Our Guest: Joanne White
Joanne White traveled on a small team to Mongolia on a prayer journey some years ago. God has also taken her other places to minister and help believers grow in their faith. After raising a family, God opened the door for Jo to fulfill a dream of pursuing art, which has unexpectedly become more than a hobby. Joanne is a wife, mother, grandmother, budding artist, and most of all, a lover of God.
Key Thoughts and Scriptures:
1 Peter 2:9 NLT But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Ephesians 4:16 NLT He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
- If people don’t encounter God in a real way, they lose interest.
- Jo’s husband, Don, had an encounter with God, but he didn’t know what to do with it until he was presented with the plan of salvation.
- God was speaking to him and said, “This is what I’ve always wanted you to do.”
Acts 16:30-31 NLT Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
- This time it was about knowing God and having a relationship with Him.
Jo’s Encounter with the Holy Spirit
- “You need to have that knowledge and influence from the Holy Spirit of knowing how to deal with them.”
- Through Jo’s encounter with the Holy Spirit, she received the spiritual gifts that He had for her. Those gifts empowered her for the special work God had in store.
1 Corinthians 12:4-12 NIV There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
- God gives us wonderful spiritual gifts for the common good and He wants us to use them.
- Jo and her husband found a safe place to learn and make mistakes. Because when correction came, it wasn’t condemnation, it was done in love.
Growing in Christ
- Forgiveness frees you from the bondage that Satan tries to hold you in.
- God restored the personality and character of who He created Jo to be.
- They were called to encourage the body of Christ to hear God’s voice and to use the giftings that He had given them.
- Talk to God and listen to Him because He really loves you and wants you to know Him. And He has a purpose for us.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- God uses you in your day to day life.
- If you have a desire to reach out to people in a certain way, then begin doing it, and ask Him how to get started.
- A lot of ministry comes out of your passions.
- He wants you seeking Him and His will first. And as you listen to Him, He will show you the way to go.
- You can say no to God, but that’s not going to work if you want to obey Him.
- With all that Jesus went through in this life, He still loved.
- You can continue to learn and grow in Christ at any age.
- Your relationship with God is unique to how He designed you.
- When her daughter died, Jo knew the importance of guarding her heart with the Lord so she did not become bitter.
- The joy of the Lord and worshiping Him is very important.
- Dancing before the Lord is one of the most beautiful worships that we can give the Lord.
Anna’s Story
Luke 2:36-38 ESV And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
- When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, Anna recognized Him for who He was.
- Jo feels her calling is to help people recognize Jesus.
- Anna proclaimed Him as the Savior.
- Jesus came because God loves us and He delights in bringing us joy and good gifts.
Luke 11:11-13 NIV “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
- The Holy Spirit is with us to guide us, to help us understand, to empower us, and to give us gifts so we can fulfill the special work God calls us to do.
James 1:27 NLT Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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