"See that no one knows about this"
- Some rules/orders are meant to be broken
- I don't share Jesus out of obligation
- Sometimes the work of God is personal and private
- God doesn't do anything for the sake of putting on a show
- What Jesus has done for me is beyond expression
- The ministry of Jesus does not depend on me
- Ministry is done out of the personal, not the traditional
- Good, life-giving secrets are exciting to share
- A grassroots, word of mouth movement is powerful
- The movement of God is way beyond my control
"According to your faith will it be done to you"
- Faith touches life
- My circumstances and my beliefs are inseparable
- Life follows faith
- If faith is acting on a choice to believe, my choices determine my future
- According you your faithfulness it will be done to you
- How faithful I am being?
- I must follow through on my choices
- is God's work somehow linked to my work?
- Does my trust or obedience determine how God will be involved in the world?
- My faith changes me
- Does my faith change others? Is it supposed to? Is it possible?
- What is done to me because of my faith?
- Does my way line up with God's way?
- God gives me as much as I am faithful with
- I must live faithfully with what I have been given
- It's what I do with what I have, not what I have that counts to God
- God knows my heart
- Do something with what you know
"Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
- Do I believe that God is able?
- What is God not able to do?
- Belief leads to action
- Do I have an answer to God's question?
- What do I believe about God's ability?
- God does not lack ability
- God's ability and my desire are not the same
- Understanding God's ability is critical
- Look to God's ability, not my own
- I can find true rest in God's ability
- Depending on my ability leads to burnout
- I need God
- I can depend on God
- No one is more able than Jesus
"Go away. The girl is not dead but alseep."
- If I can only criticize... I should go away (get out of the way)
- When I can only see the negative side, or tell the sad story, or think of the worst possible outcome... I need to leave
- God sees things differently than I do
- Death is not the end if God is near
- The church might be asleep, but it's not dead
- God raises the dead (even what may appear to have no life)
- Asleep is much different than dead
- I should not mistake or confuse being "asleep" from being "dead"
- Don't give up - keep praying for the sick, remain hopeful for a work of God
- Change my perspective
- Change my attitude
- Jesus defines reality
- Ask God: how should I see this situation?
- See an opportunity, not an end
- even when it seems over, it's not over
