Sought Out Q & A Time!

The big day is almost upon us!  We are just about in mid-October and before you know it OCTOBER 23^RD will be here!  We have been getting a lot of questions about what this first meeting will look like and what everyone is to expect, so I thought I would use this blog to answer some of those questions and hopefully give people the information they are looking for! 

Q:        WHEN IS OUR FIRST SOUGHT OUT MEETING? 

A:        Sunday, October 23, 2011 @ 7:00pm

Q:        WHERE IS THE MEETING AT?

A:       Rosehill Community Center

          304 Lincoln Avenue

          Mukilteo, WA 98275

          (425) 263-8180 

          *Mukilteo is about 40 minutes North of Seattle.

Q:        WHAT IS SOUGHT OUT’S HEARTBEAT?

A:             Jesus + nothing.  Bottom line, we want Jesus and that’s about it.  So we’ve purposefully left the canvas blank so He can move how He desires.  That doesn’t mean we don’t have structure and order, but rather we have structure and order that accommodates Him, not the other way around.  Like many of you, we are contending for a radical move of the Spirit in the Northwest region, and whatever part Sought Out plays in that is an honor.  We are a group of people that are passionate for more of Him, pursuing an encounter with His heart and we want to invite you along for the journey. 

Q:        WHAT DOES A SOUGHT OUT MEETING LOOK LIKE?

A:             To be honest, we are not totally sure.  We have a full worship team (who are amazing if I do say so myself).  God has put together an A+ group of people who are consecrated and surrendered to Him.  So, on the actual ministry night we are planning on doing worship and then flowing however the Holy Spirit wants.  That may, but of course is not limited to, prophetic ministry whether that is corporate or personal.  We believe a lot of healings could take place, as well as, the prophetic song being released.  We just want Jesus to move and we know He will because He is faithful to those who call upon His name. 

Q:        WHAT IS PROPHETIC MINISTRY?

A:             The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:3 that the gift of prophecy will edify, encourage and bring comfort.  We believe God thinks an innumerable amount of thoughts about us (Psalm 139:17-18) and it is our honor to share some of them with you.  1 Corinthians 13:9 states, “we know in part, and we prophecy in part”, meaning, only God knows the whole picture.  We do encourage everyone to pray about any prophetic ministry they may receive and make sure it lines up with the Word of God.  Be wise and steadfast, always looking to Him to lead you and know that the prophetic ministry is merely a tool the Lord uses and we are just vessels. 

Q:        WHO LEADS SOUGHT OUT?

A:             Sought out is lead by Herb & Bethany Marks and Christa Pitcairn.  For more information about us, check out our ‘Sought Out Global’ facebook page!

Q:        WHO WILL BE MINISTERING OCTOBER 23^RD?

A:             Herb & Bethany Marks & Christa Pitcairn, as well as a full worship team compiled of amazing lovers of Jesus brought in primarily from around the greater Seattle region. 

Q:        WHY ARE WE NOT MEETING IN A CHURCH?

A:             Our heart is to impact the city and the region around us! We felt that by meeting in secular venue’s some people that would never walk through the doors of a church would feel more comfortable coming to an event located in a business park.  At times we may meet in churches, we are not opposed to it; just at this time this is the direction we feel like the Lord led us in. 

Q:        IS SOUGHT OUT NEW?

A:             No. Sought Out is a ministry that is in relationship with churches, pastors, leaders and Christian organizations since the 1970’s. Our goal is not to be a church.  Our goal is to be a place where people can come and have an encounter with the Holy Spirit, outside of the local church.  We are in full support of the local church and everyone that is involved with Sought Out is based out of a local church where they are actively serving and accountable to leadership.   

Q:        WHAT DENOMINATION IS SOUGHT OUT ASSOCIATED WITH?

A:             We are a non-denominational organization. 

                 We have a lot of denominations represented at our events. 

Q:          IS THERE CHILDCARE AVAILABLE FOR THE OCTOBER 23^RD EVENT?

A:             No, not at this time.  We will consider having childcare for future events. 

                We will keep you posted!

Q:        IS THERE A COST FOR THE OCTOBER 23^RD EVENT? 

A:             Nope! It’s totally free!  We didn’t want money to be an obstacle for anyone J.  During the service we will be receiving one offering to help cover the costs of the event, but no one is under any obligation to give.

Q:        WHO CAN COME?

A:             Anyone!  Invite your friends, family, co-workers! Whoever!  This will be an amazing time in the presence of Jesus, so come one—come all!

Q:        WHERE CAN I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION?

A:         You can check us out at our ‘Sought Out Global’ page on Facebook or you can email us at SoughtOutGlobal@gmail.com with any questions you may have. 

We hope to see you there and please be praying with us in these final days leading up to

our first event!!!



 SOUGHT OUT

- Pursuing God's Presence

- Focused on the next generation

- Encounter a loving God

- Intimate relationship with God – nothing less!

Join us on Sunday, October 23 @ 7pm for a night of incredible

worship and prophetic ministry.

Event details @ Sought Out Global on Facebook.

A Heavenly Encounter

When I think of what Sought Out gatherings are like, I remember the dessert lady. She was a wonderfully, happy lady with rosy cheeks, blue eyes that sparkled when she spoke and an infectious smile! She was our dessert lady at college. I got to know her very well. Yes, I got more desserts, but I got something more that I wasn’t ready for. She had been to heaven and come back. On her hospital deathbed, fighting a deadly disease, our dessert lady died. Her account of being in heaven brought tears to her eyes every time she spoke of it. She was in heaven for two hours (heaven time) when Jesus sent her back to earth. There was a sheet covering her body so she reached up and removed the sheet covering her face and sat up in a room that wasn’t the hospital room she had died in. She didn’t know where she was or how long she had been gone. One thing for certain—this wasn’t heaven! There is more.  Upon leaving heaven, she re-entered her lifeless body and the disease was gone!  She was totally healed!

She was changed by an encounter with Jesus in heaven, our great City. We are citizens of that great City. We are subjects of the King who is ruler over all—His name is Jesus. 

Sought Out gatherings are driven by His Word and His presence. It is a uniquely powerful time as we humbly accommodate His presence. The Scriptures are the base and His presence comes to confirm the Word. Life and freedom are always the result. It’s not emotionalism or hype, but rather a sometimes nervy encounter of His kingdom touching earth. Author C.S. Lewis once wrote in the Chronicles of Narnia, “Aslan (Jesus) is not a tame Lion.” There have been times when Jesus came in ways that made the hair stand up on our neck, but people always left impacted by this powerful touch from heaven.

One day our dessert lady said to me with tears running down her cheeks, “Herb, every day I ask my Lord to help me with my homesickness for heaven.” She had seen Jesus.

Perhaps after the Sought Out Event on October 23^rd, you will have your own encounter with Jesus. That is our prayer.

See you there!

By Herb Marks

 SOUGHT OUT

- Pursuing God's Presence

- Focused on the next generation

- Encounter a loving God

- Intimate relationship with God – nothing less!

Join us on Sunday, October 23 @ 7pm for a night of incredible

worship and prophetic ministry.

Event details @ Sought Out Global on Facebook.

Journey of the Heart - A Letter from Christa Pitcairn

Dear Sought Out Family,

Greetings from Kansas City, Missouri!  Because many of you do not know me personally, I wanted to take the opportunity to share a bit about myself and the journey the Lord has me on.   I thought it would be good to give each of you a glimpse into who I am and share a bit about the journey of my heart. 

Back in July I ended up unexpectedly visiting IHOP (International House of Prayer in Kansas City, MO.)  It was a whirlwind of a trip and I ended up only being able to have 1 hour to bask in the House of Prayer.  During that 1 hour the Lord surprised me by asking me to give Him the month of September.  I heard Him so clearly.  He asked me to give Him that time to consecrate myself and allow Him to establish a House of Prayer in my own personal life (Mark 11).  Without hesitation I said, “Yes.” I didn’t know how it would work out or even how financially I would be able to pull it off.  But, I knew that when He asks you to do something He works out all the details.  He was calling me to obedience and surrender, not to understand and worry about all the ins and outs. 

With an open heart I approached this journey not knowing what to expect, but knowing that it would be difficult, and outside my comfort zone for sure.  Never in my life have I taken an entire month to consecrate myself totally to Him and do nothing else.  No TV, no social life, no distractions.  Just Him and I, 24/7.  It sounded amazing and scary.  It’s been both.  I’ve been on this journey for the past 20 days and as soon as I started this journey the dying process begun.  Day after day the Lord has touched different areas of my heart that He is after.  Things that I didn’t even know were in me have surfaced.  It’s always amazing to me that when you step into light ALL the dirt and dust within us is exposed.  When we step into Him, His light shines into the uttermost depths of who we are going after every crack, every piece of dust in our hearts that contradict the fullness of covenant He has designed for us.   In His ever kindness and gentleness He takes them, one by one, and replaces them with Him. 

Although this journey is not over for me, I hope it never ends because it has been a time of exchanging hearts; He has allowed me to feel what He feels, love what He loves and hate what He hates.  I have cried over the broken and wept for the abandoned, constantly exposing the hardness of my own heart and the softness of His.  As I weep His tears I feel the calluses of my heart began to peel away.  Each day I am here I feel His heart continually being shown to me and I’m getting rocked with the truth that He LOVES us.  Oh my goodness, how He loves us.  I know we hear this over and over, but do you really understand this?  Have you mediated and rested in the truth that He just loves YOU?  Not for what you do, but simply because you are His.  He delights in you, not just you in Him.  He, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Great I AM delights in you.

 It’s an overwhelming concept that wrecks my heart and blows my mind.  It is His loves that undoes me every day.  It’s His love that draws me in and breaks me down.  It is His love that moves me to weep for the things He weeps for.  It’s His love that restores my soul and breathes life into my bones.  It is His love that He gave His only Son to be crucified for me—and for you.  He allowed His Son to be murdered, so you and I could have eternal life, to be blameless before the Father.  The kindness, beauty and love of that sacrifice are beyond comprehension for me. Everyday I am asking for more understanding of the depth and width of His love.  And everyday He undoes my heart that much more, unlocking an unquenchable flood of love, deep and enveloping.  The depth and breath of our Jesus—I stand in awe, humbled in His presence.   The prophet Isaiah says it best:

So I said:

“Woe is me, for I am undone!

Because I am a man of unclean lips,

And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King,

The Lord of hosts.”

~ Isaiah 6:5

My prayer is that all of us take time to meditate daily on who He is and the love He has for us.  Let us not go through this life not understanding His heart for us because it is when we encounter His heart for us that we are truly transformed into laid down lovers, fully surrendered to loving Him with all of who we are. 

As October approaches so does Sought Out’s first meeting October 23^rd.  For those of you planning to attend, I so look forward to connecting more with you and partnering with you in this journey of encountering more of Him and His heart!

Created to Love,

Christa Pitcairn

 SOUGHT OUT

- Pursuing God's Presence

- Focused on the next generation

- Encounter a loving God

- Intimate relationship with God – nothing less!

Join us on Sunday, October 23 @ 7pm.

Event details @ Sought Out Global on Facebook.

Jesus dysfunctional…really?

Jesus had every dysfunctional excuse that we have ever used:

• His mother, Mary, was viewed as immoral woman and a liar because she was pregnant before marriage and claimed to be a virgin.
• Society viewed His stepfather, Joseph, as either the man who got her pregnant or the man who helped Mary by marrying her.
• Jesus was viewed as an illegitimate child.
• His dad and mom left Him when He was 12 and completely forgot about Him for 1 day. He was missing for 3 days. 
• His parents did not attend when Jesus was debating with church leaders.
• They did not understand Him—what was important to Him.
• Satan took advantage of Jesus when He was in a weak place and tempted Him with physical needs, power and worshipping something above God.
• Jesus hung out with people who were viewed badly in society:  thieves, sexual deviants, drunks, corrupt businessmen and prostitutes.
• All of His friends left Him in crisis. (example: when the army arrived to arrest Him)
• He was a single man who never married—a virgin at 33.
• He was accused of breaking church laws.
• His leadership was challenged.
• His knowledge was disputed.
• Jesus was arrested and accused of crimes.
• People gossiped about Jesus and Mary Magdalene’s relationship—she had been a prostitute.
• He was abused by the military.
• He was abused by the government.
• He was abused by church leaders.
• He was rejected in His home town and by His country.
• God, His Father, abandoned Him—Jesus who had done everything to please His Father.

Jesus had to choose His heart condition and His attitude towards God when what God asked Him to do made no sense.  He chose the best way to walk out every situation.  Jesus chose to trust God and run to God in every instance.  He obeyed God.  He faced and wrestled through obedience, costing Him everything valuable in this life.  In the end, He was misunderstood, was tortured and died because He obeyed God.

Unconscionable!  Unbelievable!  But that is not where it ends. 

Jesus was not only reunited with His Father, but was given the highest authority by God.  Because Jesus understands everything that we go through, He is our attorney.  Satan is the prosecutor—our accuser.  Jesus is constantly intermediating before God (the just judge) on our behalf.  You see, because of Jesus’ attitudes and decisions, He was obedient and perfect.  Jesus became the replacement for us before God, for our sins. 

We can have all that God intended for us from the very beginning, the things we were designed for—our core values, identities, purposes, etc.  We just have to get first things first:  get our relationship right with God through Jesus.  Start communicating and learning from another view.  God is the component we need—the missing piece.

Jesus didn’t allow dysfunction in His life as an excuse.   He lived life optimally—not only for Himself, but for all of us as well!  Read the Bible, the writings about God and Jesus, for yourself.   Check for yourself the points I have made about the dysfunction Jesus rose above.  You will find yourself in the pages; you will see situations that correlate to your life today.  I challenge you… J  dig deeper into Jesus.

By Bethany Marks

 SOUGHT OUT

- Pursuing God's Presence

- Focused on the next generation

- Encounter a loving God

- Intimate relationship with God – nothing less!

Join us on Sunday, October 23 @ 7pm.

Event details @ Sought Out Global on Facebook.

RUMBLING & SHAKING

Joel C. Rosenburg stated in his blog a few weeks ago ... 

"In the last few weeks, the U.S. stock markets have tanked. Americans have lost more than $2.3 trillion in personal wealth. Our economy has nearly stalled. Some 14 million Americans are out of work. We may be facing a double-dip recession. Our debt is exploding. And Washington is nearly paralyzed with partisan gridlock, even as Iran is building nuclear weapons, Syria and Libya are slaughtering thousands, Egypt has imploded, and Israel is increasingly threatened. Put it simply: Storm clouds are gathering. The winds are picking up. The tectonic plates beneath us are shifting. America is being shaken. Israel and the Middle East are being shaken. The Church is being shaken. Why? Where are we headed? What is God doing? And what is He asking followers of Jesus Christ to do?"  

On Monday, August 22 we all woke up to the current uprising happening in Libya. Tripoli Square has been over taken by rebels and the people chant “FREEDOM!”  More than ever, we have felt the rumblings and shaking of government structures and economic systems.  Systems that once seemed so strong are now dangling on delicate threads threatening to break at any moment.  Never in history have we faced what we are facing today. 

I think many of you would agree there is a hunger in people we have not seen before.  As the unrest becomes more apparent, so does people’s hunger.  I am convinced, the more the fragile the world becomes the more people’s hearts become awakened to God. I would rather of course have people’s awakening come without the crisis, but my prayer has and always will be, “whatever it takes.”  No way, am I pointing a finger or would even attempt to blame current world events on God.  No, this is the power of free will at its finest.  But, I do believe that God can and will use ALL THINGS FOR GOOD.  So, when things get bad, I look for the good. 

Honestly, everywhere I go right now the Lord is bringing people into my path that need an encounter with Him and His love.  I can feel the pursuit of the Father over His sons and daughters and the flow of releasing His heart over people has never been so easy.  People are more open right now than I’ve ever experienced.  Again and again, with tears streaming down their faces people share with me how they have been praying, for the first time in years, asking God if He is real to reveal Himself.  Then here comes the kindness of the Father showing them how much He loves them, speaking to them on such personal levels, things only He would know.  As they share, my tears flow freely too. 

One of my favorite encounters happened two weeks ago. I was on one of my many flights and as the flight began to prepare for takeoff I begin to do my usual routine.  I got out my head- phones, the book I was reading and just as I was opening up my book the Lord said to me, “Close the book and start a conversation with the girl next to you.”  As I did this, I looked at this beautiful, free spirited young woman sitting next to me.  She was in her early twenties with hair in dread-locks and she carried this essence of adventure about her.  Just as she was about to put in her headphones I asked her the classic travel question, “So, are you coming or going?”  

This simple question led into us talking the entire flight about the Lord.  She, being a new Christian, was on her way to spend a week with her sister and take some time to figure out ‘what in the world did she want to do with her life’.  And here I sat next to her.  What a gift I was being given.  As she and I shared our hearts I began to hear the Lord speak things over her.  Things the Lord was calling her to and how He wired her and the way she approached things was of His design.  In the natural flow of conversation I began to share with her what the Lord had showed me about her.  With tears in her eyes she said what I had just shared were the answers to the things she had just been praying about. I know, right there on that plane, this girl fully searching for her purpose, just encountered God.  Her life can never be the same.  When we are led by His spirit the course of one’s history can be changed.   I know on that day, this young girl’s life was being re-written by Him. 

So, I say let the world shake! Let the rumblings take place!  Hearts are being opened and you and I are alive for this time, for this place!  Open your eyes and look around you and share His heart! People are hungry and people are searching and we have the answer—JESUS!  In all this instability people are looking for security.  The only security we have is Jesus Christ.  Share that with someone today. 

By Christa Pitcairn

SOUGHT OUT

- Pursuing God's Presence

- Focused on the next generation

- Encounter a loving God

- Intimate relationship with God – nothing less!

Join us on Sunday, October 23 @ 7pm.

Event details @ Sought Out Global on Facebook.

GOD?

Have you ever doubted that there was a God?  Thought that if He did exist that He was uncaring and detached?  Tried to balance what you know about Him to what you have experienced and came up short?

Except for the existing portion of the questions, have you ever thought the very same thing about your parents, your best friend or your partner?

Wrestling it through with God, with any relationship, is a journey not a destination.  We are always growing, hopefully maturing J, and change is one thing that is a sure thing. Relationship is such a complex thing, layered, multi-faceted, and so rewarding!

So let’s look at intimacy - into me see.  Hmmm…perhaps, I am the most uncomfortable with that, right there.  God does not change.  I do.  Looking at the changes in myself takes time and requires focus and it is always on purpose.  Having someone else look into me is vulnerable, a risk—most likely a calculated risk.  But, having perfection look into me and see everything!  There it is—“RUN FOR THE HILLS!”

Is it that God does not exist and is not good, or is that we are to afraid to find out the answer?   I believe that we all ask questions we don’t take the time to work all the way to the end.  So, let’s look at it.  God—so big I can’t take it in.  

Perhaps He does exist and He is a good God.  He may be beyond anything I could ask or even think.  There may be a perfect place He is getting ready for us, heaven.  A place that is without pain, without darkness, no need to sleep, where music is the air, where there is no death and perfect flowers’ faces all look at you as you walk by.  A place where I could walk into a body of water and be in a completely different gorgeous, underwater world, breathing, or I could fly—just think “fly,” be soaring and look down from that perspective.

You see, I think it comes down to God.  
Face to face  
Being unconditionally loved, valued and pursued  
Fabulously, releasing me to be all that is core me  

God.  
Beauty personified  

Completely out of our “box thinking”
What I know and SO much more!

I encourage you to communicate—pursue relationship with God.  How else can you know for sure?   Ask God… anything!  I think we are better listeners than we think and that God is able to (amazingly!) talk in a way that we can grasp.  Put the weight on Him to get to you, instead of the other way around.  If He is God, He is big enough! J

If you have started relationship with God, let this challenge take you to a deeper “into-me-see” level with Him.  When was the last time you talked with Him about all of the beautiful greens or textures He thought into being, shared your exciting moment with Him or your deepest fear?   There are levels in relationship building.  It is easiest to talk about tasks, but going to my ideas and then my feelings, is going to deeper levels.  They bring that rich, fulfilling “into-me-see.”  Don’t run.  Stay!  Take some time to wrestle.  I am challenging myself to ardent closeness with God.

I believe taking this step is essential.  Core self with The Source—God Himself.  Hmmm…Risky, isn’t it?

By Bethany Marks

SOUGHT OUT

- Pursuing God's Presence

- Focused on the next generation

- Encounter a loving God

- Intimate relationship with God – nothing less!

Join us on Sunday, October 23 @ 7pm.

Event details @ Sought Out Global on Facebook.

Passionate Pursuit!

Here is an amazing invitation!  Try wrapping your mind around it.  Engaging its promise will change you.

“Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know -- do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand.”  (Jeremiah 33:3 Amplified Bible)

My son, Deryck, and I went go-carting.  You have a seat, steering wheel, four miniature wheels and a lawnmower engine -- on steroids!  We went fast!  I thought I had turned pro in no time, sliding around the corners with the wind in my face.  Until, that is, the really good guys passed me up.  These guys were passionately pursuing speed!  I tried everything in my short experience to catch them.  They left me humbled in their dust and exhaust.  I was reminded that passionate pursuit occurs because of consistent effort, patience and never giving up.

When the scripture reads, “Call to me,” it is not a single or a once-in-a-while pursuit.  It is pursuit until He speaks.  Our Father deeply enjoys our pursuing Him.  And notice this!  The scripture becomes more meaningful to us because He promises to answer if we call.  God cannot lie nor fail.  He longs to answer our call.  His delay in answering prepares our hearts to listen, receive and carry out what He tells us to do.

The "dust and exhaust" of our pursuit of God disillusions many people.  A half-hearted effort reveals our condition of anemic faith and trust.  The end result is shallowness that dulls the warning siren of the Holy Spirit.  He cries out for us to shake off this satisfaction of merely existing without hearing His voice and feeling His breath on our souls.

When God speaks to our inner hearts, we have to respond.  Often, we are surprised to learn that our condition before God is lethargic obedience.  We don't want to give ourselves permission to pursue God with abandonment.  Putting it simply, we don't want to obey.  Our obedience is a measurement of our intimate relationship to God.

Lord, awaken our hearts to love you with obedience, because you long to show great and mighty things we do not know.

By Herb Marks