WOF conference notes for a friend that wanted a copy

Notes from Women of Faith Conference 2012

Ken Davis:

God is the author of joy

laugh-smile

Paul wanted to know this joy. The devil takes the joy out of Sunday. 

Humor is a gentle way to acknowledge our weakness. 

Believe that perfection is not required

The person performing has nothing that I don't have.

Paul forgets what's behind and presses forward. Life doesn't have a winner's circle, just a finish     line. Believe that He will not let you down. His love cannot be removed from your life.

• What does it mean to live "fully alive?" Live- trust God-risk everything and know that He is faithful

God's hand never leaves us. He leads us toward life. Take what you think is boring in your life and change it.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus or Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Shelia Walsh
Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Now we are all broken. We all have "stuff." What God's word says about our "brokenness" 
Psalm 34:18, Psalm 147:3

Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus was miserable inside. Are we (like Zacchaeus) observing from a distance? 
Jesus can hear every cry. Jesus saw that he was broken. 
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
"lost"-ruined, destroyed, broken beyond repair. 
We cannot fix ourselves. 
God loves broken people.

We have a real enemy out to destroy us in this world...the devil.
We live in a world that wants to conform you to its image. Paul says don't do that. This society is man-made to be pleased with out God. 

•  TRANSFORMED- a change in priorities. Spending more time in the Word.

The enemy doesn't know everything! He uses accusations against you. Accusations are always the enemy. Use the word of God to run the enemy off. 

There will be days when you still feel like you're not worthy of anything. 
God says "I've already done this for you." It's done. 

Song of Songs 4:1-16
The perfect Bride
Solomon loosely represents Jesus. The woman loosely represents us all. 

• Confesses his love (crush)
• Backs up (do we believe we are really deserving?) Shame shackles you to the worst part of your past. It constricts your heart making love unable to penetrate. Our hearts are supposed to be big! Shame cannot hold a candle to God's affection. 

Remember no matter what, remember...It's not your fault. You are not damaged goods. God calls you beautiful. You have value. 
Solomon says, "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!" 
In the next chapter there is a HUGE wedding. 

Max Lucado
John 8 The grace of God keeps coming after us. 
The woman caught in adultery. 

• Jesus is teaching the people (Bible study) when they bring the woman in to be stoned. She was caught in the act! No one will stand for her. She's guilty. Jesus will STOOP for her. Grace is the God who stoops. He wrote in the sand. Jesus asks her, "Where are your accusers?" Jesus stoops for me. He stood and He speaks for us. 

Some people accuse us. We accuse ourselves. Voices. Satan never shuts up. Satan will place on you an unbearable burden of guilt. He can take your joy, fruitfulness, and happiness. 

Jesus gave her his help, but has given us His heart. God's goal isn't just to get us to heaven, but to get heaven to us (in our heart). I have the heart of Jesus Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me...GRACE.

Angie Smith
What women fear. Fear of "what if." We can believe God from the shore, but it's different to know him in the deep.
Genesis 21:8 Desperation of Hagar.

• Was the well already there and she didn't see it because she was so afraid of "what if?" 
• Have I closed my eyes to God's provisions? Human provision will run out. It will not sustain us, but God's provision (the well) will never run out.

1. Don't cower to a fate that God never imposed on you.
2. Think about...is this issue is the skin or the well? The skin was the little bit of water that Abraham had sent them out with. Don't become so confused that you miss it!!
3. We have to find Him in the deep. 
Psalm 139 Where shall I go from your presence? 
No one can lead us into the deep safely except God. He is in the deep. Find Him in the deep.

Pat Smith

1. Push past fears and insecurities
2. Seek God-sometimes He will allow havoc in your life so that we will seek Him.
3. Obey God.
4. Trust God.