Come to the Fire

The past couple of days I had the opportunity to attend Come to the Fire, a Women's Conference that was held in Ft. Wayne. On Thursday night 7 other ladies came from Farmer UMC to join me at the conference. We were 8 of 1600 women who joined together for this conference.

It was a fantastic conference.
The 5 of us (my mom, good friend, Connie, me, Sue and Peg - both from Farmer) stayed the whole weekend and had a great time together.

But let me tell you a little more about this "Coming to the Fire". It is just what its' name says, an opportunity to Come to Jesus and into His Fire and be molded and shaped by His fire so that coming out on the other side I can Reflect His Glory. And be more like Jesus.

On Thursday night there were, as I mentioned, 7 other ladies from our Farmer Church who attended. I felt burdened for them and so badly wanted an opportunity to be the "good Pastor's Wife" and pray through things with them.

It was a wonderful time of Praise and an absolutely solid Biblical message given from my extended mother-in-law (OK, she's not really mine at all, but I feel connected because my sister married her son!). So Jesus used Ms. Bethie in a powerful way and many met him there.

Friday morning again was a time of wonderful praise and testimony and Jesus came again, but this hard hearted Pastor's Wife was too worried about those around me to hear Jesus.

Finally, Saturday afternoon the Holy Spirit got through to me. I waited until the end of the Healing Service, long after the invitation to come and then finally after many - "Jesus are you sure it's me you want?" I got up found a Godly lady that I knew Jesus put right behind me for a reason and went to the altar.

**Let me pause for just a minute**

Have you ever negotiated with Jesus? I sat in my seat for so long, tears rolling down my face, pleading with Jesus to show me, "is it me you want at the altar, are you sure it's not someone else?" Then, when He still wouldn't leave me alone (thankfully) I said, "well I don't want just anybody coming to the altar to pray with me." So he put that mother-in-law right behind me and my own mom right beside me. So I said, "well, Jesus, could they just tap me on the shoulder or something then I'll talk to them and go forward?"

I mean, really. Why don't they just go up and pray for me while they are at it!

But you know what Jesus did? He had my momma grab me around the shoulder and say, "are you OK, honey?"

I lied..."yeah (through tears), I'm OK." And Jesus said, what else do you want. How else can I prove to you that I want you to get out of your seat and come to me?

The tears came harder then and I realized the service was closing. The worship leaders were leading us in praise for all God had done, but I couldn't praise. I couldn't even begin to sing.

So I got up - FINALLY!

and walked to a beautiful lady who shines with Jesus, Stephanie, and ask her if she would pray with me at the altar.

Stephanie and I the next morning

and you know what...Jesus was there. He was there they whole time - He was waiting on me.

Through my tears I told Stephanie and Jesus that I simply wanted More of Him. I wanted Jesus to be Enough! I know in my head that He is, but I wanted Him to know that I wanted Him to Fill me from Head to Toe and be Enough and Fill me to Overflowing!

And He is and He Did!

Jesus is all I Need!

He's more than Enough!

Ephesians 3 gives Paul's prayer for the Ephesians. Where he prays that He may strengthen them with power through the Spirit, so that Christ my dwell in their hearts through faith. And that by being rooted and established in love, we may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is. That we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

He is More than Enough for all that we will Face in this World and not only that He wants to be with us all the way, in order to show us all that His power can do in our lives.

So to Him be the Glory!

AMEN!