Hunger

Dictionary.com defines hunger as follows:

hun·ger

/ˈhʌŋgər/ Show Spellenoun

1. a compelling need or desire for food.

2. the painful sensation or state of weakness caused by the need of food: to collapse from hunger. 

3. a shortage of food; famine.

4. a strong or compelling desire or craving: hunger for power. 

 

verb (used without object)

5. to feel hunger; be hungry.

6. to have a strong desire.

 

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God's Word shows us something powerful about the word 'hunger.'

 

Matthew 5:6

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled."

 

John 6:35

"And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."

 

My spirit is stirred to simply share, and maybe stir up, a hunger within you for more of the things of God. Jesus Himself said that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. Jesus is that Bread that our entire being longs for, hungers for.

 

I think of a sinner being born again; a person longing for renewal, cleansing...there is a hunger within that sinner to be accepted, to realize their purpose, to be forgiven. That hunger and thirst drives them to seek and find. Once that hungry person is found at the Table of the Lord they find the Bread of Life that trumps everything the world and it's sensual system has to offer.

 

And yes, a person can be filled (fed up) with good things and bad things; good and evil; righteousness and wickedness; wisdom and foolishness. Check out some of these Proverbs of how one can 'be filled.'

 

Proverbs 1:31

"Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies."

Proverbs 12:21

"No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil."

Proverbs 14:14

"The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above."

Proverbs 18:20

"A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled."

 

Those are some strong and straight forward verses on how one can be filled. What kind of hunger do we have today? Is it a hunger for righteousness or wickedness? I know this is another message entirely but are we so confused as to call the wicked things we are doing righteous and the righteous things we can do, wicked? Something to ponder on but back to hunger. I also see in the book of Luke where more leaders in The Church were selected and one of the pre-requisites was to 'be filled.'

 

Luke 1:15

"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb."

 

There are only 2 pre-requisites for someone to receive the precious Gift of the Holy Spirit and be filled. 1. You must be a born-again, blood bought believer; for the Gift of God's Spirit is for the believer only. 2. You must have HUNGER!

 

You must hunger after God's presence and resist the enemy.

You must thirst for His righteousness and desire to put on Christ.

You must hunger for HIM!

 

Don't take my word for it but God's Word. Read the verses above again and let it stir you up. I'm not writing this blog today to write some deep church doctrine or even to tip over your religious cow. I'm simply a passionate follower of Jesus who wants to be more like his Savior and Lord; doing the will and work of the Father. And I just want to encourage you to do the same.

 

Our God is so faithful and true. He promises that those who hunger for Him, for His righteousness, for His Spirit...WILL BE FILLED! And we won't want anything else!

 

HUNGER FOR JESUS!  

 

On the day my grandmother passed away...

On the day my grandmother passed away a series of unusual, exciting, and frightening events happened. It was as if heaven came rushing down to earth to capture my grandmother's spirit with great anticipation and great fury, all at the same time. Let me explain.

I've been thinking about this since that somber day on November 17th, 2013. My family was awaiting the moment when my Grandma Hazel Carson (my mother's mom) would breathe her last on earth and open her eyes in the eternal presence of Almighty God. It wasn't a day we were looking forward to but we all were bracing for the impact.

It was a Sunday.
Of all days of the week, it was a Sunday that this bitter-sweet moment for Grandma came. But let me add some details to this sweet story.

10:00am
It was a Sunday morning at Victory Christian Center. The worship was deep and the Lord was so ministered to by the love of His people that He manifest His love and presence in the service so sweetly; moving us, stirring us, changing us. After the worship came the usual video announcements in which water baptism was promoted. Directly after that, Pastor Ed (my father) took to the platform to preach.

11:00-11:30am
As I walked backstage, through the offices, and then into the lobby to make my way into the sanctuary to sit and hear the message, I was stopped by another Pastor with a first-time guest to Victory. This guest needed information on being baptized and dedicating his children.

Walking to the Information Center we began talking about his requests. After handing him a small card to fill out to be baptized something amazing happened. It was a 'suddenly' moment, a you-better-be-ready-to-witness moment! On the baptism card there is an important question we all must answer genuinely and with conviction: Are you saved?   Yes or No. (At Victory, we believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone; that we are saved by grace through faith. Full immersion water baptism is a next step in walking in obedience and relationship with Christ. Salvation comes first.)

After I asked this young man this vital, pivotal, eternal question he asked, "What does saved mean?"
I knew right then and there that we needed to have a conversation. I was excited to have this opportunity. We immediately found a couple chairs in the lobby to sit and talk. I shared the Gospel with this young man and 20 to 25 minutes later, with tears filling his eyes, truth convicting his heart, and a deep sense of hope stirring...he was born again right there in the lobby. Wow!

Check this out.

11:30am-Noon
At the same time I was witnessing to this young man in the lobby, Pastor Ed was in the sanctuary preaching about...HOPE! Yet again, the amazing ways of God taking place. While Pastor Ed is preaching on HOPE to the congregation, someone is being born-again in the lobby.

One very funny and happy note. At the same time I'm witnessing in the lobby, our conversation paused for a moment as ushers wheeled out one of the pregnant mothers in the church...she went into labor. Haha! What a Sunday! And it's not over.

Let's recap. I'm witnessing in the lobby, Pastor Ed is preaching on HOPE in the sanctuary, and the a pregnant mother is being wheeled out to deliver; and then we get word that a TORNADO is destroying homes only 45 minutes West of Bloomington where Victory is located. (I noticed our ushers and security team outside looking for signs of swirling clouds while this young man and I talked.)

Let's skip forward a little bit. This young man was born-again in the lobby and we exchanged contact information. As a Pastor of Victory, I started getting other leaders and members coming to me with concerns about the weather. It was a frightening situation that did need some guidance and caution. We didn't need 300 people running crazy from the building to their cars.

With a hand written note that 'a tornado touched down in Washington, IL' I approached the platform where Pastor Ed was preaching and placed it on his notes and Bible and walked away; trying note to seem to obvious and stir up any attention. Pastor Ed read the note...and went on preaching. Knowing my dad, I just smiled and laughed a little. After a couple minutes, he read the note aloud, rebuked the storm, (some humor occurred when he threw the note and it spun in the air and landed right back on his notes and pulpit,) and then he finished his message and dismissed the people.

Here's the next part of this amazing Sunday.

During all of this...my grandmother took her last breath and saw Jesus face to face. Shortly after the service concluded and we were greeting the people, someone came up to me with word that my grandmother has passed away. My family gathered our coats and things and left to head for grandma's house. It was so windy and storming so strong outside that at one time we had to move people from the lobby to the sanctuary; cautious of what was behind the wind and blowing in it. The storm broke in time for us to leave, thankfully. We had to get to grandma's house. Our last goodbyes needed to be shared.

Why am I sharing all of this with you? Why is all of this significant?

Let me recap once more.
1. Deep worship, praise and thanks lifted to God
2. A sinner became a saint; a sinner was born-again, forgiven
3. A mother went into labor
4. A tornado was ripping apart a community
5. Grandma went to be with Jesus
6. Hope is preached to the people

God is here. We must worship Him, give Him thanks NO MATTER what! We must be ready to witness, to share the Gospel and lead someone into salvation. New life happens even in death! God is here. I've heard it said that the 'faith of the people' is what saved many people in Washington, IL because they were at CHURCH services when the tornado hit! (I am not saying God caused this tornado, just like I don't believe God gave my grandma liver cancer!) Yes, lives were lost and homes were destroyed but in the midst of it all...GOD IS HERE!

Don't you see? HOPE. Those who have Jesus Christ, have hope! My Grandma Carson died from liver cancer. It was a painful, debilitating battle she WON because she had hope. Cancer didn't win, GRANDMA WON! She served the Lord faithfully. She loved Him faithfully. She taught her family to do that same. HOPE!

If you are saved, you are NOT WITHOUT HOPE! If you do not have Christ as your Savior, you do not have hope. Let this challenge you to the core right now. Call on Jesus! Call on Him right now. Stop reading this and begin to call on Him. Save me! Rescue me! Deliver me! Forgive me!

There is so much more that I could say and share regarding that unusual day but I will refrain and close with a prayer to settle this truth of HOPE in our hearts.

"Lord Jesus, You are the Messiah, Savior and King we have hoped and waited for. Jesus, we are in desperate need of You. We need Your forgiveness and grace to be poured out upon us. We are desperately lost and hopelessly undone without You. Save us. Redeem us. We call on Your Name Jesus to make us Your own, to redeem us back to the Father. We need Your hope. We need Your grace. Please wash us, cleanse us, forgive us for the wickedness that we have partaken in. Forgive us for being friendly with the world. We deny ourselves, take up our cross with You Jesus, and choose this day to serve the Lord. We want to be ready to meet You face to face; whether that day comes when we breathe our last breath or a tornado comes calling, we want to be ready. Father, surround us and call our names. Fill us with Your Spirit and make in us new creations. We are Yours forever."

Rest in Hope. Rest in Grace. You are loved.

"Father, give me a hunger for Your Holy Spirit." (Part 1)

We need the Holy Spirit desperately. We have forgotten His purpose and power. We have pushed Him to the side to depend on our own strength, talents, and gifts. All while the world is dying, without hope, and lost. We need the Holy Spirit to revive us, fill us, empower us, and teach us.

Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit is just like JESUS! The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, Helper, Teacher, Empowerer, and Convincer.

John 14:16-17 (NKJV)
¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:18 really sums up the heart of the Father here..."I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."

Wow! Thank You Jesus! Jesus was comforting the disciples that He wasn't going to leave them high and dry. He wasn't going to leave them feeling abandoned or drowning in the deep end...He was sending His Spirit to remind them of everything He taught and did, and to empower them to do even greater things! (John 1:50)

John 14:26 (NKJV)
²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

I truly appreciate what Pastor Jack Hayford says about the Holy Spirit being our Teacher. He says, "As a teacher, the Holy Spirit's help is not so much an academic process as one of inward instruction. He teaches us what to do and say at the important times. He helps us keep our life - our conduct and our standards - in accordance with what Jesus wants and what the Bible says." (Jack Hayford; Spirit-Filled: The Overflowing Power of the Holy Spirit; page 35.)

Yes and amen! The Holy Spirit is our Teacher to lead us on the right path, right in Jesus' footprints. He is not a crutch to lean on but a Comforter to be dependent on. I'll say something a little radical here. Why don't we just allow God to POSSESS us with His Spirit? Give Him free-will and control in our lives! I'm serious. I want God to own me, possess me, seal His Name upon my heart. Yes, I am saved by grace through faith so therefore my Name is written on His Hand and I am His. But I want it to continually go deeper. Down to every motive, emotion, thought, and breath of my lungs!

This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. He fills us.

I realize I could be rustling some religious feathers or pushing over some religious cows but listen, we NEED the Holy Spirit to fill and empower us.

We can't fully realize His Kingdom without being filled.
We can't fully witness for Christ without being filled.
We can't fully worship Jesus without being filled.
We need to be filled up, baptized in, and overflowing with the Holy Spirit.
Let me stir the hunger for the Holy Spirit a little more.

Acts 2:38-39 (NKJV)
³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Check this out. The prelude to versus 38 & 39 are of the disciples, and those praying in the Upper Room, being filled with the Holy Spirit. Thousands of people gather to see what the commotion is all about, and they hear the miracle of tongues of fire, and the Gospel being preached by Peter. Those listening to the message ask, 'how then can we be saved?'

Filled with power now from the Holy Spirit (and with more boldness and confidence than ever before) Peter declares to them verses 38 & 39. Not only are these verses revealing the way to be saved and forgiven...but also to be totally transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Here it is: Repent (John 3:3), be Baptized (Matthew 28:18-19), and Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

I can't agree with you more that the Holy Spirit is with every believer to stir up a hunger for more of God, and to convict and guide us. But the real question is, is every believer FILLED with the Holy Spirit? I'm not trying to paint a picture for you as to what this looks like. Your denominational background or doctrinal preference may be in opposition to this belief. But let me challenge all of us with a simple prayer to pray...

"Father, give me a hunger for Your Holy Spirit."

You can't argue with the fact that with the Holy Spirit we can testify and witness more effectively to the world of Jesus Christ; we can heal the sick, raise the dead, give sight to the blind. We can grow closer to the Father and fully worship Him. We can receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12). We receive Comfort, Truth, and Guidance from the Holy Spirit. Don't you want Him to be in you and overflowing from you???

All in all, let me simply encourage you to pray that simple prayer and then let God (who by the way is the best Father and gives the best gifts) fill that hunger.

"Father, give me a hunger for Your Holy Spirit."

100 year old broken grave stones...

A friend and brother in the Lord, Jack Moody, sent me this devotional he wrote and it convicted my heart. He gave me his permission to share it with you for this week's Preparing For Rain blog. May it delve deep into your spirit. Blessings my friends.

In late Autumn 2011, I had the privilege to travel to an abandoned cemetery south of Springfield, IL in a remote rural area surrounded by harvested corn fields to learn how to restore 100 [year] old head stones. I was with the State Historical Archivist and her staff.  There were several of us invited to spend two Saturdays in the cold and wind, surrounded by a small forest to learn the proper technique to repair 100 year old broken grave stones. It seems the fence that used to surround this family cemetery of 20-30 graves was broken in a storm, the story goes, and the cattle came marching through this graveyard and their bodies hit most of the grave stones and broke them in half.  Some of the stones were half buried in the ground. But most were to be found and we fixed them using proper preservation techniques.

 

For two Saturdays in a row we braved the winds and bitter cold to mix special cement and clamps and “right” broken head stones back on top of their bottom pieces. It was hard work. As we worked I noticed that many families in the 1800’s not only placed a “head stone” but also a foot stone at the other end of the grave and side-rails along both sides. It very much resembled a bed of sorts. 

 

Digging out buried head stones we found artifacts that had been placed by grieving loved ones on top of the soil before the burial was completed. One set of graves were young brothers 10 and 12 years old. One boy had fallen into a river and was drowning and when his brother jumped in to try to save him, he drowned too. I stood there reading this story on the graves and felt what the parents must have gone through having tragically lost two sons at such a young age. Perhaps the deteriorated items we found just under the top soil of the graves were things the parents placed as a memorial. I was sad the whole rest of the day. Somehow, my being so cold did not matter anymore. We carefully cleaned the small items and placed them back in the top soil in a well arranged manner. Head stones, foot stones, side rails, trinkets, words carved in stone, all depicting the memories of people who lived in Illinois over 100 years ago. 

 

It has been two years since I spent those hours in that cemetery learning special preservation techniques to extend the life of grave markers in an old abandoned cemetery.  Death is the final curtain. Rich or poor, young or old, death awaits each of us at the end of our lives. Death leaves life before the grave. Try as we do to remember our loved ones as if they are still with us in life, they are departed from all the world they once lived in. We strike the stone to carve their names for us, not for them. For those who faced death before they actually died and took seriously the consequences of what will happen to them beyond the body are those who will only experience one death, not two. For those who never accepted Jesus as the Lord of their lives, a second more frightful death stands in the wings. Jesus died so we will only experience one death. You will find no headstone for Jesus, no earthly marker to remember His life. He was risen after three days from the grave. 1 Timothy 2:3 says, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  Ask not what you can do for God, rather ask God  what He already did for you.

Jack Moody, Pastor

Bloomington, Illinois

It Starts at Home

May I share something quite personal? (Warning: this is an open book-blog of where God is working with me)

The Lord has been really working on me regarding my relationship with my wife, Elizabeth, and my children; Rachel, Jaron, Justus, Judah and baby #5.

Questions I'm wrestling with: How well am I leading them? Am I leading them in a righteous spiritual walk before the Lord; walking with Jesus as their Savior and Lord? Are my children being fed the Word of God? Am I being an example to them on how to worship and pray? In regards to my wife, am I being the prophetic voice, the spiritual covering, the righteous protector, provider and priest she needs?

These are not rhetorical questions by the way; the demand an answer.

God's Word commands me to lead my family in every area of life. From faithfulness to discipline, from holy living to a life of worship for the King...I'm the leader of my home.

Ladies, please do not take offense. My wife is my partner in ministering to my family but I have been positioned by God to lead and to lead strong; to cast the vision for my own household. I can tell you right now, I am so very thankful for my wife. Her gift of discernment is strong and I'm learning to listen. I need her help to lead! Man that's good stuff. Let me say it again...I need her help to lead.

Elizabeth and I don't have it all figured out. We're seeking the Lord continually for wisdom, peace and answers on how to parent, grow in our marriage covenant and more. And He's providing that wisdom, peace, and the answers come as we grow closer to Him and as we learn. The Lord is continually making our marriage stronger but we have to submit to His correction, discipline and love. That's the key. We must, together, submit to the Father's teaching and rebuke.

The spirit of divorce is working overtime lately. DO NOT GIVE THAT DEMONIC SPIRIT ANY ROOM WHATSOEVER. Don't even utter the 'd' word. Grow closer to your spouse and wrap your arms around your children declaring the sovereignty of God over your household.

Husbands, stand firm in God's Word and declare peace and the presence of God in your house. Show your family how to worship, to pray, to memorize scripture, to know the commandments! Teach them how to listen for the voice of God.

Listen, these are things I'm doing. I'm joining Apostle Paul's bandwagon on this one. He claimed he didn't have it all together but one thing he had figured out...forgetting what is behind!!! Praise God for His grace to help us more forward and forget bad history. Pressing forward people!

I want this open book-blog to be an encouragement to you today. It starts at home...revival.

It hit me the other day, what if my children do not serve the Lord? What if my children do not experience His power and presence like I have? These are sobering questions my friend. My children will be impacted by my every decision, both spiritually and physically. 'GOD HELP ME!' I am desperate for the Lord to show me how to lead them. I can feel when my family is running on empty or needing my special and spiritual attention.

Let me be bold right now and proclaim to you that I will lead my family in prayer on their knees. I will teach them to live righteously even though I may falter at times; even then, I will teach them about the grace and forgiveness of our Savior Jesus. I will help them know God and hear His voice. I will show them how to walk uprightly and in God's identity and purpose for their lives. My children will experience God's love and power and presence like Elizabeth and I have...and they'll do more things for the Kingdom than we ever have!

It starts at home. Join me in the journey. Lead your family by following Jesus. His precious and powerful Holy Spirit will guide us, lead us and yes, correct us.

We're doing this for our family. So that generations from now we'll see our children's, children's, children serving the Lord with zeal and passion.

Thanks for letting me share the journey of leading my family. More to come.

A Holy Legacy...why should your life be lived any differently?

This past Sunday, November 17th, around noon, my Grandmother Hazel Carson (my mom's mom) took her last breath on earth and then opened her eyes to witness the glorious presence of God the Father. She was a saint, a generous and hospitable woman, who genuinely loved the Lord.

Grandma was generous, kind and caring even when the pain of liver cancer was too much for her to bear. Even in her pain she thought of others; providing us with food, gifts, keepsakes, and more. A few weeks ago she was walking around the house, sharing stories and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. A couple weeks later, one evening while visiting her, I held her hand as she cried out in pain, 'Help me', as the morphine wore off and the pain increased. To calm her and bring her peace I prayed with her and all while I prayed and the pain continued, she prayed along calling on Jesus. She called on Jesus.

Forgive me for my humble boasting right now but...this is my legacy. Listen. Cancer did not win, my Grandma won. For now she has finished the race and she ran well my friend. Very well.

This is my holy legacy. A legacy that has been handed down from one generation to another...to call on Jesus. Ponder that for a moment. We have been given something precious, perfect and powerful. Call on Jesus. What a legacy!

Because of their faithfulness to Jesus from my Grandpa & Grandma Herald and my Grandpa & Grandma Carson, my family now serves Jesus Christ...even unto death. My children love Jesus and they are learning what it means to believe in Him as Savior and Lord, and what it means to live for Him.

I see the generational blessings flowing from the former generations to the generations yet to be born and I am amazed at the goodness of God.

My Grandma Carson lived for Christ and held nothing back. So, why should my life be lived any different? To her last breath, she believed. To her last heart beat, she held on to hope and faith. To her last moment on earth, she showed us how to live compassionately and generously.

Why should my life be lived any different? Why should my praise be any different?

This is my holy legacy to hand down from generation to generation. Honestly, I don't believe it's just mine. To the Body of Christ, there lived such a saint named Hazel Carson who now encourages us from the Great Cloud of Witnesses to hold nothing back. It's your holy legacy too Believer!

How will you respond?

Let me close with this. A few weeks ago my wife Elizabeth, 4 kids, and I arrived early at the church to prepare for a worship and choir rehearsal. I turned on the sound system in the sanctuary to play some music on the CD player. After getting it going, I left the sanctuary to get music and plans ready. About 10 minutes later I hear someone playing the drums and noticed our kids weren't in the office area with us. (Our kids' ages range from 1 to 7 years old so they are small and can move quick; disappearing very easily. :0)

As I opened the sanctuary door and entered, I see the view shown in the photo below. My intention in going in to the sanctuary was to escort the children off the platform. But I was amazed and humbled to see my 4 kids prophetically making music to the CD playing over the speakers. They love Jesus and want to serve Him too. This is their legacy too....they ARE the legacy. Because my forefathers and mothers showed us the way to live for Jesus...now our children are serving him.

A holy legacy given to all of us. So, I ask you, why should your life be lived any differently?


From Left to Right: Rachel (7) leading on vocals, Justus (3) playing keys,
Jaron (5) on drums, Judah (1) on background vocals

My kids definitely can feel and understand music very well. They can keep a beat, make rhythms, write songs and they definitely aren't tone deaf. (Sorry, a proud daddy moment.)

Dear Church...

Dear Church, I love you. My parents taught me to love the Church, to love the Bride of Christ. I want to encourage you with something that's stirring in my spirit for you.

Prayer. Intercession. Calling on Jesus.
Depending on the Holy Spirit. Stepping into Christ's victory!

My prayer for you.

"FATHER,
You are faithful and You are steadfast; nothing moves You or removes You from Your Throne. Thank You for loving us and giving us constant compassion. You never fail. Thank You for calling us Your children. That means no one and nothing can snatch us from Your hands. We're caught up in the Holy grip of Grace within Your fingers. Jesus, You won't let us go.

Today Lord, I ask that You stir within our hearts, thoughts, and meditations a deep call, urging, and desire for prayer, intercession and communion with You.

I sense the enemy around the people of God today to persuade them to leave You; to give in to the temptations and follies of this world's system. Father, may our hearts be moved to bow on our knees. May our lives be the fragrance and aroma of Jesus to spread throughout our communities today. A fragrance of prayer; communion with You.

I ask Father that You would call out our names today and usher us into prayer and intercession. Even if it under our breath while working in the workplace or walking through the market place. From walking down hallways to lunch breaks, from in-between meetings to driving in our cars, from making dinner to just before we rest, may we spend every moment we can meditating on Your Word, calling on Your Name, and communing with You in constant prayer; blessing You.

This is my prayer for Your Church today. Stir us, move us, provoke us to pray.
Thank You for Your faithfulness and peace. We are Yours for the using.

In Jesus' Name. Let it be so."

Dear Bride of Christ, your prayers move the heart of God. He truly desires to partner with us here on this planet to build His Kingdom and bring others to the adoptive-grace of His love; bringing others into the Family of God. Yes, He wants to partner with YOU! That's what He made us for...relationship. Rest in that today. Be open and available for His 'suddenly moments' to serve others and pray at any moment.

To the Pastors and Church Leaders reading this. May you be refreshed in the presence of our Faithful Father and Lord. Let me encourage you to find or start a gathering of Pastors in your community who are praying for revival, unity, and the healing of trust in the Church in your area. If you have any questions how to start something like this, please comment to this blog and we'll do all we can to help. To encourage you, check out the photo below of around 15 pastors from the Bloomington, Illinois CHURCH who gathered around our Mayor for prayer. God LONGS to move within and through His Church to bring about transformation. We say, 'Let it be so God.'

Bloomington, Illinois Pastors praying over Mayor Renner

Scriptures to encourage your prayers today and everyday.

Psalm 133:1-3 NKJV
¹ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

² It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. ³ It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.

 

James 4:7-10 NKJV

⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

 

Romans 10:13 NKJV

¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

 

John 10:10 NKJV

¹⁰The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

 

Philippians 4:6,7 NKJV

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Romans 13:11-13 NKJV
¹¹ And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Romans 8:37 NKJV
³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 NKJV
¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies. ²¹ Test all things; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.