Colour Conference 2010 - Opener

Bobbie Houston: Thursday 18th March 2010 at the opening of Colour Conference Sydney.

• Heaven believes in you and so do we (being Sisters in the hood)
• Psalm 121 (AMP) A Song of Ascents: 1[a]I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]--From whence shall my help come? 2My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
• Psalm 91: "HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]" Our days are full of peril but His hope is an anchor to our soul (Heb 6: 19-20)

We are encouraged in His word to gather by His Spirit. Zech 4:6.

Jesus said that "The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day [a]when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound." (Luke 4:17-21).

God's thoughts and plans for us; Jeremiah 29:11 (Amp) "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."

Bobbie encouraged us to give due diligence to what is in our hands, i.e. do diligently whatever you are doing, whether raising kids, working, socialising etc.

Ps 133: Where there is unity, God has commanded blessing. Unity, firstly, to His Spirit and secondly to one another. Psalm 133 uses the analogy of Aaron, the first high priest, where the anointing of oil drenched his clothing, causing it to cover his entire body. Aaron was literally covered from head to toe in the oil (representing the spirit of God and anointing).

[Please note: This blog was uploaded some year's ago in draft and never posted.  I am posting 'as is'.]

Sisterhood United Nite 26/11/2013

Bobbie spoke on '2 Poems, a Proverb and a Painting'

Bobbie quotes the first poem in context of a meeting with Roma Downey and her husband, Mark Burnett, with regard to their upcoming movie "The Son of God".  She paints a picture of a beautiful L.A. home, and describes the scene of seeing the mist of the clouds meeting the grey of the ocean at the horizon and the tranquility there.  She feels like she's 'in a romantic movie" and inquires of Roma "How did you cope with all the public scrutiny during the making of 'The Bible' mini-series?". [paraphrased]

In response Roma refers to the below Rumi poem:

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,

there is a field. I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.

Ideas, language, even the phrase "each other" doesn't make any sense.

Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi - 13th century

Bobbie, focuses on "the world is too full to talk about";

God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. (Psalm 23:1-3 MSG)
 

She encourages us to pursue the "Secret Place" in order to practice the presence of God. In that 'secret place' His words resound in my heart. 

Psalm 91. Describes that secret place as a safe refuge, a place of safety and relationship with God.

2) Proverb 31- noble woman of character. V 14 She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country]. (Proverbs 31:14 AMP) 

A merchant ship in context of spiritual food. Port = He has us here for a reason. To load our lives so that others might be privy to His presence and promises.

3) 2nd Poem: 

Gone from my sight - Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

 

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."

 

Gone where?

 

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

 

[And that is dying...] - This final line is absent from Bobbies commentary.

This poem reminded her that God wants us to grow large in mast, hull and spar. The bigger the sail the faster it can go. Every boat, no matter the size of its sail, can reach its destination, however the higher it soars, and the bigger the sail, the more wind it can catch and the faster it can reach its destination.

Strong spar - height of the sail is proportional to the weight of the hull.

The more frequent our visits to the secret place, the bigger, higher and stronger our 'sails' will be, which will result in a greater knowledge and understanding of the power and presence of God and develop a depending love with our Father and His Son.

3) Painting: Brave men run in my family".

This represents, uncharted waters and the pioneering spirit. 

Bobbie ended by encouraging each of us to 'get your brave on!', in context of the full armour of God as depicted in Eph 6.

Colour 2014- the year of knowing His love in greater dimension.

She encouraged us to a greater tenderheartedness, developed In the 'secret place'.

Be a Servant in your every day life.
Brave the battlefields of Thy Kingdom come.

What Will You Bring to the Table - Julia A'Bell - Sisterhood 22/08/2013

#TakeYourPlaceBABYTakeYourPlace

What will you bring to the table?
Everyone of us has something special that God has designed for us to bring to the Body (Church) to build His kingdom.  People are hesitant because they don't know what to do. Eph 4:16: He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work.  It helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy, and growing and full of love.

Everybody finding the place that they have in the Body of Christ really matters.  When we don't know what we are meant to be doing, or we do know and aren't doing it, we are robbing the body of Christ and preventing it from growing to the full extent that it could grow.  And possibly robbing someone of finding the love that is found in Jesus Christ.

Julia then tells a story of an encounter with a leader from London Hillsong.  This leader felt that she didn't have permission to bring her gift.  Julia asked "From whom do you want permission?" 

You need to know what you need to bring to the table. There are "Kingdom" things that I can always contribute.  Encouragement. Affection. Ask God, who do I need to bless?  If there is something else to bring then He will ask me to bring it as I'm in that stance of inquiring and asking of Him.

We ask ourself: "What is our place?" We are all looking for something to contribute.  We tend to seek the "recognisable accolade"; Something that people would acknowledge and give praise for.  Our insecurities make us feel this way, as we crave for the recognition of others. 

Our accolade is actually from Our Father. We are called to take our place and fulfill the call of God.  To reach His Throne at the end of our lives and hear those words: "Well done, good and faithful servant". Our calling is found in our everyday, ordinary lives.

Why do we long for the accolade of others? We must make a conscious decision to contribute to His Church and to the people in our everyday lives. 

We have 24 hours to serve Jesus and take our place at the "table" and serve where no-one will ever see, but He will. We receive our reward in heaven, rather than seeking the accolade on earth.

What can I bring to the table in my marriage?  Gods kingdom come and His will be done in my Husbands life. Praying that he will become everything he is destined to be.  I am called to be his main cheerleader. Soar beyond the limits of what he would have if I hadn't encouraged him.

As a Mum, what can I bring? Sometimes our gift won't bring much accolade but it WILL change someones life. Make sure my kids are in a position to encounter Jesus. Being at "His Table" It's not always glamorous, it's very little about being front and centre, and having an audience. Often, the most unglamorous situations are the most powerful, not just on the platform. 

Eph 5:15-17: Be careful how you live.  Make the most of every opportunity as the days are evil.  Understand what the Lord wants you to do.

God wants me to be His hand-piece, His mouth-piece, His foot piece, every single minute of my day.  Understand what the Lord wants me to do.  What can we confidently bring to His table?

What can we bring to the table?
1) Me: we are the best "me" that the world is ever going to have. If we never work out that we have something to bring, the world will never be its best. We can bring our gifts and talents, our smile and our "lean in". Ps139:14: I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. We must learn to like being me, enjoy being me. The disastrous game of comparison prevents us from doing what God has called us to do. The Creator made us the way we are, He loves us!  We don't have to bring something that we are not. Bring ourselves confidently to the table.

2) Once we like who we are, then we are more likely to bring our gifts and talents to the table.  Eph 4:7:  He has given each one of us one special gift. Through the generosity of Christ. He didn't give us a little, He gave us the right portion for us, so that we could be a blessing to His body, to other people.  What are your gifts and talents?  

Rom 12:6: Different gifts according to the grace given to each one of us. One question we have to ask our-self? Are we bringing those gifts and talents to the table of the Lord , to build Jesus Christ into others. To reveal Jesus Christ. To reveal the greatness and majesty of Jesus.  He uses US to reveal who He is.

3) We have the privilege of bringing humility to the table. Nothing more ugly than someone who is full of pride. Humility brings others close. No wonder people want to draw close to Jesus when we are humble.  Rom 12:3:  Grace given to me.  Do not think of yourself more highly than you should.  Have sober judgement according to the faith distributed to each of you, and act that way.  

True humility brings other close, rather than propels them away.  True humility promotes others.  Other people get excited about the possibilities in THEIR life.
 

4) Celebration of others.  We can bring a celebration of others to the table. When was the last time we held a celebration over someone else's life just because they are awesome. Looking to make a decision to input into others. Throw a party of awesomeness over their life.  Celebrate someone else.  Don't look for people to encourage us, its not about us.  Make a decision to throw a party over someone else.  Bring someone else close.  Acknowledge someone else.  Create a party atmosphere.  We are called to enter His courts with thanksgiving and praise. Shout praise for one another.  Jesus Christ is glorified when we celebrate others.
 

5) One of the worlds' dying arts is "smiling".  Have a smile that lights up the room.  Simply bring your smile. Tell your face you are a Christian. "Face! You love the Lord."  Let that love for Him shine out.  A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face. Prov 15:13. Our smile can change a shop assistants face.  Our smile can change our day, and everyone else's around us.
 

6) Bring an obvious love for Jesus. John 15:13 Greater love has no-one than this than He would lay down His life for His friends. Bring obvious love.  Shown with words and actions, and being Jesus.

7) All of us have the ability to bring a life that is changing and becoming more like Jesus to the table. Eph 5:1-2: Imitate God therefore in everything we do, as we are His dear Children.  Live a life full of love.  God loved us and offered His life as a sacrifice for us.  Eph 2:10 : We are Gods masterpiece. 
 

We are not His masterpiece to be put on a shelf to do nothing.  We are created anew in Christ Jesus. Julia comments that she is so glad that we who have found Christ are not who we used to be.  Each day we must die to our self.  Die to our old nature.
 

We are alive.  Not dead.  We've all got an opportunity to serve Him.  We are alive in Christ so that we can do the good things that He planned for us to do, long ago.

Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton 21/02/2013 : Forgiveness

We hope for the future - forgiveness is the way

When we are hurt: Until we can see a way to move forward we like to have some sort of control and in the meantime we make angry plans for retribution.

Pity party/blame game. When you allow bitterness, pain and hurt in your life when others do you wrong, this gives other's responsibility for my life. When you hold resentment and un-forgiveness you've given over the control of your mind, voluntarily. You're no longer in control.

Anything we cannot face holds the most power over us. Subconsciously it affects every decision we make. Everything in our lives from this point forward is filtered by this anger.

We wouldn't ordinarily invite the person who wronged us into our home. Even the thought of that horrifies us. Why aren't we horrified by the pain in our minds, often to the exclusion of everything else? 

Where did we get the notion that living like this is ok?  We cry "this is unfair". The pain/hurt/anger becomes a grudge. We hold onto it and re-hash it over and over again in our minds.

We fantasize that the wrong-doer is going to make it better somehow. But this fantasy is purely living in our head; they usually don't give us a second thought.

When we refuse to forgive, or hold onto a grudge, it only hurts us. Liken it to drinking poison.

How do we navigate through hurt & pain?
1) Roll with the punishes and bounce back up. This too shall pass.

2) Rub out the pain, rather than rubbing it in to the wound. When you rub it out it doesn't become a permanent stain. 

Bemoaning what we don't have, or would like to have, means we cannot enjoy to the full what we DO HAVE.

Healing our hidden wounds.
1) Don't nurse them. Poor me.
2) Don't curse them and become bitter. Not my fault
3) Don't rehearse them, as this delays healing.
4) Immerse them, with the help of others.
5) Reverse them; negatives into positives, with Gods's help.

Roosevelt: "Anger is one letter short of Danger."

Mother T is claimed to have written on her wall. "People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Forgive them anyway."

Build better friendships. Beneficial to all concerned. 

Note to Self: I have to live with myself and so I want to be fit for myself to know. Always look myself in the eye. Never hide from myself. I see what others never see. I can never fool myself, so whatever happens I want to be self-respecting and conscience free.

Anyone can imprison your body by control, but only you can hand over authority by refusing to forgive.

Only power in hurtful things is the power you give to it. Your life will prosper when your mindsets change. In order to obtain better fruit in the orchard, you need better roots on the trees. Root=Relationship with God and immersing in His word.

In order to obtain peace in your life you need to actively pursue that peace. Exercise your brain.  If you hold a grudge you're going to be miserable.

Whatever you don't conquer in your mind is going to conquer you. Refusing to consider forgiveness is refusing to take back ownership of your mind. 

Change your behaviour in the middle of a situation. Actively change your reactions and responses. Ps 138:3 in the day when I cried you answered me. Strengthened me in my soul.

While in prison Lindy was accosted by a guard who publicly humiliated her.  Lindy wanted to report this officer as she had done no wrong, but while sitting on her bed inside her cell she "thumbed her bible" (randomly stuck it in the side).  The thumb rested on the scripture Psalm 4:4 "Be angry [or stand in awe] and sin not; commune with your own hearts upon your beds and be silent (sorry for the things you say in your hearts). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! She felt God say to her to let go of the anger and allow God to be her vindicator.

The following day she was called into the wardens office and asked to write down what had been said, and then to follow-up with testimony from the other inmates who had been treated poorly.  Unbeknown to Lindy, that officer had been warned previously for bad behaviour and the warden required evidence to take further action.  If Lindy had approached the officials her complaint may not have been heard, but she rested in the knowledge that God would take action, and He did.

Ps 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.

Vindication from the Lord. God is with me. Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7.  Pretty much, as many times as necessary.

Forgiveness is for the benefit of yourself, for us. To cancel a bad debt. Allows God to move in our lives. 

Forgiveness: Determined by our will and mindset. It costs, but not as much as not forgiving.

Forgiveness gives you back the power. Unforgiveness, eats you from the inside out. Unforgiveness will destroy me.

Forgiveness, though, doesn't nullify what has been done. It sets you free.

How can I be free from pain? Happiness does not come from what is around us, but what is within us. Not from what we have, but what we are.

John Cusack: [paraphrased quote] "Decide how you feel when you wake up in the morning. It is not what happens that determines how far you go, it's what you do with it."

If you are going thru hell, don't set up camp there.

Hardening of the hearts/attitudes is the most deadly. To respond is positive. To react is negative. Do what is right even if no one else is.  We are responsible for ourselves and our actions.

If you aren't a winner without a medal, you won't be a winner with one. (Congratulate others when they win).

Don't pin your hopes on tomorrow. We only have today. Can't live on intangibles. Each day has enough troubles of its own. It's never as bad as you think.

Only a voluntary apology works. We pray "forgive us as we forgive others." God is more generous than we are. God has never gone on strike. He has never considered punishing us with retribution, even though He has been treated unfairly.

God understands what forgiveness does for us. Learn to pray. 

Forgiving and moving on does not mean we are being disloyal to the past. Learn to move on. When we move on we hand back all the pain to the person that caused it and it can no longer hurt us.

Moving on is not always immediate. Keep reminding yourself to let go. 

A bible that is falling apart, usually belongs to someone who isn't.

Peters says cast all your anxiety on Him, cos he cares for you. Let God deal with hurt, pain and punishment. Happiness is not a reward it's a consequence. We need to forgive. Forgive the past.

Begin again, this minute, this day. Don't waste it. Don't ask God to be with us, He is always with us. Ask that we be with God. He is so close. Recognize His presence.

Gods love is the fabric that never fades in the washing of adversity.

Winston Churchill:  "We are all worms. But I believe I'm a glow worm."