It's Time To Rise!

I'm convinced that people are hungry for the manifest presence of God. Something tangible, something more real than their heart can conceive. I believe, as well as many of my pastoral and worship leader friends, that revival is coming. Not just some 'scheduled' revival, which there is a place for that. But something greater.

What I'm talking about is the Outpouring of God's Spirit. I desire it and I'm HUNGRY for it. We can see the stirrings of it around us. Like pastoral prayer gatherings, uniting clergy from multiple denominations, and they are all saying the same thing..."we want God's Spirit to be poured out like never before!" From concerts to conferences to gatherings to rallies to Facebook posts to Blogs like this...something is stirring in the hearts of God's people AND people who have not yet called upon the Lord to be saved. People, in general, are looking for The Truth they can hold on to and that won't let them down!

There is a drawing in, if you will, from the Father's compassionate heart! Something is happening. Believers are going through pruning, unbelievers are asking questions, some believers are actually going through seasons of doubt that, in turn, cause their faith to grow stronger! Think about it.

Let me get to the meat of what is coming up.

I'm convinced that we, this generation, have the opportunity to prepare and witness the next Great Outpouring of God's Spirit. I believe it with all of my heart. Revival and uniting the Body of Christ has been a major focus in my spirit since I started in ministry.

We have the opportunity before us to Prepare for Rain...the greatest Rain of His Spirit in the History of the World. It's Time To Rise! It's time to take your place and answer the high calling that God has placed on you! No more holding back...I'm serious! No more doing it solo! We're done with that. It's either we're united now or divided in the future!

We're witnessing networks and associations form that bring believers and church leaders together! And let me share with you our upcoming worship and arts conference that stirs up artists and worshippers to prepare for rain in their communities, cities, states and countries!

Time To Rise is all about 'reequipping the artist and inspiring the worshippers.' Worship Teams come to be refreshed, musicians and vocalists come for training, artists come for inspiration, pastors come for ideas, worship leaders come for networking and so much more. I could plug a whole more of what the conference provides but let me share just this one major point...

I sense that Time To Rise is just one of the peices the Lord is using in uniting the Body of Christ in the Midwest for the Great Outpouring that's coming to Illinois and beyond. I believe it. Yeah, you'll have to take my word for it if you haven't experienced a Time To Rise conference or if you don't attend this year's conference. But...you could also come be a part! It is so beautiful to see the Body united in worship under the banner, the Name of Jesus Christ.

Let me close this blog with a scripture that the name of the conference came out of...

John 4:23, 24
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."

It's Time To Rise!

Keeping The Main Thing...The Main Thing!

The past few weeks the Lord's grace has been revealed in my life to bring me through more pruning. Don't get me wrong! Pruning is good for us. The Lord does it and allows it because of His great compassion and love for us, He wants us to be prepared for what is to come, and, simply, He wants us to produce more good fruit.

I've recently been challenged to keep the main thing...The Main Thing.

Here's one of the ways I've been challenged by this. Ministry should not only start at home but it should begin with my servant-leadership toward my beautiful and caring wife, Elizabeth. I should consider the ministry and the visions that God has given her to fulfill BETTER and GREATER than my own. This is Biblical...read Ephesians chapter 5! I want my wife to be RADIANT! Keeping the main thing, The Main Thing. Sadly, at times, my leadership has kept Elizabeth from shining brightly. Men, as Dr. Tony Evans puts it, 'our wives are who we lead them to be!' (paraphrasing)

To continue the thought, here's a "What If" question for you:
What if...my sons and daughters see their daddy pouring attention, resources, wisdom, and value into their mommy and the purpose God has for her?

WOW! Talk about raising up Revivalists; children who will run after God passionately!!! If my wife receives this kind of attention from me, what kind of discipling and value will my children receive!? Believe me when I say that Elizabeth and I are working hard to raise up men (sons) and women (daughters) of God who Follow Christ, pursue holiness, and pursue pure religion!

I realize that The Main Thing, in a Christian's life, really covers many priorities and what I've shared with you is just one of my Top Priorities.

Check out what else God's Word says...

Philippians 2:3,4
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

I hope this has encouraged and challenged you. Follow Christ.