I was changing purses. You know how it is... I had put last fall's purse in the box with a few things left inside of it, so it was a treasure chest now! Inside was one of my notebooks - a little one that flips up over the top. It was open to a page and had prayer requests in it. I closed it only to find that it had been my notebook at a women's retreat in KC last spring (a year ago... 2007...). The speaker was Carolyn Johnson, one of my favorites! So, I thought I would journal through my notes of her sessions over the next few days and revisit what I had learned. (I'm not sure what I really took away from them at the time because I was 'working' the event...)
You know, we all go through life and life can be really stinky. What we often tend to forget is that
NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME THAT ISN'T FILTERED THROUGH GOD'S WILL
I forget that a lot, don't you? That doesn't mean that nothing bad is going to happen to me or that I'm not going to suffer consequences due to my own choices or the choices of those around me, but God will work His Will through it all.
Look at Genesis 29. Read it through.
I. The Picture
Jacob meets Rachel and falls in love
II. The Problem
Rachel has an older sister, Leah
Their father switches the daughters at the wedding and makes Jacob work an additional 7 years for Rachel.
III. The Prescription
Suffering - Leah knew she was not loved, but God had opened her womb. She had sons...one after another. Reuben (Look-It's-A-Boy), Simeon (God Heard), and Levi (Connect), but it wasn't until she had Judah (Praise-God) that she chose to say, "This time I'll praise God," and submit to His Will.
Submission - this is the goal. We must submit to His Will. When I am in the jungle of life, when I am suffering, I must turn my pain into praise. I must fix my eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter.
You are a Chosen One! You are not chosen to resist suffering, but to Praise God through it!
Judah, Leah's son, is the son through which Jesus's line comes. Normally, this honor would be given to the first-born. Not in this case. God waited for Leah to praise Him through her pain and the reward is that Judah becomes the line through which Jesus will enter the world!
Turn your pain into praise!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Pray the Alphabet!
What a concept! Pray through the alphabet - in this one I am going to focus on God.
God,
You are Awesome
You are Beloved
You are the Creator
You are my Deliveror
You are Everlasting
You are Faithful
Your Glory shines in creation
You are God on High
You are Indescribable
You are Just
You are King
You are Light
You are Mighty
You are Neverending
You are Omnicient
You are Perfect
You are in my Quiet
You are Righteous
You are my Savior
You are True
You are Unfailing
You are Vast
You are Worthy of my praise
You are eXceptional
You are YHWH
You are the Zenith!
That is kinda fun! Hard, but fun!
God,
You are Awesome
You are Beloved
You are the Creator
You are my Deliveror
You are Everlasting
You are Faithful
Your Glory shines in creation
You are God on High
You are Indescribable
You are Just
You are King
You are Light
You are Mighty
You are Neverending
You are Omnicient
You are Perfect
You are in my Quiet
You are Righteous
You are my Savior
You are True
You are Unfailing
You are Vast
You are Worthy of my praise
You are eXceptional
You are YHWH
You are the Zenith!
That is kinda fun! Hard, but fun!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
My Thoughts On Revival
Today we listened to a man with revival on his heart. He shared that in 1735, a revival cycle began. Every ½ century or so, a large revival movement broke out in the world. After 1735 there was one in 1800, the 1850s, and again in 1904 – then they stopped.
By this ‘schedule’, we were to have had a revival in the 1950s or 1960s – Why didn’t we? What was happening that squelched the revival movement at that period of time?
As the ‘young’ of today in the midst of the next cyclical revival season, my observations may seem very accusatory, but I feel they are true and in response to the accusations I feel are coming from the previous generations.
In the 50s and 60s, it seems that the focus was no longer on following CHRIST, but on living by the rules. The idea being that if we, as Christians, would just complete the correct checklist, the people would come pouring into the church.
The correct clothes
The correct decorations
The correct music
The correct programs
The correct building
The correct ground keeping
The correct activities
Now I hear (from this older generation) how a new generation is making changes. They aren’t playing the correct music – not wearing the correct clothes – not putting the correct emphasis on correct behavior.
Where is Jesus in all this?
The Jesus I know hung out with the lowest of the low in society… those people the Jewish leaders would not come near. (Luke 5:27-32; Matthew 9:10-13; Mark 2:13-17;
The Jesus I know did not spend time building up ‘security in the future.’ Jesus lived doing what God asked him to do each day – trusting God to provide for the needs of tomorrow. (Matthew 6:19-34)
The Jesus I know went OUTSIDE the temple to preach – to share – to heal – to serve.
Today’s church spends most - to all - of its time inside the building they meet within. Serving is cleaning, teaching, board meetings, and building work… all within the meeting hall, not the community.
Revival?
Needs prayer
LOTS of prayer
Giving that prayer toward revival means sacrifice of time and comfort. Too many are not willing to give up their time other than Sundays.
Revival?
Needs hearts that hear the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will guide us even in little ways if we allow Him to take over. Some of my favorite times with God is when He sends me a message that helps me in seemingly little ways. – Reminders to pick up an item at the store that I hadn’t even thought about, but would find I would need when I got home. An idea to pick up an item that someone was craving at home – An inkling to bring something home and then be surprised that I needed it – Sometimes simply comfort to calm my heart.
But if the Holy Spirit is not heard in the little things, he will never be followed in the big things: stopping to help the man whose trailer load fell – giving a hug to an acquaintance when you didn’t know it was needed so badly – speaking to a young one ripe for harvest for the Lord. The opportunities are lost! What a revival there could be if we all heard – AND FOLLOWED – the Holy Spirit!
Revival?
It’s God’s, not ours.
It’s from God through us – not from rules, but from daily obedience.
Until we let go of our beliefs that following the rules is following God –
Until we let go of the formulas of faith, the formulas of a follower of Christ –
Until we give up our ideas of what true followers of Christ look like, act like, or do,
There will be no Revival!
Gal 3:1-5
3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing — if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Gal 3:19-25
19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
Gal 5:1-10
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.
Gal 5:13-18
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
We have created a new set of LAW to live by – laws that create a burden of bondage in the church. (Luke 11:46) Christ came to lift that burden, not bring a new one! Christ sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Only by following the Holy Spirit will be ever have another revival movement across this land.
Are we ready for revival?
Is it time?
Who will pray?
By this ‘schedule’, we were to have had a revival in the 1950s or 1960s – Why didn’t we? What was happening that squelched the revival movement at that period of time?
As the ‘young’ of today in the midst of the next cyclical revival season, my observations may seem very accusatory, but I feel they are true and in response to the accusations I feel are coming from the previous generations.
In the 50s and 60s, it seems that the focus was no longer on following CHRIST, but on living by the rules. The idea being that if we, as Christians, would just complete the correct checklist, the people would come pouring into the church.
The correct clothes
The correct decorations
The correct music
The correct programs
The correct building
The correct ground keeping
The correct activities
Now I hear (from this older generation) how a new generation is making changes. They aren’t playing the correct music – not wearing the correct clothes – not putting the correct emphasis on correct behavior.
Where is Jesus in all this?
The Jesus I know hung out with the lowest of the low in society… those people the Jewish leaders would not come near. (Luke 5:27-32; Matthew 9:10-13; Mark 2:13-17;
The Jesus I know did not spend time building up ‘security in the future.’ Jesus lived doing what God asked him to do each day – trusting God to provide for the needs of tomorrow. (Matthew 6:19-34)
The Jesus I know went OUTSIDE the temple to preach – to share – to heal – to serve.
Today’s church spends most - to all - of its time inside the building they meet within. Serving is cleaning, teaching, board meetings, and building work… all within the meeting hall, not the community.
Revival?
Needs prayer
LOTS of prayer
Giving that prayer toward revival means sacrifice of time and comfort. Too many are not willing to give up their time other than Sundays.
Revival?
Needs hearts that hear the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will guide us even in little ways if we allow Him to take over. Some of my favorite times with God is when He sends me a message that helps me in seemingly little ways. – Reminders to pick up an item at the store that I hadn’t even thought about, but would find I would need when I got home. An idea to pick up an item that someone was craving at home – An inkling to bring something home and then be surprised that I needed it – Sometimes simply comfort to calm my heart.
But if the Holy Spirit is not heard in the little things, he will never be followed in the big things: stopping to help the man whose trailer load fell – giving a hug to an acquaintance when you didn’t know it was needed so badly – speaking to a young one ripe for harvest for the Lord. The opportunities are lost! What a revival there could be if we all heard – AND FOLLOWED – the Holy Spirit!
Revival?
It’s God’s, not ours.
It’s from God through us – not from rules, but from daily obedience.
Until we let go of our beliefs that following the rules is following God –
Until we let go of the formulas of faith, the formulas of a follower of Christ –
Until we give up our ideas of what true followers of Christ look like, act like, or do,
There will be no Revival!
Gal 3:1-5
3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing — if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Gal 3:19-25
19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
Gal 5:1-10
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.
Gal 5:13-18
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
We have created a new set of LAW to live by – laws that create a burden of bondage in the church. (Luke 11:46) Christ came to lift that burden, not bring a new one! Christ sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Only by following the Holy Spirit will be ever have another revival movement across this land.
Are we ready for revival?
Is it time?
Who will pray?
Passing Lanes
This weekend I have a prayer retreat planned at the church. We are using the DVDs that I purchased last year at Come to the Fire for our speakers and using video worship. One member of WCG will be running a prayer room while another runs a prayer walk in another room. A couple of ladies are doing food/snacks and we have greeters and sound booth people.
I have advertised this thing all over town to every church I can mail. I have sent invitations to the Church of God congregations in Ottumwa and Moberly. I have invited all the ladies I work with.
I have 4 registrations.
FOUR!
OK - so maybe most of the ladies who attend will be from our church.
So, today while all are leaving, I stop one lady and visit/say goodbye and stuff. In the exchange I say, "Will I see you on Friday and Saturday?" The response was very noncommittal. I tried another couple of people, but nobody was seeming all that interested!
These are the same ladies who were complaining that WCG was just meeting and collecting money - never 'doing' anything. We had a spa day last month and now a prayer retreat this month, but they aren't showing up. At the spa day we had 15 people, but only 7 were from our church!
I'm DONE trying to please these ladies and get them involved. They aren't going to like anything I do. I'm following my hubby's advice and building passing lanes. I'm going to do things and get excited and work on building up my programs - but I can't drag these ladies with me or wait for them- I'm going to have to find new ones to travel on my journey with me! Sunday morning church goers are going to miss out on a lot of fun in the journey to grow with Christ if they continue to resolve to only come on Sunday mornings! Following Christ and being a part of the body of believers takes more than just a couple of hours out of the weekend. There are plenty of ladies in our church who want to travel with Christ - we'll just have to go on without the others.
And it's not like they are all old! If they were all older, I could see that they are just from another generation, but some are quite young! Sometimes I feel like they serve God from a different tradition that the one I belong to. It's like there is a checklist of do's and don't's that are to be followed and if you get them all done when they are supposed to be done, then you'll get to be a Christian and go to heaven. The holiness movement I am a proud part of is all about relationship - with God and with others. Following where the Holy Spirit leads on a daily basis. In my Bible it says the Jesus came to fulfill the whole law and take my sin to the grave with Him. I am free from the condemnation of the Law of the Old Testament and am free to follow Christ with no limits. I am to be in such a close relationship with God that I can follow His leading daily and be Jesus all over my corner of the world - just wearing a "Jill Suit" while I'm doing it! OK - enough of that - that's my next blog!
I feel sorry for these ladies who choose to exclude themselves from the fellowship of women. I wish I could just rope them and bring them along for just ONE activity so that they could see for themselves what others are experiencing, but I'm not sure it will ever happen.
So on with the building of the passing lanes.
I have advertised this thing all over town to every church I can mail. I have sent invitations to the Church of God congregations in Ottumwa and Moberly. I have invited all the ladies I work with.
I have 4 registrations.
FOUR!
OK - so maybe most of the ladies who attend will be from our church.
So, today while all are leaving, I stop one lady and visit/say goodbye and stuff. In the exchange I say, "Will I see you on Friday and Saturday?" The response was very noncommittal. I tried another couple of people, but nobody was seeming all that interested!
These are the same ladies who were complaining that WCG was just meeting and collecting money - never 'doing' anything. We had a spa day last month and now a prayer retreat this month, but they aren't showing up. At the spa day we had 15 people, but only 7 were from our church!
I'm DONE trying to please these ladies and get them involved. They aren't going to like anything I do. I'm following my hubby's advice and building passing lanes. I'm going to do things and get excited and work on building up my programs - but I can't drag these ladies with me or wait for them- I'm going to have to find new ones to travel on my journey with me! Sunday morning church goers are going to miss out on a lot of fun in the journey to grow with Christ if they continue to resolve to only come on Sunday mornings! Following Christ and being a part of the body of believers takes more than just a couple of hours out of the weekend. There are plenty of ladies in our church who want to travel with Christ - we'll just have to go on without the others.
And it's not like they are all old! If they were all older, I could see that they are just from another generation, but some are quite young! Sometimes I feel like they serve God from a different tradition that the one I belong to. It's like there is a checklist of do's and don't's that are to be followed and if you get them all done when they are supposed to be done, then you'll get to be a Christian and go to heaven. The holiness movement I am a proud part of is all about relationship - with God and with others. Following where the Holy Spirit leads on a daily basis. In my Bible it says the Jesus came to fulfill the whole law and take my sin to the grave with Him. I am free from the condemnation of the Law of the Old Testament and am free to follow Christ with no limits. I am to be in such a close relationship with God that I can follow His leading daily and be Jesus all over my corner of the world - just wearing a "Jill Suit" while I'm doing it! OK - enough of that - that's my next blog!
I feel sorry for these ladies who choose to exclude themselves from the fellowship of women. I wish I could just rope them and bring them along for just ONE activity so that they could see for themselves what others are experiencing, but I'm not sure it will ever happen.
So on with the building of the passing lanes.
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