What is Fear?

Websters Dictionary states that Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. 

For about two weeks, the enemy was attacking me every way he could. physically and mentally.  I have never dealt with anything ever like this kind of fear before in my life.  I would lay awake in my bed at night clinching for dear life to my pillow shaking, thinking that something was standing over me, waiting for me to move and as soon as i did it was going to start attacking me.  I would look in the mirror while getting ready and i would see someone else besides myself, and i would just stare at what i was seeing in the mirror.  I couldn't tell you who or what it was that was staring back at me, but i do know, that it was the Devil trying to overcome me, and make me think that as long as i stayed in this program, he was going to be there, waiting for me to take a step forward.  As soon as i did, he would be there to drag me back 7 steps backwards.  

Finally, one night I had enough, and sat all the girls down and i told them EVERYTHINGthat was going on.  I didn't know where to start or what to say, so i just poured it all out to them.  I felt like we needed to anoint our apartment.  One of the girls had some anointing oil, and we passed it around and grabbed hands and started praying together.  Then we split up and anointed every door post, window seal bedpost, door knob.  If there was something that we could anoint, we anointed it. We prayed for hours it felt like, it wasn't some minuscule prayer either.  God showed up in that apartment, and the holy ghost started moving.

I could see God working and moving in the girls while we were praying, but i couldn't feel anything.  I prayed and asked God why i couldn't feel him.  The enemy was in my ear telling me that God didn't hear me and that when i prayed i was wasting my breath because God wanted nothing to do with me.  I started believing the enemy and was contemplating of packing my things up and going home, because when i was at home i didn't deal with anything like this.  The devil would tell me that if i just went home he would leave me alone and i wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.  

As soon as he said that, i knew that i was where i was supposed to be, and the Assistant Pastor at my old church told me to look up; 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Once i read this, God just begin to pour scripture into my spirit, and a peaceful spirit just settled in my room, and that night was probably one of the best nights of sleep that i have had in a very long time.  Now every time that the enemy begins to stick his head back into my business, i just start quoting the scriptures God gave me. 

Joshua 1:9- "Have i not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go."

- Haley

  

I will trust in YOU

This week officially started a new chapter in my life as a Shabbach Master's Commission student, and it has already been such a life-changing experience for me. We started the week off with a small ceremony, where Pastor Michael talked about how we each came here with baggage, and that it was holding us back from giving our all to God. We then each had to choose a rock that we thought resembled the size and weight of the baggage that we each brought with us. We had to take that rock everywhere we went this past week, and also write on the rock anything that we think we have dealt with that has kept us from truly devoting ourselves to God.

My rock was huge.

And let me just say, carrying that thing around everywhere for an entire week was interesting. Once I actually wrote on the rock and gave names to each piece of baggage I found myself carrying, it made the scenario real to me. Yes, this rock was heavy. Yes, it was beyond annoying and hard to carry around. Yes, I got tired. The same emotions I've felt from the weight from my past.

So why was I carrying all of that "weight" around emotionally? Why had I not asked God to take these burdens away, to ease the difficulty of walking through daily life with these weights on my shoulders?

The biggest word on my rock (literally took up a whole side), was the word TRUST. When I wrote it on my rock, I wrote it because I have a very hard time trusting in people, because I have a fear that they will either reject me, hurt me, or leave me (or a combination of them). Because of this, I rarely let people in or talk about what's bothering me, until I am very confident that I can actually trust them.

So I walked around for a week, with the issue of trust (along with many others) physically weighing me down. But I wouldn't let someone help me carry it when they offered. Why not? Because I was afraid they would judge me because of my rock. Because of how ridiculously heavy it was, and how many words were written on it, and the choice of words that were on it. I didn't trust anyone with it.

Until I had to.

It took me until Pastor Michael picked up the rock, put it directly in my face, and said "Look at it." When I had to face everything that I wrote. I had to realize that there was an even larger trust issue than I had thought. It isn't just that I don't trust people, its that I don't completely trust God.

That's a smack in the face. I thought I trusted Him. I thought that me being here in this program would be so eye-opening because I'm following where God is calling (don't misunderstand me, it completely is and will continue to be eye-opening). But if I don't trust the people that He has surrounded me with here, how am I trusting in the plan He has for me here? How have I ever fully trusted in Him if I haven't ever trusted the surrounding He has given me?

The answer is: I can't. My issue isn't that I don't trust people (which I don't). My issue is that I don't fully trust in God to take me where I need to be and be okay. I've lived my life the past several years in fear of not being accepted, not being loved, not being enough, and getting lower into a life that I don't want. So I, naturally, run from my issues. I keep to myself. I don't let people in.  I attempt to stay as emotionless as possible.

I'm tired of living life that way.

By the end of the week, I was tired of holding that rock. My back and shoulders hurt, and my arms literally couldn't take it anymore. We had our covenant ceremony, and during that we were to finally get rid of our rocks. I walked down by the lake where all of the leaders were waiting, my huge and obnoxious rock in my hands. I was told to hold my rock out in front of me, arms completely extended... and I couldn't. Physically and emotionally, I was done.

It was in that moment that I finally understood what my rock was supposed to teach me. I couldn't hold that rock on my own any more, to the point that both Pastor Michael and Pastor Glenn had to help me hold it out in front of me. So why did I think I could handle everything from my past on my own? Why was I holding all of those things back, when I should be giving them to God, and let Him take the weight off of me.

When I threw my rock in the water, it didn't come back up, and I didn't dive in after it. I gave that rock to the lake, never to be seen again. But more importantly, I gave those issues to God, and I have faith that they will never weigh me down again. It will take some work to finally be able to say that I'm over each of the things that I had written down, but I'm finally TRUSTING in God to bring me through it.

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." -Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

During our chapel service this week, God brought this verse to my attention. I was reminded that God is working on molding me in to a new creation, into the person that He is calling me to be. All I need to do now is trust in Him through it all, no matter how lonely or hard it is for me. He's holding me in His hands, and I'm suddenly finding an extreme sense of peace in that.

- Paige

Where God Can Blow Your Mind!

Recently during my quiet time, I have thought about Shabbach Masters Commission slogan, “Where God can blow your mind!” While thinking about that phrase I pictured what this year at Masters is going to be like.  I began to think about what I want to get out of this year, what I want God to do me, and how I want God to just blow my mind out of the waters. 

Have you ever seen a 5 year old getting ready to start kindergarden and how he has so much excitement and has big dreams and expectancy for his first year of school? I’m that 5 year old getting ready to start my second year of Masters Commission. I have realized lately that everything you do and decisions you make will either move you forward or set you back to reaching what & where God has for you. So as I walk into Shabbach MC 2013, I enter with a mindset that everything that I am handed to do, is going to prepare me for the mission field. Everything that is being poured into me needs to be soaked up like a sponge and applied to my daily lifestyle. 

Every decision I make needs to be thought of in the way of “is this going to benefit me or set me back in the long run.” In order for me to gain anything from this year, I need to take it in myself. You can have someone pour and pour into you but if you never stretch out your hand and grab it, you will never receive what they are saying to you. This year I am entering into a year where i want EVERYTHING that is being poured into me, and I want to run with it. I want to allow what’s being poured into me to advance me to much greater things that God has in store for me. 

Blessings,

Katlyn

Life Song

A simple reflection from a Shabbach Master's Commission student. 

Nine months ago, I was a nervous wreck, stepping off of an airplane in faith, not really knowing what I was getting myself into, but going where I heard God loud and clear tell me to go. I can do nothing but thank God for everything He has done in such a short time! 

Recently, as I was spending time with the Lord, reflecting on my first year here at Shabbach Master's Commission, I had my guitar in my arms and was just sitting on my front porch steps singing with the birds. I began to think about the fact that if someone would have said to me even a couple of years ago that I would be sitting here right now, I would have told them to go play in traffic, at that time I was a lot more interested in doing what I wanted to do without care of what God wanted for me. That is because a couple of years ago I was attempting to direct my own life. As I was thinking about that, the Lord spoke to me, "You cannot direct something correctly that you did not compose or that you haven't read the music to" 

It hit me hard as I let those words marinate. Music is my heartbeat, when I think of a director and a composer I think of an orchestra. To compose means: "to form by putting together" The composer of the music, takes time, effort, heart, and passion to compose the beautiful music the way he/she intends it to sound. To direct means: "to dominate and determine the course of" Isn't it funny? God has composed the music for our lives, just as He intends it to sound. However, He gives us free will, allowing us to direct whether we hit all of the right notes or not. God has given us an entire book of music to read. That is, what HE has written.

Psalm 37:23 says that "A person's steps are made secure by the LORD when they delight in his way." The music is already written for your life, the greatest composer has already finished it. The question is, are YOU taking time to read the music, and making your life a sweet symphony to God's ears? Or are you taking advantage of the fact that you are the director, and hitting all flat notes? I would strongly encourage you to make time to read your song. Ask the composer what you can do to help the song of your life sound beautiful. James 1:22-24 "But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." Don't just hear the music, play it, sing it, live it. 

Proverbs 14:15 "The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps." 

If it is not in the music, don't play it, sing it, or live it!

Just Me,

Tami Shroll

Humility at the Derby

BLOG

May 6th 2013

Humility at the Derby

ShabbachMC, along with Pastor Michael Goins and Patrick Goins, spent our time working the Kentucky Derby this week.  We would start our mornings at 5:00AM bright and early so that we could arrive at Churchill Downs by 5:30AM.  It was after the first morning that I realized that this week was going to be a character building week for me.  Most of my day consisted of carrying food and drinks up and down "The Beast" for other workers and clients.  Now before I go any further I should probably describe what "The Beast" is.  The Beast was a huge structure with six flights of stairs on it.  In the structure were different rooms where clients could eat and hang out on different floors.  While this was no easy task on its on, the heat and… sometimes uncooperative clients made for a long 12 to 16 hour day of work. 

By the third morning of RISE AND SHINE my bad attitude had already been set.  While on break that day however another group, also working the derby, helped change my outlook on the situation.  I noticed that even though they were just as tired and sore as I was none of them were complaining.   Their leader then explained that by starting a day negative it can make the rest of our day just as negative.  After being around this group for a day I noticed myself trying to complain less and focus my attention on the good.  Their positive outlook and willingness to serve was encouraging and contagious.

One of the last days of the Derby we had to be at work before sunrise.  I found myself at the top of The Beast looking down on the track while the sun came up.  Down on the track a few of the trainers had their horses out warming up for the days events.  While looking out at them I realized why God makes beautiful moments like the one I was experiencing.  I believe that God gives us moments like that so that we have to stop the hustle of our day and just admire His work.  Starting out my day with that picture made me want to make the rest of my day positive. How much better would our days be if we just took time in the morning to notice God?  Even though it wasn't always easy, for the rest of our duration I did my best to focus on how I could make the clients time more enjoyable than my own.  Being at the Kentucky Derby wasn't about what I could get as much as it was about clients seeing how real Children of God work and serve.  What beauty is God trying to paint for you this week?  Maybe starting your day with Him will give you just the right start to bring clarity into the rest of your day. Don't let The Beast distract you from the real picture! 

Have a blessed week,

Keyona

The Beast

The Real Picture

How to Win Friends & Influence People

        In Shabbach MC we are assigned a book to read each month as well as completing a chapter summary. This month we are reading Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends & Influence People"   The first part of this book focuses on "three fundamental techniques in handling people." Don't criticize, condemn or complain, Give honest and sincere appreciation, Arouse in the other person an eager to want. 

        "Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment." Criticizing someone is easy but finding good in their fault can be difficult. We can often go about our day casting blame where we think blame is due. It is much easier to make someone else the cause for our pain then ourselves. Author Dale Carnegie touched on the subject by using Al Capone as an example. Al Capone said " I have spent the best part of my life giving people the lighter pleasures, helping them have a good time, and all I get is abuse." It was easier for Al Capone to blame other people for where he was than to see that he was his biggest enemy. Instead of looking for places to cast the blame this week try to focus on what you can fix in yourself, and/or find good in the person who, in your eyes, is to blame. 

      " We provide them with roast beef and potatoes to build energy, but we neglect to give them kind words of appreciation that would sing in their memories for years like the music of the morning stars." Are you spewing flattery or giving genuine appreciation? The definition of "flattery" is " excessive and insincere praise, that is given to further one's own interests." Are you saying nice things for your own selfish motives or are your intentions true? This week is a good week to focus on others; Seek after random acts of kindness as each day passes. Carpe Diem.

       " If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own." There are a lot of people who are only concerned with themselves.  Someone who can put aside their own selfish desires for others is admirable. Philippians 2:3 " Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." Even if you don't agree with a point of view, its wise to be able to understand other prospectives. We spend enough time wrapped in our own busy lives but we MUST try to train ourselves to follow in His footsteps and we will discover a life of selflessness.

Have a blessed week,

Keyona

Verse of the week: Philippians 2:4 - Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Leadership

 Sight, voice, touch, smell, and hearing.  In order to create effective leadership one should be able to tap into these senses on a regular basis.  From the start we must have vision.  Without vision, your team and/or your youth group will drift away until there is nothing.  So, how do you see with the eyes of a leader?  I'm so glad you asked!  The Lord will provide vision and sometimes, that may come from another person.  Stick to your vision, even when those around may mock or disagree with it.

"People won't walk across the street to hear my voice but will come around the world to hear the gospel."  I have heard PG say this multiple times.  Its the God in you that makes the difference.  Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."  God uses us to help others as long as we have an open mind and heart.  Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he" When we become praise focused we allow ourselves to speak power which could be monumental to one seeking direction.

In 1 Peter he says imitation of Christ requires walking in this world the way Jesus walked.  Its important to realize that God uses us to do His work.  When you are transparent with God and allow Him to touch your life it will become the reason you do what you do.  In doing this, you open yourself up to receive the healing God has for you.

What do you smell like?  Effective leaders hear things differently, talk differently, and think differently.  So again, what do you smell like?  When you are gone from a room does your scent linger?  Wherever we are we are leaving a trail, make sure yours is the fragrance of a King.

Leaders have a trained ear.  It doesn't just come one day.  When you hear the voice of the Lord, things change.  The closer you get, the clearer things become.  

I have heard of people that question His existence because the lack of one or more of these senses.  But this is the way the Lord communicates to His leaders.  He isn't missing or absent you just have to recognize the way He chooses to communicate with you.

Have a blessed week,

Keyona

Verse of the week: Hebrews 13:7 "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith"