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.
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