SPIRIT OF FAITH

This last week has been insane. First we started off the week with Praise Life classes, guest speakers included Patsy Cameneti, Tom Ingles, Louise Nuiss, Peter Robinson, and Mark Wilhite. I highly recommend acquiring some books, cds, or if your maybe still a bit old school, tapes, of these various teachers if you are at all interested in the topic of praise and worship. I myself am very interested and just absorbed everything these teachers had to say. Tom Ingles is responsible for the curriculum on Psalmology and his teaching is just phenomenal. (theres my plug)

On Thursday the conference started. Bright and early in the morning, and I was honored to be asked to lead worship. It was a blessing to be able to share the stage with Tom Ingles as we cheerfully sang I'm trading my sorrows. But amidst all of this (the conference and working everyday), I was actually quite sick. My throat was sore, I couldn't stop coughing and I was eating through cough drops so fast that I couldn't keep them in supply; however, each time I would get up to sing or lead I was unhindered. My voice wasn't scratchy and I was able to sing boldly in His presence, giving Him praise through every circumstance, even in sickness. I came out of that conference completely refreshed. God is good, and He is good to me. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Anywho, each day was a battle to get there due to not feeling well, but each time I tried to give my sickness the excuse, I just knew I was meant to get there. I was reminded that His house is a house of healing, so if I were to get healed that's where it would be, and His house is a house of refreshing, so if I needed rest His house is where I would find it. In conclusion, His house is where I needed to be. At times I must admit I didn't 'feel' like it was sounds logic, but I didn't seem to care... I look back and am so thankful I was in attendance, because now I get to share with you a taste of what I received....

*Worship must be important to God, because it's the only thing He can't do for Himself. So when you do for God what He cannot do for Himself, he will do for you what you cannot do for yourself.

*God is a gentleman and will only draw as close to you as you allow. People tend to keep Him at a distance they are comfortable with, Jesus want's to get up close and personal but we must initiate.

*Worship must be important to God, because you were created for it. Is 43:21

*If you haven't made worship lifestyle priority, then you will constantly be in a state of feeling like something is missing.

*Worship is important to God, because He has never experienced a worshiper like you. We are all a unique experience to Him.

*Worship is a response to his presence, rather than trying to enter into His presence.

*Church is the locker room before the game.

*God looked for David, David looked for God and they found each other in a place called worship.

*Imagine providing something that the Lord is looking for - worship

*God can't move beyond our ignorance/lack of knowledge (it limits Him).

*The thing you communicate to others the best, is what is fresh on your heart. SO why are fresh converts so successful at reaching people? - Because salvation is fresh on their hearts. Old converts - not so fresh. To change that , praise God for your salvation and make it priority, keep it fresh - this will help you to reach others and communicate to others what is fresh on your heart (the message of salvation).

*Get into God to find out where you are going, so you are there in the Spirit before you are there in the body.

*If you want what God wants for the same reason God wants it, you are invincible.

*Jesus was not a martyr on the cross, He was a our substitution.

*Jesus is our preposition - IN Him, we can do all things THROUGH Him, FOR Him, BY Him and WITH Him.

*You don't have to argue with the devil, just know your rights.

*Many religions offer liaisons, but Christianity offers salvation.

*BLEST - original english word. Definition (1) From Blood...

*The BLOOD has been applied, your needs shall be supplied, you won't be denied.

*What is in your heart???

I could keep going, but those were just some of the things that stuck out to me in the last weeks various sessions. Some points may be brand new, others review for those reading, but nevertheless I hope you got something from this post and enjoyed reading.

Until Next Time...