A Day in His Presence - Overflow 2017 by: Natalie Gibb

Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
exult before him!
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home (Psalm 68:4-6 ESV)

Overflow 2017…beautiful, holy, healing, refreshing, anointed, and full of grace.  We laughed, we cried, we found community.  Every detail from beginning to end was ordained and appointed by God himself.  His presence was with us, and it was consuming.  I have been to all four Overflows and I find something new every time that I come.  I have found healing and wholeness, community and friends, peace and rest, but most importantly I have found Jesus.  EVERY.SINGLE.TIME!  He continues to amaze me and woo me.  He reveals Himself in a new and fresh way every year.  He reminds me of who I am in Him, and He brings the very best people to share with us and point us towards Him.

Lisa Harper had us laughing all weekend, but she also had us listening…listening to the Word and realizing the power that we have in our Savior.  She reminded us time and again that we were seen and heard.  He delights in us and holds us close.  He provides and sustains, even in the desert places.  He wants freedom for us through forgiveness and trust in Him.  She showed us and taught us our redemptive history and that we were never His second choice.  We have always been His beloved daughters. 

Breakout speakers spoke and taught on grace, acceptance, choices, parenting, prayer, finance, and community.  We all learned something, but more importantly we heard that we were wanted in the church.  We were told that we mattered and that we had something to give to others.  We were shown that we are not broken, nor are our families broken.  We are whole in Him and we have brothers and sisters standing in the gap for us and for our families.

Kids laughed, played, and found community themselves.  They were taken care of by members of Bayou City Fellowship that graciously allowed us, as moms, to take deep breaths and rest in God’s presence for a weekend.  Water slides and snow cones filled the day, but love and grace filled their hearts.  Seeds were planted about God’s love for them and His love for their mamas. 

Food…LOTS of food was eaten.  If you ever need to see a physical representation of Overflow then it has to be the sweets and treats bar that happens mid-afternoon.  All supplied by the overflow of volunteers that make up the very best team in all the land, including a team of men that washed 51 cars throughout the day.  Green shirts with smiling faces and genuine hearts surround us and walk with us through the weekend.  Sometimes it is the first connection we make to our future church home, sometimes it is a familiar friend, and sometimes it is a connection that Jesus makes just to see a smile or receive a hug.  They are some of the most authentic and real people who genuinely care about us and want the very best for us.  It is a gift beyond words.

Overflow 2017 has come to a close, but it really is just the beginning.  If you have known Jesus for a while or if you accepted Him for the very first time this weekend, He isn’t finished.  As I take a deep breath tonight and wonder and remember over all that I have seen and heard and felt in the last few days, I hear our dear friend Beth saying over and over again, “Jesus is mine, and I am His!”  I rest in that and I stand in awe and amazement of who He is and what He has done.  I am beyond thankful for this community and all that it has done for my boys and for me.  My prayer tonight is that He does the same for you and your family…abundantly more than we could ever ask for or imagine…because that is Overflow!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13 NIV

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV