is nothing better than seeing people grow and become who God desires for them to be! Now, I know that my experience might be different than others, but the common denominator is Rooted. It is an amazing catalyst to growth! Whether starting out in your faith, returning to your faith, growing in your faith, or flourishing in it; Rooted will take you to the next level!
There is nothing better than seeing people grow and become who God desires for them to be!
I am tremendously excited to see what God will do throughout Grace Church as we transition and walk the 'Rooted' path; knitting our hearts to each other, reaching our communities, unifying our understanding of God and walking out His will for our lives.