God Moment IV : Outpour 2009 and "God is Up to Something"

I logged into Facebook one afternoon to find an event invitation from a Chi Alpha friend. Outpour 2009 with Shaun Smith was happening March 1st on the UofM campus here in Missoula. I decided to go since I just happen to live two blocks away. Now that I use a powerchair, I can travel at night a bit easier. For the next couple of days until the conference, I spent less time at my computer, seeking what God would have for me this weekend.
I came expecting, and once again God delivered. The very first night He used a prophetic word not spoken by the speaker himself (of which I was hoping for seeing how he was giving them to others in attendance), but through a gentleman on his ministry team. Shaun Smith had asked for a raise of hands for people who were experiencing different things in their lives and prayed over them. Then a worship song ensued. I just happened to be raising my hands in worship when two or three people from the ministry team walked over, placed their hands on me, and prayed. One of the gentleman struck up a conversation with me and I shared with him what I was feeling. Events of the past few months, years maybe, had been weighing heavily on me. He then began to share with me a picture God had given him as I spoke.
He spoke of seeing a racehorse behind the starting gate, who was raring to go (The fact that he used a horse excited me as I just happen to love horses in general). He then went on to explain that God was up to something (This part REALLY excited me as for months I too felt as though God was up to something. At least, that is how I chose to look at it). I wish I could remember ALL he said to me as I am sure there was more. But my mind was stuck on the "God is up to something" part of his prophetic word.

Outpour 2009 and Shaun Smith --- Notes

The greatest temptation is to hide who we are meant to be.
I cannot escape who I am meant to be
If you risk your reputation.......
1Sam 2:30 - God will honor those who honor Him
The things you put your hands to do; flourish
2Sam 23
I need to reinvent myself
Calling away from mediocrity
God has put greatness in me
God wants to grow you by putting you in high-risk situations
2Sam. 23:8 - 12 (verse 11 - victory)
Atmosphere of Risk
Faith in vs. Faith for
What you do when you are afraid determines your destiny
If you don't fight teh enemy, he tags along and tries to steal your life until you beat him down and refuse to back down and give up what he tries to steal
Dont limit your life to what you can figure out
The 'Miracle Zone' begins where the comfort zone ends
(Heb 11) Risk - willingness to loose life and agenda to gain His life and agenda

1.) Before you unleash exploits, you must unlearn fears
When you let in fear, it restricts you from seeing what God is doing
Fear will NEVER go away
DON'T let fear dictate your life
The greatest risk is not taking it
If you draw back when God is drawing you out, you will miss what God is drawing you to.

2.) Turn your adversity into ministry
Adversity DOES NOT have to define you
God wants us to take Him up on His promises

3.) Faith doesn't eliminate uncertainties, it embraces them
Faith - the most important musle

A Good "Fit"

Joni and Friends Daily Devotional
September 14, 2008
Dear Tryna,



Jake's Story

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
--Proverbs 19:21

Our Wheels for the World team arrived in a small town in Poland to distribute 225 wheelchairs and Bibles. Before the day had hardly begun, however, their plans were in shreds. The assigned room was tiny and cramped. But before anyone could come up with a plan B, streams of families with disabled children began pouring through the doors. The place quickly became packed and noisy. Everything was thrown into confusion. "Lord Jesus," the team prayed together, "may your purpose prevail here." Then they went to work greeting families, assessing needs, locating pre-assigned wheelchairs, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus at every opportunity.

The afternoon wore on. A tired father, carrying his little five-year-old disabled boy on his back, finally reached the head of the line. But when he lifted his son into the pre-assigned chair, his shoulders slumped. It didn't fit! "I am so sorry!" our seating specialist exclaimed, "this is the wrong chair." But there were only a few chairs left. Pushing aside several adult chairs, she reached for a child-sized one. But it was highly customized, with side supports-including blue leather backing with "Jake" stitched across the middle. In the end, there was no other choice. It was that chair or nothing. When the father lifted his boy into the new chair, it fit perfectly! An interpreter exclaimed, "It's like it was made for him!"

"By the way, what is your son's name?" someone asked the boy's mother. "Jakob," she replied-and everyone gasped! When an interpreter explained to the boy's mystified parents that "Jake" is the shortened version of Jakob-they, too, cried for joy. The whole family-along with almost sixty others-opened their hearts to receive Jesus that day. The Lord's purpose had prevailed!

*********

If you are struggling today with a plan-gone-haywire in your life, take comfort in Proverbs 19:21. The Lord's purpose will prevail.

Father, help me to see through the strands of my shredded plans that if your purposes are truly my purposes, your heart's desire will prevail.

Blessings,

Joni and Friends

Taken from Pearls of Great Price. Copyright © 2006 by Joni Eareckson Tada. Used by permission. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530



Last year when I first became interested in Joni and Friends Family Camp, I signed up to receive her online devotional. In fact, I have a seperate folder in my email account for the devotonals i receive that hit home, some more than others. This one is no exception.
Trusting God that He will find me a position, albeit work or volunteer, that will be a good "fit".

Joni and Friends Family Retreat

A few months ago an opportunity was presented in our Chi Alpha Missions minute. It happened to be Joni and Friends family retreats. I still can't get over the fact that I sat and wept through the entire presentation. But it seemed to me that I was meant to go. My mother and I were planning to attend the Annual 2008Spina bifida conference in Arizona. When the opportunity arose for attending Joni and Friends, mom suggested we go ahead and register for the retreat instead. After all, I hadn't had a vacation in a while it seemed.
We started making preparations for the retreat. In the meantime, time wasn't moving fast enough. As time passed, we hit snaffu's here and there. It wasn't very accessible. My parents went to the retreat site as it was only an hours drive from home. Not a problem. We could get around the accessibility issues. There were a few activities that I couldnt do, but we'd make do. In fact, there was plenty for me to do, so the ones I couldnt were not much of a big deal to me. Then, it was decided that since we were first timers at JAF we should go as campers. That's okay, I was still going with the same mindset; ministering to those around me. A short time later and the two women I was going with (besides mom) didn't get paperwork and finances finalized in time. She had sent them in way before I sent mine, however, they didnt receive hers before spaces were filled. Somehow they had received mine within plenty of time. Apparently I was meant to go.
The theme for the retreat this year was "Let's Do It!", a parody off of Philippians 4:13. It just happens to be my favorite verse of the entire bible!!! Another indication I was to be there? I think so. All this just a cawinkydink? I think NOT!

HIGHLGHTS FROM NOTES TAKEN
When I left for the retreat I thought I would regret bringing only one notebook tablet with me, I fully expected to come away with a lot more than I did. It was startling to me that I only came home with maybe less than three pages. Check out my Flickr page as I took tons of pictures.

7-24-08
This year Ichose to attend the Young Adult program (led by Marty and Veronica), even though I would probably be the oldest adult in the group besides the leaders. I was right. Bu I didn't mind. I thought the adult group would be talking abotu things that really didnt pertain to me at this point in my life.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM NOTES
He restores my soul - He gets me breathing again
In Jesus, every day is Christmas

The night session really did something for me. The first day and a half I wasn't into the retreat all that much. The activities in the YA group seemed a bit young to me and not much was speaking to me from either the speaker for the adults (which we got to hear part of before going to the YA group) Or the YA speakers. I was really hoping Joni would make an appearance sometime within the week, but that never happened. Although from what I heard, it has happened in times past. However, someone just as great (after all, this was Joni and Friends), who but Renee Bondi. She came, sang, gave her testimony, and story as to how she ended up as a quadriplegic due to falling out of bed. This was my favorite night I think. I even blew most of my cash with buying four of her CD's and her autobiography. My mother bought her book and finished it by the time we left the retreat, WOW! I'm only six chapters into it.

Okay, so I know i put highlights from notes up above, but The stuff Renee shared I just had to take notes as well.
-song "Be Not Afraid" really hit home for me. I've been fretting over what God has (or doesn't have) regarding my future
little ditty I'm sur eshe worte for this years theme -"Eyes, mouth, heart, hands, our construction zone (sung to row row row your boat)
*one pound ankle weights on her tummy as she breathes, to strengthen her abs for better breath control (pure genius!)
song from Phil 1:
-He who began a good work in you......
SOS - Sanctify, Organize, Surrender
Phil 4:8 - ...think on such things
(okay, I have to put this in here somewhere..., but as we were clapping for one of her songs, one camper shouts out "Jesus is the winner man!") RIGHT ON DUDE!!!
Thinking of my chair as my friend
changing heart, changing attitude
Lord, I surrender_________
Phillippians 4:7 transcends (goes through)
Give your frustrations to Jesus
song - Philippians 4:13
I CAN learn to be content
God will deliver me (Jesus, your my firm foundation)

Funny thing is, after this night, the rest of the retreat was amazing to me.

7-25-08
If I didnt have my disability, I probably wouldn't have Jesus
Phil. 4:6
Phil 4:12 - Contentment
1 Thess. 5:18 - God, change my heart about___________
Peter walking on water - Keep your eyes on Jesus
JOY - Jesus, Others, You

In the Young adult group, we got into small groups and had a discussion about our time today. What the topic was i suddenly blanked, but I know whatever we shared, Veronica wrote out a verse on a piece of paper, each one getting something different. I mentioned something about being uncertain about my future. She gives me Jeremiah 29:11 and Mathew 6:33 amazing to me!!!
Went on a balloon ride today. This was a ministry idea that a gentleman had. Pretty cool. All we did really was go up and then sit a while, and then come back down.But I think it was the height thing that really got the children excited. My mother did not go up. She stayed down and took at least twenty pictures of me being in there. I really wish now that I would have gotten pictures of what it was like from the balloon.
Alehe almost jumped in the lake several times. I learned you cannot let Alehe off leash around water, she'll make a bee-line for it! Another cute thing about Alehe was that at least five families took our picture while we were there. I beieve it was the first time a servicedog was at Joni and Friends.

After a day or two, Dalinda made the okay for me to be STM for next year! My mother and I theorized that it would be best for me to be teamed up with a more ambulatory individual. It turns out, there was a young girl with Down's Syndrome who absolutely adored Alehe, and had a fascination with people in wheelchairs. What a great way to reach her and her family. Her parents are great people, and really want me as their STM for their daughters sake.

I am already excited!!! How many days do I have left? 360.....-ish?

7-26-08
2Cor 1:3-7
Psalm139

Sermon on the Mount
Mat. 5:6-7
Wise man building his house on the Rock
( I thought of the dreams i have for the future and people's and situations attempts at destroying them.
Jesus is the foundation
Foundation work is s-l-o-w work
(Bible readiing, tithing, prayer, etc.)
The foolish man builds quickly and with shortcuts

CHECK OUT MY FLICKR PAGE TO SEE PHOTOS WE TOOK OF OUR TIME AT JONI AND FRIENDS.