We were all to arrive early as they sorted through who was serving and who had the day off to just listen. As I was guided toward team one I was told we were on first shift and would be serving that day (Friday, btw). We had the choice of either welcoming people at the door or helping in the kitchen. Um, kitchen! She didn't need our help right off so I meandered into the sanctuary and claimed a seat with my bag in the rows designated for our school. The first session was a little over my head. It was on prophecy and I still need the basics on that, so as I found myself a little frustrated that I couldn't understand it, I had to remind myself that this was a conference for people who were past the basics.
I felt almost underdressed in my peasant skirt turned dress, as girls swished past in pencil skirts and dress pants. While they strode confidently by, I planned in my head how I was going to step it up for Saturday. I did take some notes, however haphazard they are, so if you're now wanting to know if I learned anything at all at this big get together, this next part's for you.
*****START NOTES******
Ephesians 4:7-24
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says:
“ When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”[b]
9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first[c] descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Much in the church has been up to feelings, senses. We need to leave the feeling, overwhelming of our emotions and listen to the sensitive whisper of the Holy Spirit.
God wants a grown up people who are not easily blown here and there by every wind of doctrine.
God is looking for a people who'll be consistent, who won't be moved easily.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
To be grown up means that you know the difference between right and wrong, and you CHOOSE to do what's right. We must practice how to choose right, we must practice how to listen to the Holy Spirit. You can learn to be more effective spiritually.
The first thing we need to have as a prophetic people is a listening ear.
Isaiah 50:4
4 “ The Lord GOD has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned.
We are all servants and slaves of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
You are free indeed when you are a slave of Jesus Christ. "Abraham my servant" "Moses my servant".
Joshua 1:1&2
1 After the death of Moses the SERVANT of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My SERVANT is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.
Your servant can do this. If you have a servant's heart, a servant's spirit and a servant's mind, you will not be afraid.
1 Samuel 17:37
37 Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”
We are to be FREE servants of Jesus Christ. Serving out of love, because we have chosen to.
We need to come to a place where we're not holding on to anything. Where we've emptied ourselves and are obedient to Christ. It's our joy to be obedient. We should not have the world's view of obedience.
If you are going the wrong way, whether you have success or failure, whether you're kind or not, the wrong way is the wrong way.
Why should maturity be so long delayed and the nursery so long occupied?
We need to grow up. We need to be the people who know what it is to be a slave (of love) to Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 42:1
1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
Matthew 12
Psalm 123 (I trust you are capable of finding these references in your own bible.)
Praise the Lord for yesterday but ask, 'Lord, what do you want today?' You need to be a servant who is PROCLAIMING.
The slave waits for the master to give the signal. Once he's done what he'd been told to do, he's back in his position, waiting for the next signal. When you move out on your own opinion, in your own timing, the grace of God isn't there.
We are listening, watching, our focus is not on the need, it is on Him. We are not there because of the need, but because the Lord has sent us there. A slave cannot serve two masters. It's wonderful to serve one Lord.
If you don't understand a person's motive, don't be quick to judge him.
******END NOTES******
The main speaker, or apostle I think, was saying, before anyone spoke, about how we need to be servant leaders, and I really appreciated that bit of it. I'm sorry if these notes don't make any sense, they're mainly just what I thought important enough to copy down, and skip all the jokes and relating stories. Those are just for me apparently. Ha!
We were pulled out of the second session by a very organized DK, in order to help in the kitchen. Trays of turkey wraps and trays of cookies. Bowls of salad as well as pasta salad. Bags of chips and cans of pop. It was a very well rounded meal. Our job was to keep everything stocked, remove empty dishes and hurry back with them, refilled. It sure keeps one moving. We ate once everyone else had eaten, and then once they had all finished and been guided back into the sanctuary, we wiped tables and vacuumed floors. I'm ashamed to say I wasn't very helpful with that. For one, I had a splitting headache and the noise of the vacuum just reverberated through my head. I kept stopping and starting. But I had to stop to move the chairs out from the tables so it was semi-productive.
I don't get headaches often and so when I do they're just a real bugger, and the thing about getting a community of believers together who truly care about each other is that they're all asking you how you're doing. So I think quite a few people knew I had a headache, and I'd been prayed for quite a few times. It made it hard to concentrate, that headache did, on what people were talking about, which sucked. And for two, (reasons why I wasn't that helpful) I was very interested in what the speaker was talking about. They were having a question and answer period and there are three or four tv's out in the lobby, with somewhat quiet speakers. I would pause and listen to him for a bit, wipe a table, pause to listen again.
Someone had asked something about prophecies, and as I know next to nothing about them and have been given a desire to know, I was listening rather intently. He told the crowd about how his wife had been very sick and a few very well meaning friends had prophesied that she was going to be healed. He said he knew in his heart that she wouldn't be, and then she wasn't. She died. Then he had some friends tell him it was God's will for him to remarry, but he knew that wasn't right for him either. He reminded us to use discernment in both recieving and giving prophesies. To pray about them and know that we shouldn't be giving a prophecy for the sake of giving a prophecy. Amen.
People milled about all over the lobby, but refrained from having a parking lot party because of how windy it was outside. Note to self: skirts & wind result in embarrassing situations, even if you're wearing leggings underneath. There was no plan, no place to go and no means of getting there, but a loud cry for a plan. I found myself wandering from one cluster of SOTW students to the next, asking what they were up to then. None of them had a clue, but someone knew, they were sure.
Eventually we planned for food, as it was nearing 5 p.m. We all somehow found a vehicle and then somehow found the same Olive Garden, some arriving half an hour to an hour later. It was the place to be, apparently. My headache affected what I ordered to eat, and you'll all be glad (or you should be) to know that I didn't finish my plate. Even though it called to me. I let it be. I let that grilled chicken flatbread be. Payment was colassal mayhem. Some had American money and were going to aid others in payment, some had visas and some's visas didn't work. I wasn't even sure who paid for me really, it was just that ridiculous.
I was at the point of curling up into the fetal position, headache wise, and so on the way to Jenna's I curled up in the backseat of the van and refused to get up when we arrived. The slight problem with that was that I was cold, but as people kept coming in and out of the van, I decided it was moot to stay in there anaways. I discovered they had decided to attend Artfest and I inwardly cursed the headache that would keep me away from something I would enjoy so much! As I laid on the cement sidewalk (Steph informed me there were fire ants in the grass of the lawn), I finally asked for drugs, and Sylvie came up with some liquid advil. Thank you Sylvie. I sat up in time to watch Jenna fall down the cement steps of her porch, taking an impressive chunk of her foot out. There was talk of not going, until she walked confidently out of the bathroom and declared she was still good to go. Bandaged foot and all. Way to be woman. : )
Our school was mixed with people on the Rev team who attend The Point. The Point is the church in Grand Rapids that was hosting the conference, and they're under the same apostle as us. Feel free to correct this info. if it's wrong! Rev is sort of like SOTW, except with more outreach/evangelism. I think there were also just some young adults who attended The Point there so we were quite the random crowd. It was just about dark as we parked and walked downtown. Our first taste of art being the out of tune (due to weather), hippy painted piano sitting just under an overpass. About this time I noticed my headache was gone and gleefully enlightened everyone else.
There was graffiti on boxes and melting ice sculptures and giant metal. Somethings. Saskatoon is supposed to be the city of bridges but downtown Grand Rapids had WAY more than all of Saskatoon! Fail. On the bridge we crossed was a woman with one end of a kite string. In the air, attatched to this string, were huge white balloons with little blinking blue lights where they attatched to the rope. It arked high in the air and was pulled back in to what we discovered on our way home was a man at the base of the next bridge to the right. Fallen twinkling blue lights gleamed through the shallow water of the river inbetween the two bridges. As I was looking at the graffitied canvas boxes on the Victoria styled bridge with the balloon kite and starred sky above a bunch of seagulls took flight and I had this incredible pang for the camera I had the day before misplaced. I think I left it in Ryan's car and in that moment I was rather distressed about that. In anguish even.
The air was balmy, the breeze slightly cooler. The lights of downtown were warm and the voices jovial. People laughed and sang and danced and clapped but mostly they just walked and talked, taking in the art that adorned every corner. A yellow car filled with rubber ducks and an arbitrary band with an old black man swaying to and fro in front. With his eyes closed people skirted around him and no one was quite sure if he was part of the act or not. We came up to a large building and Jenna, who I believe had designated herself our tour guide of downtown Grand Rapids, informed us it was their art building, which was free during artfest. We stood in the quickly moving line and were then handed stickers that we had to place in clear view. I didn't understand the point if it was free anyways. Amy had a camera and so the only picture I can provide you with is from her.
I ambled around that gallery way longer than anyone else in the group even cared to, in fact some of them had stayed out to begin with. I loved each exhibit, each photo, each talent on display. I wanted to take it all in and not leave, but I felt obligated to not keep them all waiting. Lime green chairs in the shape of leaves had been moved to circle a single table and that's where most of them waited. Those too impatient to wait had sauntered off to find more art to gawk at, but they were back before long and then we were off, with the intent of heading back to our vehicles. This attempt was squashed when, off to our left, a giant, flying, viking pig appeared, tusks and all. Maybe it was a boar. As if we were not going to check that out.
It was made by the same group that presented the city with Nessy in the river (now in a zoo I've heard) and it was a work of ark. Green glowing eyes, oval wooden legs for steering and thick, canvas sails along it's back. It's side was open so you could see the metals gears and at the base of the pig was a man handing out a 'newspaper' about it. There was a live band playing in that area, mammoths towering above you comprised entirely of nails welded together, a lilypond etched on brass sheets. Of course, everyone else was done there too before I had had enough time to drink it all in. I had to hold my skirt with two hands against the wind as we walked again passed the piano and talked of the pro's and con's of fireworks. We were warmly invited to the States for the fourth of July festivities and we compared how our city did on Canada Day (Saskatoon ranked poorly).
Jenna's house had snagged quite a few more people and being the wonderful hosts they are, we were all soon offered hot beverages. Real English tea made by Erin herself. I found myself being a lot more outgoing than I ever imagined possible and I had soon met almost everyone who's name I did not know. As Steph and I were staying at a house quite far from our then current location, we had to find a ride and leave when it left, which was around ten thirty. Back at the house we headed straight for our respective rooms and I regrettably fell asleep fully clothed once again. That day was so packed though, so draining, and I wouldn't have taken anything out. I was utterly content as I closed my eyes, one arm flung across my stomach, the other cradling my cheek. Sweet dreams.
As if.
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