Freedom Workshop Wrap-Up Week FIVE!

Pastor Kevin Opening us in prayer

We are very grateful to have a lead pastor who loves God’s Word and supports ministry that encouragers others to read through the most beautiful love story ever written...the bible❤️   He leads like King Jepsophat in the early years of his reign...he models his own love for God and it is from there that he teaches others humbly.

God has been so good to me...He moved Lani here literally days after I lost my grandmother.  After 25 years of friendship we get to live in the same area for the first time in 12 years.  I’m so grateful for this season of having her near.  It was a blessing to have her friend Lynn visit from North Carolina.  They both played Forever and lead us in ...His Love Endures Forever!

My greatest blessing this workshop has been co-leading the teen and young adult table.  These girls are AMAZING!  Lucy was sharing how she had to take captive her thoughts last year, as foxes were running through her mind one morning.  

It was her first day with her drivers license and as soon as she got in her car to drive herself to school...she started having thoughts and hearing voices telling her to panic.  God brought to mind Song Of Solomon 2:15:  Quick!  Catch all these foxes before they steal the fruit of your vineyard, and turned and cried out to God.  

He rescued her and she was able to experience the fullness of JOY as she drove herself to school that very first time..The JOY of the Lord was her STRENGTH!   #Victoriousnotvictim

Last night Maddy brought tears to my eyes as she shared how the Lord had her take a section of scripture and personalize it.

“But Madison will not even need to fight.  She just needs to take her position and stand still and watch the Lord’s victory.  He is with Madison.  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  Go out tomorrow, for the Lord is with you, Madison.  Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low to the ground.  And Madison did the same, worshiping the Lord.” — II Chronicles 20:18-18

My favorite table activity last night was defining, comparing, and contrasting the Fruits of The Spirit and the Deeds of The Flesh! #powerful

DEEDS OF THE FLESH

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: Sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and others sins like these.  Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God.—Galatians 5:19-21

FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of FRUIT in our lives; Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.  There is no law against such things!  Those who have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. — Galatians 5:22-25

Comparison-What do the fruits of the spirit and the deeds of the flesh  have in common?

• They both give birth
• They both bring pleasure (one temporary and one Eternal)
• They both start with a choice (Obedience Verses Disobedience)

Comparison-What do the Fruits of the Spirit and the Deeds of the flesh have that are NOT the same and completely different?

• Deeds gives birth to DEATH and BONDAGE
• FRUIT gives birth to LIFE and PEACE
• Deeds starts with obeying the flesh
• Fruits start with obeying the Spirit

Yes, I am the vine; You are the Brandice’s.  Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5

We must set our soil up to be at it’s richest so that our tree can give birth to ripe, healthy, supernatural fruit.  We do this by obeying the Holy Spirit, Ignoring the foxes, Worshiping the Lord, knowing our position, standing firm and looking at HIM and not our circumstances.

When we recognize that Deeds of the Flesh lead to death...we understand that not everything is a satanic attack.  When we disobey the spirit....or obey the flesh...it gives birth to sin:

• Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. James 1:14
• These desires give birth to sinful actions.  And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death —James 1:15
• He chose to give birth to us by giving us His true Word. —James 1:18a

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things.  But those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think abo9ut things that please the Spirit.  Romans 8:5-7



“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  FIX YOUR THOUGHTS on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  THINK ABOUT THINGS that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  Philippians 4:8

FCC Freedom Workshop—Relational Reading!

Such a sweet sweet night of Worship and God’s Word❤️

Joel Hostler I’m grateful for your gift of music and very specifically for your heart of worship!  I’m thankful the Holy Spirit inspired you to write this song🙌

When I rise, be my portion Lord.  Sanctify my heart and make it yours.  Cause I don’t want to falter, I don’t want to fail.  Lord, I want my soul to stand in freedom. (From I Want To Be Holy)

Purify, my dark and lonely Spirit.  Clear my eyes, so I can live and see it.  Don’t want to be a stranger, don’t want to be a fool.  Lord I want to be yours,  and be faithful. (From I Want To Be Holy)

I want to be Holy, Holy, Holy like you are...I want to be Holy, Holy, Holy like You Are. (From I Want To Be Holy)

I want to be Worthy, Worthy, to stand before you Lord...I want to be Holy, Holy, like you are Lord. (From I want to be Holy)

RELATIONAL READING

One of my favorite parts of the Freedom Workshop is when we get to learn and practice Relational reading.  It takes your bible and brings it to LIFE!

My favorite part of the whole evening was when we relationally read through Psalm 139...women were sobbing as HIS word penetrated our hearts.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.  You know what I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

—Psalm 139:1-2

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 

—Psalm 139:4

“I Praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

—Psalm 139:14

“Your eyes saw my unformed Boyd; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

—Psalm 139:16

“How precious to me are your thoughts, God!  How vast is the sum of them!”

—Psalm 139:17

Another highlight of my night...Noelle sharing her take-away from reading the Word this week.  

God is raising up our teens to know Him so they can make him known. 

I’m grateful for our tech team...we couldn’t do what we do without them!

JoEtta’s testimony at the end gave great glory to God.  Her humble, authentic, testimony pointed us to the CROSS!

Have a GREAT week...I can’t wait to see you next Sunday!

FCC Freedom Workshop—The POWER in Holy Bootcamps

What an AMAZING Night...Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here❤️

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from your Majesty’s hand. But EVEN IF he does not, we want you to know, your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” — Daniel 3:17-18

🔥One of my favorite take-away’s from these amazing girls...”Disagreement does not have to mean disrespect”.  

🔥Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were respectful even as they refused to bow down to another God.  

🔥We can disagree respectfully.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed.  He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual.”  Daniel 3:17

🔥Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could hear King Neb threatening their lives and they could also smell the smoke and feel the heat of the furnace, but they did not let those things become louder or more powerful than God’s voice.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants!  They trusted in Him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve and worship any other god except their OWN GOD.” —Daniel 3:28

🔥Zechariah 11:11:  “The oppressed of the flock who were watching me knew it was the Word of the Lord.” 

🔥This verse is a powerful reminder that others are watching us as we walk through our own Bootcamps.

🔥I wonder how many in the audience went home stirring with hunger to know Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s God?

🔥Do we respond to those hard and unexpected circumstances that come are way with the faith these men did?

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.  I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:18-20

🔥King Neb was a Chaldean.

🔥Chaldeans were known for the love of knowledge.

🔥Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego also loved knowledge...but sought God’s Wisdom First!

“So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.  And these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.  Then King Neb leapt to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?  They replied certainly, your Majesty.”  He said, “Look! I see FOUR MEN walking around in the fire unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of gods.”  Daniel 3:21, 23-25

🔥Jesus had not even come to earth yet...but He is being made known!

🔥Are we on fire for the Lord and filled with amazement or has our vision become dulled down?

🔥Do we trust that the Lord will rescue us no matter how bleak the situation?

POWERFUL TAKE-AWAY’S FROM EACH CLASS

LARGE GROUP TIME

It was so inspiring to hear the real life testimonies of how God rescued the ladies from those voices (aka; foxes) that were trying to pull their attention from God this week!

🔥Believe the best about others

🔥God is FOR US and not against us

🔥We can trust Him to go before us into battle and to fight for us

🔥Freedom is not defined by making a situation go away...TRUE FREEDOM is when we fly above the pain while it’s still going on

🔥EVEN IF...the worst outcome happens God is GOOD and HE always working on our behalf...even when we cannot see it.

So grateful for this forever friend who walks with me...

🔥What a joy it was to compare and contrast King Neb and the three men

🔥Choices matter

🔥God-Centered or Self-Centered?

🔥Are we chasing after worldly knowledge (King Neb) or Godly Wisdom (Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego)

Erika closed the night with her humble testimony of the battle she is walking through as she loses her eyesight.  Stay tuned for a blog post that will share her testimony in FULL.

“Be STEADFAST, Immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”

—1 Corinthians 15:58