Power vs Power TRIPping

This is the title of my first sermon preached May 2013. The text came from Luke 10:18-20 HCSB

18 He said to them, “I watched Satan Fall from heaven like a lightning flash. 19 Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you. 20 However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Put It In the Book!

I just concluded another Girl's Trip with these lovely ladies. It was on this trip that I realized during an dreamer's exercise that I am standing right in the midst of my call into ministry a decade prior. Hallelujah and SELAH! Professionally these women operate in governmental, legislative, judicial realms; utilize the Word and Codes and if that's not enough, the Blood. Phew!!!! Look at all that POWER!

Ponderings...

It is my usual to be introspective; to wonder why I am here, what God is saying and look for takeaways. We all united years ago training our bodies. Last weekend we united to relax our souls. It would be cool to say that we totally escaped but that wasn't the case. We all kept in touch in some degree to what was left behind: be it work, relationships, family, friends or thought of awaiting assignments.

But what I saw was the opposite of what the world portrays amongst women of color,

specifically black women. I saw us uniting; dreaming and taking action; taking on roles; delegating; complying; stating desires and dislikes; dressing up, dressing down, but there was no one toting a frown. From the outset, it was quite a task to coordinate calendars. No thing (not to be confused with nothing) went exactly as planned but we all shifted harmoniously. There was no bickering or fighting. On the contrary, even if one faced turmoil, it was silenced by silence and peace.

No Harm

I love watching dynamics and it was beautiful. We shopped together; ate together and even did events separately. Yoga, Beach, bike rides, t-shirts, golf carts, toes in the pool and will never forget that inspirational Multimillion Open House we visited! It seems everyone did what they wanted to do and got to sleep in peace and quiet.

Shaking My Own Head...

The interplay of these friends helped me appreciate other friends I travel with for I saw myself. Man, my travelling habits were (past tense by faith) horrible: it's the leaving... the one more thing... the packing up... the procrastination... the love affair with the last minute.... I gotta break up with him... Sheesh

But in these ladies, I saw the encouragement, help; what do I need to do; how can I help? But not just for me, from person to person. No one had to be coached into action, what was necessary came out effortlessly. Thank God for people that see you and love you anyway!

In Title not Entitled

So back to the title... We went on a TRIP. Each one of us operates in some form or jurisdiction of POWER. So how did it play out? Was anyone TRIPPING? Did anyone abuse their POWER? If the answer to any of these questions was yes, then the trip would have been like an unmanned, turned on fire hose.... just writhing out of control soaking every random thing.

But actually, I saw the force of the water, but everyone collectively or individually manned the hose as necessary. There were no wild fires that burned the others. If the temperature got hot or cold, everyone knew how to adjust. It was POWER full!

Refocus and Stay Focused

We all could be so fortunate to have friends, like those in Luke 10:

• who will band together in obedience to Christ.

• who will face adversity head on together;

• who will experience and celebrate victories together;

• who will operate in Power and Authority;

• who trample over the enemy;

• yet, those who stay focused on Kingdom work, whose names are written in Heaven and not blotted out.

Get You Some Friends... I have some I prayed for and others God gave. Stop Tripping You were made to trample! We just trampled all over Santa Rosa Beach, FL!