The final day, entered with mixed feelings. Sad that the time went so quickly, but anticipation growing about returning home to wife and family (knowing there was a 2000 mile drive ahead of me). To be honest, my mind really wasn’t set to engage to deeply, but I still picked up a few nuggets for John Ortberg in the morning general session. To sum up his conversation in a few words it would be “Don’t quench the Spirit.” It was through the Spirit that Jesus was baptized, it was through the Spirit the Jesus ministered, and it was the Spirit who Jesus sent for us. Another person at the conference described the work of the Spirit as “happening in the back ground.” We don’t always see the work, but we benefit greatly from the results.
As I think about this I would say that I am guilty of quenching the Spirit at times. The business of life, unwillingness to respond, or thinking I know better. I wonder about the things that I may have missed as a result of my inaction. I need to be more diligent about responding to the Spirits promptings.
I was blessed by following what may have been one of these encounters on my way home. My goal on this trip was not to venture more than about a mile off of I-35. This interstate highway connects Minneapolis to San Antonio, so I didn’t have to veer much off the path. On the way home after stopping at a Kansas rest stop I picked up some material about the Flint Hills region of Kansas. The material was for a future return trip, remember I had my sights set on home. The gal at the information desk then mentions something about a tall grass prairie preserve in this area, I knew I had to go. This 3 hour side trip was quite the blessing, the drive was beautiful, so relaxing and refreshing. The preserve itself was an old ranch built in the mid to late 1800’s. I took about an hour walk through the prairie and experience the wonders of God in His creation. Leading by the Spirit, I don’t know for sure, but God met me on this road.
How has your response to the Spirit been lately?