tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044850704103353185.post-86995652377553059622008-04-20T14:35:00.000-04:002008-04-20T14:35:52.745-04:00<em><strong>Notes from this session:</strong></em><br /><br />- Rick spoke from Exodus 3 - God asks Moses "what is in your hand?"<br /><br />- Staff - something that was dead comes alive<br /><br />- God never does miracles to show off - every miracle is a parable of God's truth<br /><br />- God never asks a question that He doesn't already know the answer to - it's not for His benefit<br /><br />- The staff represented Moses' identity (he was a shepherd), his income (represented his wealth), and his influence (the staff was a tool to lead and move sheep)<br /><br />- "If you will lay these three things down for me, I will make them come alive - I will do things you never thought possible, if you will just lay it down. But every time you pick it back up, it will die and become a lifeless piece of wood again."<br /><br />- Never again in Scripture is it referred to as Moses' staff - it is always called the rod of God<br /><br />- There was nothing magical about it - but it became God's<br /><br />- What happens when you say yes to God? What is in your hand?<br /><br />- Every time I give, it breaks the grip of materialism in my life<br /><br />- The purpose of influence is to speak up for those who have none<br /><br />- There are 149 million orphans in the world<br /><br />- This year, 210,000 people will die in California; 2.4 million will die in America; and 73 million will die in the world - most of them will spend eternity separated from Christ in hell.<br /><br /><em><strong>My takeaways from this session (still processing...)</strong></em><br /><br />1. What is God calling me to do for Him today? What is in my hand? What has He given me to use for Him?<br /><br />2. Will I be content to pay it safe and stay a shepherd in the wilderness, or will I be willing to follow where God leads, into difficult days, incredible challenges, but an amazing life? Yes, yes, yes - I want to follow - I want to go - and I want Southview to go and follow God where He leads. Let's quit playing it safe and go for broke - what is in our hand? What is God saying? LET'S DO THAT!!Williamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311806312162439873noreply@blogger.com