Believing for the Impossible
October 24, 2009
“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
A miracle is an extraordinary welcome event that is not explicable by natural laws and therefore is considered the work of a Divine agency. When miracles occur we have ‘found favor with God.’
God’s grace is unmerited, undeserved favor, and God’s divine enablement in a particular situation. Favor is God’s approval, support, advancement or…I like this one, overgenerous preferential treatment!There are times when God just favors us. We do not deserve it; we’ve not labored for it. We’ve just been chosen, as Mary and Elizabeth were, to demonstrate God’s glory for a particular purpose or role in the earth. In this case to birth the Messiah and his forerunner John the baptizer.
We ask Mary’s question at times in the form of excuses (we would say reasons) of why God can’t do His work through us, “How can this be?” ”I’m too old (or too young). I’m a woman. I don’t have the education. I don’t have the money. I don’t know the right people,” and the list goes on.
With favor the answer is always the same: Only by the power of the Holy Spirit. For nothing is impossible with God. It’s impossible for you, but not for God!
So stop looking at yourself, your limitations and your lack of resources and accept the Word of God as it has been given and say like Mary, “Be it unto me according to Your Word.”
Woman Come Forth! 2009
October 24, 2009
Last weekend October 16-18, we had I honor of being the closing speaker and offering worship the Lord with GRACE again at Woman Come Forth in Denver, Colorado.
As an artist, I am always inspired by how other artists choose to tell a story that will bring insight, laughter, and liberty to those who see and hear it. The artistry is one of the unique things that separates Woman Come Forth from other conferences and events with which I have been involved (kudos Faith & Laura!). The interweaving of the spoken Word of God, the performing and visual arts, prayer and healing exercises that restore the broken, and God’s people lavishing His love on one another is simply breathtaking! The most obvious display of this for me was the aerial dancer, bound high and tied up in cloths that represented the challenges of our lives - unwrapping herself in a God-trusting free-fall and soaring through air as Kathleen Carnali powerfully sang, “Be prepared to live like you’ve never lived before, leave the past behind you, you were meant to soar…Just Live!”
As a speaker, the most impacting point is when women come through the ‘tomb’ after having surrendered their ‘graveclothes’ issue and they head toward us (the speakers) as we serve them communion. There is such a sense of release, relief and pure joy and peace on many of their faces. Women come through that tomb having left the pain of many disappointments and regrets behind. The shedding of their tears reflects the shedding of the past and a desire to move forward into the future God has planned for them. At times it is difficult for me to even offer the words ‘this is the body of Christ broken for you,’ amidst holding back my own tears.
As a woman who desires to deeply experience the height, breadth, depth and width of God’s love for me, this entire gathering from behind the scenes discussions and prayers, to the culmination of the event has set a standard for me of how God wants to express His love for His people. At every turn, from the beautiful venue, to men in tux giving out red roses, on through the engaging experience and final celebration; I experience the sumptuously rich and luxurious love of God! and I hold it in my heart and spirit…until next time.
