Nuggets From Northwest Prayer Conference
Oh, was that ever a rich three days. They had first class speakers, wonderful resources, and awesome, awesome worship!
I will be processing this one for awile, but here are a few of the "be still my heart" nuggets I brought home:
1. Since I accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit (the Comforter Jesus promised us) dwells in my heart. Nothing new there. But a new awareness that He dwells there 24/7/365, not just when I am paying attention to Him. That means if I do something even the slightest bit shady, or lazy, or dishonest, or apathetically, if I exaggerate, or speak unwisely, or put off until tomorrow what the Lord asks me to do today ... He is there then, too ... and it grieves Him. I went into the conference both challenged by circumstances, and encouraged by breakthroughs the Lord has brought me in the past month. In the midst, so to speak. So while this nugget is a little on the down side, if you understand the context of where I was when the conference started, it brought clarity to some gray areas I was experiencing. So it was good, not down.
2. Know the verse "Run the race, throwing off sin and the things that entangle you --- looking onto Jesus the Author and Perfector of your faith ..." (Hebrews 12)? Well, that's my verse for 2005. I turned 50 last year, and to my mind, at least, I haven't done anywhere near all I wanted to accomplish for the Kingdom. But I am 50. So, battling age thoughts ... and someone said, "I'm 54! The goal is getting closer...and I want to finish S T R O N G !!!" Boy, my ears picked up. Just a simple statement, but a different attitude, a different perspective altogether. I AM 50, and the goal is getting closer. Now, LORD, help me finish S T R O N G!!!
3. We will move in the direction of our dominant thoughts. We say that God if first in our lives, that time with our spouses is important, that we want to serve the house of God, etc, etc, etc. BUT WHERE IS OUR TIME TRULY SPENT? What is our dominant thought? Like an idiot, I watched an edition of the TV show "WifeSwap". Dumb show (sorry, ABC) but this kinda stuck with me, in that there was a husband whose wife was virtually raising their two boys on her own because he was always working. Yet he said he loved his boys, and it was obvious he loved his wife - but he was gone from 7am to well past the boys bedtime - virtually every day. And tired - oh, he was so tired. You could tell he wished he could go to games, or take her on a date, or have family time and unwind ... yet he worked. In his mind, he was providing for his family. But he was forcing his family to live WITHOUT HIM, and that created a hardship for all four of them. His dominent thought was preparing and working for the FUTURE, when his family needed him in the present. By the end of the show, he had had a revelation moment, and when they caught back up with him a month later, you wouldn't believe the difference in all of them. It was huge. We move in the direction of our dominent thought. Time to really examine some of those priorities. I know I am.
4. What I want in and for my own church must begin in me. I want revival. I have been asking and seeking, and knocking for revival. Going to this conference was wonderful, and I felt revival stir in my own spirit. I got a piece of it. And I brought it home to my own church family. Now I will let God breathe on me, and when His plan is ripe, it will come.
5. Did I mention I'm 50, and getting closer to the goal? Whahooo!
6. Zeal and passion, coupled with extraordinary godly wisdom, will take us all where God truly wants us to be. They balance each other. Wisdom keeps us on the path, going the direction He wants, and zeal and passion keeps us going down that path with focus and drive. I CAN do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me and calls me to His purpose!
7. We need to get out of our comfort zones. We need to catapult ourselves beyone what is normal and everyday, because if we stay same-o, same-o, then familiarity sets in. We take God for granted. We take the Holy Spirit for a regular everyday complacency occurance ... and that's not right. God is a PERSON. We wouldn't ignore our husband or wife, or take our parents or children for granted --- it would offend them, or hurt their feelings. Do we even care if we treat God that way? Wake up! Wake up! Get out of the normal routine. Go to a conference, a different bible study. See and talk with different folks at church. Invite those in who would not necessarily "fit" - they may bring a new flavor and atmosphere you didn't know you were missing until you got it again! Take a class. Learn a totally different thing. Have a teachable spirit - and you will find what you learn and absorb will bring a benefit to the House. Go for it! (P.S. I am finally taking that welding class. I'm 50, and that goal is getting closer...)
More later ... it is sunshining in Oregon, and I don't want to miss a minute!
I will be processing this one for awile, but here are a few of the "be still my heart" nuggets I brought home:
1. Since I accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit (the Comforter Jesus promised us) dwells in my heart. Nothing new there. But a new awareness that He dwells there 24/7/365, not just when I am paying attention to Him. That means if I do something even the slightest bit shady, or lazy, or dishonest, or apathetically, if I exaggerate, or speak unwisely, or put off until tomorrow what the Lord asks me to do today ... He is there then, too ... and it grieves Him. I went into the conference both challenged by circumstances, and encouraged by breakthroughs the Lord has brought me in the past month. In the midst, so to speak. So while this nugget is a little on the down side, if you understand the context of where I was when the conference started, it brought clarity to some gray areas I was experiencing. So it was good, not down.
2. Know the verse "Run the race, throwing off sin and the things that entangle you --- looking onto Jesus the Author and Perfector of your faith ..." (Hebrews 12)? Well, that's my verse for 2005. I turned 50 last year, and to my mind, at least, I haven't done anywhere near all I wanted to accomplish for the Kingdom. But I am 50. So, battling age thoughts ... and someone said, "I'm 54! The goal is getting closer...and I want to finish S T R O N G !!!" Boy, my ears picked up. Just a simple statement, but a different attitude, a different perspective altogether. I AM 50, and the goal is getting closer. Now, LORD, help me finish S T R O N G!!!
3. We will move in the direction of our dominant thoughts. We say that God if first in our lives, that time with our spouses is important, that we want to serve the house of God, etc, etc, etc. BUT WHERE IS OUR TIME TRULY SPENT? What is our dominant thought? Like an idiot, I watched an edition of the TV show "WifeSwap". Dumb show (sorry, ABC) but this kinda stuck with me, in that there was a husband whose wife was virtually raising their two boys on her own because he was always working. Yet he said he loved his boys, and it was obvious he loved his wife - but he was gone from 7am to well past the boys bedtime - virtually every day. And tired - oh, he was so tired. You could tell he wished he could go to games, or take her on a date, or have family time and unwind ... yet he worked. In his mind, he was providing for his family. But he was forcing his family to live WITHOUT HIM, and that created a hardship for all four of them. His dominent thought was preparing and working for the FUTURE, when his family needed him in the present. By the end of the show, he had had a revelation moment, and when they caught back up with him a month later, you wouldn't believe the difference in all of them. It was huge. We move in the direction of our dominent thought. Time to really examine some of those priorities. I know I am.
4. What I want in and for my own church must begin in me. I want revival. I have been asking and seeking, and knocking for revival. Going to this conference was wonderful, and I felt revival stir in my own spirit. I got a piece of it. And I brought it home to my own church family. Now I will let God breathe on me, and when His plan is ripe, it will come.
5. Did I mention I'm 50, and getting closer to the goal? Whahooo!
6. Zeal and passion, coupled with extraordinary godly wisdom, will take us all where God truly wants us to be. They balance each other. Wisdom keeps us on the path, going the direction He wants, and zeal and passion keeps us going down that path with focus and drive. I CAN do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me and calls me to His purpose!
7. We need to get out of our comfort zones. We need to catapult ourselves beyone what is normal and everyday, because if we stay same-o, same-o, then familiarity sets in. We take God for granted. We take the Holy Spirit for a regular everyday complacency occurance ... and that's not right. God is a PERSON. We wouldn't ignore our husband or wife, or take our parents or children for granted --- it would offend them, or hurt their feelings. Do we even care if we treat God that way? Wake up! Wake up! Get out of the normal routine. Go to a conference, a different bible study. See and talk with different folks at church. Invite those in who would not necessarily "fit" - they may bring a new flavor and atmosphere you didn't know you were missing until you got it again! Take a class. Learn a totally different thing. Have a teachable spirit - and you will find what you learn and absorb will bring a benefit to the House. Go for it! (P.S. I am finally taking that welding class. I'm 50, and that goal is getting closer...)
More later ... it is sunshining in Oregon, and I don't want to miss a minute!
posted by godtalker77 at 9:01 AM
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