A Robe & Some Bling...

Tonight I had the opportunity to talk with some amazing young people.  I absolutely love being around young people with a passion for God.  Nothing more excites me than hearing their enthusiasm and seeking for the truth.  I wish I had what they have when I was their age.  Such opportunity and promise.  

The topic of prodigals is still burning within my prodigal heart.  I believe my favorite part of the prodigal son story has to be the dad waiting on the drive way with open arms for the son coming home.  There's something about a father's love.  The son, after going through the mud for a season, came home to see if he might possibly have a place with the servants in his fathers house.  Instead, the father opened his arms up to welcome his son right back into the family.  This father had every right to be angry with him or to shun him from the family, however, he does the complete opposite.  He embraces him, clothes him with a robe and some bling before he's even cleaned up, and throws the ultimate party.

What an image of God!  My own life is one example.  My Father in Heaven opened His arms to embrace me as His own.  He could have written me off.  He could have viewed "Connie the prodigal daughter" as stained, less than worthy, unforgivable, but He didn't.  He simply poured His unconditional love on me for who I am, put people in my life to encourage me and has blessed me in ways I certainly do not deserve.  For this, I am ever grateful.  I'm in debt to Him for a price He paid for me....a price I can never repay.  

Garage Sale 2

Tonight, I'm thinking about tomorrow's Garage Sale.  I wonder what tales we'll witness in the morning.  There's always that one lady or some hilarious  child leaving a story.  I will be watching and post more this weekend.   Maybe I'll even take some pictures...

So much to post about over the past 6 days, but not much time this week to write.  This week will be better so I'll have more time to catch up.  More "Tales from the Garage" coming soon!

Bugs & Mud

Yesterday, I caught "the" bug.  This stomach virus has been passed around like a prized possession from our granddaughter to everyone in the family...with the exception of my husband.  What's up with that?  The big question is "will he catch the bug?"

With a little sick time on my hands, I've had lots of time to ponder.  Thoughts of many things have crossed my mind: It's time to start Christmas shopping.  I wonder how the review of the manuscript is going.  I have such a great job (seriously).  Prodigals.  I love this mattress and comforter (nothing special, but soooo comfortable especially when I'm sick).  Hold up a minute...prodigals?  What?

I cannot seem to shake the thought of prodigals.  Being a prodigal myself, I've walked the hard road.  I recall the day I turned back to God.  I was pouring my heart out, and this man told me the story of the prodigal son.  He said I was ready to come back home.  Not really understanding the gold he had just shared with me, I began my journey back to Jesus.  Being a mom of 2 daughters, I vowed to teach my girls how NOT to take this road.  Fast forward about 15+ yrs, low and behold, my daughter ended up on the same street! 

Lately, every where I go, I feel like a magnet attracting families with hurting parents.  Parents concerned about the path their wayward son or daughter recently embraced.  A friend asked for prayer regarding her prodigal last Sunday.  The request brought me right back to my own journey.  I pulled out my journals from the season when my own daughter had made some decisions we were not very excited about and didn't support.  I was completely amazed and filled with excitement of God's faithfulness.  I saw just how involved He was in the situation.  He spoke so much over us, put encouragement in our paths, and just held our hands.  The very wise Robert Douglas told me "Sometimes your kids just have to go through the mud."  Nothing fancy, but very profound.  It's something I've never forgotten.  Although this may sound weird, I am truly grateful for the mud in my own life.  Without that mud, I wouldn't be who and where I am today.  

Now, the big question for me is "what am I going to do with this?"  Am I willing to beging writing another book when the one I'm still working on isn't finished?  Am I willing to be encouragement to those now in their own journey through the mud?  Am I willing to put myself out there for God's faithfulness to shine into the lives of others?  Am I willing?

Influence

Live The Dream...what more can I say?  I'm in overload from all of the knowledge and wisdom downloaded into my mind since Thursday night.  I could process this for the next two months and still not fully get all of the GB's of info I just heard. 

Yesterday afternoon I began thinking about influence.  Where do the ripples of my influence travel?  Who do I influence?  Am I a tidal wave of HOPE or something else?  So much to ponder.  I think tomorrow I will spend my day off really digging into this.  You know, journal it out.  I want to be the influencer God desires me to be in my husbands life, in the lives of my children, in my granddaughter's eyes,....in every moment of my journey in life. 

God, search me.  Thank You for sending incredible women of God to speak into my life about influence, the house, HOPE and much, much more.  May I be willing to look foolish to everyone around as necessary to bring You glory!  Let HOPE resound in my life!  May I be the influencer You created me to be!

Winning Hit...Christine Caine (LTD09 Part V)

Christine Caine made the winning hit.  Her message of HOPE is inspiring. 

The #1 thing against the Body of Christ is offense.  It's the Body that reaches towns.  Not an evangelist.  We're all on a journey.

HOPE isn't something you just say.  Oh, I hope I make the team.  I hope I get well soon.  I hope I get a raise.  It's a confident expectation that propels us into motion!  Don't just hope.  Move!  What are you going to do with what you've learned in life and at this conference?

HOPE despite what situations look like.  Don't sit on the sidelines immobilized.  You cannot just wait.  You have to step out.  Make a move.  Confident expectation makes you do something. 

HOPE needs to reach the world.  Fear.  It's one of the biggest cripplers of hope.  We have to stand on God's Word and declare it over our lives DAILY.  Make your mantraJust do it afraid.  Are we literally going to make a difference?  Am I willing to take risks?  The church must arise to be the church it was meant to be. 

2 Kings 7:3-4  Famine was so bad the people were resorting to eating donkey heads and babies.  The lepers felt they were the least of the least.  They finally rose saying why are we sitting here?  Question:  Are you sitting at the gate?  Don't wait for the planets to align.  Step out! 

The LORD then caused the ENTIRE army to fear.  HE made a noise that the lepers could never make.  God's not looking for the classy or the cool.  He's looking for lepers with arms falling off.  He's looking for the willing.  When we start moving, God's gonna make a sound and do things we never thought possible.  We just do what we know: pray, walk, step out afraid. 

HOPE cannot stay at the gate any longer!  Fear is what keeps us at the gate.  We must be willing to look foolish.  It will cost something, but God didn't give us a spirit of fear. 

HOPE is not intimidated.  Judges 7:1-8  Sometimes things might not look right.  God has to strip us at times for HIS Glory to take center stage.  He is going to be one the one that makes things happen, and we and He will know that He did it.  We are stripped from all things we had confidence in so He can show up and blow our imagination out the park.  We must be willing to look foolish.    Here's some people that looked foolish:
Noah - Ark
Moses - Red Sea
Sarah - 90 y.o. pregnant woman
Israelites - Jerico March
David - Picking up his sling shot
Esther - entering the Kings chamber
Lepers - marching into town
Joshua - taking the next gen to the Jordan
Caleb - 85 y.o. can still make a difference
Wisemen - following a star
Peter - stepping out of the boat
Woman with the issue of blood - reaching out to touch just the hem
Blind Bartemaus - calling out
Paul & Silas - singing praise in jail
Widow - giving 2 mites
Boy - offering his lunch of 2 fish and 5 loaves
Mary - unwed pregnant teen
Jesus - hanging on a cross half naked

BUT GOD!  We all know the results of these.  If you don't, go dig them out of the Bible.  Such amazing stories of people stepping out to look foolish for God and God showing up in a magnificent way!

HOPE is calling you.  Women everywhere are being called to mobilize. Zach 9:9 - The world is in a mess because the King is not here.  He is coming.  We can no longer sit at the gate!  Lean in.  Take your place.  Are you going to stay at the gate or are you going to step out to look foolish? 

Are you willing?

Homerun by Charlotte Gambill (LTD09 - Part IV)

OK - so I've had the opportunity of sitting everywhere this weekend (overflow, sanctuary and balcony).  Jesus is definitely in every one of those places.  It was as if the doors of Heaven were open this morning. 

Charlotte Gambill hit it out of the park this morning speaking about Seeds of Influence. (Again, not much proofing so sorry if it's scattered or has typo's - Enjoy!)

We all have a gift inside...seeds of influence.  Who do we influence?  How do we influence them (positive/negative)?  Women are different than men.  It's by design.  Not an accident. 

Influence is not a platform, promotion, name in lights...  Everyone has it.  The enemy is wise to influence but doesn't have it like a woman.  He knows a wife has a special influence over her husband.  That's why he targeted Eve.  He knew she had influence.  Women have influence like no other.  Women are connectors, networkers.  Women gather. It's in our makeup!  We even mobilize to go to the bathroom in groups.  The enemy has been after women's "seeds" since Adam & Eve.  He knows women can do things in networking that Twitter, Facebook and the Internet cannot touch.  What am I using my seeds for?

Influence is what you carry.  Imagine walking into a Department store.  They want to get their fragrance on you because they know you'll wear it everywhere you go during the day.  When people ask what you're wearing... and you know the rest.  Free advertising.  The enemy also wants to put his aroma on you.  Ouch!  He wants you to carry hurt, offense, bitterness...  Think about walking downstairs to the breakfast table.  What influence are you carrying to your kitchen?  What fragrance are you wearing?

Mark 6:17... This is a story about a woman of influence that went bad.  This woman (Herodias) had the ability to make a difference.  Due to  her "influence" over her daughter, she manipulated to get her agenda met.  She didn't have the power herself to kill John the Baptist, but she did have influence.  She waited for her opportunity and Wham!  Instead of having a Kingdom mindset, she allowed the enemy to win. She could have had half of the kingdom...get that...HALF of the kingdom!  Sometimes we seek compromise on things where we shouldn't even seek it.

The enemy will wait for the opportunity! This mom (Herodias) wore her influence daily.  She nursed it.  Carried it with her.  Talked about it.  Treated it as if she was raising it like a child.  She became attached.

The daughter had an amazing opportunity.  Imagine if this mom was under the influence of Heaven.  Wow!  What she could have done with this.  Feed the needy, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless...  This mom wasted her influence on offense and injustice.  She had a "Please Me!" attitude. 

The mom thought "if I could just get the head on the plate."  The fact of the matter is no matter how many "heads" you get on your wall, you will never be satisfied.  Never enough!

We have the ability to influence for good.  We must love the big picture and have "half of the kingdom" mentality.  Take your position seriously!  Don't take the enemy's offer to go to Never, Never Land like Peter Pan offered Wendy.  It's time to leave the nursery and grow up!  Lean in and take hold of God's promise for you. 

Here's a thought from Charlotte:  Instead of returning as Sister Gossip to your home/church, return as Sister Gospel!

LTD09 - Part III

I cannot believe it’s almost over. One more day left. Tomorrow Charlotte Gambill and Chris Caine will be closing us out in style, but tonight was wonderful leaving us all feeling like Princesses. We had an after party like no other with corndogs (yummy!), face painting, carriage rides, characature drawings, and more. True HPC flair!

Bobbie Houston spoke about The Church being a House of Prayer. Great word!

years + strength + influence = strategy

We need to be strategic in the church. The House is a refuge. It’s a place of forgiveness and acceptance and worship. Eccl 3:10-11


Most of mankind is seeking some type of truth. There are 3 types of men (and women): redeemed, unredeemed, and wicked. The redeemed have found salvation from their past and are “redeemed” in Christ. The unredeemed are good people. They just have not found Christ yet. The wicked are rebellious…seekers of independence.  There's a difference between unredeemed and wicked.  Don't confuse the two.


We MUST worship in Spirit and Truth. Worship is the song of salvation in our lives that sings out to those around us in our every day. Pay attention to God (John 14, 15, 16). Women have so much to offer the House of God. Ps 27:4.

We need to behold the beauty of the Lord. In beholding Him we are made pure. Bobbie tells the story of meeting “Zoe” for the first time at the Colour Conference. “Zoe” is the first girl rescued by A21. Their meeting was only 4 months after her rescue. Since “Zoe” was horrifically abused, she should have been in a physchotic state, BUT because "Zoe" saturated herself worshiping the Lord, she was redeemed and transformed (now she still had a way to go, but Bobbie was amazed at her progress. Only God can do things of this nature.) Isaiah 66:1 God dwells with His people. He doesn’t slumber or sleep. His eyes and ears are ever attentive to our hearts.


We must be a House for humanity. Not exclusive, but inclusive! A spirit and attitude of excellence should be displayed in the House. A servants heart should be required of all. We must ask intelligent questions. How can we serve with no agenda? There is room for diversity in the House. People need to encounter love and acceptance when they enter the House so that they are captivated by it.


We MUST be a House of Prayer. Isaiah 56 – speaks of justice and injustice and the world to be right again. She zoned into verse 7 “All these I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples." What will our church be known as?


Solomon had just completed building this incredible temple for God. Solomon has an elaborate conversation asking God if He’s seen the extravagant temple (2Chron 6:12-7:14) built for Him. The prayer from the House captured God’s heart. The prayer got God’s attention, not the temple. There is an Epic Promise found in 7:15-16.

Will our House be known as a House of Prayer or something else?

Prayer does 3 things:
1. Makes a way for Jesus. We can do nothing but pray. Only Jesus can save.
2. Pushes back darkness and strongholds of the enemy.
3. Involves us in the miracle.


Don’t have to be weird, just willing. Don’t have to be complex. RISE UP!

*******************************

Here’s a couple of pictures from today.  By the way, I sat in the Balcony tonight.  Just so you know, Jesus is in the Balcony, the Overflow, and in the Sanctuary.  It's been amazing!

Elton singing his song "The Response"

Bren, Lori, Melissa, Leslie & me

LTD09 - Part II

This morning I had the opportunity to sit in the sanctuary.  WOW!  It began with Bobbie Houston, moved on to DeLynn Rizzo, and ended with bang (Christine Caine).  What a list!  I tried to mention a couple of things from each sermon since I have so many notes.  Gonna have to proof this later so sorry if there are typos.

Bobbie Houston served up a Tasting Plate of thoughts.  They are as follows:

• Hosea 2:14-16 God is gathering His girls.  He's alluring them to restore what's been stolen from them.  He's calling to the little girl in every one of His daughters.  We must be encouraged.  God wants to raise all of us up.  God will sow in us in ways we never thought possible.  We have the capacity to rise up.  (Am I drawing near or simply waiting for darkness to happen before I lean in?)
• Matt 13:3-9, 13-23  There are 4 types of people with seed (God's purpose).  The first is the person who sits under the Gospel, but doesn't hear it.  The enemy snatches their dreams immediately.  The second person is the roadside Christian.  "It's too hard or inconvenient" to be used.  Seed is wasted there.  The third person hears and gets excited.  Fruit comes, but because there is no depth (roots), they lose potential.  Obligation and sacrifice become too hard.  The fourth person gets it.  The enemy cannot snatch their dreams.  This passage gives us the sobering statistic that only 1 in 4 will make it.  Not that they will lose Jesus, but the purpose God birthed in us will not survive due to root depth or roadside living or just hardness.  The verse goes on to say of the surviving "1", they gain 30, 60 or 100 fold.  God put the potential of 100 fold in every one of us.  Up to us to pursue the seeds of greatness in us.  (How hungry am I?  Am I "1" or "2, 3 or 4"?)
• Hab 1:4  The prophet is freaking out looking at the circumstances around him and has taken his focus off of God.  God reminds him that He's going do something bigger than he can even imagine.  We must be stewards of the seeds in us.  We should be in awe!  I must do what I'm made to do and GOD will bring me to places I cannot imagine.  It's a choice.  (Am I in awe?  What will I do with this?)

(Thought I could just list some points.  Doesn't look like this is going to happen.)

DeLynn Rizzo posed the question "Who Am I?"  Not sure if I got them all, but here's what I did get.

• What I do is not who I am.  It's who we are, not what we do, that affects who we are.
• I am strong.  Woman was made from Adam's rib.  The rib protects the heart and provides strength to hold up the body.  We, like the rib, are strength.  Esther, Mary, Mother Theresa, and Rosa Parks displayed great strength.  Be strong!  Eph 6:10, Joshua 1:9.  We get stronger through storms of life. 
• I can handle more than I think.  Never forget that we are not weak or frail. 
• I am valuable and precious.  (personally adding Matt 10:31 here...I am valuable).  We must believe we are valuable and precious.  This is how God sees us.
• I am comfortable in my own skin.  I don't have to be anyone else.  Barbie fact:  If we put Barbie into human proportions, she'd be 7'2", 101 lbs, bra size 39FF, shoe size 5, 19" waist and 33" hips.  No longer think Barbie is "proportioned" perfectly.  God made you gorgeous!  Believe it!
• I am committed.  Fully committed.  God first, then the house, spouse, and so on.  "All sales are final" mentality.
• I am hopeful.  God has a plan for my life.  He's for me.  He hasn't forgotten me.  Jer 29:11  Hope is available for all for all things.
• I am a difference maker.  Don't just exist to exist.  We are here to make a difference. We must be on the front row of helping hurting people.  Ordinary people are difference makers!
• I am fun and exciting.  We must celebrate what God's doing in each of us.  Have a positive outlook.  Be focused on what God's doing in your life.

Christine Caine closed up the morning sessions with a slammer.  We're all going to jail where we should be.  My favorite quote from today (so far) is "The local church never hinders your destiny, but it's the vehicle or avenue to it!" -Chris Caine

• Zech 9:9-12 
• We need to return to our stronghold (Jesus).  Everything around us (world) has been shaken.  We have to surrender our rights, lean in, discover who we are in Him, and pursue His purpose.  We must take our place and assume our posture despite the way things may look around us.  God's gathering His girls for a bigger purpose. 
• Don't be a prisoner of other things (anxiety, stress, lust, etc).  I must stay in jail.  To do so, I must:
• Fix my eyes on Jesus.  It's an action thing.  Be big, be bold!  We cannot afford to take our eyes off of Jesus.  (Spies went into Promised Land, what was the focus? and Goliath/David, did David focus on his fears?)  Fear immobilizes and cripples us.  We must silence negativity, guard our relationships, and listen to those that are encouraging.  What am I fixing my eyes on?  Who am I listening to?
• Must align our mouth with the Word of Christ.  What are we speaking about ourselves?  Heb 6:19
• Don't take a "get out of jail free" card and sell out on God.  We must set our minds on the things above.  Col 3:2  We must have an eternal perspective.
• Don't throw out your confidence in Christ.  If you did, go dig it out the trash and reclaim it.

Amazing day so far.  More to come tonight.  Gotta keep leaning in!

Live The Dream 2009 (LTD09)

Tonight was the first night of LTD09.  Standing room only...really, standing room was even full.  So many women attended that the overflow room was packed.   


Charlotte Gambill (@charlgambill) started the line-up of amazing speakers.  As usual, someone forwarded her "my mail" before she arrived in the US.  I sat in awe as she called out my bad attitude of having to sit in the overflow room.  Honestly, I was struggling.  Then she began to speak.  Why do I put God into a tiny box expecting Him to move only in the sanctuary?  I should know better.  At any rate, she delivered multiple points in one neat and tidy message.  I love sermons pertaining to random, unrelated items that all seem to tie together somehow at the end.


Here are a few points.  Hope it makes sense.

• Mark 5:21 is where the story begins.  (Question for conference:  Why am I here?)
• The woman with the issue was there for "the answer", not just any ol' answer.  She was desperate.  (Question:  Am I desperate enough?)
• Although Jesus now had an appointment with Jarius' child, the woman didn't give up.  She was determined and zoned in on "the answer".  (Question: Am I zoned in to God or something else?)
• Many bumped into Jesus in the crowd that day, however, the woman intentionally touched Him...you know, on purpose.  She could have said "Poor me.  Jesus doesn't even see me."  She didn't.  She reached out beyond her disappointments, her let downs, her distractions, her "what about me?"...  (Question: What am I leaning in to touch?  Is it God or something else?)
• It was the woman's faith that healed her.  (Question:  How's my faith?)

Powerful message.  I truly wish you could have more detailed notes or see the entire sermon.  You can log on to the remaining sessions of the Women's Conference on Friday October 23rd and Saturday October 24th.  Go to http://livethedream.healingplacechurch.org/ Much more to come from Bobbie Houston (@bobbiehouston), DeLynn Rizzo (@DeLynnRizzo), and Christine Caine (@christinecaine).  All star line-up! Come on.  What are you waiting for?  Lean in!

Birthday Recap

Here's the gang celebrating Dad's 70th birthday at the park.  I have to admit, I was cold.  Overall, the first taste of fall 2009 was amazing!   


We started out eating at Jason's Deli.  Oh, how I truly love their Broccoli Cheese Soup.  Thanks to Renee, I'm now hooked on eating it with Ruffles chips.  Super healthy I'm sure.  


From there, we went to Dad's for gifts and "the" cookie cake.  Dad has everything you can imagine LSU.  He is rather difficult to shop for at times.  However, I managed to find something LSU and new for him.  It was a hit!  Finally, the cake.  Everyone was patiently waiting, and yes, it was just as good as it looked! 


Then we headed off to the park.  Luke was so cute leading Miley along the way hand in hand. The kid in everyone came out on the swings.  Miley was quite certain the swing belonged to her alone.  We never could prove otherwise.

  

While gathering with family Saturday, I was reminded of a few random thoughts.  Here they are in no particular order:

1.  Family can bust out in laughter for little or no reason what-so-ever.  It's completely justified and extremely contagious.


2.  iPhones have an App for EVERYTHING (possibly including Allen Wrenches).  


3.  There's more than one way to cut a cookie cake.

4.  A 'gift committee' assembles immediately when presents are involved.  


5.  When barking dogs come running, it's every man (or little girl) for himself!


6.  Dad is really only 18 years old with 52 years of experience.  Loved the card my sister gave him.  (Thinking that makes me 18 with almost 22 years experience... not sure how I feel about that one).


7.  Lastly, Dad's hair never moves despite how much the wind is blowing.  Proof is in our picture below.








Just being with everyone was a such a joy.  Most importantly, Dad seemed to have a lot of fun.  After all, it was his day, and he deserved it!