Running After Your Dreams, Part 2 | Sally Perry

Yesterday, Sally shared with us about how she began to rediscover her dreams for her life.  Here's is the second part of her story:

The testimony that was posted yesterday was read in church the day after I ran in The Color Run.  For those of you don't know, The Color Run is a 5k where volunteers stand at each kilometer you complete to douse you with a cornstarch color mixture, leaving you a total colorful mess by the end of the race.

I set out to run a 5k two years ago, and after many stops and starts on training I got serious and signed up for this one.   I had worked up to running from one minute at a time to 5-6 minutes at a time. I went from a 21 minute walk/jog mile to 17 minutes.  The closer I got to the 5k, I started to experience injuries and setbacks in my training.  I just wanted to forget the whole thing.  I had intentions of running this, getting it over with and never speaking of running again.

For months, I knew that there was something spiritual about me running this.  I didn't understand what it was, but it felt like it was big.  So the good news?  I finished.  The bad news was that almost immediately into the run, I felt my leg pulling a little and it felt like a rubber band getting ready to break, and my feet felt like I was literally walking barefoot on hot coals.   I was totally not prepared for running on the uneven, cruel pavement.  I literally was afraid to run at that point, like something was going to break if I did.  Disappointment in myself doesn't even begin to explain the feeling I had.    

However, as I was walking to the finish line I was kind of lamenting to God, “What the heck was this all about God?”  "Seriously, this is my big “spiritual breakthrough”...this is a joke.”  I felt like God said, “This isn't the ending, it's a beginning.”  I know for me things are so much sweeter when I can look back and see how far I've come.   I will never forget the feeling I had of not being able to run the 5k. 

But instead of self-loathing, I believe it has changed my thinking about goals and dreams.  Before I even finished I thought, I'm coming back and doing this until I can run it.  So I will sign up next year.  I won't be näive about what it will take this time.  I also learned that I am no longer the girl who would take this disappointment home and use it as an excuse to give up.  To drown my sorrows in chocolate and donuts.  That girl died this weekend.  I am a fighter.  I know that now.  That is what my weekend was about.  

Dreams don't always turn out exactly how you think they should go, but this went exactly as I needed it to and exactly how God intended it, and that is good enough for me.   I won't quit dreaming.  And, I won't quit running either.

Running After Your Dreams, Part 1 | Sally Perry

This was read to the congregation during the July 29 service.  Sally wrote her thought about the Dream Culture class that she has attended this year.:

To be honest (which I always prefer), when my husband, John, told me that he signed us up for this "dream class", I was like, "REALLY?"  Great, totally in a sarcastic way.  I mean, come on, I don't have time to dream.  In case you don't know me,  I am a bit of a pessimist.  In fact, the glass half full/half-empty thing doesn't even apply to me.  I told John one day, "If my glass ever got close to half-full somebody would come by and kick it over."  Yep, thats me.  Jesus is working on fixing that little flaw in me.

I remember dreaming at a child.  Wonderful, fun awesome things that I would do in my life.  I had great plans of where I would go, where I would live, what awesome things I would do.  Then...life happened.  To make a long story short, I got bitter and was certain God didn't care about my dreams.  So, when I showed up that first Thursday night, I was, to say the least, skeptical and seriously a bit irritated that John had gotten me into this.

I was pretty honest about how I felt.  Okay, maybe not at the first class (I had to give a good first impression to some people I barley knew).  Then when we were told to come up with 100 dreams, I thought, "yeah right".  As I started to read the book and listen to the others in the class, I realized I wasn't that much different.  Everyone had had their struggles.  When I started praying and pondering about those dreams I thought were dead I began to realize some were the same I had as a child.  Some were new that reflected where I am in my life and some came out of nowhere.  I actually began to think, "hey, maybe God put that there for a reason," "maybe, just maybe, if I start to put one foot in front of the other with God's help I could see some of those dreams come to pass".

So, that is why I am unable to be here to give this testimony.  Because this weekend, I am putting one foot in front of the other to achieve one of my dreams.  I am in Indianapolis running my first 5K.  Yep, thats right, the non-athletic girl that couldn't climb the rope in gym class, the girl that had knee surgery at 14 due to a torn cartilage and freaky birth defect on my left knee.  Now why would God care about me running a 5K?  Because He loves me!  I have many more dreams on my list that would seem much more important to the Kingdom, but God knows this is important to me.

If you are skeptical and beaten down like I was, I encourage you to start seeking God concerning your dreams.  You may be surprised what comes to light.  The world told me this chubby girl couldn't run. Christ says I can do ALL things through Him. Believe in your dreams. HE does!!! 

(Stay tuned for Part 2, tomorrow!)

A note from Kate:

This weekend, we are hosting the Dreaming With God conference at Open Door.  If you are looking to reawaken you dreams, and see what dreams God can't wait to fulfill in your life, we invite you to come and spend a couple days dreaming with Him!  To register, visit dreaming.opendoorcf.org.

Finding the Wonder | Julie Arndt

The other day I dove into a task that was long overdue… cleaning up my worship song book. Out with the old and in with the new! But what I found as I thumbed through the pages of our worship history surprised me.

Let me just start by saying, the worship team learns a LOT of songs; good songs, songs that didn’t really work out as we’d hoped, GREAT songs, and songs that seem to take us to a place of glory. This last group are the songs I want to talk about.

There are only a few songs that really seem to transcend time. What I mean by that is this: there are some songs that are so good, they never seem to get old. You know what I’m talking about, like “How Great Is Our God,” or “Great Is They Faithfulness.” Two songs written decades apart, yet both stir our desire to lay everything we have down so that all we can do is worship and love on Creator God, Faithful Father.

Then there are songs that seem to be for a season in time. Maybe it’s the fresh revelation of God’s glory, or an attribute we see in God that makes it so special. It’s that go-to song that you know will carry people to the throne room. And then one Sunday, it happens. The go-to song didn’t bring people in! What?! This song always inspires people to rise up and worship. Sigh...

Why does that happen? And what do you do with songs like that? Purging those songs that used to be so amazing and inspiring are like trying to throw away your kids handmade projects from school. Every single one of them has a wonderful memory attached, yet they seem to have outlived their time. And then it hits me… It was never about the handmade project, it was always about the love you shared between the two of you as you marveled over their gift… globby glue, crooked glittery bling, and all.

Yes! That’s it! It was never about the song… it was always about the wonder and amazement you found in the moment. That moment when your heart touched on the greatness of God and cried out that nothing matter more than this very holy moment! Nothing compared to the greatness of God! Nothing in life is better than this! Nothing! Although the song helped you get to that place of revelation, the revelation wasn’t in the song. The revelation was in Him! The song only held the memory of the encounter. Wow, how my spirit longs for these kinds of encounters!

And finally, like a bud slowly opening to reveal its hidden beauty, I began to see the beauty in hungering for more. Certainly God is with us. Surely He favors us with His presence. After all, Jesus said that everything that was His is now ours! But is it possible that we can become desensitized to His presence simply by having the same kind of encounters over and over again? Do we cease to see the wonder in His faithfulness, just because we have grown to know Him as Faithful? Just like with those songs that brought so much grace for the revelation of that moment… how do we maintain the innocence of wonder? How do we mature in our understanding of God without losing the gift of amazement in all that He is? How do we talk to God face to face, sit on His lap, walk hand in hand with Holy Spirit, yet still recognize His holiness and deity?

Grace. The operational power of Christ working in us!

Ask for the grace to know the wonder and the beauty of His holiness. I think this is what we are really asking for when we sing, “show me Your glory!” We are asking for God to reveal what no eye has seen… to hear what no ear has heard… to understand what no mind can comprehend. Like children eagerly awaiting Christmas morning, we long to feel the total amazement of being in the presence of the Holy One! For us, this is where our spirit is most at home. Look for a fresh, new encounter with Him. Don’t be satisfied with what you have already… be jealous for more!

This can only be revealed to us through grace. Can you imagine the pleasure God has in our asking? Revealing Himself to His created ones is the fulfillment of His greatest desire.

If this is your heart’s cry, then pray this prayer with me. Holy Spirit, we want to see Your glory! We ask for grace that increases our hunger for You. We receive Your grace to find the wonder of You. We long to be amazed and in awe of Your Holiness. Wash our eyes in Your love so that we can see You. Bathe our ears in truth that we can know You. Fan the flame within our hearts so that our passions and desires can only be satisfied with more of You! Amen.

Ahhh… it’s so good to know, it’s never been about the wineskin (the song), it’s always been about the New Wine! …and I’m one thirsty girl!!

Happy Intercessor | notes from Beni Johnson's book

JoAnn Richmond sent these notes from Beni Johnson's book, The Happy Intercessor, to us this week, thinking that it is a timely message to the Body.  God is on our side during intercession!

Capturing the heartbeat of Heaven declaring or praying that into the world. True agreement with Heaven .

TRUE INTERCESSION - MIXTURE OF LOVE, JOY, AND EXTREME HEARTBREAK FOR OTHERS.

I agree with the plans that God already has for people’s lives, for regions and for the earth. I see God doing things and I say yes God, do that God, go there Father.

Praying from His heart and calling into existence the very desires that are already in the heart of God.  John 7:38

We are the womb of God and in intercession we are creating and birthing the things in heaven. We carry the life of God’s Kingdom within us and it will flow out in us in our intercession.  Luke 17:21

We need to listen to the heartbeat of God and not always present our own ideas to Him. I want to spend time with God and feel His presence. I don’t bring my own agenda before Him.

Learn to respond to His leading. Intercession is just the fruit of being with Him birthed in my own heart, spending time with Him. Go into His presence to love Him and to experience “Spirit to Spirit”. My heart is picking up the same heartbeat as He’s pouring out upon me “liquid love: from His heart. His heart broken for humanity. Our two hearts are intertwined. When you feel that, and when you see His heart broken and His amazing love, you only response can be to pray with burning passion and compassion for a lost generation.  II Cor. 1:20-22

God is waiting for us to enter into Him. He is longing for us to see His world, to see into that glorious realm of His Kingdom. He wants us to partner with Him for heavenly breakthrough.

Pray from a place of security. I go into prayer believing that God is on my side.

When God gives us strategies to pray, the ones that we burn with, we can become so focused on His voice that we don’t become distracted. Nothing can take us away from His voice. I become lost in the presence of God and listen to His plans, His heart, and His voice that comes so real that it is almost as if He and I become one. 

The devil lost the ball at Calvary. ONE FOCUS – TO GET THE TOUCH DOWN. As intercessors – we must listen for the plays that the Lord is calling and pray them in, so the team can catch the ball and make the touch - down. Our job is to focus on God and partner with His plan.

1.      We are the offensive team – praying from a place of victory.

2.      Pray from a place of security

3.      Choose not to partner with fear. Give no legal rights to the devil.

4.      Believe God is on my side.

5.      God longs for us to see His world and see into that glorious realm of His Kingdom.

6.      Partner with Him for heavenly breakthrough – who knows the plays of Heaven.

7.      As intercessors – on offensive team – take the land for the devil lost the ball at Calvary.

8.      The entire offensive team knows where the ball will go and who will catch it. I Cor. 9:24

9.      Must listen for the plays the Lord is calling and pray them in. I Phil. 3:14

10.  Don’t worry about the enemy’s strategies

11.  We make the plays that God calls.

12.  Our job – find out what God wants to do – opposite of what the enemy is saying.

13.  Begin to pray what God wants

14.  Don’t allow the enemy to bring distractions.

15.  Make choice not to partner with fear. Eph. 4:14; Psalm 112:6-8

16.  When bad reports come your way – ask God what’s going on? Is it warfare? Say No to it.

17.  Fear has a way of coming up and biting you.

18.  As an intercessor make a choice to resist fear. Proverbs 3:25-26

19.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11

20.  Effective intercessors – focus on our prayers and strategies – hitting the mark. Job. 36:32

21.  Quest to search the heart of God. We go to His word to find His heart. 

Emergency Prayer or high alert: Stop and ask God how to pray about the crisis and for His direction in prayer. I stay focused on God and not the crisis.

Stay focused and keep to the plan is most important. Do you understand the importance of His presence and that being there will cause you to live an offensive lifestyle? Our prayers are strong and mighty because we have spent so much time with God and He has stamped that on our hearts of who we are. Out of that relationship of love we become strong love warriors taking on the strategies from His heart. We are carrying joy and intercession within us as we pray. Sit in God’s presence and enjoy Him – His presence is deep inside of me, in my spirit man.

For more from Beni Johnson, visit:

www.benij.org - www.happyintercessor.com -  www.ibethel.org

Seeing Light | Sermon Notes

God is using the things I do/am interested in/like/experience to talk to me all the time. I just need to pay attention.

James 1:17 (NIV1984)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Photography can be a picture of how we relate to God.

Meaning of Photography.

• Merriam-Webster's Definition of PHOTOGRAPHY:  the art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy and especially light on a sensitive surface (as film or a CCD chip)
• Greek roots: “drawing with light”

Aperture-the opening through which light travels

ISO-the measure of the film/medium's sensitivity to light

Shutter Speed-the length of time a camera's shutter is open

When I achieve proper exposure, my image is crisp, clear (not blurry), the colors are spot on, the it's not under- or over-exposed, and I don't have to spend a ton of time “fixing” it in post. When I allow myself to be properly “exposed” to Jesus, I have a level of focus, clarity, and sense of direction, even in the midst of junk, that I wouldn't have otherwise. And then I spend a whole lot less time “fixing” my life later!

Achieving proper exposure.

• Like aperture, how open have I made myself to His light?
• Like ISO, how sensitive am I to the effects of His light in my life?
• Like shutter speed, how much of my day is spent open to what He wants to illuminate in my life?

How do I see the world differently than those who don't recognize of God's presence in their lives?

• Because I am used to looking for the light, it actually hurts my eyes when the lighting conditions are poor.  
• The more I focus on the things of God, and expose myself to godly influences (books, music, conversations, lifestyle), the less palatable the “other stuff” becomes...and the lighter/more joyful I feel. Which makes me more attracted to the “light” and repelled from the “dark”...and so on and so on...

1 Corinthians 13:12 (GNT)

What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete—as complete as God's knowledge of me.

• My eyes are trained and accustomed to see the light because I have developed that skill. So much so, that now it is second nature to me. It is the first thing I do when I enter a room, or drive around, or walk down a street. I'm always looking for the light. And for the way it effects the things it touches.
• It didn't happen over night, I had to be intentional and work at this craft. My relationship with God is the same way.
• My life is completely transformed when I spend it basking in the light of God's radiance...it changes the way I do things...because I see and experience life differently.
• The sad thing is, a lot of people don't even notice bad lighting because they haven't honed and trained their sight. Which means that they also cannot appreciate good light to the same degree that a trained eye can, as well. 

So what are some things that I do to increase my sensitivity to the light?

• Immerse myself in the Word. Become a lover of His Presence.
• Cut out the junk that obscures the light (gossip, complaining, anger, impatience, empty time wasters)
• Surround myself with godly people and God-honoring relationships
• In my family: pray together, practice “exposure” with kids (practice is good for everyone!)
• read books, listen to music & podcasts, read blogs, visit websites, attend conferences, attend church, small groups...
• marinate in His presence

1 John 1:5, 7 (NIV1984)

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all...But if we live in the light—just as he is in the light—then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin.

God speaks to us in languages that we can understand, so pay attention!




To listen to the podcast, CLICK HERE.

"It's like Woodstock on Jesus" | by Sally Perry

When people ask me what religion I am, I like to respond Christ follower. When people ask me what denomination I grew up in, I like to tell them I'm a mutt. Because, I accepted Jesus into my heart in a Baptist church. I attended a Brethren church for years with my family. I frequented a Catholic church with a close friend growing up. I attended a Church of Christ for a season. AND I worked and attended a Presbyterian church for years.

During this time, I have gotten to experience a lot of different types of services and what has always fascinated me even more was the different expressions of worship. The first time I experienced what I like to call “extravagant worship” was in my twenties. My husband and I had just decided it was time for us to move away from the church we were attending, so we started the task of church shopping.

This landed us in a very spirited church. I had been exposed to this kind of worship through family members in the past, my husband however had no clue what was about to hit him. He grew up in a church where worship was singing hymns. Thats all folks. Worship was somber and respectful.

So here we were one morning, in a church that in my words, “let the good times roll” which included people rolling down the aisles if the Spirit led them that way. At first I could sense my husband's uneasiness and was a bit worried of how he would react. I figured he would just up and leave or give me his analysis when we had safely reached the car and flew out of the parking lot from the “crazies”.

All that worry was quickly sidelined by a man in the front of the sanctuary who had broke out into an all out Indian type dance. He was jumping up and down and waving a fake sword and making noises I had only heard on National Geographic shows about people from tribes from other cultures. My first instinct was to sit there staring with my mouth half open. Then I started to giggle a bit. With that a lady began dancing down the aisles like she had some sort of invisible partner. People were groaning and laughing and waving flags and wailing on the floor and passing out.

When we got into the car, my husband basically called them all crazy. BUT guess what? We went back next week, and again and again. This was years ago. We now call Open Door our church home. And I have to say I enjoy the different acts of worship that happen there. When asked recently how I would describe Open Door, I said, “It's like Woodstock on Jesus” I myself am not (yet) and extravagant worshiper (at least in public) but I totally love the freedom we have to party every Sunday with Jesus.

Worship is so powerful. It truly ushers in the Holy Spirit and opens the floodgates of Heaven. When you worship freely and totally uninhibited it releases Heaven to work on your behalf. My husband and I have been persecuted by people for attending such a “crazy” place. One day while being asked about why we need to “act like that” it came to me. People with pass out, fall over crying, scream and push and shove to get close to there favorite singer or performer at a concert. For a simple human that has a gift to play an instrument or sing a great song. How much more are we willing to show for our Savior. The man that took all our junk and gave us reward.

I spend a lot of time watching people worship. I like to observe. Not because I am watching to see what people do or do not do. I love the atmosphere of God's people loving on Him. Going out of their comfort zone to say, I love you Jesus. I find it beautiful. I am happy to be part of a church that doesn't limit its people in their worship. Who knows someday you just may see me waving some flags or dancing with an invisible partner up and down the aisle at Open Door. Just thankful to know all praises to our King are invited and welcome.  

Sally Perry keeps many readers laughing on her blog, The Chubby Runner.  She has been attending Open Door since 2007.  She is mommy to two beautiful girls, and is married to the best mechanic in Michiana!

May Recommendations | Books, Music, & More

I often find inspiration and value in drawing from resources that are shaping and influencing the pastors at Open Door, and I thought it would be fun to share with everyone what we are reading, listening to, and reflecting on each month. So, here are our recommendations for May:

Julie Arndt

Books:

Living A Life of Fire by Reinhard Bonnke

Victorious Mindsets by Steve Backlund

What On Earth Is Glory by Paul Manwaring

Other books that have been very influential to me:

The Supernatural Ways of Royalty by Kris Vallotton

The Shack by William Paul Young

Face To Face With God by Bill Johnson

Music:

White Flag by Passion

Where I Find You by Kari Jobe

Furious by Jeremy Riddle

Here On Earth by Bryan & Katie Torwalt

Awakening: Live from Chicago by Jesus Culture

Dennis Chaput

Book:

Money and the Prosperous Soul by Stephen K. De Silva (Chief Financial Officer at Bethel Church in Redding). Picture this: Dave Ramsey meets Bethel Church! It is a great combination (in fact Ramsey wrote an endorsement for the book.) He combines Biblical teaching, practical advice and personal experience to make this a very good read. One quote sticks out: "We were not designed for survival. We were designed for Him. When we have Him, we have everything."

Jillian Melnick

Books:

Spirit Wars by Kris Vallotton

A School of Healing and Impartation Anthology Workbook by Randy Clark

I love this little book: 

I Promise You a Crown: A 40-Day Journey in the Company of Julian of Norwich: Devotional Readings by David Hazard {paraphrased devotional}

Kate Podjan 

Books: 

Loving Our Kids On Purpose by Danny Silk 

Culture of Honor by Danny Silk 

Less Clutter, Less Noise by Kem Meyer 

Music: 

Here on Earth by Bryan & Katie Torwalt 

Awakening: Live from Chicago by Jesus Culture 

Jacaranda by Josh Garrels

The Builder & The Architect by Sandra McCracken

Websites/Blogs:

churchmarketingsucks.com

Sunday | Mag

Matt Podjan 

Book: Mystical Union by John Crowder

Music: As The World Bleeds by Theocracy

Podcasts: The Happy Gospel/Benjamin Dunn, iBethel, Deliverance Bible Church (DBC)

Website: thenewmystics.com (watch The Jesus Trip)