FROM SURVIVAL TO REVIVAL!
Good catch-phrase, huh? Oh, but
wrong! It is SO much more than that! It
is a way of life that we all seek, because many times in our lives, we are
definitely in survival mode! People are
just hanging on for dear life, trying to make it from one day to the next. But dear ones, God has SO much more for us
than that kind of bare-bones living. God
comes to pour some water on us and soak our roots down and revive us back to
life. He comes to carefully put us back together
with some of His supernatural brand of God-glue. He breathes life back into our dry and
brittle and fragile emotions. And He
didn’t just come to give us life – but a revived life to help us live and
flourish in joy and blessings and victory!
Every October, I consider it a spiritual highlight in my life when I am
able to attend the Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul. It’s difficult to describe – you have to
experience it to understand the amazing blessings that come from God while
there! So picture this: an arena packed with thousands and thousands
of women who have been eagerly awaiting this time in the presence of Almighty
God! What I so love, is that God and God
alone is exalted. No one seeks glory of
their own, and so God is glorified!
Speakers and musicians shared God-anointed messages and music, and
worship is central to all that takes place!
Our hearts are lifted in praise and adoration to our God, and He is
honored above all else! Come curl up in
a comfy chair and not an arena seat – and listen to some of what we heard and
received into our spirits! Pete Wilson,
pastor from Cross Point Church in Nashville, posed a question to us in light of
Genesis 37. He asked, “What would you do
if you were absolutely confident that God was with you?” He reminded us that we have this illusion of
control in our lives. But … we cannot
control our lives. God can. And does.
Take a look at the life of Joseph in that chapter: it was a roller coaster of good news and bad
news. Most people relate this to God
either being with them – or not being there.
But I love this poignant statement:
“God is MOST powerfully present even when it FEELS like He is apparently
absent.” You see, the Lord was WITH
Joseph – and He is WITH us! Even in the
struggles! Just because God is with us,
doesn’t mean that our lives will turn out the way we think they will. How do we respond when things turn out
differently? Do we feel like it’s more
difficult to remain faithful to God – even when it seems like He’s not
faithful to us and we feel abandoned by Him? We cry out to God so often not because we really want more of Him, but
because of what we think He will give us.
What we should be saying is, “God,
if You don’t give me one more thing – I still owe You everything!” We think we see God’s pattern when
something good happens. Like in Genesis
40:14, when Joseph interpreted the dream for the chief butler while they were in
prison together, and he begged him to remember him when he was released – to get
him out! But some verses later, here is
the hurtling out-of-control part of the roller-coaster ride: it says that the butler did not remember
Joseph … he forgot him. For some
reason. God could have done
something. But he didn’t. In those moments, it’s the WHO in the WHY
that counts. In that moment when you are
forgotten … in that moment when the pattern you saw and thought God was
bringing to you crumbles into ashes … in
that moment, can you still choose faith?
Can you still choose hope? Is
what you’re going through God’s will for your life? Does our response to the situation make any
difference? MORE than you think! And you know what? We are not alone. There are thousands like us! You are not alone. Your God is WITH you! We must never forget that inside each of us –
is belief and unbelief. Inside each of
us – is faith and doubt. It’s up to
us. Which will we choose? Your choice will simply and profoundly bring
one of two results. You choose unbelief
and doubt – you will always be floundering just to survive. You choose belief and faith – and you will
always know that God is with you and He is working all things out for your good,
for your revival and HIS glory! More
than anything at this moment, I challenge you to ask God to help you make the
right choice! A life of defeat – or a
life positioned by God awaits!
(notes taken
from message at 2014 Women of Faith Conference)
REMEMBER . .
.
“We are
assured and know that (God being a partner in their labor) all things work
together and are (fitting into a plan)
for good to
and for those who love God and are called according to (His) design and
purpose.”
~ Romans 8:28
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
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