Freak Us Out!

I have fought the urge to blog all afternoon and evening. I've had to take some time to just abide in Him and process the many things that were thrown at me this weekend at Living Proof Live in Little Rock.  Beth Moore never fails to disappoint in bringing a word from the Lord, I just sometimes fail to be still and listen. Truly listen. 
Its easy to become caught up in the emotions of a weekend like this and quickly fall off our "high". Been there. Done that. 
She started off by quoting Travis Cottrell, the event's worship leader. She said he had been praying before they came out and had prayed the words, "just freak us out with Your presence, Lord".  How awesome would that be? To just be totally freaked out by His presence?  She went on to lead us in a prayer before she spoke and she said something in that prayer that stuck out to me, "send Your Spirit in a torrent of rain".  
I think those particular words that she was praying specifically to God was meant for me to hear, to get.  A friend and I have discussed this before, how God can just pour down His grace and mercy like a monsoon and those exact words were perfect timing for me. How does He do that? He's God, but man, it sure does bless my soul how He can know my heart, my fears, my failures, my hurts at a point in time and put the exact words I need to hear into the prayer of another. Freaked me out? Hmm...yeah!!! In a good way!

Here are my notes:
Friday Night, Session 1:
We will never fulfill the ministry God has for us until we become sober-clear headed.  Do the real thing, not the fake thing. 2 Timothy 4:5 "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."
FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY
You have a ministry. Its up to you to fulfill it. No one else can do your ministry.
*7 Statements How To Fulfill Your Ministry
1. Adopt a succinct (briefly and clearly expressed) life goal. 
What do you want out of life? 2 Timothy 4:6 tells us that Paul knew his departure was at hand "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near."  He wanted to finish running the race, running to finish, to accomplish everything God had for Him.  What if we knew our departure was at near? Would we do things differently?
*G-God
*O-On
*A-A
*L-Life
There's the goal He wants for my life, to be all over my life! I honestly desire for the Spirit to be obvious in my life. 
2. Acquire the Appropriate Tools
2 Timothy 4:9-13
We cannot accomplish a thousand things for His glory. What would it take to be excellent  in what He's called me to do?  I have the insight for my calling in my hands, His Word. That is where He equips me, gives me insight, and lays out His plans for my life.
(*this next one needs a disclaimer! I voted to remove it from the list, but oh okay, here it is!)
3. Endure the hard for the sake of the good. (hmmm...yeah! ouch!!)
If a hardship is left with me, then its there for a reason, and will bring good. I have to understand that the good may be for those around me, to bring Him glory. 
I have to learn the art of perseverance!  Sometimes I have to go back to go forward. Will I honestly trust God with my heart, to shine some light on what I need to look back on that I may go forward?
Don't be afraid to deal with the past, that it robs you of the freedom of the present. 
4. Embrace the necessity and complexity of community.
You can NOT do your ministry without community!  2 Timothy 4:9-22 lists nearly 20 people in Paul's life that was a part of his community.  His departure was near and he had these people on his mind and in his heart. 
If we do not get healthy in our Christian community then we cannot fulfill our ministry.  
Then she gave us homework for the evening, we were to list folks that were like our similar relationships in the faith...those "near and dear", the "dear and far", the "close by, but less close tie", the disappointments, and the perceived dangers.  And can I mention, how cool is it that God can use a little assignment like this to work on a heart?!!

 Saturday morning (session 2)
-Are you tired of playing dress up?
-Stop comparing yourself to others, we ALL bring something, we don't do other's work/ministry, we have our own to do!
-Immunity from community means no ministry...you have to have people in your life to have a ministry.
-Most things that trip us up is not circumstances, but people. 
*Our similar relationships of the faith:
       -Perceived danger: (Alexander) 1 Tim. 1:18-20, 2 Tim. 4:14 Who has done me harm?  There ARE dangerous people that come into the church who need healing, be on guard. Keep these situations in a small group setting.
       -Disappointments: (Demas) 2 Tim. 4:8-9 the terms "longed for" and "loved" have the same meaning. Love ALWAYS possesses a longing. There is nothing the world can give you that God can't way out do!
2 Tim. 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."  the Greek word "kalos" means beautiful (good fight)

-no ugly fight is worth having
-a beautiful fight is for something!
*LOVED THIS NOTE:  she asked, "do you have a teenager giving you ugly fights? take away their money! take away their car! and by all means, take away their cell phone! You ARE the parent!"  Amen! and amen!!!!!
     -Close by, but less close tie  (2 Tim. 4:21)
There are people in our lives that may not have close ties with us today, but we would do well to remember they may be our "Luke" of tomorrow.
"All women is brothers" quote from Wendell Berry's book "Hannah Coulter"
     -Dear and far: Paul knew his departure was at hand and restored some relationships that were dear, though far. Do you have a history of restored relationships? Do you give people 2nd, 3rd, 4th...chances?
Paul also wanted Timothy to come to him, wanted to see him.
     -Near and dear: this was Luke
These are the enduring friendships, just good for the soul; no matter the distance between us.
She then went into an area of boundaries and how what's going on in our culture comes into our churches. Boundaries is a big word of today.
Matthew 5:40-41
Biblical valid reasons to draw boundaries or to simply say "no":
-we can't help
-our help doesn't help
-beyond the boundary is unauthorized danger
Nehemiah 9:20 (the Message) "You gave them your good Spirit 
   to teach them to live wisely. You never stinted with your manna, 
   gave them plenty of water to drink. You supported them forty years in that desert; 
   they had everything they needed; Their clothes didn't wear out 
   and their feet never blistered. You gave them kingdoms and peoples, 
   establishing generous boundaries."

*Jesus wants us to help carry one another's burdens.

Saturday morning (Session Three)

5. Accept God's willing and healing

I need to accept God's sovereignty at the end of the day, He's still Lord!

God allows some things to happen to help us minister to others. 

No one has it all together!! If they did, they were complete, they'd be dead!

*Do not give up and do not give in!

There will be times when even those closest to you, who truly love you cannot be there for you - "may it not be held against them" (2 Tim. 4:16)

Sometimes people cannot be there for us because the Lord has orchestrated it to be that way, so that we have to just depend and trust on Him. He is ALWAYS there! ALWAYS! And gives strength and pours strength into us so that His message can be proclaimed! (2 Tim. 4:18-19)

*I'm meant to live in community. What if God does hold friends back just so you can be with Jesus? We HAVE to have intimacy with Him-we have to come to a point where there is no one more real to us and that can only happen when its just you and Him!!6. Entrust yourself to a divine "so that" 
"But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it." (2 Tim. 4:17)  We have to go through a "so that" period. 
*Forgive the people who's not there when you think they need to be SO THAT He can fill you! Nobody can deliver you but Jesus. "better dance with the one that brung you!"
How are we delivered safely? Keeping the Faith!  The point of our existence is faith in God-and the number one thing the enemy is trying to steal from us? our faith. 
7. Always and forever, come what may, Keep the faith!! (Heb. 11:6)
Stay face forward, keep the conversation open with Him, even if it is just groaning. Wrestle it out with Him. Do NOT let the enemy have your faith!




Well, those are my notes and I know this is pitifully written up switching from first, second and third person! I'm not an English major, so get over it! :)  It was a painful, stepping on my toes weekend, but exactly what I needed. I've heard people say, I felt like it was just for me, well a whole lot of this weekend was pointed at me, to point me back to Him.


Dear Lord, thank you for the sweet reminders of who You are. I ask you to just get all over my life! Freak me out! Send your Spirit in a torrent of rain! Fill me to be emptied and empty me so I may come seeking You to fill me once again. I thank you for those dear friends in my life that encourage and point me to You. Also remind me, though I can't do ministry without community, I cannot have a healthy community or ministry without seeking You first and foremost. Help me to keep the faith, to stay facing forward and wrestling out those things I don't understand. The enemy will not win! Victory is only in You! Amen.