Hey, Sweet Things!
I’m writing this post to you on Saturday night from the seat of a gigantic United Airlines plane on my connect flight from DC back to Houston. The Living Proof Live team and I had the tremendous privilege of serving in Providence, Rhode Island and God worked in such a distinct way that I will remember it for many years. I hope forever. God is doing something different this year at LPL. I don’t quite know how to define it but I have been flat-on-my-face grateful that He is not only still in it but stirring the pot. Not one of us on the team wants to be there a moment longer than Jesus is. We don’t even want Him to make an obligatory “appearance” because He loves us and feels sorry for us after we’ve scheduled all of this. We want the event to be proactively Jesus for His own sake and for His own glory and because it is a delight to Him and because He looks forward to it. Nothing less than that and, if it’s not that, we want Him to move us each elsewhere.
It’s so strange. We began this year looking back to the previous 15 but, by our 3rd event, it was like we all fixed our faces forward as if nothing in the world mattered but what was in front of us. No “yesterday’s plan.” No “yesterday’s work.” This is today. Something is up. Something new to us. There is something liberating and also a little frightening about just saying to Him, “Do what You want, God. Anything You want. We’re in it with You or we’re not in it at all. All bets are off.” Anyway, I’m not sure why I went off on all of that. God just really has my eyebrows high on my forehead right now wondering what He’s doing.
I have a group of about 30 of you Siestas fresh on my mind because we met up quickly after the event for our group picture. These were your northeastern sisters and the cutest things you can imagine. Well, just like all of you are. All ages and types, with this one glorious bond: the lively love of Jesus Christ. I am so crazy about you guys. I cannot fathom the grace of God to have stirred up a community of encouragement in Christ where relationships really do seem to have some substance to them. It’s an anomaly that still isn’t wasted on me.
You have marked my journey of faith. You’ve encouraged me and made me want to keep running my race energetically and earnestly. You’ve helped me get back up even at times when you didn’t know I was down. You have been a harbor of joy, peace, and laughter in an online Christian world that can be astonishingly fractured. You are a corner of courageous gentleness in a culture that has lost its manners.
And, good grief, you guys have impacted my Scripture memory life so dramatically that I hardly have words. After every Living Proof Live when we meet up for our (clandestine) Siesta picture, I always ask, “Will I be seeing any of you in January at our SSMT celebration?” Invariably there are those who answer with infectious enthusiasm, “YES!” It makes me so happy. The previous celebrations have been like a family reunion on steroids. I hope so much you’re staying up with your Scripture memory, saving your money, and planning to head to Houston that weekend. We aren’t really a beautiful city but we’re a happy one and a hospitable one, I believe I can confidently say. And we can offer you Tex Mex at virtually every four way stop. I mean, what more could you want, people?
The verse I’ve chosen this time around is one God seemed to lift from the page of my early morning Scripture reading last Monday. I continued to say it and pray it throughout the week and referenced it several times this weekend in Providence. It’s easy to memorize and it puts a concept in a nutshell that is as vital as breath to us in this believing life we’re living. Here it is:
Beth, Houston. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 1 Corinthians 4:20 NIV
God is using it to remind me that this thing isn’t about incessant chatter and nonstop Twitter noise and learning to speak fluent Christianese. It’s not tantamount to Bible banter and doctrinal debates and holy hair-splitting. It’s not about getting together at church and threatening week after week to live changed lives and think renewed thoughts. It’s not about getting all lathered up and sweaty-headed at events over theories of effective, influential, and abundant lives. This Christ thing to which we’ve been called is about actually doing it and through an unction not remotely our own.
When the Holy Spirit comes, He comes with power.
Where the Holy Spirit goes, He goes with power.
Whom the Holy Spirit infiltrates, He infuses with power.
Our lives were meant to be powerful. Less talk. More demonstration. Through things like a love that we know good and well is utterly beyond us and a faith that emerges in tact from a minefield soaked in blood and strewn with flesh. We were meant to be able to do what we can’t, like who we don’t, bless who we’d curse. We were promised strength in weakness and extravagant grace in our deprivation.
We were meant to wonder what has derailed or gone awry when a season of our lives persists in powerlessness for weeks on end. We were promised more than this. We’re not meant to write our own personalized chapters in a revised standard version of The Emperor’s New Clothes so the world could have a harder laugh at us. We who have placed our trust in Christ Jesus, the living, breathing-on-us Son of God, have been clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:49) And it’s supposed to show.
Every limb of our lives where we welcome the Holy Spirit can be infused with strength not of this world and, yes, even in continued weakness or infirmity, should that be the case of our present calling. The coexistence of the two is the mystery of it. We’re not superwomen. We’re a long shot from perfect. But we were meant to be vividly powerful through the One who saved us and made Himself at home in us. Let’s not forget that today. Let’s not be satisfied just to talk about it. Let’s not just clap and cheer during that part of a service when a pastor or teacher tells us we’re called more than conquerors. The New Testament is not the theory of Christianity.
You may feel powerless right now, Sister, but, if you are in Christ, make no mistake: you are not. Get some backbone back in your prayer life if your spiritual spine has deteriorated. With reverence for His holiness and with the boldness He said we could bring to the Throne of Grace, read to God from His Word where He promised His people victory as they looked to Him alone…
…and where He promised to clothe us in power
…and where He said He’d make Himself conspicuous through our spiritual gifts and through supernatural works in His Name.
If you don’t know where those places are, go hunt them down. (But you could start in Romans 8, Luke 24, Acts 1, Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 12 and Hebrews 4.)
Tell Him you’re going to ask for it and ask for it and ask for it in His great Name and for His glory until He gives it to you and frees you from whatever this present powerlessness is. And then DO IT. Ask and ask and ask and tell Him you will do whatever it takes to cooperate and mean it! Throw your hands out to receive. And, then, when He gives it – and He will – don’t take credit for it. Appreciate it. Thank Him and thank Him for it. Know that it’s grace. Use it audaciously to bring Him attention.
Sister, you cannot fulfill your foreordained purpose without power. Go back after it but, whatever you do, don’t try to get it without Jesus coming with it. Power for power’s sake will blow you up. God-given unction isn’t meant to just come and go with periodic personal revival. We were meant to live powerful lives. Let’s get to them. If you’ve got an area of carnality that is quenching it, I promise you it’s not worth it. Believe me, I’ve been there. Repent, turn from it and get on with it. You’ve got a calling. And it takes divine power.
You mean so much to me. Hold tight to Jesus.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Psalm 94:19 KJV
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
Caroline, Aiea, “Truly my soul finds rest in God: my salvation comes from Him. Psalm 62:1 NIV
Terry from Jasper, Ga
Psalm 119:133 (NKJV)
Direct my steps by Your Word
and let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Debbie from Spartanburg SC
Psalm 19:14 NIV
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
Oh Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.
Marilyn from Missouri:
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11 NKJV
Kathy from Syracuse, NY
James 5:16 (NIV)
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Tanya Keeth from West Monroe, LA; Galations 6:9 NIV84
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Barb in Crown Point, IN
The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.” Psalm 29:11 (NLT)
Crystal, Livonia, Michigan
“The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1
Carla Harrod Hampton, Indianapolis, IN
Psalm 91:4 (NIV)
“He will cover you with his feathers and under His wings you will find refuge.”
“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Kristin, Archbold, OH
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:8 (ESV)
Amy from Plainfield IL
Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces. (Proverbs 13:20 MSG)
Courtney Lima, Ohio
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. Proverbs 3:27 NLT
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Cast all your anxiety on Hime because he cares for you
Heather from Hayden,al:
13 The Lord says:“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Isa 29:13 NIV
Lynn, Lake Villa, IL
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:3
Pat, Birmingham, Al Psalm 40:11
The Message
Now God, don’t hold out on me, don’t hold back Your passion. Your love and truth are all that keeps me together.
Christa, Memphis TN
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)
Muriel in Ontario
Psalm 128: 5,6a (AKJV)
The LORD shall bless you out of Zion: and you shall see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Yes, you shall see your children’s children.
Cris from Mooresville, IN
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Isaiah 40:29 (NIV)
Bonnie from Dacusville, SC
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
1 Corinthians 4:20. NIV
Kristy from Cedar Park, Texas: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 1 Corinthians 4:20 NIV
Freida, Chatham, La “for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14 NIV
Andrea from Spring Branch, Texas
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV)
Jill, Austin, TX
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial for when he has stood up under the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to all who love him.
James 1:12 ESV
Nancy from Evansville, IN
A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. Proverbs 11:16 NIV
Kendra, College Station, Tx
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:17-18 (NIV)
Jenni from Birmingham, AL
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.
Ashley Taylor
Lawrenceville, GA
For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.
Galatians 5:17 NET
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. NIV
Andrea, Dublin, OH
Elizabeth M., Greenbrier, Ark.
“The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” Prov. 15:2 (NKJV)
Angela, Shelbyville, IN
16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. ~~2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (MSG)
Romona, Rosewood Heights,
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Jude 1:2 (NIV)
I said to The Lord, “you are my lord, apart from you I have no good thing”
Psalm 16:2 ESV
Margie Rodriguez, San Angelo, Texas
Exodus 20:13
King James Version (KJV)
13 Thou shalt not kill.
Kim, Huffman. “Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer” (Psalm 4:1, NIV).
Rejoice always,pray without ceasing,give thanks in all circumstances.
1Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
Debbie
Portland, OR
~ Heidi ~ Oak Harbor, Wa.
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks HIm
Lam. 3:25 ~ ESV
Debbie – Keller, TX
You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in Your word. Psalm 119:114 (HCSB)
Dawn from Jasper, IN
“the second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 NIV
Isaiah41:13 For The Lord your God will take hold of your right hand and say unto you,Fear not I will help you!
Kendall- Tulsa, OK
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114 (NIV)
Vanessa, Rio Rancho NM
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power”
1 Corinthians 4:20 NIV
Lesley, Clinton, MS
If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11 NET
Faye, Calgary AB, Canada
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
Tracy from Aurora, CO
Deuteronomy 31:8=The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (NIV)
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
(1 Corinthians 13:4, 5 NLT)
Landry, Georgetown,TX
Proverbs 17:17 NIV
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
Betty, Loma Linda
Luke 6:31; “Do to others as you would have them do to you….” NIV