The Altars of our Past

I was challenged by a teacher this week to ponder the question: What are the altars of your past? Or, what were the different points in your life in which you knew you were in the center of God's will for your life personally? I challenge you to think back on these and write them down. To get you thinking, I thought I'd provide my list:

• Led in prayer of salvation with my brother-in-law Mark in early 1985 and 1986. While the seed may not have fallen on fertile soil, it was planted.
• Attended, "Arise With the Guys," prior to becoming a "Real Believer" and received a vision of the Lord and heard His gentle whisper say, "Everything is going to be OK, Ron."
• The day my wife and I both went forward for prayer at River Valley Church to seek prayer for a deeper relationship with the Lord.
• Accepted Christ at the New Union and clearly sensed the Holy Spirit's presence.
• Played on worship team at River Valley Church and continued to feel the Holy Spirit's presence at work in my heart/life.
• The day my pastor threw out the sermon and sought prayer and support from the congregation. Something powerful happened in me witnessing sincere humility.
• Prayed for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for the first time. More than anything, I was amazed that God would want to give me that gift, although I wouldn't receive it until 3-4 years later.
• Played at the AG General Conference at Cedar Valley Church - powerful to see so many pastors freely worshipping their God.
• Wycliffe Missionary spoke at our church and I sensed the Holy Spirit's presence in an amazing way.
• Began memorizing scripture and hiding God's word in my heart.
• God's call to Missions began stiring in my heart.
• Received several confirmations of His call.
• Began leading worship at Celebrate Recovery.
• Got laid off from my job Summer '04 and went on first missions trip to Monterrey, MX.
• Spent 5 days at Wycliffe Bible Translators learning about the organization and the wonderful people that run it.
• God began guiding us to sell our house, quit my job and go begin a DTS at the YWAM base in Monterrey, Mexico.
• God confirmed my place in Monterrey and told me to, "Grow where you are."
• Sensed God's direction to go on outreach to Thailand.

I honestly didn't mean to make it that long, but you can see, it has evolved over time and the leading and direction from the Lord and the Altars themselves have become more specific and refined. I once heard someone say that God doesn't see our lives as if they were a snapshot, he sees them as if they were a motion picture (like on a video camera). I do think it's important, though, to look at the altars as snapshots in time of where we've been at different points in our walk with God.

Father, I thank you that you've given me the altars in my life, you've given me my testimony, and I thank you that you sent your son to die for our sins and to leave behind the Holy Spirit as our guide.