Experiencing
Father’s Love
“A” School
article:
Close
to home yet surrounded by brothers and
sisters from
all across Europe, last week I found myself unexpectedly blessed with
the
chance to participate in an ‘Experiencing Father’s
Love’ A School, in
Ballycastle, Northern Ireland.
I
say
‘unexpectedly’, because if I had it my way, I would
not even have been back in my homeland of Northern
Ireland
at all at the time, yet Father God had other ideas!
It’s
amazing when we
stop to allow our Father God to
interrupt our ideas and plans. As our good, good Father He often steps
in with
things we had never even considered possible. I am currently
rediscovering my
Father God’s desire to bless us and adorn us with his
goodness
and mercy amidst
laying down our lives and becoming his true daughters and sons.
For me, last week was like finding treasure, indeed perhaps
even some of the ‘treasures of darkness’ Isaiah 45
verse 3
speaks of.
For
many of the 49 people
who attended last week’s school in
Corrymeela, situated in beautiful Ballycastle, it was truly deeply life
impacting.
With stunning views out onto the North Atlantic
Ocean and Rathlin
Island,
personal
stories were
shared around the dinner table and late into the night of one
another’s walks
with God.
Perhaps
most blessed of all elements of last
week, were the
times of Spirit-led laughter throughout the week with my brothers and
sisters
in Christ from the 10 different nations of Europe
we represented. (During feasting on fish and chips on Friday night, for
example, an arguably essential ingredient in any successful visit to Northern Ireland!).The
bible is clear that God
commands
blessing where there is unity, and for me, last week was a prime
example of
this, in what unfortunately can be sometimes all too rare.
I
laughed intensely at this Father Heart
“A” school, (and
was not the only one!) and have been freshly reminded of what an
amazing gift
and healing blessing laughter really is, as modern scientific research
is
confirming.
In the book of Nehemiah, we are told that the “joy of the
Lord is our strength.” and experiencing and rediscovering
this -
amidst the
wonderfully deepened sense of my Father’s love, approval and
affirmation of my
life – were wonderful elements of this Father Heart
“A” school.
For
some other people who
attended, the school was a time of
major wounds being touched upon and Father God deeply healing, binding
up
brokenness within, and setting people free in major areas of bondage
and pain.
The safety and security of the entire atmosphere facilitated the
Father’s
desire to draw near and heal, allowing us all to encounter the love of
God in
whichever ways he knew we each needed it most.
On
our final morning
together testimonies were given
alluding to deeply transformative and touching times of receiving the
Father’s
love poured into our hearts, during simple but powerful ministry times
throughout the week. Participants in the school had received hugs
representing
the Father or mother hearted love God wants to pour in. So simple; yet
so
profound.
Each
of us came away very
different than when we had
arrived, having had our hearts impacted with more of the
Father’s
love for us,
and for me, a very real desire to extend that love again to those
around me,
not least my family, from a place of resting in my Father’s
love
and not
striving.
This
“Experiencing Father’s Love” school was
my first
taste
of such a school. For anyone who is reading this and considering
possible
future attendance at one of these events, I would have absolutely no
hesitation
in endorsing it and saying you will not regret it, in fact, it may even
change
your life!
Participants
in this school travelled from far
flung places
such as Germany, Finland,
Holland, Croatia, Slovakia,
and even Lithuania,
as well as less
further
afield in the British
Isles.
It
was a privilege to share
and experience a real sense of
genuine love and fellowship amongst such a diverse group of
participants and
humble ministry team members. It was an excellent event amidst the
ongoing
process Father God has us all in. It is perhaps only upon reflection I
realise
what a great week we really did have.
LEANNE
DUNLOP
November
2010
Go
there, and you´ll find out :)
Just
imagine a place, where you feel totally safely.
Father´s heart school is the place, where I do feel safer than on
any other
places.
It is the place, where broken lives are being healed.
Place, where empty hearts are being filled by genuine Love.
Place, where unwanted people of this world are becoming
beloved sons and daughters of the Living God.
I do not know how to describe things which happen
there..
I do not know how to explain why am I there suddenly hugging a person
that I never met before.
Or why do I suddenly talk with unknown person
about the deepest parts of my heart.
I do not know how to express all the things
which are going on during that week.
But one thing I surely know,
that it is a secret work of our Heavenly Father.
He wants to have back His lost sons and daughters.
And by this secret work of Daddy,
I have got totally new spiritual family:
People who became my brothers and sisters, friends..
People who are weak in their own stories
and still have enough strength to listen to my own.
People who have been rejected a lot in their own lives
and still have enough Love and kindness for me.
People who are precious from the first time I have seen them.
People who did not have to earn my trust, nevertheless they have it.
And this is what I call
"secret work of our Daddy"...
Because I can be real with them,
I know that I am accepted and loved,
even when I turn to be real Ivona...
That´s why I love to go to Father´s heart
schools...
And I am very grateful for every person I met there..
And I appreciate every secret work of my Daddy,
which have been done through them..
Thank you! Ivona Roncova (Slovakia) 10
November 2010
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