Take It On the Run

"I heard it from a friend

who-ooo 
heard it from a friend 

who-ooo 
heard it from another 

you’ve been messing around"

This poor guy!  Well at least the guy was willing to hear her side of the story. I know some who totally take gossip for real! How sad.

It’s amazing we even have to deal with this. But we do.  

Ministry can have the grandest vision and the best strategy but with gossip, good luck getting it off the ground and if you did will it be any fun at all?

Gossip is toxic.

You see it’s like this. Relationships are the air you breathe in ministry.  Mutual trust is the glue that holds it all together.  Anything that violates that trust well, it’s toxic vapor, it is the catalyst for rust.  Gossip and rumors destroy the trust.  It rusts the trust. 

Take it on the run.

We all know gossip destroys, I really don’t have to tell you. And really the only thing that stops rust is prevention.  We can moan and groan all day about gossip but that's not healthy and in some cases leads to more gossip (see it's rust). Let's come up with ways to stop it from slowing us down and keeping us from the grand destiny God has for us. Let’s take it on the run.  Let’s deal with it and keep going.  Let’s move on and not let this bring us down, individually and corporately. 

Can I quote you on that?

I heard a good way to protect a ministry from gossip.  Sharon Lussiere, the women’s ministry leader for Riverside Church, Sebastian hands out notebooks, for the ladies to carry in their purse.  Whenever someone starts up with questionable topics they can pull out their notebooks and say “Can I quote you on that?” Ha! That’s a good one. And that’s taking it on the run!

What are some of the ways to stop the gossip in your ministry?

Don’t Fence Me In

We can limit God. I know that sounds incredible, God the final authority on everything, the Creator of all, the Undefeated can be fenced in.  

If God is boxed in we are boxed in. 

Jesus talked a lot about boxes and breaking them.  He mention people being “white washed tombs” well that’s a box.  He talked about Jonah and that guy was not only in a box, but a fish too.  He said things like “the truth setting us free” that’s breaking a box. There was a lady who broke an alabaster box, which was really stepping outside the box for everyone around her. 

Here, let’s get some Biblical perspective

Jud 1:24 He is able to keep you from falling.

2 Cor 9:8 God is able to make all grace abound to you

Eph 3:20 Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (WOW!!)

Phil 3:21 He is able to subdue all things to himself

2 Tim 1:12 He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to him

Heb 2:18 He is able to help us when we are tempted

Heb 7:25 He is able to save them

Heb 11:19 God is able to bring them back to life (yep raise the dead!)

I could go on an on about this, but you get the point.

 My question is how come we aren’t experiencing all this “want to and ability?”

Here is one reason.  

Psalm 78:41(kjv) yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not His hand, the day He delivered them from the enemy.

We do that, we turn back to our old habits, our old way of doing things.  We let our memories be bigger than our dreams.  There are times we need to remember not our stuff  but God's stuff.  We need to rehearse all the things He has done for us in the past. Remind ourselves that  if He could do it then He can surely do it now. 

Jesus was fenced in but it didn't stop Him it stopped them.

Matt 13:5 He did not many mighty works because of their unbelief

Mat 17:20 Why couldn’t we cast out that demon? And Jesus said “Because of your unbelief”

Heb 3:19 So we see that they couldn’t not enter in because of their unbelief.

Can we fence in God's word? 

Let’s consider how powerful God’s word is.

His Word stands forever. Isa 40:8

His word is active, alive and powerful. Heb 4:12

His word is always successful, never return void or unprofitable. Isa 55:10

Yet there is something that can stop His word.

Matt 15:6 Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your traditions

Mark 7:8-9 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men... you are experts of setting aside the commandments in order to keep your traditions.

Ouch!

Let's get over the fences and experience the eternal infinite unlimited God.

What strategies can we develop in ministry to keep from fencing or boxing God in?

Betty got a Bass Boat

The things women do to find a man. 


I really can’t relate to this, Dave and I found each other, it was a collision in the most unlikely of places. I wasn’t looking and he wasn’t looking it just happened, 19 years later and still, by the grace of God, hanging in there.


Betty Got a Bass Boat


There is a song called “Betty Got a Bass Boat” which is about a girl buying a boat and a truck to attract the guys. A splendid plan indeed, according to the song she gets a ton of guys. However they were there for the boat, the truck, the flat screen tv, the cooking and party, they weren’t there for her. Not to mention she was completely worn out in the process.


Sometimes we buy bass boats in ministry. 


We find a gimmick, or bring in something we like to call relevant to attract the crowds. What we have to realize is however you get them, is how you will have to keep them. People are fickle, always catering to them will wear you out.


I’m not saying don’t do anything that is just silly. 


We need to reach out, and reach out a lot at any cost. If God tells you to get a bass boat, don’t hesitate get a bass boat. What I am saying is the whole essence of ministry is glorifying God, to minister to Him first and foremost. Do the things that please God. What makes God smile? Do that!

I personally came face to face with the sacrificial love of Christ with pancakes. A lady made me pancakes when she had every right to kick me out of her house. It convicted me, she was lifting up Jesus in her life and I was getting a revelation on what love looked like.


You don't need gimmicks.


If the gimmicks are distracting people from His mercy and grace, get rid of the gimmicks. You don’t need them. People are drawn to the power of the Cross. When you lift up Jesus on the Cross people will come. When you are compelled by love and overwhelmed by His compassion you will reach more people than any gimmick.


I personally like Jesus’ way of attracting the crowds, the Holy Spirit. Nothing promotes God’s glory better than Him. There is no gimmicks in Holy Spirit movements.






How did you come to know the Lord?

Fall Breakaway 2011

There are only a few events that I endorse and Fall Breakaway is one of them!!


It's right around the corner and will be here before  you know it. October 20-22 is only 3 months away. 


The prices are unbelievable.


For 3 days and 2 night including your registration only $100/person with four to a room.


Look you can't beat that!


This 3 days and 2 nights at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando!!!


This is bar none the nicest hotel on International Drive, Orlando Fl!


And there is still more - the price includes the registration.  Marsha has made this totally affordable.  


And if that wasn't enough we have Christine Caine!!!


Most women leave this event saying I wish so and so had come, or I wish I had got more people to go.  Encourage them by sharing on twitter and Facebook. Get the word out this year is not one to miss, the level of expectation keeps rising like I have never seen before. 


It's really simple
1) Call your friends and plan the road trip
2) Call the   AoG PenFloridia District office at (863)683-5726 ext 232 to register
3) See you in Orlando Oct 20-22!


For more info and to register you and your friends. go to www.gowomensministry.com

Got a testimony from previous Fall Breakaways please share!!!