F.R.E.E.D.O.M

I have had the best weekend! A group of girls and I went to the EWomen's Conference and it was PHENOMENAL!!!! All of the speakers were great as well as the music. I would encourage anyone that is thinking about going to this conference to go (Like there are thousands of people that will actually be reading this).

The theme of the conference was "Embracing Powerful Peace". I don't know about you but I could use some peace these days. I thought I would share with you a few things I learned. Sheri Rose Shepherd spoke and gave an acronym for FREEDOM......

F - Fight the good fight. We are in a constant spiritual battle. Keep the faith!
R - Run to God!
E - Enter into praise & prayer.
E - Eliminate the things that exhaust you, stress you out, etc.
D - Do what God wants you to do.
O - Operate in your appointed position.
M - Move On! Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."

Think of the freedom we will experience if we put these things into practice! At times it is hard to know what God wants us to do. However, if we stay in the word, pray, and keep those things away from our life that don't bear fruit we will be able to know when God is speaking. We also, need to understand that we may not always get the answer or response we are wanting. Deuteronomy 20:5 - "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God........" The idols of our day are different from the idols the Israelites looked to. Anything that keeps us away from God and His purpose for our lives is an idol. If God tells us "no" to something we have been in prayer for, then it could just be that we are looking to "that" to make us happy, and we are to turn to God for that happiness.

The above verse is obviously something God is speaking to me about. I have heard and read this verse numerous times over the past couple of days. That my friend, is one of the ways God "speaks" to me, through scripture!

Lastly, I will leave you with scriptures from the weekend that in my opinion, are powerful and will help get you through those rough times we are either facing, faced, or will be facing.

1 Thessolonians 5:16-17 Be joyful always, pray continually.

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Lamentations 3:23-24 - They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "the LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."