Thanksgiving is coming up. I have enjoyed the food, food and more food. Thanksgiving is not until tomorrow, but it seems it is more of a week long celebration rather than a single day.
Its not hard to look back and be thankful.
I'm thankful that my high school friends cared enough to invite me to youth group, and love me unconditionally. I wouldn't be celebrating thanksgiving in Redding, CA if they hadn't.
I am thankful for a God who cared. and still cares. A God who cares about the details of my life.
I am thankful for my family and friends. My family, who are amazing, and friends who have become family and friends who are amazing friends. I am where I am today, and I am growing everyday because I have people in my life who pick me up and cheer me on.
I am thankful for my church, and my church family, and my new church and church family.
I am thankful for the Gagnons, and Brenda and Phil, and Lana and Dean.
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We are in the process of being trained as prayer servants. Notes from Chris Gore's session:
Release the miracle. You don't need to convince God to heal someone, so don't pray out of your powerlessness. People will come in desperate situations, pray from the place that says "this is your day for a a miracle". Live with the conviction that it is impossible to pray and have nothing happen.
There is no such thing as "it will happen in God's time", God's time was 2000 years ago on the cross- come with an expectant heart to see people healed. Come with the conviction that "God is in us and He wants out". Healing is only difficult when you think its about you. The question is do you believe who He says He is?, because our job ultimately is to believe that He is good at His job. Pull the person "out" with compassion, don't let them "pull" you in with sympathy- He is the answer to every problem, their is no lack in God.
Bill Johnson says "I only look at sickness long enough to pull the trigger", our atmosphere of hope needs to be bigger than their hopelessness.
You can not become introspective when someone doesn't get healed. It's not okay if someone comes with cancer and leaves with cancer, but if you carry the burden you will take the glory. It's not your burden or your glory. Surrender the glory and burden to the cross. Don't minister out of your track record, minister out of His. His track record is impeccable, and He won't mind if you pray from it.
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Notes from Papa Bill sessions:
Learn to discern what season you are in. We are both heirs and soldiers in the kingdom:
Matthew 11:12
12 (A)From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.
Mark 10:13-15
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13 (A)And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; (B)for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I say to you, (C)whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
Children and soldiers opposites. However we are to be both, "there are some things He won't give to soldiers, but He will give to heirs" -there are times where He says "Your not going to fight your way into breakthrough", There are times He calls us into a season of rest. There are seasons that we are to fight into our breakthrough- it is faith expressed. Faith is what terrorizes the spirit realm, it is saying "I believe in what is unseen." We need to learn what season we are in.
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We are in charge of our hearts, we are in charge of the standards we set. A standard in our heart will attract that which will affirm and build the value set. What measure you set you attract. e.g If you want to grow in faith, you wouldn't focus on topics that would defer it. As we establish priorities we attract what is necessary for us to succeed. What are we going to embrace? What are we going to give place in our heart?
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He will put you in school when you don't think your in school, it's easy to pass the test when you know its a test, the harder test is living out of who you are, when you don't know the test is over till its over.
You don't need to apologize for being blessed by God, don't let anybody talk you out of abundance. The issue is to sow your seed and eat your bread, do you know what is given for seed, and what is given for bread?. God will give us bread to enjoy, not to give away, His delight is in seeing us enjoy His blessings. We are also given seed to sow for future seasons, seed to sow into others, seed to help grow others.You can ruin your tomorrow by eating seed that was for tomorrow. Know what is seed and what is bread.
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Proverbs 22:29 He who does His work with excellence will stand before kings.
If you want to influence influential people, become a person of excellence. Decision makers, leaders, influential people demand excellence, the finest around them, even if its not a reflection on their internal world. There is something about excellence that makes influential people want to be around you. Joseph, an ex-con, was entrusted with the Pharaoh's kingdom. His integrity in His life caused the greatest king of that day to trust him regardless of his surroundings. Your heart of servant hood will promote you, don't lose your servant heart. In 20 years, where will my sphere of influence be?
Perfectionism= religion excellence= kingdom
What does generosity look like when you give out of who you are, not according to the seen need?
The Queen of Sheba had nothing that King Solomon needed but she gave abundantly because of who she was. She gave and honored from that place.
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Psalm 67:
God be gracious to us and (A)bless us,And (B)cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.2 That (C)Your way may be known on the earth,(D)Your salvation among all nations.3 Let the (E)peoples praise You, O God;Let all the peoples praise You.4 Let the (F)nations be glad and sing for joy;For You will (G)judge the peoples with uprightnessAnd (H)guide the nations on the earth. Selah.5 Let the (I)peoples praise You, O God;Let all the peoples praise You.6 The (J)earth has yielded its produce;God, our God, (K)blesses us.7 God blesses us,That (L)all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
Live with the conviction that "I am the wealthiest person I know". His favor, His face shining upon us looks like something, what does it look like in your life? The prayer in this verse is "Bless me God, so that they know that He is as good as He says He is. Bless me, so they see the Father's love and blessing". Earned? No. Always by grace. We live lives that should cause people to look and ask "why?, what is it about your life that looks so much richer than mine?". Everybody wants a king like Jesus, they just don't know it.."
