2023 Women's Conference with Lisa Hughes Session 4 Q&A | Special Event

Abraham’s Unwavering Faith and the Righteous Who Fall

We have a few questions here, okay. One of the questions was how can we reconcile Abraham's unwavering faith with his decision to listen to Sarah and go into her maid to obtain an heir.

Somebody's going to have to bring them to you. Well, I think, yeah, I've got my thing, I'm doing good. So the reconciliation is really the word of God itself. So God's word says that he didn't waver. God's word calls him a righteous man.

But what do we know about the righteous? The righteous man falls seven times, but he rises again because it's the Lord who holds his hand. So it's not a perfect man. He's a righteous man because he puts his faith and trust in the Lord.

So did Abraham blow it? Yes. I mean, that was not a good deal. And I have another session on that one. But it's, so how do we reconcile that? Well, he's just like us. Are you, according to the scriptures, you are called a saint, a righteous one.

You are called the holy one. You are also called the afflicted, the humble. So we're all of those things. But when we put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, we become new creatures. And we are made new.

And Abraham trusted God. And he put his faith and trust in the Lord. And he didn't do it perfectly, but his hope was in the Lord. So I think that's probably the best answer, really. Please repeat the quote from Ron Blue.

It was the one in Habakkuk, and it's actually in your notes. So it's in your notes. There's a footnote, bottom of the first page.

Okay.

God’s Sovereignty and the Point of Worry

So then somebody said, could you please repeat the quote that your husband said? So it's the one, if God isn't sovereign, then what is the point of living? If God is sovereign, then what is the point of worrying?

Do you want me to say it again, or is that good? If God isn't sovereign, then what's the point of living? If God is sovereign, then what is the point of worrying?

Okay.

Titus 2, the Woman’s Calling, and the Testimony of Conversion

What else about your available book?

My available book. Well, I've only written two yet. I'm working on a third. So I have two books. I thought I sent ahead my other book too, but I forgot, I guess. I don't know what I was thinking when I put those together.

Is that one of the books?

Yes.

So it's called God's Priorities for Today's Woman. And it is on Titus 2, 3 through 5. So it is all about, and I started it because it was the prayer of my heart. Lord, how can I please you today? What do I need to know?

What are the bottom line things that I know are going to be pleasing to the Lord that I can accomplish? In Titus 2, 3 through 5 are our marching orders from the Lord. And so it is written in the same format as Unmet Expectations in that there's a chapter and then there's Bible study questions.

So I always try to have those in everything that I do just because I want it to be a discipleship, counseling, ministry, work through kind of resource for you. So that's the first book. And then Unmet Expectations is here.

So you can get that. And it's also available on audio now. It just came out this last week on audio. So you can also listen to it, which is pretty fun, especially if you, like my little mommy, have old eyes and she can't.

The font's smaller in Unmet Expectations. And then my testimony. So I didn't grow up in a Christian home. Neither Jack nor I did. So we didn't know anything. My family was the family that goes to church on Christmas and Easter.

And so that was enough, though, even for me to gain an understanding of God. I had a very strong sense that God was big and powerful and that he was holy, that he was the creator. And that he had a son.

And that son came to earth and he died on the cross for sins. I wasn't quite sure how that all affected me. But I knew I did have sin. And I knew there were people who got to go to heaven. And I knew that I was not one of them.

So I picked all that up from Christmas and Easter, which was good. But, you know, we didn't go to church. But I had a desire for knowing the Lord. But I also had a strong desire to keep sinning. And so there was a lot of this back and forth stuff.

And I think actually what God was doing is through his spirit. He was quickening my spirit, drawing me near to him, and then I would reject him. And that was all through my growing up years, from about basically age 10 on up to age 18.

And so I had started college and had entered into college. And the Lord just kind of threw me into a tailspin, all because of consequences of my own sin. So in my teen years, the Lord was really faithful to, because I had such a strong sense of sin, then my conscience would go off whenever I would sin.

Not necessarily like super great, because I was an unbeliever. So, you know, I was still plenty naughty on my own. But there were certain sins that I kind of felt like were the line. And when I would cross the line, my conscience would go off.

And at one point in my teen years, I felt like I was frustrated with the Lord, because I would draw near to him and I would try to be good enough so he would let me into heaven. And I would try to do all the stuff that I thought would please him so that I could go to heaven.

But then I couldn't ever maintain that. I couldn't do it, because I was doing it on my own. It was all my own works. And so I would fade away. And so that back and forth thing, I began to get frustrated with God.

And I remember praying to him and telling him, I have been coming to you and I have prayed and you haven't done anything. You have not changed my life. And so I want you to quit making me feel guilty about my sin.

I should have just lightning bolt right then. I am still amazed at how patient he was with me on that. But he did remove the conviction. And so then I was able to sin with impunity and experience the consequences of that sin.

Went into a tailspin, all related to a boy, of course. But really, just from that point, just began to make unwise choices in my life. And I had just started at Boise State University. I was driving home after work one evening and planning and plotting all kinds of little nefarious things.

And just the conviction from the Holy Spirit came upon me so mightily that I said out loud in my car, you are going to ruin your life unless you turn to the Lord. Then I almost looked around to see like, is somebody else telling me that?

But it was just the Lord. And so he just kept drawing me to himself. But I didn't know what to read. We had one Bible in the house, and it was like the living translation, you know. And it was tucked away, and it had dust on it.

But I went and got it, and I didn't even know where to read. And I thought I'd start at the beginning, and then I realized I don't think that's where Jesus is. And so I knew Jesus is in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

So I just read those, the Gospels, over and over again. But what I was looking for was for Jesus to say, if you want to get to heaven, kneel down. Then bow your head, close your eyes, and say, and then you will be saved.

But Jesus didn't say that. What he kept saying was, if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it. And my sheep follow me. And as I kept reading those Gospels over and over and over again, God began to help me see that I had been trying to follow Jesus my way.

And that I was trying to still keep my life. I wanted to follow the Lord, but I wanted it on my own terms. And I began to just see, Lord, I have to give up everything if you are going to be my God. And at that point, the only church that we were going to at that point was, by that point, when I was 18, was this charismatic church.

Which I kind of, I would go, and I kind of did not think that it was a good church. In fact, I knew it wasn't necessarily a good church, but it was the only church I knew to go to. And my parents were going to it as unbelievers also.

But they had banners on the side. And so there was John 8, 32 that was on the banner. And it said, you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free. And so I didn't listen to all the mumbo-jumbo that was going out there.

But I could fasten my eyes on John 8, 32. And so I knew the Lord has the answers, and he has the answer to setting my heart free. I was stuck in my sin, and I didn't know how to get rid of it. So I just began to pray, Lord, I am going to become a Christian on January, and I think I chose a date.

In fact, I know I chose a date, I just can't remember the day. But I was afraid that if I didn't choose a day, that I would do what I had done my whole life, back and forth, back and forth. And I wanted this time to be different, because I had been praying, Lord, if you are real, you've got to change my life.

I cannot live any longer away from you. And so I began to, I was reading my Bible, I was trying to do everything I could do on the outside, so God would know I was serious. So, you know, I was trying to keep my temper, I tried to quit swearing, you know, all the things.

I broke up with the boyfriend, you know, everything I could think of that I thought, this will please the Lord. So he will know that I'm serious, and he will save me. And during that time, so I was praying, then I chose the day, and I just began to pray, Lord, on this day, I'm going to become a Christian, you've got to get ready, save me.

I didn't know what, I didn't even understand, I was so lost in such blindness. But God used that time as a period of about almost a month and a half, two months, where God used that to winnow my motives, to help me come to terms with my sin, to repent of my sin.

And actually, I was in church the Sunday before my due date, when they had altar calls at this charismatic church. So I got up out of my chair and went forward. And I remember, I'm sitting next to my dad, my dad's like, what are you doing?

And I felt like I had to go forward, just so God would know that I was serious. I knew that going forward was not that, that wasn't what was going to save me. It was just that I wanted him to know that I was willing to go in front of all of these people that were doing crazy things, that I had no idea, and I didn't even want to associate with them.

But if it meant that I could know the Lord, I was willing to check my brains at the door, if I could know him. And that's where I needed to get to, I needed my heart to be humbled, so that I would follow the Lord.

So then, then I still didn't know, I didn't feel different. And, and so I didn't know, well, is my life different? And it was three days later. So I went through three days of just despair. He, my life has been different and he didn't, it's just the same.

And there was such fear that I would not be rescued from my sin. And in that three days, I didn't read my Bible like I had been reading it. And so on the third day, I went and I read it and it was alive.

It was different. And it was then that I knew that my life would never be the same ever again. And so the Lord is just so gracious to little babies who don't know anything. And then he protected me. All of a sudden I remembered, oh, I actually know a Christian.

I didn't know any Christians, but then I remembered I've met a Christian. So I went and told this gal where I knew where she worked. I just became a Christian. I don't know what to do. And so she said, well, we're going to go to this conference where Josh McDowell is going to be talking about evidence that demands a verdict.

Would you like to go?

It's like, sure.

And from there, I just got trained in how to have quiet time, spent time with the Lord, to grow in grace.

And the Lord is really gracious. He helps us.

Yeah.

And then I met my sweetie about three years later, and there it goes. Oh, this one. How has my day been going? I love this question. My day has been going great because of you all. And just being able to, this is the best fellowship, isn't it?

Where we get to spend time in the Word, in prayer, talking about stuff that's real. I don't mind talking about wallpaper. But if you give me my druthers, what I want to know is how are you doing in the Lord?

Let's just talk about the Lord. Getting over our sin. All of these things that are real. This is true Christian fellowship that happens here in these real conversations. And they need to happen more. They need to happen in Bible study.

And it is hard to have them in the foyer. But sometimes we even need to just jump in there if that's all we have time for. So, you know, any way that I can be praying for you. Or, you know, we kind of kid around with at church about, so, how are you struggling?

You know, what struggles have you been having today? But isn't that what true sisters in the Lord do? You know, how have you been struggling today? Which goes on the assumption that we all have had struggles today.

And then we're going to share them with one another. And then we're going to put our arms around each other. And let's pray together. Or encourage each other. Or do you know, I was just reading in my quiet time today.

And this verse I think would be perfect to encourage your heart. So, yeah, how's my day going? It's been great. I just love being able to be with you all. It's been really wonderful watching you. You know, you think that you've been watching me.

But no. And, you know, for me, I always get teary at this part. But when I am with you, you know, I only come for a little bit. And you think, oh, you know, you forget about me. But I don't forget about you.

And so I take you home with me. And I think of you. And I pray for you. And you are in my heart until the Lord allows me to see you again. Whether that's in heaven or. I am a marshmallow.

I know.

Yeah, so anyway, here we go. I'm done.

Closing Thanks, Retreat Announcements, and Prayer Requests

Okay, yeah, leave.

Thank you so much, Lisa. I said I was not going to cry. And then you got me going. Anyway, just a few little announcements I have to make. First of all, I'd like to thank Katie and Emily for their music.

The worship music was phenomenal. Thank you so much. And for Dave and Elizabeth Grzeski, the food was amazing. They worked very hard. They were here all day yesterday, very early this morning. And it was wonderful.

And also for our ladies ministry team who worked really hard on doing this. We've been preparing this for months.

Well, for a year, actually.

So it's been a blessing just to work with everybody and have everything come together. It's just been a blessing for each of you. Also, be sure you fill out the surveys that are at your table or they're in your packet.

They're in your packet. So be sure you fill those out and put them in the basket at the back. That's important. Linda, do you have a total?

Almost.

Okay.

Okay.

I'll then make this announcement then. Next year, we're doing this kind of every other year because I think it's hard for some people. But next year, we are going to have an overnight retreat at Camp Luther Haven.

Don't know for sure who our speaker is going to be. If Susan Heck is available, we will have her. It's kind of tentative right now, so I don't know. We're hoping someday Lisa can come back. We would love to have you back, too.

So we'll announce that. And I think what we're going to do because I know there's a lot of ladies here or not ladies, people with children that can't stay overnight and that's hard for them. So we are going to start doing this now every other year.

Some ladies do like to get away and have a fun time, too. So we're going to just do it every other year. So next year, we'll be at Camp Luther Haven. The year after, we'll be here. So just so you know.

Somebody needs to be over there helping Linda.

Okay.

I'll just do this next.

Okay.

We also have a gift for Lisa. You can just come to the bottom of the stairs. Thank you very much. Thank you for all you did. It was a blessing.

Pardon? Oh.

How can we pray for Lisa as she's on the road?

Oh, I'm on. I've got this. He's got me on. Thank you. That's so kind. Thank you for those of you who want to pray or are able to think of me or whatever. If you would pray just for just refreshment in my own spirit.

It is hard to be away from my sweetie. And it is hard, especially time changes and different kinds of things. And then I miss my own little lovelies from Anchor Bible Church and so all of those kinds of things.

It's hard to be away. But I love being away because I get to be with fun new friends. So you can just pray for refreshment in my spirit. And just that the Lord would continue to just magnify his word through just using what we put, you know, what God has laid on my heart to teach.

And just for just really that my body would keep up and that I wouldn't get sick. I do feel a great responsibility to come and be as well as I can be if the Lord will allow that for me. So I, you know, if you can pray for those things, that would be great.

But I have picked up while we're still waiting. So it's been over 10, 12 years ago. My husband was preaching at a church and this man came to, he met us in the parking lot. And he just said, I am committing to pray for you.

And he just said, okay, you know. But then once a month for the last almost 12 years, my husband gets a text from this man that is this amazing scripture filled text that goes on and on and on full of just how he prays for my husband.

And in the last 12 years, that text string has just grown to, I mean, we all gather around. My husband sends it out to the elders and deacons. We're all blessed by it. But we read it out loud. We cry through them because they are such an encouragement to us.

But just this man's testimony of his faithfulness for that for 12 years, once a month, he sets aside time to just pray for my husband. This man, we've never spent time with us. You know, he's never spent time with us.

He's just committed to doing that. And one little lady at a church recently committed to praying for me every Thursday for a year. And so every Thursday morning since then, she sends me a text telling me what she's been praying for me.

And it's huge and so encouraging to be prayed for. And you don't have to pray for me. But pray for your pastor. Pray for those who are ministering God's word because it is hard. But it's also a huge privilege.

And there is much shoring up that needs to happen. So, yeah, thank you. What book am I working on? So I'm working on my next book, which I, you know, I hesitate to say too much because it's still work, you know, in the beginning.

In the beginning. It's basically on that you're not a victim, that you're not stuck or hindered or thwarted. Because when we are in Christ, we've been given every resource from the Lord. So it's that idea that sometimes we feel like, well, I can't help it.

I'm just an introvert. Or I can't. It was just how I was raised. Or I'm Irish. Or, you know, I'm the youngest. Or I'm the oldest. Or all those kinds of excuses that we kind of give ourselves. Or it's my emotions.

I'm, you know, I'm postpartum. Or, you know, we have our hormones. We have our emotions. We have our circumstances. We have our history. We have the tragedies of our past. All those kinds of things. But we're not victims of those things.

Those have all been tools that God uses. So it's just kind of taking what unmet expectations is, and then it's going to the next level. Actually, you could pray for this. I'm pretty nervous about it. Because I think there are churches, women in churches, that have received good teaching.

That's great. But the general populace out there is not going to know what to do with it. And I think there's going to be backlash. But I think it is important. Because it is honoring to the Lord that we recognize he changes us.

That when we come to know the Lord Jesus as Savior, we are new creatures in Christ. We are not the same. And he gives us what we need to grow and change in him. So, yeah, if you want to pray for that, that would be great.

Besides the fact that I don't know when I'm going to even get time to write it.

One last thing, too. I'd like to also thank Peter Hammond for being here all day long. All of a sudden he disappears. This is being recorded. It's being streamed. If you have friends that weren't able to be here, you know people that couldn't be here.

Anyway, it will be put up online, correct, Peter?

Right.

On YouTube.

Okay.

Anyway, it will be on YouTube channel. So you can get it there if you want to read this.

Okay.

Do we have a total? $600 for our auction.

Thank you.

That will help our scholarships for next year and from other expenses, too. So thank you.

Okay.

I'm just going to close in prayer right now. And then we'll be dismissed. Lord, we just want to thank you for bringing us true through God's word. We pray that we can take the things that we've learned today and to apply them to our lives.

It doesn't do us any good to sit here and listen to all these wonderful things if we don't take it home. Study your word. Meditate on your word. And apply it. And so we just pray that you will just give us the strength and the wisdom to do that.

Grateful for Lisa as she prepared these messages for us, even as she changed this last message. That was of the Lord because he knew that's what we needed. And so we thank you for that. We pray that we can all glorify the Lord with our lives.

And we just thank him for his grace and his mercy on all of us. And we just thank you and praise you. In Jesus' name. Amen. We're dismissed. Oh, don't forget to go pay for your stuff and pick up your things that you want.