Gathering 2009:

Our theme for 2009 were From out of a place of REST into a place of ANOINTING then into a place of SERVICE. See full text.

Seventy Nine (79) participants this year. They came from Coffs Harbour, Millbank, Foster, Taree, Wingham, Tamworth, South West Rocks, Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Inverell, Kunderbung, Lorn, Nambucca Heads, Central Coast, Bonnie Hills, Moree, Eungai Creek, Stuarts Point, Crescent Head & Kempsey. What a great mix of regional prayers.

Our gift this year was a handmade clay Acorn - "from little things big things grow".  See full text.

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2009 Photos

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2009 Theme:

From out of a place of REST

Unless our foundations are firm and grounded in a daily walk with Jesus and in the Word we run a tremendous risk of being deceived by all the sweet talk and gloss of this world and that creeping into our churches by way of compromise. We must know God's word or we have no measure, we must talk with Jesus or we have no direction, we must listen to Holy Spirit or we have no discernment. We must rest, yes, take time to be where Jesus is, see what He is seeing, hear what He hears, know what He knows, so that we can join Him in what He is doing. I can think of no greater place than walking with Jesus and having the privilege of being included in conversations between Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Then and only then can we do meaningful service to our King. Resting in Him, we can do as the psalmist says "Give Him the glory due His name". We honour God and serve Him through our love, understanding and obedience. In rest we learn how to serve in His anointing. Recent words (Australian Prayer Network) on "going through the eye of the needle" hold a special message from God for this season. Unless we are willing lay down OUR desires, dreams, deeds, ministry and pass through the inspection of God then we will not walk fully in God's anointing. The camel must offload its burdens and get on its knees to pass through the camel gate in Jerusalem. We must also. That doesn't mean we wont have the same things to do on the other side but they will be changed into the purpose that God meant for them in the first place. We have to be willing to be changed further through this fresh encounter with God.  

Into a place of ANOINTING

When we know what Jesus is up to and how He feels about a situation, then through discernment we can allow God to use the gifts He has given us to bring about the result He desires for an individual, church, community, state, nation or the Nations. In the place of rest we come to grips with the gifts Holy Spirit has imparted. In the place of anointing we come to understand how God would use them. Because of our personal relationship with Jesus, our grounding in the Word, through words of knowledge, wisdom, discernment and prophecy we feel the heart of God at any given moment and we respond. We are 'captured by His holy calling' as one songwriter puts it. "Changed into His likeness" springs to mind. Mix God's anointing and love with discernment and our willingness and Heaven breaks loose and His Kingdom comes, sometimes spectacularly, mostly subtly, but always life changing. 

Into a place of SERVICE (DEEDS, WARFARE, PRAYER & INTERCESSION)

We are still human and don't forget that small matter when serving God. We make mistakes, we can be deceived, we will sin in some measure. That's why we need to be accountable to one another and leadership. That is why it is so important to go through the process of REST, ANOINTING and then go into SERVICE. Run ahead and you'll suffer. "They that wait on the Lord will renew their strength ...". Now, having got to this point, we have to trust God that what we hear is correct and put it into action. I always pray, "God if this is you bring about your sovereign touch for this situation and if it is not, stop me, correct me and don't let me miss this moment". Brian Pickering of the APN said we need to be "radically obedient and always available", so come, soak and be blessed "and give Him all the Glory due His name". 

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      FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG THING GROW

You probably see yourself as an acorn but God sees you as a MIGHTY OAK TREE.

What does God mean by a Mighty Oak? He means that if we are in relationship with Him, obedient, available, with a servant heart, then He will anoint and release us to take part in His plan for His Kingdom purposes in all its RICHNESS & FULLNESS.

 What a great place to be. Living in the richness and the fullness of our inheritance in God……positioned for HIS PURPOSES.

We need to know how God views us - as against how we see ourselves - as against what we have been told by other people, if we are to walk in the truth of that fullness.

So many times we have grabbed what we wanted to hear, accepted what a well meaning friend, pastor or false prophet has told us, taken hold of a sermon or great teaching, applied it to ourselves and made in foundational in our Christian walk. It becomes a core belief in our life. Not necessarily bad but it can act as a hindrance in walking in the freedom of our FULLNESS in Christ. If it wasn’t God who told us then our core beliefs can become mixed up truths and untruths.

Example …… A lady was told she had “healing hands” by well meaning friends many years ago, but as she considered the “eye of the needle” recently (laying down everything and going right into the presence of God, just to be with Him), God said to her, I didn’t tell you had healing hands, yet you have pursued it all this time and wondered why nothing ever happened. It is because they were not my words. You need to let go of them and allow me to tell you about who you are and what your gifts are that I have given you.

So this weekend we are praying that for those of us that need it, God will help you to realize who you really are and what & where your real POSITION in His Kingdom is.

We are Gods, he created us, nurtured & grew us (when we allowed Him), positioned us and wants to release us into the fullness of that anointing that goes with the position He has created for us. He has a plan, and you are very much a part of it.

We may stuff up and thwart Gods plans (maybe more than once) because of sin (commission & omission) or just by saying NO or it’s too hard. But when we come back into right relationship, He restores and repositions us again for His purposes, slightly different but again for His PURPOSES.

Sometimes, because of the trauma, humiliation, loss etc and the subsequent growth in grace, empathy, integrity & character during that time of repentance, discipline & restoration, we are even more grounded in His love and grace than ever before and so much more able to occupy the position He places us into the next time.

Our mighty God determined your end before you began. Psalm 139:15 & 16 tell us that: “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Then He planted a holy seed of destiny in your very makeup long before you were born. It is interwoven in the very substance of your bones. As this seed is watered with faith and the word of the Lord, you'll find it blossoming with the full evidence of your purpose in this life. Our Father has written in His own handwriting "the days fashioned for you, when as yet there were none of them" (Ps. 139:16).

Just as an acorn has a full-grown oak tree designed into its being, so you have a full-blown destiny within you. The acorn does not struggle to become a tree; neither do you need to struggle to become a man or woman of God. Allow the Lord to develop you in His soil and change you into His likeness.

Did you know an Oak tree needs fire to clean out the undergrowth surrounding it so that it can reach its full maturity? It only produces fruit (acorns) as an adult tree (20 years) and then the seed when dropped only falls within 20-30m of the parent tree. It needs seed dispersal agents to spread the acorns around.

Reminds me of our reliance on God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit to grow us to maturity, clear our undergrowth and make sure our fruit is used where God needs it to be dispersed.

This weekend is about helping you realize just how significant you are when you adopt a position of sacrifice and take your place as a MIGHTY OAK TREE.

From out of a place of REST into a place of ANOINTING then into a place of SERVICE, walking, living and praying in His FULLNESS in our lives.

God has POSITIONED us for His PURPOSES and now wants to RELEASE us with His ANOINTING to see His kingdom come …. right where we live. Wow.

Come with an open mind, a vulnerable spirit, a teachable heart and an “anything is possible” attitude and let’s enjoy Gods presence together.

From little Acorns Mighty Oak Trees grow.

Please accept this little handmade Acorn gift as a constant reminder that you are POSITIONED as a Mighty Oak Tree for GOD’S PURPOSES while here on Earth.

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