140: If:Gathering quotes, notes, and take-aways

These are various notes I took in my journal while watching If:Gathering with my church. I copy them here for those who couldn't make it and won't get around to watching the sessions online (see link above). The Biblical context for the conference was Joshua.

Interview with Jessica Soward and April Smith
Choosing to believe God for who He is. Because it doesn't end in the ugliness. There's eternity.

His promises will stand. He will continue to be who He is. That's not up for changing. He invites us to believe and hold on to Him.

Jennie Allen
Not just live by faith but "kill this story" of walking by sight.

Angie Smith
living who God intends you to be, the gifts He gave you, and not trying to be someone else. Believe He has you in this season.

Jo Saxton
Joshua and Caleb knew God was willing as well as able.

"The greatest thing about God being your Father is it's His responsibility to get it thru to you."

"His hold on you is greater than your hold on Him"

Rebekah Lyons
"Jesus' fullness is the brightest part of you"

Jen Hatmaker
God asks us into battle when we are not warriors
into hurting fields when we're not healers
Blind to God's ability and too high premium on our ability

faith does not mean you understand the entire scope of God and never doubt

if circumstances means God's character is in question, then we should throw the whole thing out because faith cannot inoculate you from suffering

they were slaves just a few weeks ago
freedom under God's favor was too much to hope for
prefer to stay in bondage because it's familiar and freedom is terrifying

Yes God works thru captivity and uses wilderness for good, BUT He is a promise-land God.

"Give your heart permission to trust Him."

faith isn't about us man-ing up but how we think about God

Shelley Giglio
God is painting on something larger than the little picture I can see

Ann Voskamp
He absorbs the quakes of your fears

Compare our race to other women's races instead of running for Him

There is no wow encounter with God until there is a woe encounter

"Faith is really faith when we believe God for the unbelievable."

Christine Caine
Joshua 1 - Moses is dead - what are you trying to hang onto that is dead? He blessed that then but that season is over. The enablement of the Spirit is not on that anymore. "If the horse is dead, dismount."

Unhealthily loyal to the past

Letting a little section of your past define years of your life

Eph. 2:10 I'm here to do the works God had already prepared for me.
We don't have a story apart from God's church.

Joshua had to lay down his life to bring in all the people with him into the Promised Land

He didn't know he'd be the Joshua. He had no platform. Your serving prepares you for what God has already planned for you. God ins't going to say Get ready unless we're already ready

Chasing a platform instead of serving

Service is the key to destiny

Service prepares you for the battle not performance

Joshua 1:8 pep rallies and Hallmark movies will not keep you--keep Word of God on your mouth and in your mind day and night

Laura Sobeich
We are here, in the present, and God gives us the grace we need right now.

Bianca Olthoff
Impossible situations are not intimidating to our God.

Joshua 6:2 God speaks here in past tense about a future non-occurence as yet. Just because God promises does not mean you possess it.

God wants us to be faithful even when nothing happens.
"I need you to walk it out even when it's not working out."
Does not mean our faith isn't working
"Results are God's responsibility; response is ours."

"Life doesn't tell us when things end" We don't know how close we are to the finish line! to the end of this season

Christy Nockels music
"against all hope
help me hope
against all fear
draw me near"

"pry our fingers from the earthly"