Deeper Still....

I have had a wonderful past 2 days! A neighboring church was showing a video conference of Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer and Beth Moore. I've seen Beth before and I knew she wouldn't disappoint but I was surprised when the other ladies were both just as amazing!

On Friday night we enjoyed some praise and worship music with a live band, By Grace. Today we had some worship music via video and even some Travis Cottrell via video! I looooove me some praise and worship music!!!

But back to the conference... Faithful, Abundant, True. Now I'd say that I knew all these things about Christ and my Savior already. But this weekend we went "deeper still" on these truths.

Kay taught Hebrews. The whole book of Hebrews! She was so fast and thorough, the night flew by! She started off the theme of the meetings by challenging us to "rest in faith". As Christians we must study and understand and soak up the living Word of God so that we can cling to it and rest on it. She literally laid her head on her Bible and gripped it to her chest. We must study and know what the Bible says so that we can claim the promises God has given to us in His word!

This morning, Priscilla Shirer taught on Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." This is a pretty common scripture and one I've clung to many times but when she broke it apart and we really studied it, it took on a whole new meaning.

This study really spoke to me and it probably has a lot to do with our situation with Asa. There was a time that all I prayed for was a complete healing and that we'd just wake up and Asa would be "normal". Then once we had such a dire diagnosis my definition of "miracle" changed. I consider it a miracle that Asa is as healthy as he is. A miracle that he is making progress in his therapies. A miracle that I'm able to even get up in the morning! I am a tired, weak, helpless person without God in my life! It is only because of Him lifting me up that I'm able to do any of the things Asa requires!

Priscilla, though, reminded me that God able to go beyond my beyond. He can go past my way past! For example, you leave the house and tell your teenager that she needs to clean her room before you get back. That is the expectation. When you return, her room is clean and so it the rest of the house. That is past your way past. Then you are led to your bathroom where she has drawn you a bubble bath. Now she is way past your way past. Then she has supper done and is ready to serve you in bed. So waaaaaaay past your way past!!!! That is God! He can go waaaaaay past our way past. Whatever you can even think, he can out do even that! He may not choose to go way past in the exact moment that I'd like for Him to but He is the power to do it! In those times when I wonder why He won't do it I have to have faith and cling to the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 and rest in the knowledge that God has a plan for me, a plan of hope and not of harm!!!

Beth closed up the session by helping us discern the truth. Beth had been "punked" and told how she didn't follow her Holy Spirit gut when He was telling her to look deeper. Not only did she help us discern the truth in other people but also the truths of Christ. Again, we have to be in the Word and studying so we can know what don't know we need to know! We can have knowledge that we don't know we need until we need it. Only in studying and listening to God can we discern the truth from untruths. We know that in the end days there will be many false prophets and teachings. In fact, today it would be nice if some of the untruths that is taught were true. Untruths like "if it feels good do it" or "lifestyle choices" or "it is ok as long as they aren't hurting anyone"! Those are untruths though! I don't feel like Beth's message spoke to me as much as the other ladies did but she has great points and I'll be keeping my note handy because I'm sure I'll need them in the near future!!!

I had a great couple of days studying God's Word and seeking Him. I'm so thankful to the group of godly ladies who seek Him out too and often invite me along so I can take my journey along side them! Thank you ladies!!!