It Was Worth Shoutin' About

I recently had the privilege of attending the Extraordinary Women's Conference here in Baton Rouge (thank you, Susan) and sit under the teachings of Thelma Wells - she said we can call her Mama T. ;)

Mama T was without a doubt the one who spoke to my heart the most. She walked on stage, joy permeating from her very being, and she was sporting an ensemble from Wally World (you know the place). The theme of the conference was "Free To Be Real" and let's just say God provided lots of examples for the speakers with the experiences they had just 48 hours prior to the conference. Don't you just love it when He does that? You see, the airport had lost her luggage and everything she brought along for the trip was gone for the moment. She also had a loooonnnngggg layover from Dallas to New Orleans. In fact, she was rerouted to another state before she could get to LA and even then she had to fly into Lafayette. So when she finally arrived at 2 AM the night before she was scheduled to speak, she set off to go shopping at the 24 hour discount store.

Did she seem on edge? Strangely, not a bit.

She said she started to get into a tizzy but then she decided to just rest in God's peace. She said she had every reason to exhaust herself with negative emotions but she just wasn't going to give the devil that foothold.

"Every decision you make goes through a filter. We call that filter the Holy Spirit."
Mama T

That is some words of wisdom y'all.

I admit that I have made some pretty rotten decisions even after hearing the Holy Spirit instructing me to do otherwise. Emotions, flesh, peer pressure, and judgment were all allowed in to sway me. I got a breakthrough as Mama T spoke.

Jesus says,

"But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life."
John 4:14

"If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within."
John 7:38

As she spoke I recalled these scriptures and I envisioned myself cooking my favorite soup. Full of lots of flavorful components but having to be drained for those who need healing from illness. I had just done this weeks ago when we all shared our strep throat so the memory was vivid in my mind. As I poured the soup through the strainer all of the particles and chunky things that seemed so appealing were held back. Only the shimmery liquid passed through. With it went all of the vitamins, minerals, and probiotics - the healing components.

Sometimes life is like that. Plans don't go our way. Obstacles come and we must choose how we will react. We can either chew on those seemingly appealing bits of chicken and celery (emotions, flesh, peer pressure, and judgment) or sip on what brings life.

When you use the Holy Spirit as a filter for all of your decisions, you receive life. Thanks, Mama T and praise you, Jesus!

I'd love for you to visit me at my personal blog: Amy Bayliss.com