A Powerful Word

Well, God sure did some FANTASTICALLY AMAZING things this weekend! I've been waiting for the state retreat at Ponderosa, in Colorado Springs, since school started in August. This is where I really grew in my faith in my ministry- Christian Challenge- all the way back to freshman year. I will never forget the people, the sights, the fresh air of the mountains, or the lessons learned. Four times I have experienced this amazing retreat, and this weekend was my last. It's so odd to think that, in August, I couldn't wait for October to get here. Now it's here, the weekend is over, and I can think of nothing I'd like to do more than go back. God definitely knew what I needed to hear this weekend. As I prepare to graduate, intern, and be out in the real world, He figured He'd better set me straight first.

The theme this weekend was "A Discussion on Relationships." We, in turn, discussed issues like inner health, how to love ourselves, turning away from the conformity of the world, forgiveness, turning wounds into scars, and the types of relationships needed to maintain good personal health. Randy Shuler was the speaker for the weekend. Basically I'll just type up the notes we took over the weekend.

Inner Health: Loving Ourselves Rightly
Ephesians 3:16-19
Inner strength is essential for:
1. Spiritual intimacy
2. Personal maturity
3. Inner health
"Failure to love ourselves aright, we will love ourselves amiss." -Leanne Payne

When we don't love ourselves, we create personal insecurity. Love turns inward, and then we become engrossed with ourselves and what a mess we all are. God does not call us to self-realization or self-actualization, but to Christ-identification. Christ is in us, and He is the hope of glory, as the book of Colossians reads.

But how do we learn to love ourselves rightly? Good question.
We must 1. Confess failure or self-acceptance as sin; and as long as we are victims, we will continually focus our eyes on subjective feelings, rather than the Savior. Subjective feelings are unreliable.
We must 2. Invoke the presence of Christ. Isaiah 53:5 reminds that "His death for my sin and failure is sufficient!" Time alone with God is key to helping us work through these issues.
We must 3. Replace subjective feelings with God's healing words. Amen! It was recommended that we buy a new journal, read through the Gospels, and write down each promise we come across. Facts will then take place of feelings.
We must 4. Allow the body of Christ to affirm us. This can be done within or outside the church, as long as the body of believers are encouraging one another in love.
We must 5. Commit to radical obedience. RADICAL! Not lukewarm! We're not to downplay any type of sin, because we are slaves to what we obey, even though we should be slaves to righteousness.

Hand Me a Dr. Pepper, Please
Reasons why I don't drink:
1. Appearances. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, "Abstain from every form of evil."
2. Want to prevent a potential problem. This is about preventing something before it STARTS.
3. Stumbling block. I don't want to mislead other followers of Christ. Don't cause them to lose focus on the Savior!
4. Barriers. Is there a difference between how Christians vs. non-Christians live TODAY? Look at the ways our society has changed.
5. The high road. There is a difference between good and best. Strive for holiness.
6. Life-wrecker. Help preserve society.
7. Misapplied Scripture. Don't justify how drinking contributes to society.
8. Not necessary! (Pretty self-explanatory.)
9. Moldy-mold. Don't do it just because "everyone else is." Be able to use Christ in your life as an evaluative tool.
10. My [kids, family, friends] who will be (most likely) negatively impacted.

Inner Health: Forgiveness
Boulders are hard things.
People react to stones in different ways: They deny them, hide behind them, or are proud of them.
Boulders become tied to us.

Failure to Forgive
One of the primary problems with a failure to forgive is that it roots us in the past.
Everything you do from this day forward is tied to this grudge! It will define who you are and what you become.
1. Forgiveness does NOT validate harmful or sinful behavior.
2. Forgiveness does NOT minimize the offense or offender.
3. Forgiveness does NOT mean that you intentionally allow other people to continue hurting you.
4. Forgiveness does NOT mean all painful memories are erased.
Jeremiah 31:34 says, "I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." God means that He is acting. When the Bible says He forgets, it means He is not going to act.
"I release the one who caused the pain from my desire and/or attempt to bring about justice, judgment, payback, or vengeance." In the book of Romans, God says we are to let HIM be the decider of punishment.

How Do You Forgive an Unforgivable Offense?
Look to the LORD for comfort and healing. -Matthew 11:28
Bring the offense and pain to God and RELEASE it.
The answer is the cross of Christ.
"We can hug our hurts and make a shrine out of our sorrows, or we can offer them to God as a sacrifice of praise. The choice is ours." -Carrol Kent


Inner Health: Turning Wounds Into Scars
1. Release the pain, shame, and blame. Take things back to the Lord and LET THEM GO.
2. Release the "Why" question. Sometimes you won't get an answer. Still ask. Don't get caught up in false accusations.
3. Accept the greater purpose. God does NOT WASTE HURTS! He will use each and every hurt for something good and beautiful.
4. Recognize Jesus. In John 20:19-20, the disciples didn't realize the resurrected Christ was Christ, until He showed them the nail scars in His hands. Sometimes that's what we have to do.


Four Sets of Relationships Essential to Maintaining Personal Health
Oftentimes we assemble fences to surround and protect ourselves from what others think of us. We accept and carry out covert operations to satisfy personal pursuits, even though they don't matter unless they are Christ-driven. We allow isolation and alienation to gain entrance to who we are, and then we push people away.
Set 1: I must run with BELIEVERS. Large groups of people help us to be spiritually alive!
Set 2: I must sit with FRIENDS. Small groups allow us to be real.
Set 3: I must stand with BROTHERS. Submit to a discipler, who can help you speak truth.
Set 4: I must walk with GOD. One to one with God helps me to be a woman of God. Faith is in the Lord.


So all in all, this weekend was phenomenal. Lots of personal struggles and issues that came crashing back like waves, even though I thought they were things that had been resolved. This weekend really showed me things that I need to work on. I didn't buy a new journal, but continued on in the current one I have that is from my mom. I sat down yesterday and began reading through the Gospels, noting each promise I came across. Let me tell you this- if you're struggling, do this. There is nothing better than being lifted high on wings from Christ, to feel loved, cherished, in place. He loves us! What ELSE do we need? Nothing! If He believes in me, I will succeed.