Purpose To Holy Bootcamps...

What is the purpose of Holy Bootcamps?  

They teach us to take our eyes off this world and to set them firmly on the one to come...

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

For now, we can only see a dim and blurry picture of things, as when we stare into polished metal. I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture. But one day, when Jesus arrives, we will see clearly, face-to-face. In that day, I will fully know just as I have been wholly known by God.  1 Corinthians 13:12 VOICE

Holy Bootcamp Instructions

We are NOT victims!  We are VICTORIOUS because of what Jesus Christ did on that cross!  Do not roll around in your feelings, get up, stand firm, Be Still, and let the Lord your God go before you and fight for you!

❤️Let your feelings be indicators that get you to God.  

❤️Are you angry, hurt, offended, sad, lonely...

❤️Cry out to God without holding back

❤️Make sure that your audience is GOD and not a conversation with yourself

❤️Pour it all out...throw it all up...get it all out (verbally, Keyboard with the King)

❤️Let God get in there and do His Work supernaturally...What does His Word say?  

❤️Stay there and rest and continue having the conversation with God over and over

❤️Exodus 14:14

❤️Now it’s time to intercede for those around us, those who hurt us, those who might be grieving like us...

❤️REPEAT

“I cry out to God without holding back...O, that God would listen to me”

FCC Freedom Workshop 2019–WEEK TWO!

What a great time of worship...Thank you, Lucy, Maddy, and Seth!  Holy Spirit you are welcome here...I can’t wait for next week!

Small Group Time was POWERFUL!

I love how God is leading our discussions directly from HIS Word and not from human thinking.

One of my favorite parts of the night was digging in and discovering each of the people we met this week in 1 Samuel.  Whose voice were they listening too?  Can we relate to David...a boy who stayed in his own lane and was fully focused on pleasing the Lord...OR...do we relate with Eliab, who struggled with needing the attention of man and because of that was motivated by a root of jealousy?

David heard Goliath’s voice but he chose to listen to God’s!

Is it a sin to hear a voice contrary to God’s?

➡️NO!  

➡️We can walk in Romans 8:12-14 and turn away from it through the power of the Holy Spirit!

BUT...

➡️If we forget to remember to turn to God and we ENGAGE that voice —THAT is when we become dominated by our sinful nature!

DAVID:

💪He did not let age keep him from being used mightily by the Lord...Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Tim 4:12

💪Wholly Devoted To God

💪Did not covet fame, favor, or approval from men or kings

💪Trusted God enough to let others share his responsibilities without worry of them outshining Him

💪Motivated by love and loyalty to GOD

💪Was not focused on his ability, but God’s

💪David knew who He was created to be and was able to serve confidently because of that

💪David pointed others back to the God of Israel

💪David Remembered who God was

Eliab & Goliath

🦊Eliab was stirred by jealousy

🦊Eliab was motivated by envy

🦊Eliab allowed those things to become a bitter root in his heart

🦊Goliath was stirred by arrogance

🦊Goliath was prideful 

🦊Goliath was strong in his mortal body but weak in God’s strength

🦊Goliath enjoyed bullying and taunting

🦊Goliath was born to Orpah from the book of Ruth...she turned back to the land of false God’s

💪David was born to Jessie, son of Boaz and Ruth...she chose to leave everything to live in the land of the LIVING GOD

Quick!  Catch all those foxes, all those little foxes, before they steal the fruit of your vineyard.”

—SOS 2:15

`Let’s focus on keeping our vineyards FREE FROM FOXES this week as we catch those conversations we’re having in our heads and change our audience to having them with HIM!

Remember to catch those voices you are listening too...

The flesh wants you to see this cute little fox, but watch out!

The enemy disguises itself...here’s what’s really going on:

The enemy loves to fascinate and then he comes in and assassinates! 

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. –Ravi Zaccharious

❤️Those who are DOMINATED by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are CONTROLLED by the HOLY SPIRIT think about things that please the Spirit.  Romans 8:5

❤️So, letting the sinful nature control your mind leads to death.  But letting the SPIRIT control your mind leads to LIFE AND PEACE.  Romans 8:6

❤️For the sinful nature is ALWAYS hostile to God.  It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. Romans 8:7

❤️That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.  Romans 8:8

❤️BUT YOU ARE NOT CONTROLLED BY YOUR SINFUL NATURE. You are controlled by the HOLY SPIRIT if you have the Spirit of God living in you. Romans 8:9

❤️The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.  And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.  Romans 8:11

THEREFORE, DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO DO WHAT YOUR SINFUL NATURE URGES YOU TO DO!  

—Romans 8:12

HOLY BOOTCAMPS

➡️What we THINK is what DOMINATES us...

➡️What we FEEL reminds us WHOSE VOICE we’re listening too...

➡️WHO WE TURN TO determines if we are going to choose LIFE or DEATH...

“So dear brothers and sisters, you have NO OBLIGATION to do what your sinful nature is urging you to do.  For if you keep on following it, you will perish.  BUT IF THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT you turn from it and its evil deeds YOU WILL LIVE!”

New Beginnings...FCC Freedom Workshop 2019

FCC FREEDOM SERVANT TEAM

(Missing our sweet JoEtta and Carol who were out of town)

What a powerful night!  It was filled and overflowing with the Holy Spirit, as He led us in worship, teaching, and fellowship.  What a JOY it was to see those women pour through the doors and immediately began to connect with their groups and then with God. It was such a sweet sight to behold.  I’m so grateful for each one of you that began your Freedom Workshop journey this morning❤️

HEARTWORK

Remember to keep it SIMPLE!  Have FUN!  Use stickers, glitter, and colored pens if that stirs your heart...or grab a pencil and simply bullet point thoughts.  The purpose of your guide is to get you to GOD!  Simplicity equals CONSISTENCY!  Consistency when empowered by the Holy Spirit leads to TRANSFORMATION and renewing of the mind.  Don’t skip your quiet time!  Spending time in the Word is the most important part of what we’re doing.  I’m praying right now for all of us.

It was so fun getting meet new faces and reconnect with old🌷

“My heart has heard you say...come and talk with me.  My heart responds, Lord I am coming”

 — Psalm 28:7

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” 

— John 10:27

The Lord delights in RESCUING us from our sinful nature...

“There is no one like the God of Israel.  He rides across the heavens to help you; across the skies in majestic splendor.  The Eternal God is your refuge and His everlasting arms are under you.” 

—Deut 33:26-27a

“Now that Christ has really set you free, now make sure that you STAY free.” 

— Galatians 5:1

“Quick!  Catch those little foxes before they steal the vineyard of love” 

—SOS 2:15

“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

—  1 Timothy 4:12

Thank you for being willing to step out in faith and stand on that stage to share how God spoke to you!





Thanks for participating in our FUN PHOTOBOOTH!!!!  


Our Goals For Week One:

• Let your feelings be INDICATORS to tell you which voice you are listening too.
• Let that feeling help you to TURN and talk to GOD
• Come, just as you are and let God do what only He can do
• As you read through the story of David and Goliath pay close attention to whose voice you believe each person is listening too.

WELCOME TO THE FREEDOM WORKSHOP...Hold on for the ride of your life!

Giving God My Best...

Are you feeling forgotten by God this morning?  Is there a dryness to your relationship with Him?  Are you longing for intimacy and deep connection with Him?  Listen to this...The Lord spoke so clearly to my heart through Malachi 3:6-11...  

The context is God speaking to HIS people and the personal application is that He STILL SPEAKS TO US...

6-You can trust me!  I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.

7-You keep turning away from me-STOP IT-Return to me and I will return to you.

8-You act confused-How are we turning away from you?  Really?  Don’t you see how you rob me from the first fruits of your life...you give me your leftovers.

9-Because you give me your leftovers you will be cursed as you sin against me and rob me of your very best

BUT LISTEN...THERE IS HOPE!

10-STOP IT!  Return to me AND I WILL return to you.  Starting today I want you to give me the very best of you!  Your finances, your marriage, your ministry, your margin, your whole life!  I WANT YOU TO TEST ME so that I can show you that you can TRUST me. 

Mary, I am the same yesterday, today, and forever!  As you walk by faith and learn to lean on and trust In me, I will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing (beyond finances and temporary treasures) you will not be able to contain it...it will bubble up, overflow, and spill out! 

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.  STORE YOUR TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”  Matthew 6:19-21

FREEDOM!!!!!

“So IF the Son sets you FREE, you WILL BE FREE INDEED.”  John 8:36

This morning as the Lord spoke to me through His Word...”IF” kept popping off the page.  ”If” is conditional...I have an active role in being set free.  

“But the scriptures declare we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom ONLY BY BELIEVING in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 3:22

🙌Freedom from LEGALISM and LAW 

🙌Freedom From DEATH

🙌Freedom for being a victim to temporary CIRCUMSTANCES

🙌Freedom from FEAR

🙌Freedom from ADDICTIONS

🙌Freedom from FEELINGS

Are you feeling overwhelmed and all consumed by feelings of hurt, pain, fear, betrayal?  Let the Son set you free!  (Stay tuned this week for information about an 8-week workshop coming up that changed my life and can change yours too) 

“So, if the Son has set you free, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED!” John 8:36

HE IS FAITHFUL...

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid.” Deut 31:8

FORSAKE=Leave entirely, desert, abandon, reject, withdraw from

This morning I am preparing my heart to go to the cemetery for some final details.  It will be the first time I’ve seen grandma’s finished site with the engraving completed.  I woke in the middle of the night and felt small anxiety wanting to rise up...I immediately cried out to the Lord and He settled me right now.  Then today this was our assigned reading in our God’s Promises study...

 “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid” Deut 31:8

Mary, I will go before you.  I will be with you.  I will never leave you...not today, not in the middle of the night, not when you are ready to take your last breath...you do not have to be afraid.  What a good and gracious God we have.  

What are YOU going through that is robbing you of peace?  I’m asking the Lord to stir your heart to run to HIM as you read these words...

🌷“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind” 2 Timothy 1:7

🌷“God is the source of our strength and the shield that guards us”. Psalm 27:8

🌷“Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” — Lamentations 3:22-24

2019 WEEKLY WRAP-UP

Oh how I long for my Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up’s....

MONDAY: Ransomed and Rescued: (Isaiah 43:1-3)

❤️I am HIS

❤️He will ALWAYS be with me

❤️The waters of life will not sweep over me

❤️The fires of trials will not incinerate me

TUESDAY:  Human Weakness Can Be Exchanged For God’s Strength (Isaiah 40:31)

❤️I must HOPE in the Lord...and then He will:

❤️Renew My Strength

❤️Soar Like Eagles

❤️Run and not grow weary

❤️Walk and not faint

WEDNESDAY: Rebuilding My Mountains & Hills. (Isaiah 54:10)

❤️Mountains and Hills WILL BE shaken

❤️HIS Unfailing love WILL NOT

❤️His Covenant of Peace WILL NOT

❤️HE Rebuilds My Landscape

THURSDAY:  Reverent Love (Proverbs 9:10)

❤️Reverence of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

❤️Reverence is a healthy fear born out of love, respect, and esteem of the one in authority

❤️Freedom comes in reverent submission to those God places over me

FRIDAY: Standing Firm While Staying Holy (James 4:7)

❤️When I HUMBLE myself before God

❤️He will empower me to RESIST my sinful nature

❤️Resisting my flesh by focusing on God’s truth causes the sinful nature to flee and the spiritual man to stand strong!

SATURDAY: Grasping Godly Sorrow (1 John 1:9)

❤️Confession brings Forgivness & Purification

❤️Godly Sorrow bring LIFE

❤️Worldly Sorrow brings DEATH

❤️Choose LIFE!

Faithful & Just❤️

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

❤️Confess-To own, acknowledge our role and/or mistakes.

❤️Purify-To make clean, to redeem, to atone

❤️Godly Sorrow:  Manifests itself by repentance and the experience of divine grace

❤️Worldly Sorrow:  Brings death because, instead of having God-centered sorrow over my wickedness-I am self-centered and focused on the painful consequences of my sin. 

Lord, I am so incredibly thankful that you are FAITHFUL AND JUST! I can trust your steadfast love and that you are devoted to me...not in an enabling manner that overlooks those things that bring harm, but in a reverant love that keeps me safe by gently rebuking and redirecting me back to those things that bring LIFE!  Teach me to hunger after Godly Sorrow and to recognize the ingenuiness of worldly sorrow.

Standing Firm & Staying Holy....

“So HUMBLE yourself before God.  RESIST the devil, and he will FLEE from you.”

The definition of devil in this verse:  May be said to act the “part” of the devil or to side with him.

This is important because not every attack we have is from the devil.  he is not omnipresent and cannot be everywhere at once.  But we have a sin nature that wants us to drift back to the darkness of who we were before we were saved.  It wants to enslave us, to keep us from the best...it focuses on temporary satisfaction that fascinates and then when we engage and turn away from God-it ASSASSINATES. (Thank you for that phrase Debbie Friley)

With that in mind...

Mary, humble yourself before me this morning by remembering who I am.  

🙏Resist the devils ways by standing FIRM in the truth you already know from my Word.  

🙏Stay in my Word and let me by the shield that guards you and the source of you strength.  

When you do this...when you engage with the Holy Spirit within you THIS enables you to stand firm in holiness...the devil and his nature will have no way with you.  

Lord, this morning I lift up every area that will come under attack today.  You already know the temptations I am going to have to not believe the best about others.  You already know the Holy Bootcamps that are going to come my way.  I’m so grateful that nothing is a surprise to you.  Dress me in the full armor of your Word today and show me how to stand firm in truth even when my “feelings” and physical stamina want to do something contrary.

Defining & Digging into Reverence

“The FEAR OF THE LORD (reverence) is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”

-Proverbs 9:10

This morning my entire heart is focused on finding and defining reverence, which is the definition of Fear of the Lord.  My dad was the superstar of modeling this in the human form.  I am sitting here remembering fondly.

DEFINING: Reverence is a healthy fear born out of love, respect, and esteem of the one in authority.  It’s trusting that they love you completely and want what is best for you even if you don’t agree or understand.

HUMAN EXAMPLE:  My dad modeled this so well for me.  I KNEW to say yes sir, and no sir, I knew when there were chores they better be done, I knew that I could not be one minute past curfew. If I did...watch out!  But I also knew that I could trust my dad to take care of me and that no matter how mad he was at me, you better not mess with his kids😊

I still remember an incident from when I was just 16 years old.  A male manager at the fast food restaurant I worked at had been saying and doing things that were become increasingly more and more  inappropriate.  (Nothing horrible...just escalating) I sought out my parents for counsel.  The very next day dad took me to work and in front of the entire staff and my bosses boss put that man in his place.  This morning it makes me laugh...at 16 I was embarrassed and angry, but if I were to admit it, relieved.  Even though my behavior looked outraged, inwardly, that was a defining moment in my life of what it looks like to have someone who protects. (I’m so sorry to my friends who I know did not have this)   

Reverence for me was learning the freedom that comes in submission to my authority.  (Even though I came kicking and screaming most times)

What does Holy Reverence look like?

❄️Do I believe that no matter what happens to me or to those I love that I can trust that God knows better than me.  

❄️Can I submit to His plan for my life even though I may not understand it?  

❄️Do I acknowledge that humans fail us and cause us pain and hurt, but that God is absolutely JUST and that He will deliver justice better than any human authority ever could?

Finding Gladness and Joy In Grief

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, YET my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you”—Isaiah 54:10

On October 26th my mountains were shaken and the hills were removed.  My grandmother had stopped responding and now I sat at her bedside looking into this face that had been my constant companion, source of wisdom, and fountain of encouragment  all the days of my life.  As long as I live I will never forget her four final breaths. It was truly the most surreal experience of my life.  I felt like I was watching a movie..it didn’t seem real.  I was completely numb as the tears fell and I said goodbye.

But as I sat there in shaken numbness...I heard a voice calling out to me...Mary, though the mountains and hills might feel shaken and removed don’t cling to your feelings...cling to ME!  MY UNFAILING LOVE FOR YOU will catch you and hold you and I will cover you with my peace. 

I am just starting to come out of numbness and God is giving me JOY...unspeakable JOY and gladness in my grief.  It’s crazy that in the midst of tears there is laughter and joy and hope and it is all mingled together.  I see mountains and hills being re-established, as He is faithful to walk with me out of the valley.  It’s so beautiful.  I’m grateful that my hope was not in my grandma and in her life.  My hope is in the Lord and the life to come...I WILL see her again, but more importantly when I do, I will see HIM!

God’s Word is POWERFUL!  Please do not feel sad for me in the coming days and weeks as I process out loud with you how the Lord is speaking to me.  It is PRECIOUS and FULL OF TENDERNESS.  It is HEALING and full of HOPE and His Word is ministering to my heart.  I long for mornings with Him and His Word...

Exchanging Human Weakness For God’s Strength

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like Eagles; They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

Father, as I sit here this morning working through my journal, I find myself feeling discouraged by some bad food and personal discipline choices I’ve made the last two weeks.  Choices that bring temporary pleasure and long term consequences.  You’ve made great strides in teaching me and growing me in the area of self-discipline this year, but now we work on endurance.  There is still a root that believes that pulling in and pigging out is a way to rest and renew.  It’s not!  It’s a lie!

Mary, when you put your hope IN ME...”I” will ride across the heavens and renew your strength in ways your finite mind cannot even begin to comprehend.  When you trust IN ME to give you all you need...THAT is where you will find true rest and renewal.  It’s where I WILL give you Godly endurance, strength, and grace that carries you through every circumstance that comes your way.  When you INVITE ME in to completely and totally take over THAT is when you will find a supernatural strength to not only meet exercise and food goals, but to carry you into opportunities to love and serve others fully and completely.  It is here WITH ME that you find true peace and overwhelming endurance.  Get ready to  RUN and not grow weary, to walk and not grow faint! Your human weakness will be exchanged for my supernatural strength!