Author: Iris Godfrey

The time here at Elim is very rewarding. I am getting to see a lot of folk that I only get to see during such an event. I am totally enjoying myself. However, I cannot attend all the sessions, so I am only able to give you what this body can do. But the reports of folk are exciting and fantastic – even of those I have needed to miss. (If one takes in all the sessions – they must be younger and able to maintain longer times without “time out.” So I lean into those to find out about what I have  to miss. Also I will catch up with DVD’s I will purchase).

The business meeting of Elim Fellowship was a good one. This is one of my priorities because I learn much about what is going on and I am all ears and eyes about how such meetings are conducted – I always want to learn). The president of Elim Fellowship, Ron Burigo, give a opening devotional on the theme (Focus) of the conference that was exceedingly good. The gist of it is:

Change demands Focus. Focus is essential to embrace change. Take God’s word that He has given you and focus on it. Going from glory to glory is the result of focus. To focus is to adjust the lens of the vision. Change requires vision. Hebrews 12:1-4 – to “fix” one’s eyes is to focus. Hebrews 6:10-15 – God is not one to forget our work. “Strengthening the leader, to equip the church, to reach the world” – that is the motto of Elim Fellowship. That is what we are all about.

Robert Morris was the speaker for our evening session and for two sessions this morning that I did not hear. (later) His photo is above. He was exceedingly good and accurate with the Word. Of course that really blessed me. The gist of his sermon:

We are to work with Genesis 2:19 and 1 Samuel 17:4 (both passages – not just the verse) One of his very good comments was “Sin makes us stupid.” Really good. When we work with the Word, He makes us more intelligent that we really are in the natural.

He worked with “theology” and the need for it, especially as we are teaching the next generation. We must teach the truth about God and who He really is. He related a story of when he was on vacation – on a cruse ship – and reading a “fun” book. He looked up at an Alaskan scene that was before him and wonder filled his heart. The Lord spoke to Him, “I need you.” Bro. Morris began to argue because he knows his theology and knows that God needs nothing. Yet, the Lord began to reveal that through-out scripture, except for the creation, He does nothing without man. God in his sovereignty has chosen to need man.

There were three main points: 1) God (in reality) needs nothing. 2) God decided to need you – He does not need me to exist on my own, but He needs me to co-exist with Him. 3) Have you decided to need God. There were three main sub-points under #3. a) God is never going to do our part. b) Our part is never supernatural. c) God has done His work, now He waits for us to partner with Him. He moves after we trust Him.

It was very, very good. I said “Amen” often. Those of you reading who have been attending our Friday Fellowships, know this is right along the avenues the Lord has been leading us to teach. It was such confirmation of where the Lord is leading us in teaching.

This morning I have rested. I will attend the Ladies Luncheon at noon, a workshop in the afternoon and then the evening session with Lisa Bevere teaching. Have an awesome day and thanks so for reading.

Tonight was the worship/concert led by Kim Walker-Smith and her band at Elim Gospel Church. It was a joy and privilege to be present.

Reylene Van Gelden (one of the Psalm 19 Board of Directors and ordained through Harvest Ministries) and I went to Elim Gospel Church for the worship and we are here through the Elim Leadership Conference ending Thursday Evening. I had promised my Prayer Warriors who receive my Prayer Letters via email each week that I would try to blog to conference. So this is the beginning of that.

The building (seats about 1,000) was filled, and we finally found seats. Then it began – much more worship than concert and the young lady did a wonderful job of leading us. (I  know the photo is blurred, but my cell phone at least got something of the setting).The young people there were delighted, excited and could dance in the way I no longer attempt to do. It was well work our time to be there. This is the church of tomorrow and they love the Lord very much. To see them engaged in worship was a delight to our hearts. They loved the music, but that was not their point of engagement. They were worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ. Awesome to be there and to worship with them – even though we did sit some of the time and were much less active than most of them – still we had a marvelous time and were blessed in Jesus. Most of the lyrics of the songs were very good.  There is a new wave of sound theologically accurate lyrics coming. This is getting there.

We will attend the Business Meeting of the Fellowship tomorrow afternoon and then the full conference gets underway with Robert Morris speaking tomorrow evening. Come along. I will try to post the highlights here each evening.

What a strange title! Yes, but what a precious word. Having allowed, by invitation, the Lord Jesus to live within, then He is always “with.” We are never alone, never isolated, never left out. Now you see why this word is precious.  The Lord’s words, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt.28:20b – NIV 2011) in Matthew are very clear.

When He originally said these words, He was speaking in reference to what is generally called “the great commission.”  He was letting the Apostles know He had all authority (as the risen King) and as they went (not so much a command but an instruction of action that is to govern our goings and comings of life), they were to understand He would empower their obedience to share. His authority and His presence with us is an undeniable power far beyond  human capacity. Now all our “goings” become a “with” and in the “with” they are empowered for what He has said for us to be busy doing – making disciples, baptizing them, teaching them obedience – all this encased in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

He never leaves us alone, and He never fails to empower obedience in us. When disobedience occurs, then we have chosen (which He will always allow) to do what He has not chosen. He still stays “with.” We are in covenant and so He is with each one of us for the long haul. Simply put – “with.”

Such love and mercy is beyond my mind’s capability. Yet, I trust. He is “with” me – He is “with” you always. Precious – “with.”

Tonight I am teaching our mid-week service at Church of the Resurrection and I am teaching from Galatians 5. Pastor Lou Giordano (Sr. Pastor) taught a very fine lesson on that passage last week, and I kept seeing things as he went along, and so have chosen to go through it once more and end it with an understanding of the fruit of the Spirit the Lord gave me some years ago.

Romans 10:4 “Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” This is fully explained in Galatians 5 where it is made very clear that anything we add to Christ eliminates Christ. In other words, not even something added that God gave in another covenant’s time will work now. Christ has done everything and is everything for us. Nothing we do, or someone else does is to be added to us. He alone is enough.

He has given through the Holy Spirit, all that is needed, righteousness, gifts, fruit, even transformation of mind through the Word and fellowship in the Holy Spirit. One quote my pastor gave was “The Law requires what the Spirit does.” Awesome thought. So tonight we will work with the fact that He is enough and when we walk in the Spirit we will not satisfy the desires of the flesh. These matters will take a bit of time to sink in to our hearts and minds, but the reward of trusting Christ fully is the result.

I just read an excellent post from a fellow blogger that I want to share. Dorcas is ordained through the Assembly of God and is rich in her understanding of the placement of women in the church. Here she is reviewing a book for a publishing house.

I thought my readers might enjoy reading her post. Go to:

http://pastoretteponderings.blogspot.com/

I have changed my theme and put a “header” up from some of my photo’s taken a few years ago. A home near where I lived at the time was awash with such and when the owner noticed me out near the road taking some photographs, he welcomed me into the total yard to click at will. It was beautiful. So I share some of them with you today.

I have a few daffodils blooming and the tulips are nice and green, showing promise of blooms a few weeks away. Well, after all, I do live in Central NY and we have not been  clear of snow for many days and could still have more (shhhh…). So, a few things blooming is wonderful.

Just a brief blog to say Thank you to those of you who have read and followed the conference posts and have let me know you appreciated them. That encourages me. The number of comments on a post in no way reflects the # of folk reading and receiving. You bless me and encourage me.

Our Saturday evening session included not only the worship and the teaching but also a lengthy time of body ministry. So this person was way too tired to continue to post. So I will catch up this Monday morning.

Pictured here are some more of our worship team: Mike and Tina Hook + Tim Stogsdill. Not shown in any of my photos is my husband, Joe. (It is very fine with him not to be seen in the photo’s). He was our bass player for the week-end and our electronic “techie.” Do not know what we would do without him! He is God’s gift to all of us.

On Saturday evening after the worship, Iris taught and we worked with what difference does the knowledge of grace make in our understanding of prayer. Included was an examination of our thought processes about prayer, which is intended to be “communication” with our Lord. How have we formalized it into a “law” expression, instead of an expression of relationship? We looked at this in light of the work of Christ: He has forgiven our sins (2,000) years ago; We are pleasing to God because of the person of Christ – no our own works; His has given us all things for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3) etc… It was interesting to see and to sense the internal processing of all of us. The Lord is so good.

Then we began to pray for one another in light of the good promises of God, instead of our “apparent need.” whether that was for healing or for other items. The praying and rejoicing and receiving went on for several hours. The Lord is so very good in every way and His presence was very warm and heavy among us.

On Sunday morning after a lengthy worship, Lauren taught Grace – The Difference – Worship/The Lord’s Supper. She covered both items, again in the light of Grace and the provisions of the Lord for us that are already in place. It was, once again, a very thought provoking session where we examined our thoughts and customs in the light of revealed New Covenant truth, not returning to the “Ole pitiful-unworthy me thoughts,” but celebration thoughts because of all that our Lord Jesus has accomplished on our behalf – receiving and in thankfulness – rejoicing and remembering He is coming again. Then we shared communion in HIs presence – counting on all His promises.

What a wonderful week-end. Thank you for all who entered it with us in prayer as well as all who were there. We are so grateful for all the Lord accomplished. It was a wonderful Winter Conference!