Today at Gleanings, we had a time of Intercession for about an hour in the morning. 
Intercession starts off with some time to pray individually, in quietness...then we'll sing some songs. Through this time each person really listens to what God might be speaking to their hearts about. After song-time, we all share with each other what's on our hearts; specifically, this intercession was for different countries that are special to each of us, or that we have a burden for lately. 
Many people had pictures in their heads of the same country: Israel. (Also surrounding areas like Syria and Jordan, where many thousand refugees are being treated horribly by rebels.) Intercession is neat because God starts connecting all the dots for you, while everyone is praying. For instance, while I was closing my eyes, I saw, as a sort of picture in my head, a waterfall. This has been happening a lot, probably because  I like waterfalls. But then I thought, "I should pray for water for these people, these refugees." But you know what?

I WAS SCARED. 

Nervous. "In front" of people. To pray, in front of a group, the true over-pour of my heart, seems yet a "new" and adrenaline filled adventure! But as I sat there, thoughts were racing. It was as if I had this conversation with God; I kept remembering verses of Him sending people, and how if one person didn't go, He'd send another. I thought, I better speak up, I better say something about the water....

and then one of the group leaders sitting across from me begins to pray "Lord, we pray for water...." 
It was really convicting. God showed me that if I was going to be ashamed of Him, (which is basically what that was, embarrassment to let Him know how much I loved Him and trusted Him to provide, "in front" of people, oh my!) and if I was going to be a people pleaser instead of  a Jesus-pleaser, then that's fine, but I'll miss out on it. Someone else will get to talk to Him about it. You know what, I didn't feel relieved....I felt saddened. That I was ashamed. He comforted me, He still loves me, but it was just that creeping human tendency to worry more about appearances than relationship. Oh, can I add: that creeping human CHRISTIAN tendency. Because let's face it. Much of the "church" is consumed with how they look to others. With looking legitimate. 

With looking put together. But Jesus doesn't ask for neatly dressed, well spoken, right-on-doctrine individuals. He asks for those who are hurting, in total disarray, to come, seek healing from Him. He's opposed to us proud Christians. We call ourselves after Him, but WHO ARE WE REALLY? 
Who is Jesus to us? 
It's time to be honest with ourselves. 
Jesus has to be ALL, and in all, or else we are pretenders. Hypocrite means "masked performer". 

On the outside, looking good. But the Bible says on the inside, it's like dead mens' bones. White-washed tombs. God hates it when we act like we love Him, but in the nitty gritty of it, we actually just want to look good, live comfortable, and accidentally not hear the call so we never end up "being sent". 
Search your hearts. Examine yourselves. Why do you do the things you do? 

(that's the inside of a heart by the way)

Do you act one way around some people, and another way around others? 
Are you in it for the glory and the comfort, or for Christ, because you honestly love Him so much, You would sacrifice every comfort to die in His Name. Confront these questions. Get up out of your seats. Take a walk and talk to God. Really talk. I don't mean send Him via prayer a list of "please do this" and "Please help that". Pour out your heart. Let Him know you WANT, you LONG, to hear from Him. That life is incomplete without Him. Don't just pray in monotone! Treat Him like a person! He is person, Spirit, and Almighty God. He is every dimension. Be blown away. Allow yourself to do a "trust fall" into His will. Do you really think He'll just watch you fall? That's not His character. 
Do you really think now that you need to control the situation? CAN we lead normal lives when the God of the universe is calling us with the intention of sending us? 

Let's not say no to God. 
Look up Psalm 53:1. If you notice, there are italics added, unless your Bible is like mine and totally added these words without any warning! 
It says, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'; they are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; there is no one who does good."
However, the original translations from Hebrew wouldn't read "there is". So 
"the fool has said in his heart, 'No God.'" 

Or to add punctuation, "NO, GOD."

That fool....well, he's us. Every time we say "Nope" to God's call, that means WE are the ones who are abominable. 

Let's not say no anymore. 

"Yes, Lord, yes, take me anywhere You want. I'll go through the fiery furnace, just to hold Your hand. I love You Jesus, I love You, my Light, my Shepherd, my All." 

Who can say no to this? 

Love you all and hope I didn't offend anyone. =-)