This past weekend, Josh, Kel and I made a trip down to Orlando, FL, for the NEXT Conference. Since we moved to Florida, I was unable to go these past years. So this was my first time, and my last, as it is the last NEXT Conference Sovereign Grace is doing.
The worship was AMAZING and so encouraging. One song in particularly was encouraging is the song off of the Gathering cd, Now Why This Fear.
Now why this fear and unbelief?
Has not the Father put to grief
His spotless Son for us?
And will the righteous Judge of men
Condemn me for that debt of sin
Now canceled at the cross?
Jesus, all my trust is in Your blood
Jesus, You’ve rescued us
Through Your great love
Complete atonement You have made
And by Your death have fully paid
The debt Your people owed
No wrath remains for us to face
We’re sheltered by Your saving grace
And sprinkled with Your blood
Be still my soul and know this peace
The merits of your great high priest
Have bought your liberty
Rely then on His precious blood
Don’t fear your banishment from God
Since Jesus sets you free
How sweet the sound of saving grace
How sweet the sound of saving grace
Christ died for me
Christ died for me
On top of the worship, the teaching was amazing as well! Jeff Purswell did a great job explaining that we are apart of something that is way bigger than us. He took us through the whole Bible from start to finish... and you know as a kid that the Bible is one big story, but you don't actually see it until it's presented in the way he did it (unless I didn't).
I also really enjoyed Kevin DeYoung's messages as well. His one on friendship was very provoking to me. God has given me so many wonderful, godly friendships since moving back to VA, and for which I am very thankful! But his message really got me thinking... am I a faithful friend? Do I go out of my way to see how a friend is doing, and just stop right there and pray for them? No. I was really convicted.
The last two messages I LOVED. Matt Chandler and C.J. Mahaney. Matt Chandler's message was very convicting to me. Honestly, at times I'm a shamed to say that I hid from being a Christian... because I want to seem "cool". I have no problem blaring Pitbull in my car, but I do have a problem with turning Chris Tomlin up. Why? I know it's my sin nature... but I hate that. I love the verse that Tebow had on his eye blacks once, "May I never boast except in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ." (Galatians 6:14) He should be the one I boast in... not the world. One think that Matt Chandler said that keeps running through my mind is this; "When you present a 'cool' Jesus to our world, it's no longer the Jesus of the Bible, but a Jesus you created." What a convicting thought! Something I have never thought of before... it's not the same Jesus. Wow!
C.J. has always been one of my favorite preachers (followed by Aaron Campbell :) ). So this was the one message I was most looking forward too. His message was on the Church and Disappointment. He encouraged everyone to think of things that you find disappointing in your church and things that you see God at work. I have to confess that for a while there, C.J. lost my attention. I listed many things that I found God at work in KingsWay... but I couldn't find anything I was "disappointed" with. And after talking to my dad when I got home, I realized that after going to different churches in Florida, there were so many things we were without, that it makes us so much more thankful we are back here at KingsWay. The worship, the teaching, the pastors, the friendships and fellowship... everything! What a gift from God it is to me! And a job too!!! What an E.G.G. (Evidence of God's Grace).
Something else C.J. said got my attention. One is to never bring books on your honeymoon :). haha No. He shared a story of a pastor that was meeting with a man from his church. And the man was complaining about the things that he didn't like in the church... the worship, the teaching, etc. And the pastor who was meeting with this man leans forward and gave the man a 5 word antidote for this complaining. "It's not about you, stupid." Man! I couldn't find anything I was disappointed about KingsWay... but how I so often forget that this life isn't about me! It's not! There is only one who my life is about. And his name starts with a J and a C. So tell me who's in the house! J! C! (Sorry, I couldn't help myself. haha That's what you get for growing up in the early '90s I guess... :) ).
It's not about you, stupid! Those five short, little words are so grounded in truth. It's not about me, or you, but about Him who created us!!!
Sorry for this rather long post... and that I haven't posted in a while, but that's what God has been so graciously working on in my life. It's not about trying to be "cool", and it's not about me! But it's about Jesus, and all my trust needs to be in His blood.
Thanks for reading! :)
