Love is.................................................
visioncgbc | August 24, 2009 11:50
These past few weeks have been….well insane.
Chapel Grove went to the Deeper Still Conference http://www.lifeway.com/ev/events_detail_mainpage/0,2232,E%253D150%2526M%253D200979,00.html
in Greensboro.
(the ladies) Speakers were Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur
and Travis Cottrell led worship. A few
of us from www.unboundministry.com
went up a day early to meet with Pam Case from Lifeway. Well, when I say “meet” what I mean to say is
have coffee and just talk for a while.
Now you tell me, how in the world can this person who’s pretty much plays
a major role in this event, have to time to just “chill” for a while with us,
the night before the event. On top of
that-the airport misplaced her hair products!
She sat and listened to us, wanted to hear our hearts and she shared
hers. It wasn’t at all her sitting and
telling us what we should aspire to one day become. Then the next day and a half was the
conference. Amazing. Amazing.
Amazing. Kay shared her heart and
burden the America
wake up. Priscilla shared her heart that
God’s greatness can’t begin to even be fathomed by us. Beth (I loved this) literally felt God
changing her topic only moments before she came out! She talked about fellowship with God. Travis and all the singers had a heart for
God that was very obvious. It was so wonderful. 
Next day, beach. One
week of getting tan, sleeping on the beach, jellyfish stings, bingo and so much
more. 
Then we came home for three days and Mark and I went to the Connect Conference Threads in Atlanta. http://threadsmedia.com/connect/?cid=Threads-emailCRD20090813Connect We learned so much and I was so thrilled to be able to go. They design it for a very small attendance intentionally so that there could be interaction with the speakers. I’m so challenged by what I learned and felt somewhat of a confirmation about the direction I believe the class has taken.
Came home Saturday night and went to a cookout, and then got ready for Thursday. Had to move Meagan into college in Greensboro and be back home and have Chloe at her new school by 5:00.
Then Friday night-the Jonas Brothers. We got there at 6:30 and I returned home at about 2:00 AM. The concert was fun. We had to make an impromptu IHOP trip on the way home. Praise the Lord I didn’t fall, because we had nosebleed seats, and looking down made me a bit dizzy. But, I’m glad. It was so loud, to be on the bottom would’ve blown my ear drums out. I found this youtube of them yesterday.
Then Saturday I had to go to a funeral. Someone I know died relatively unexpectedly. Lots of tears, and I don’t know if I’ve ever heard kinder words about a person. What is strange, but I believe it was God, I prayed for this individual by name either the day of or a few days before he died. This isn’t a person that I normally pray for.
On the way to the funeral Saturday I asked Chloe to read I Corinthians 13 to me.
1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version)
1 Corinthians 13
Love
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love
I think what I was wondering about what the Bible says that love is not.
I went into the funeral and it was very emotional for me, and everyone there. I think that’s something that happens as we grow up. We understand more about death, and realize to the extent that we can, it’s final.
They read various scriptures throughout the service. I have never in my remembrance heard what’s quoted as the Love Chapter, read at a funeral. But, to my surprise, they read the entire chapter. I remembered that I had just asked Chloe to read this, and I realized God was trying to tell me something.
I read all the things that I’ve tried to claim that love “is” when the Bible clearly says that love is “not” those things. I just can’t do that anymore. Please forgive me as I change. I have to. I want to. I need to. Love is what will make my life flourish or fail. This is not a request from God. It’s not advice. I have to do this if I want my life to change and I do.
Please continue to pray for Mark. He
still has a kidney stone and had a terrible bout with it last night from 2:00
am on. He took 2 pain pills, and when I
went home at lunch, he told me as soon as he could get himself together he was
going to our church to trim the bushes, before the clean up day Saturday. 
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Modern Day Miracle
visioncgbc | August 12, 2009 20:43
I have looked forward to tonight for several weeks. Vision went for the first time to feed at what’s called “the Mission.” It’s for the homeless, downtrodden, really anyone. We’ve partnered in the past at another organization, but I just felt called to this lil’ place. This place that’s been almost condemned by our local code enforcement. This place this is in need of so much. But it isn’t short of a passion for Jesus and sharing who he is.
I read this morning the following
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
Matthew 15: 29Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
32Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."
33His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"
34"How many loaves do you
have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied, "and
a few small fish."
35He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children. 39After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
My mind began to think about how I could “reenact” the miracle of this to people. Get loaves and fishes and do a play? Could I do some kind of magic trick?
But I heard God this morning. “Gina, people don’t need a reenactment of a miracle. They need a miracle. Gina, you don’t need a reenactment of a miracle. You need a miracle.” Oh God, you are right, as always. We all need a fresh new miracle. But, in order for a miracle to be answered, what do you have to have??? That’s right. A huge need. A need that only God Himself could meet. Is that you today friend? Oh, it’s me. I have been. If you read the word of God, you will see that over and over God allows tremendous needs just so He can perform tremendous miracles that He gets all the glory for.
Matthew 16
The Demand for a Sign
1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
2He replied,[a] "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6"Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
7They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread."
8Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
The religious wanted miracles. But God knew why. Not for His glory.
Jesus talks about the bread multiplying from little (the five thousand and four thousand). He then tells them be on guard of the bad yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Those few loaves were uncontaminated. God can work with clean vessels. Large numbers of dirty vessels (religious hypocrites, or lukewarm) well I think they’re useless. What would you rather have, 1 piece of bread that’s good or 500 pieces of bread, each with a tiny spot of mold??
A few weeks ago an upcoming Vision member, Oscar Trejo said that it’s as if God’s people who are passionate for him are like fine perfume. Concentrated but very powerful. What a good analogy. God is so interested in our hearts. In our passion for His calling.
Ask God today for your modern day miracle. I believe that’s why the need is there. As long as we remain with the yeast He provides, and keep our selves clean, it’s like that friendship bread, it just keeps on going!!
Expect God to move!! He is able
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