How you doin? Stacey's at work, so my filter is not here. I'm hoping that I don't offend anyone with this email. On a positive note, my foot feels better today then it has since the surgery. Praise Jesus. He's already rewarding my obedience.
Danny Silk said, "What is your yes? If you're focusing on your "no" it's because you don't know your "yes". This is one loaded statement. God has given me the assignment of organizing conferences for my church. Our first one with Jonathan and Karen Welton is coming up quickly. There are 2 men that I really love and want to invite to our church. Bob Hazlett and Todd White. I've reached out to them several times with no success. Stacey and I saw these 2 men of God at the Power & Love conference we attended this past May. As well as in/on other things. So I'm praying and asking God indigently "how do I get Bob Hazlett or Todd White to our church!?". Immediately God replies " invite Power & Love". I did my normal narrow minded arguing. Things like, "I already attended this conference", "it's too big for our church", "our congregation isn't as "out there" as Stacey and I are", and so on and so forth. God's argument back was "invite Power & Love". And He wonders why we think He doesn't listen to us. I made it perfectly clear to Him "no".
So I say "no"... God says "yes". Who do you think is right? So God gives me the grace and I start the process. It just so happens that one of their open dates is one of our church's open dates. Coincidence? I emailed Tom Routolo who leads the ministry (in the natural) and he responded to me that same day. Coincidence? This conference isn't starving for host in anyway. I reached out to Pastor Spike and he said "yes!". He was excited. However, I did reach out to some other people from my church and they, like me, said "no". They too had several legitimate reasons why "no" was the correct response. So I took that to God and your not going to believe what He said... "yes!". I reminded Him that He's again givings us "no"-ers the impression that He's not listening.
My first contact with Tom Routolo was on Fri. 12/13 via email. Yesterday 12/17 Tom sends me an email saying, "Paul, please give me a call". So, I called him and he asked me how it's going with the organization of the conference. I told him there have been a lot of "no"-s. He encouraged me with the fact that they promote these events to at least 2000 people in hopes of obtaining the minimum 175 registrations. That's really sad if you ask me. He gave me the contact information to the person from the church that we saw the conference at in Pennsauken. Coincidence? God is obviously NOT LISTENING!
2 Corinthians 1:17, "Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?" Maybe it's not God's lack of listening. MAYBE it's my/our "no". 2 Corinthians 1:18-19, "But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”' Praise Jesus for that. Can you imagine if Jesus was "no" like me. Or even "yes" and "no"? OUCH!!!!!!! Buckle up here comes the bomb. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! What is "Amen"? According to my buddy Webster it means, "used to express solemn ratification (as of an expression of faith) or hearty approval (as of an assertion)" I also like COME ON, YUP, AWESOME, SO GOOD, DIG IT, OH SNAP, and YES & AMEN. Jesus supplies the "yes", but I/we supply the "Amen". I'll be standing firm in Christ as I receive the barrage of "no"s over yet another conference at my church. I've only presented 2 and both times I needed to "stand firm in Christ" through the "no"s. Our "western church" is gulping down the demonic spirit of religion with a human tradition chaser. Know your "yes" today.
PS "What is your yes? If you're focusing on your "no" it's because you don't know your "yes". - Danny Silk
God is going to do amazing things with your church. By choosing to use you as the middleman in his endeavors, he is proving that he is not finished working in your church.
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