At least twice a year I make a point of participating in events for the purpose of spiritual engagement and refreshment, outside of my own church community and normal spiritual routine. Back in September, I attended The Influence Conference in Indianapolis, and two weekends ago I carved out time and space at home sweet home to tune into the recording of IF:Gathering, an annual event that brings together women from ALL OVER THE WORLD to hear from incredible authors, speakers, and teachers who share a passion for Jesus, the Gospel, and the advancement of His Kingdom. IF:Gathering 2016 centered on this question: “What IF we lived like Jesus?”
Because it was so AMAZING, today I thought I’d re-cap some of the awesome things I wrote down from what was shared (note – these are not direct quotes, but paraphrases of what was spoken) …
Jesus is the REDEEMER of our lives and the One who RESTORES our purpose. (Jo Saxton)
If we want to be FREE, we need to STOP TRYING SO HARD. When we stop trying to measure up and therefore have nothing to lose, we will be FREE. (Jennie Allen)
The message of Jesus can be summed up in three words: REPENT and BELIEVE. (Jennie Allen)
Jesus, thank You that I can give you all of my dirt and You say, “I’ve GOT this!” (Jeanne Stevens)
We can have as much of God as we want. We are invited to the live out the best of EVERYTHING in Him. (Ann Voskamp)
To follow Jesus is to know that He loves us, to hear His voice, and to love others. (Eugene Cho)
There are NO GAPS in Jesus. He fills us in EVERY way. In Him we have all that we need. He is enough. (Lauren Chandler)
The call of Christ – the call to discipleship – will cost us everything. BUT it will greatly deepen our faith. (Bianca Olthoff)
God gives us permission to be brutally honest with Him. He can handle whatever we need to say to Him. So abide in Him. Let Him hold us close and make us fully His. (Rebekah Lyons)
Jesus frees us to we can go and tell about Him. Let’s be women who have heard Him call our names and GO and tell the world of Him. (Shelley Giglio)
Power and superiority – fueled by FEAR – are the enemies of Jesus-like love in our lives. (Jen Hatmaker)
Jesus is NOT afraid to recklessly love us. (Jen Hatmaker)
When you hear the Enemy whisper, “Are you sure God said … ?,” respond: I AM CERTAIN OF THE LAMB. And when you hear God ask, “Where are you?,” say: HERE I AM. (Angie Smith)
Jesus has providentially put us in our unique places and Jesus has made each of us for a purpose. We are where we are to make His love known to the world. So much is at stake. Let’s be people who share Jesus. (David Platt)
His Name. His Book. His Spirit. These are all we need. (Jennie Allen)
So, what next?
Well, in addition to learning from IF:Gathering, I also had the incredible experience of receiving original design prayer at our church that same weekend. Between the messages that I heard through IF and the words God spoken to me through those who were praying over me, here are some things that I felt God put on my heart for my own walk with Him moving forward …
- Accept and bask in His love for me. Ask for and receive His love in my life, every day. And let His love fill me up so much that it pours out of me wherever I go.
- Accept and appreciate the unique adventure God has called me to live. Don’t compare my journey and my walk to others. Believe that He is enough. Trust His plans and His purposes for my life. Live authentic and free in Him.
- Lean into what it means to be His daughter and live like the daughter I am called to be.
Friends, I want to live and love and shine light to the world like Jesus did, pointing the way to abundant life and freedom. I want to love God more than I love the things of this world and I want to be a part of His movement here on earth, a powerful force for His Kingdom. That is my goal. That is my hope. Because Jesus is the prize.
* * *
“If there ever comes a time when the women of the world come together purely and simply for the benefit of mankind, it will be a force such as the world has never known. “
~ Matthew Arnold ~