I really was not disappointed, but rather just tired of waiting on God for a particular answer to some prayers.
It really does not matter if you know exactly WHAT the prayer request /requests were about and if they were about a man, woman, or friend -- but I know, that when I followed a few blogs earnestly -- I read between the lines and sometimes the Holy Spirit gave me confirmation to what I was thinking and others times, the Holy Spirit reminded me -- knowing exactly the WHAT was NOT the point!
So, with that -- never would I want anyone to second guess or worry too much about the 'Whom' but if the Holy Spirit tells you to pray for me or for the whatever -- by all means - Pray and THANK YOU!
I just wanted to make sure the Accuser does NOT use anything I say or post -- as ammunition for another to justify something -- period.
Now -- for the good news.
One of the reasons I have been in prayer--- one of the situations--- was a recent Retreat that was planned and executed this past week end. It was called the GREAT Escape. It was planned for leadership within my church body, but the Holy Spirit reminded me and it was opened to ANY woman of God that needed to escape. We had a full range of women - all ages and I believe, we are all leaders -- every last one of them!
God knew EXACTLY who would attend, but for planning purposes and such -- HE did not exactly tell me and I had to walk in faith, pray, and not allow the enemy to encamp on my 'feelings'. That was HARD. I am just saying - it was hard. As the planner in me...the first born in me....the fixer in me.......has strongholds and well....God continues to remind me that HE is the stronghold I need.
And, as I prayed this through and asked others to pray -- HE showed up, HE showed out, and HE took care of EVERY minor and BIG detail. When I was unsure, I prayed and HE lead and it was well. When I was unsure, I prayed or asked for prayer and HE lead and it went well. When I was positive that something would happen, I prayed and sought HIM and guess what -- HE showed UP beyond what I could of expected.
Whether you are a leader or a future leader, it does not matter -- rest in HIM. Focused time spent with HIM seeking a good word with HIS Word, being refreshed, refueled, and replenishing the inner man -- --- were ALL goals of this retreat and they were accomplished. Thank YOU Lord.
Per Beth Moore: "The GREAT Escape is so GREAT, so great that ONLY God could accomplish it" and THAT is what transpired.
If you are reading this and are thinking -- 'shoot I missed it'...you did. LOL BUT, don't let the enemy get the best of you. Contact me and we can have lunch, I can probably let you borrow the teaching stuff and you can get with God and escape too.
If you are reading this and are thinking ---'I did not know'.....I am telling you that I know we will have a retreat like this again next year or maybe this winter if the Holy Spirit leads and you can watch and be a part of it next time! ( Just contact me)
Again -- The GREAT Escape is so GREAT, so great that ONLY God could accomplish it!
In church this am, one of my pastor's asked us all to stop and pray as he read out of Isa. 35-- he felt the Lord, was impressing upon him to remind everyone that this 'season' of a dry spell can be over -- to seek God and stand with him and pray.
I actually sat -- as I was refreshed...my dry season had been refreshed and replaced with joy and hope but as I could feel everyone around me stand, I could hear the HS quickly remind me to stand ....as the rest of them did NOT get a retreat and did not have the refreshing time like I did but that I should still always seek prayer for a refreshing -- AMEN!
Back to the last blog, as my heart and head diagnosed in prayer -- the Holy Spirit spoke volumes to me this weekend and gave me new hope and a word to continue to pray and believe. He also showed me that I am in a holding pattern and waiting season and I must wait on God to make the next move. Peace. Amen.
So, the Great Escape was a week end of fellowship, conversations, testimonies, and great teaching and learning. ( future blogs to follow about Positive Words!) And I want to share this:
Psalm 124: 1-8
If it has not been the LORD who was on our side --- let Israel now say -- If it has not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us: then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD< who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Beth's main teaching points were:
1. God's will for my life -- has a slick and deceptive counterfeit. ( Satan is the accuser! )
The devil is REAL. If you don't acknowledge that the enemy is doing anything and everything to KILL you -- you are like a bird - trapped in a cage.
2. A trap is ANY place where we are captive to the enemy's will. ( We can be God's people and STILL be used by the enemy's will. ) We can be of GREAT use to the enemy when we are held captive .... Don't you wish to be set free?
3. Satan will settle for our USELESSNESS...but he prefers to put us to use. (Satan is the GREAT accuser and when he uses us to accuse the body -- or another....we are being used!)
4. We are great use to the Accuser when we assit with accusation. ( A future blog about this point: the difference between the accusation and confrontation)
Accusation is behind the back.... Confrontation is face to face!
Accusation fights against ...Confrontation fights for!
Accusing is counterfeit for authority!
Accusing FEELS good when WE feel bad!!!!! ( OH my - this one HURT....)
Confrontation is biblical but accusation is NOT!
Accusation is contagious.....
5. The Accuser's focused target is ANY child of God! (But God is on my side!)
6. Unresolved arguments, merge with east onto the road of accusation!
( Give NO place to the devil.)
7. We have the divine right to RECLAIM our belongings in Christ. ( God wins! WE win.)
and
8. The GOD of Peace will soon crush Satan under your feet! ( Romans 16.20)
If the Lord had not been on my side.....
----this is my testimony:
I would of eventually found love - probably in another man ( maybe even married man), I would of continued to numb my pain with alcohol and I would of ignored the call on my life to teach and lead others to My Savior. I would be divorced and bitter. I would of allowed the enemy to win and my children would of suffered and I know I would probably be compromising everything. I am in awe and honored that God allowed a struggling marriage to open my eyes to HIS word and that HIS Word became alive and active within me that I began to seek counsel and a consistent prayer life....which built up my inner man ( woman) so that when God allowed a 'sifting like wheat' I was assured of my identity in Christ and thus began a journey of more prayer, seeking, forgiveness, redemption, restoration, and then healing so that ....God won.
If it would of not been for the LORD on my side ....I would not of come to my senses to escape the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. ( 2 Tim 2. 26) Again, I am in awe and honor that what the enemy tried to kill and destroy - thrives in a marriage that is founded and sustained on HIM and that together, with my husband, -- we can live the life HE called us to. amen.
That is my testimony. My words. The other women can give testimony to their GREAT Escape!
We certainly Encountered God in a meaningful and new way!
Lord, thank you so much for the prayer warriors that prayed with me, for me, and continued through out our stay in Titusville. Lord for the one who had a physical healing, Lord, now continue to heal the rest of the body and the answer the prayer requests. Lord for the women - the twelve -- YOU had 12 ( 13) disciples and I so believe that these women are indeed YOURS and they will disciple many as they contine to walk with you and share what the Lord did for them - as YOU were on their side as well. Lord, special blessings and favor to the two that were unable to physically be there, and yet - I know that I know, YOU blessed them in ways that they only see. Lord, thank you for this past weekend and the answered prayers and for the knowledge gained and the visions...the confirmations...and the peace and the refreshing. May we do this again - IN YOUR time. Amen.
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