Spiritually supercharged after the first day of GIC

What a day!  I have spent the day at our church's Global Impact Celebration Prayer and Missions Conference.  This is a time when Asbury UMC in Madison, AL invites all of our missionary partners to come to Madison and speak at a variety of workshops on prayer and missions and they also invite at least two keynote speakers.  The morning started off for me listening to Thom Ewing and Karen Spain of WAY-FM/Huntsville share about the mission of this contemporary Christian music station as well as how they are connecting and acting as missionaries in today's world of social networking.  Then after lunch listened as Leonard Sweet a well known author and speaker talked about how the church needs to move into what he called today's TGIF world.  TGIF = Twitter, Google, IPhone/IPad, and Facebook.  He lectured about how this is no longer a world of words but a world of images and storytelling.  This was followed for me by listening to Marcos Wittig talk about intercessory prayer for missions and shared about his work in Medellin Columbia.  The day was topped off by Marilee Pierce Dunker who shared some about her father the founder of World Vision and his prayer to God to break his heart for the things that break God's heart.  She shared also about some things that today should break the church's heart as it breaks God's.  Tomorrow will bring even more and I know by the time the GIC ends on Sunday I will be spiritually supercharged for some time.  I will spend some Sunday in prayer to determine just what God wants me to do with what I've heard.

The Principle of Walking and Talking

In this chapter Carol Kent tells us about how important it is that we not only talk the talk to those arounds but also walk the walk.  She gives several examples of people who influenced other believers by allowing them to see just how they lived out their Christian faith.  She also points out, through scriptures, how Jesus did exactly the same thing.  She reminded me that there are times when I could have been a much better example to other people than what I was.  One story she shared that really impressed me was the story of 76 year old Miss Elizabeth who acted as a quiet encourager, mentor, witness, and friend to women in her church.  Also how she did not complain, gossip, or criticize.  Yes I could do well to emulate Miss Elizabeth.  Through the entire chapter there are other stories of the influence of various people, male and female, who not only shared their beliefs with other but also were a living example of these beliefs.  Another point that Ms. Kent makes is that they were not always perfect.  In fact she shares a story about herself and the comment she got from a young woman when she shared how she had once been overly invested in presenting such a perfect image that she often was angry at her husband and son. She told the young woman that she had been a screaming monster, a silent martyr, and a skillful pretender when trying to impress others.  The young woman's response is what I really enjoyed and the point she was trying to make.  "I always thought you had a perfect marriqage and that you were an ideal mother.  It made me think I could never be good enough to get close to you.  But now, I think we could b friends."
I believe that Ms. Kent is telling us that we need to live our faith and exemplify Jesus' teachings to the best of our abilities in all of our daily living activities.  We need to not leave the lessons of the Bible in church or at home once we finish our time of study and prayer.  We become God's messengers only when we carry it out into the world we live in day in and day out.  I can think of several women that I have encountered in recent years who do just that and the alway impress me with their quiet humility.  They are not flashy or showy in their service to God, they don't hit people over the head with their Bibles but I am certain that everyone they meet know their Christian beliefs because they live them.

Chapter Three: The Principle of Time Alone with God

For the remainder of the book Carol Kent devotes a chapter to each of the principles that she listed in the previous chapter.  I believe that this first principle is one of the most important but also one that I really struggle with.  The fact that I struggle even scheduling time alone with God has more to do with my priorities that actual life events.  As I read this chapter I was again reminded of the fact that I have more than enough time to spend time alone with God if I will but get my priorities straight.  I have no children at home, I have a very helpful and undemanding husband to takes care of many of the household chores. 
Carol first lists the various ways that Jesus (our perfect role model) applied this principle to his life.

1. He made it a priority.
2. Use talking with his Father to help him clarify his mission.
3. His time in prayer produced results.
4. He often went to a solitary place to be alone with God. 

A comment she made in this section on the four way that struck a chord with me was "A 'solitude of the heart' can be maintained when our focus is on Him and our activities are monitored by an awareness of His presence. . . . When the phone rang, I prayed for the person I was about to talk to, even before I kne who it was.  When the woman in front of me at the supermarket had her credit card rejected, instead of being impatient becaue of the delay, I prayed for her."  This reminded me of all the ways in which I could be praying for other people instead of always being focused on myself.
Next she list the ways Jesus told us how to spend time alone with God.

1. Don't put on airs and try to impress God.
2. Find a secluded place to pray, keep your prayers simple and honest.
3. Talk to God as your loving Father, don't follow the formulas and techniques of others.
4. When you fast don't do it to impress people.
5. Remember there is a time for celebration and a time for fasting.

Of this list the one that I struggle with is the discipline of fasting.  I have managed a few hours like from sunup to sundown but never longer than that except for the one day prior to a colonoscopy when I could not eat and then I had a liquid diet.  That is another thing that I hope I will be better able to do once I have my bariatric surgery.  Plus for a while before and after the surgery I will be on a clear liquid diet anyway.  Not certain that is exactly the way God would want me to begin learning how to fast but I will take it.

She then goes into a portion on the Lord's Prayer which is the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples.  The next section is entitled "Personal and Direct" and she begins by saying "With God, prayer is not a 'cat-and-mouse game'; it is personal and it is powerful."  She then shares and example from the life of Jesus and one from the life of a struggling pastor of what was then a dying church.  Both are powerful examples of how God faithfully answers prayer but not necessarily in the manner we were expecting. 
Next Carol Kent tells us how to influence others to spend time with God.

1. Tell others what God is teaching you in your time with Him.
2. Pray out loud together.
3. Sing praise and worship songs together.
4. Discuss the books and articles you are reading and suggest reading material.
5. Lastly--practice! practice! practice!

This is where I am sorely lacking in my walk with God and I have been praying that He will help me improve in this area.  So I think I will take her advice and begin to Practice! Practice! Practice! praying all the while that He will continue to show me ways to improve in my influence of others for His glory and purpose.

Ch. 2: Learning From the Master

In this chapter Carol Kent tells us how to mentor other women using Jesus' example. She then made two points. (1) that there are three facts that could influenc your life and (2) seven life-changing principles that Jesus used to make a lasting difference in the lives of his disciples.
First the three fact are:
1. One person (Jesus) trained twelve human beings who went on to so influence the world that time itsel if now recorded as being before (B.C.) or after (A.D.) His existence.
2. This person worked with a staff that was totally human and not divine. A staff that was comprised of men who were illiterate, of questionable backgrounds, had fractious feelings, were at times cowards. This staff wet on to accomplish the tasks He trained them to do.
3. His leadership style was intended to be put to use by any of us.
Carol Kent then goes on to discuss more about Jesus' influence on the twelve and she asks the question: What would happen if every Christian woman would decide to make a life-changing impact on the lives of at least twelve women within her lifetime?
The seven life-changing principles in Jesus' example.
1. The principle of time alone with God. (Jesus deliberately spent time in prayer with God).
2. The principle of walking and talking. (Jesus taught not in a classroom but as they walked from place to place).
3. The principle of storytelling. (Jesus used stories/parables to teach others.)
4. The principle of asking questions. (Jesus used the power of well-placed questions.)
5. The principle of compassion. (Jesus knew that genuine compassion powerfully affects those who receive it, those who give it, and those who observe it.)
6. The principle of unconditional love. (In various ways Jesus demonstrated that we love and forgive even those caught in sin.)
7. The principle of casting vision. (Jesus demonstrated to his His followers what they were to do once he was gone.)
In the chapters that follow Carol Kent will address each of these principles. So until next week whe we address the principle of time alone with God.

Study Questions from Chapter 1: Becoming A Woman of Influence

1a. Based on Psalm 1 what are the benefits of delighting in the law of the Lord. He prospers and God watches over him.
1b. What happens to the wicked. They will not stqand in the judgment or in the assembly of the righteous. The way of the wicked will perish.
2. Memorize Psalm 1:1-3 and use it as a prayer.
3. My definition of spirituality is as difficult to describe as J. Oswald Sanders says it is. It is an essense of a person that reflects God's working in their life and that essense is visible to others even if they can not explain what the source is.
4a. Using the Bible concordance look up three verses each for the words "forgiveness" and "love" and then choose one verse for each and write it out.
FORGIVENESS: This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28.
LOVE: But I tell you; Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44.
4b. Based on these two verses the virtue that I need to put to work in my life as I response to someone I am close to is Love.
5a. I think the thing that fired in Meghan hope and ultimately pointed her to Christ was that he had faith that God had a purpose for her and would provide for her. He also showed her that she had already been a source of hope for someone.
5b. I know there have been others, but today all I can think of was some of my professors in College who encouraged me to keep pursuing my career goals. In some ways their encouragement was intentional but in the spiritual challenge were unintentional.
6a. Jesus gave people a better life on earth while he was alive by healing them, forgiving them, acknowledging them, offering them hope.
6b. How he has impacted my life is a little difficult to put into words. He has given me eternal life but more importantly to me was the forgiveness and the sense that he really did make beauty out of ashes.
7a. Eight ways Jesus said his followers would be blessed:

1. Inherit the kingdom of heaven
2. Will be comforted
3. Inherit earth
4. They will be filled (not hungry)
5. Shown mercy
6. Will see God
7. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them
8. Will have great reward in heaven

7b. I have been comforted, shown mercy, and I have been filled by the Holy Spirit. This has happened in to many ways to really list here.

8. I do long for an accountability partner, also a mentor, I long for younger women that I could encourage, support, and challenge to her best. I do pray about these things regularly.

9. I will delight myself in the LORD and he will give me these things that I long for. I commit my way to the LORD and trust in him that he will do this. (Paraphrase of Psalm 37:4-5 to make them personal).

Finished another book

I have finished reading the book and although Michelle has several more cute stories about her two little dogs I really did not gain much further from what she had to say and saw the remaining lessons as variations of what she had already presented. Another reader may have gotten a different message.
The next book I think I will read and study is one by Carol Kent Becoming a Woman of Influence: Making a Lasting Impact on Others. That title seems to go well with the title of the blog. It may be about lessons covered in other books but since it has to do with the things that Jesus taught his disciples that helped them become such men of impact I am certain there is more that I can learn. What I like about this book is that it actually has a lesson plan and questions which makes it more of a Bible study. Hopefully I will be able to keep up because next week also marks the beginning of a new Bible Study.

Ch. 22: The Importance of Lingering

In this chapter Michelle focuses on taking time to linger in relationships. She first relates this to how her two dogs don't want quick pats or belly rubs but they want the person they have approached to spend some time and keep giving them the affection they want until the dog gets tired or satisfied regardless if the person wants to spend that much time with them. She then shares how she rushed through a trip in which she tried to work while also spending time with her friends. At the end of the visit she felt that she had not really connected with either her job or her friends. She then equates this to how God wants us to open ourselves up to his love and then spend enough time with him so that our souls are satisfied. He wants us to linger with him in the sense of a relationship. I know that I don't do that often enough. There are far to many times when I rush through my quiet time and Bible study and don't just set and enjoy the moments with God. I often don't even give him time to answer before I off on to another task.