When God Speaks

I had the honor of worshiping at Sagemont Church in Houston this weekend for their iLive Women's Conference.  It's too early for me to say that it was life-changing, but in a sense, that is what I feel in my spirit.  It was truly amazing.  I was blessed to be able to go because a dear friend saw that I wanted to go and she surprised me by paying for my registration.  

God spoke through each person that got up on the stage, and it felt like it was specific to me.  What a sweet God we serve!  He loves us so much.  He cares about every aspect of our lives.  

Christy Nockles is one of my most favorite worship leaders, and to be able to sit in a worship service with her leading was just wonderful.  She was so anointed to lead the women in worship this weekend.  Many of her songs resonate with me in many ways, but this one particular song just sat in my heart and I couldn't shake the words from it.  If you have a couple of minutes, listen to "Be Loved" by Christy Nockles here.

I had never had the privilege of hearing Patsy Clairmont or Jeannette Clift George speak live until this weekend.  I've heard snippets of their speaking on the radio, and I've seen books around, but have never read them.  However, after hearing them both speak this weekend, I realized I was missing out on some great, godly women.  This is what I gained most from them through the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart.  

Patsy said we need to "learn how to lean in so we can learn how to listen and communicate with one another and lift each other up."  What I gleaned from this is that we don't know who is watching us and taking notes on us.  People are always watching us to know how to AND how not to handle things.  If we lean in, we can hear and understand their hearts better.  This is an area that God is working in me.  I am really good at telling everyone all about me, but not so great at leaning in and listening.  And, as good as I am about telling everyone all about "me", I'm not a great communicator, meaning I talk a lot without really "saying" a lot.  This pricked my heart, and as much as I have grown in this area, I have a lot more growing to do.

While Ms. George was speaking, I can tell you that I literally started crying.  Oh how I'd love 10 minutes with her to gain as much wisdom from her as I could.  I loved hearing all her stories and watching her "act" out scenes from the bible.  But the thing that captured my heart was her testimony of coming back to Christ after walking away for many years of her life.  She shared that Romans 12:1-2 is what drew her back to him, and I gotta say it was like a lightbulb went off on the top of my head.  Here is how the English Standard Version puts it:  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  I will be writing more about this soon!  It's been on my heart lately, and today was just confirmation that it is a subject I need to dive more deeply into.  She said this "We don't have to explain God, just demonstrate his goodness and what he is doing in us."  I loved that!

Lysa TerKeurst was just on-point throughout her messages.  I was totally engaged in her stories, but more importantly, her topics grabbed my attention completely.  She spoke on becoming Unglued and conflict on Friday night.  Then, on Saturday, "your reaction determines your reach."  She spoke on 2 Chronicles 20, the story of King Jehosaphat.  Amazing story of resolving yourself to set your eyes on Jesus in the midst of the battle.  The battle does not belong to us, it belongs to God.  Finally, "The greatest power we have access to is to surrender our hearts to God in Thanksgiving and Worship."

This just sums up what each person spoke about, but really it went deeper than these few words I'm sharing.  It was a matter of the heart, and I'm truly grateful that I had the opportunity to experience it!  When God speaks, it changes your life!

5 minute Friday: What Mama Did

On Fridays, a group of bloggers gather together to write for 5 minutes flat and share whatever the theme is for that Friday.  Today - What Mama Did.  Check out Lisa-Jo's blog by clicking on the link.

Go.

My mama prayed.  She has such great faith, and I always knew I could go to her with any hurts or fears and she would pray me through them.  I still can.  I know how blessed I am to have that.  So many of my friends would give anything to have that with their mama.  But, I have it with mine.

My mama would dance with us in our tiny house on Appomattox street in LaMarque.  She would break out some old song and "do the mashed potato" or "do the twist".  It still makes me smile when I think about that. I hope I can do that for my boys.  I want them to dance like no one is watching when the mood hits them.  

My mama loved my daddy.  She still does.  They celebrated their 40th anniversary last August.  I know neither of them is perfect, but they've made a perfect life together.  They've both made mistakes, but my mom is a great example of how to work through the imperfections and make it as awesome as it should be.  I couldn't have asked for a better example for teaching me how to be a wife and a mama myself.  

Mama, I love you, and I'm grateful for all that I learned from being your daughter.

Stop.

Beloved - 5 minute Friday

Participating in the five minute friday started by Lisa-Jo Baker over at The Gypsy Mama.  Today's word is Beloved.  Go:

I am my beloved's and he is mine.  His banner over me is love.  That is an old song I sang when I was a young girl in children's church.  As soon as I read the word beloved, I was brought back to that song and that time in my life.  It was a simple truth to believe.  I am His and He is mine.  

Having just celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday, and celebrating 12 years of knowing my husband face to face today (long story here), I can relate to that verse of that song in a different way.  When I was 6, I related that song to a father's love.  A father is a covering over us, and loves us with unconditional, everlasting love.  I can see God differently than I did when I was 6 years old.  

Today, I can relate that song to my husband's love.  Just as Christ loved the church does my husband love me.  Oh how precious is that love that is shared between two who love Him.  I belong to my husband and he belongs to me.  His banner over me is love, just as Christ's love for me is like a banner over me.  Ahhh, sweet love, wonderful knowing that I am beloved.

O For Grace To Trust Him More

I used to love a version of this song that Amy Grant sang back in the 80's.  I think that was probably my introduction to this powerful song.  I didn't go to a church that sang a lot of traditional hymns, mostly just stuff written in current times.  Occasionally we'd bring out the Old Rugged Cross or Amazing Grace.  Fast forward to now...  The church I go to sings blends of old and new hymns, so I am being reintroduced to some songs that are solid and mostly new to me.  I've heard of many of them, but because I  never really sang them, they are fresh to me. 

Recently, we've been singing 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus during our worship service.  This song has struck a chord with me.  Line by line, it all points back to Jesus, and isn't that what it's really all about?  I have several lines that are "favorites", but I especially love in the first verse "Just to rest upon His promise, and to know, "Thus saith the Lord!"  

It's truly trusting in His word when you believe what He says.  There are plenty of examples in the bible when "Thus saith the Lord" was written and then whatever the Lord said was done.  Imagine having that kind of faith. Just knowing that because God promised it, you believe it and know it will come to pass.  It's not blind or misleading, it's truth that God can not lie.  He will not withhold his promises from those who trust in Him.

One of the passages in the bible that reminds me of this kind of trust is Mark 11:22-25.  

²² And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. ²³ Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

I love it.  Jesus simply answers them - "Have faith in God."  That's it.  No other agenda.  No other check lists.  No other giving requirements.  Nothing.  Just have faith in God.  The disciples were being taught this just as much as we are now.  Jesus had cursed a fig tree the day before and when they got to that tree the next day, it was withered down to it's roots.  They were amazed.  Jesus wasn't surprised because he already said no one would eat the fruit of that tree again.  He said it.  I pray that I can reach that level of trust to know that what Jesus says is just truth.  To trust that having faith in God is all we need, and that God holds all we need in Him.

Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!  Help me to have this kind of trust in you, in your word!  Remind me of your faithfulness time and again.  Help me to remember all of your acts of unfailing love toward me.  Father God, help me to be unwaivering in my faith.  Give me a soft heart, but one that is strong enough to trust fully in your word at all times, good and bad.  Help me to have compassion on others, to be wise about your business, God, and to remember your word in each season.  I hide your word in my heart, O God, that I might not sin against you.  Create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit in me.  Thank you God, for being so faithful, for being a God we can trust and rely on in all times and through all things.  I praise you, Jesus!  I love you Lord!  Amen!

1. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to take Him at His Word;
   Just to rest upon His promise,
   And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
   • Refrain:
     Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
     How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
     Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
     Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to trust His cleansing blood;
   And in simple faith to plunge me
   ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just from sin and self to cease;
   Just from Jesus simply taking
   Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
   Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
   And I know that Thou art with me,
   Wilt be with me to the end.