"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.

On The Mountain

A few weeks ago, I took a trip with some men to Colorado for some black bear hunting, trout fishing, campfires, high mountain time, 4-wheeling through the mountains, star gazing, ah...good times. The trip started great until our RV, hauling 4 ATVs, started crying out for mercy. First, the brakes caught on fire. Then it started fussing about how much power it wanted to give. Then one of the fuel lines started leaking. Then black smoke started billowing out of the exhaust. Not good. All in all, we became stranded at an RV / Truck stop on the West side of Kansas...12 hours from home. Our high mountain country time dream became a nightmare.

Thanks to 2 brothers from Victory who drove through the night to rescue us and drive us back home. We were only 1 1/2 hours from the Colorado border. Two words...extremely disappointed.

But we were relentless. We decided...'Let's get home, regroup, and turn around with a truck, camper, and 1 ATV this time. Let's do this thing!' And we did. 4 of us put the nightmare behind us and made the journey. I had to join the guys later by catching an airplane to Colorado where they picked me up.

Making the journey to Crested Butte, Colorado

I'm sharing this with you because this journey of ours (a bear hunting trip) turned in to something completely different for me after the RV broke down. To this day, I think about the Kansas Nightmare, the up-and-down of whether I was going back after getting home, and then the sweet peace that came as I flew by my lonesome to Gunnison, Colorado turned into a pursuit of an adventure with God.

I shared with my wife after the nightmare was over that I still wanted to go because I wanted to encounter God on the mountain. I wanted to seek Him there. I'm a man, and this man needed an adventure.

My Prayer Stump with Mountain View

Let me tell you. I was refreshed because I heard the Lord speak and speak clearly. I could have thrown in the towel and gave up after the RV broke down. But persistence paid off. I wanted to hear from God. I wanted to hear Him speak and give direction for my family; my first and most important ministry to my wife and kids. He spoke. I heard Him. Each day I was on the mountain I came to the dead tree stump pictured above and prayed, talked with the Lord, and or read His Word. What He said when He woke me up at 4am on the last day of the trip was amazing and exactly what we needed to hear. He provided us with a vision plan, things to repent of and correct, things to realign and adjust. He spoke.

Listen. If you are in need of the Father to provide direction, vision, and clarity for your life right now...get away with Him. Shut off the voices. Close up every other opinion. Disconnect from other's ideas and words. Connect with the Holy Spirit and He will speak.

While I was on the mountain I enjoyed the fishing, fellowship of friends, campfires, and the wilderness and wildlife were awesome. And...we didn't see one black bear. And that was just fine by me.

I heard from God.


More photos from our trip On The Mountain.

Buck Mule Deer bedded down, spotted 80 yards from the roadside (center of the photo)

Campfire with Mountain View

Fishing in a massive beaver dam. Water was clear to the bottom. Fish were plentiful.

We ate fresh brook trout 2 of the days from the beaver dam pictured above.

Camping at the foot of Gothic Mountain as seen in the background.

Reflecting on God's Word (more specifically Romans) while sitting on my stump.

On the day I was being dropped off at the airport, we came upon sites like this. Breathtaking.

Watch Your Mouth!

Did your parents ever day to you, "Watch your mouth!" Mine did. There were times I had to lick a bar of soap. Can I get a witness? I'm thankful for the discipline I received because I needed it.

So yesterday, May 1st, I read the righteous and convicting words of James in chapter 3. I'm not going to list the entire chapter in this blog because I'm going to encourage you to go grab your Bible, open it, and read it for yourself.

However, I will share something that stirred me yesterday and is bugging me today.

I read James 3 yesterday morning and then around noon I attended a Pastors' Prayer meeting on the Westside of town where a friend of mine, Pastor Dale Miller, and I sat talking, waiting for other Pastors to arrive to pray and worship together. We were talking about various topics when he told me he is speaking on James the 3rd chapter this Sunday. "Okay Lord, You have my attention."

This got the conversation rolling even more and iron started sharpening iron. He told me of his plans to preach the truth in James 3 to his church to bring about change on how we speak; on how we use our tongue...whether to praise or curse.

       So here is what James said on the matter.


James 3:7-12 (...by the way...the previous 6 verses speak even more on the tongue...check it out)
⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.


So check this out. I was reading someone's Facebook comment and thread yesterday afternoon; which everything they presented in their opening statement was true and scripturally sound. There were variant viewpoints, however, to this individual's belief and, in turn, because others did not agree with this person, they were called names. Here's what stirs a righteous anger in me. The person doing the name calling professed to be a Christian. Weird huh? Christians calling Christians names. What??? Did you know that the greatest cause of atheism is Christians?! The world sees us divided, unloving, uncaring, and calling each other names...they don't want what we have to offer because they think what they have is better.

Let me ask you this, would our Master Teacher, Savior, Lord, and King approve of such conduct in His Church? I'm not going to answer that...I'll let you wrestle with it.

To turn this around a little...how are you using your words, your ability to speak, your tongue?
Are you proclaiming the praises of Jesus or cursing men?
Are you thanking God for your job or cursing your employer?
Are you participating loyally in your home church or cursing the leadership?
Are you ministering to the unreached or complaining about the worship team singing the same song over and over? (Sorry, as a worship leader this one makes me laugh.)
Are you praying for revival or cursing other congregations you may not fully line-up with doctrinally?
Are you using your tongue to glorify God and bring people to the salvation knowledge of who Jesus is or are you using your tongue to curse, cuss, and speak vulgarly?

Don't just take my word for it.

Psalm 34:7-9
"Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

Psalm 39:1
"I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”

Psalm 52:4 (a confession we all could say)
"Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?  You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue!"

Proverbs 12:18
"The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

Colossians 3:8
"But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth."

God's Word says much more on this topic of the tongue so I encourage you to dive into His Truth and seek it out. To refer back to James' statement and pose it to you as a question to wrestle with...as am I...

With your tongue, are you praising our Lord and Father or are you cursing human beings?
All in all, watch your mouth. Wrestle with this and let it tame your tongue.

What will the next great outpouring of God's Spirit look like?

I'm like you...my heart longs for revival. The kind of revival that leaves a city messed up for Jesus, upside down according to the world's system and standards. The kind of revival that literally leaves a region impacted forever. 'Sinners become saints' type of revival! 'The manifest presence of God coming down and flowing through the streets' type of revival.' 'Every wall that separates The Church from fellowship in a region coming down' type of revival. 'Entire communities coming to Christ' type of revival.

What if...?

What if the next (possibly the last) great outpouring of God's Spirit looks like something we've never seen before? (more than likely it will be like nothing ever seen.)

I sense there will be signs, wonders, and miracles that will happen. I believe it. I long for it to happen. Do you ever get sick of the mundane and complacent doings of this world's ways? I do! Can I get a witness!? But seriously, have you thought about what the next outpouring will look like? Think about it for a moment.

Think about it some more.

You've heard and sang phrases like this before in prayer and worship...

• break our hearts for what breaks Your heart Lord
• come Holy Spirit, come like You promised
• pour out Your Spirit
• come like the rain

Yes, these are all needed things we MUST praise and pray with. Absolutely. But what if the next outpouring came in a way that astonishes us...leaves us overwhelmed? What if the next outpouring came through James 1:27?

      James 1:27
      "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in
       their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

 What if He pours out His Spirit as we love people? What if He's waiting for us to love without condition? What if God really does break our hearts for what breaks His...for the...?

• orphans and widows
• unloved and rejected
• trafficked and enslaved
• beaten and abused
• diseased and castaways
• lost and lonely
• the list goes on and on

What if our hearts were turned to the things God loves and turned away from the things God hates? Yeah, I know hate it a strong word nowadays but God does hate things and His heart is extremely broken for the things He loves.

What if the next revival came through simply loving people and in this God was honored, His Kingdom built up, and His Spirit poured out?

Listen, I'm not trying to create a doctrinal stance here. Just simply sharing what has stirred in my spirit since reading and thinking about James 1:27. Yes, there is an outpouring coming. I can't wait to witness the blind given sight, the streets filled with dancing sinners who become saints, the lame to walk, the unloved's chains of rejection crumble, and so much more. I long to see His Spirit baptize people and transform and change people forever.

These are just some simple thoughts for revival to think on. I hope it encourages you today like it has me. Remember this, God loves people more than we do. So, 'prepare for rain' and be ready to love people. The prayer for revival could very well be answered by the love you give to the person right next to you today.

The Other 6 Days

The Holy Spirit has been driving something in me lately...how am I personally worshipping The Lord with the other 6 days of the week (beyond Sunday morning)?

      Have you been stirred by this question lately? Or ever?

The Sunday morning experience is vitally important for every believer. We should not give up meeting together as many in this age are doing (see Hebrews 10:25). We need each other, period.

But what about the other 6 days? Lately I've been encouraging Victory's worship teams and choir to consider this and respond in their 'other 6 days' by memorizing scripture, meditating on God's Word all the time, continually giving God thanks, participate in outreach, connect in a small group, serve others, worship and praise God daily...not just on Sunday. This is not a challenge given in chastiment but in encouragement to grow in the Lord daily. We are all there in that place of growth. As a matter of fact, it's something we'll always be growing in until we are in God's eternal presence forever. We need to get used to growing and changing.

How are you responding to the 'other 6 days' of worship and daily meditation on God's Truth?
Or should I ask, why is it so important to worship beyond just Sunday and focus on the other 6 days?

Here's why it's so important. When you pray...you grow! When you read and study God's Word, you are changed! When you meditate on His goodness and truth, you are renewed! When you encounter Him, you radiate His glory like Moses did and you are forever changed (see Exodus 34:30).

You see the 'other 6 days' are where you truly grow in personal worship and Sunday becomes the turning of the page for a brand new week of worship, thanksgiving, and praise. The Sunday experience with the Beloved of Christ becomes the place where courage is strengthened, hope is renewed, vision is revived, and dreams are validated. Sunday becomes the time where you are reminded that you are not alone but that you have a Family in God who actually gives a care about your life and how you are doing.

Here's a what if...now imagine this. Sunday ends and you start Monday off worshipping the Lord through His Word, constant prayer and thanks, and meditation on His Truth throughout the day. Then Tuesday comes around...same scenario. Then Wednesday...same scenario. Then Thursday, Friday, Saturday...Then the sun rises on Sunday and you gather with the Body of Christ and what happens? There is a God encounter awaiting because you are READY to meet with God The Most High. What if we came into God's presence on Sunday morning ALREADY worshipping? ALREADY meditating on His Truth? ALREADY praising Him for His continued mercy and goodness? You then don't care what songs the worship leader has selected, or if the melody causes you to sing, or the drum beat makes you dance. YOU'RE ALREADY worshipping because of your 'other 6 days' and are simply joining in the new song of praise on Sunday morning. God's Word says it best!

PSALM 100
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

 

Believe me, there is nothing like encountering Jesus one on one so go meet with Him.

 

So, what are you going to do with your 'other 6 days'?

 

Maybe you can start this refreshed journey with these passages of scripture used and spoken as prayers.

 

Exodus 33:13

"If you are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You..."

 

Psalm 86:11

"Teach me Your way O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart that I may fear Your Name."

Making Dreams Come True...

Matthew 25:34-36
‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

     Did you know...?
     Did you know that you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can make dreams come true?

You!

Yes, you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can cause loneliness and depression to turn into courage and belonging.
You can cause bitterness to sweeten into a smile of appreciation.
You can cause individuals rejected by society to regain identity and purpose.

How?

Just like Matthew 25:34-36 challenges us...meet people's needs with the love of Christ...it's that simple. Someone is hungry...let's feed them. Someone is lonely and rejected...let's love them. Someone broke the law and is now behind bars OR on the flip-side, someone is being persecuted and thrown behind bars...let's visit them and encourage them. Someone is without clothing, needs a coat, or pair of shoes...give them the shirt off your own back. Someone is without caring parents, wrap those kids up in your arms and cry with them and hug them like crazy!

Listen! There is 'SOMEONE' that needs you to tell them that they are 'SOMEBODY.' Somebody worthy of love, worthy of acceptance, worthy of care! "YOU ARE SOMEBODY!" By the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus, you can make dreams come true!

This may seem like a shameless plug for what's happening this Saturday but...oh well. Take it or leave it. It's something I'm excited to have my family and I participating in and yes...we're going to make dreams come true and change people's lives with the love of Christ.

What am I talking about?    BIG DREAM DAY, March 23, throughout Central Illinois

This is a powerful way to grow in personal discipleship and weekly worship, share the love of Christ, and make an eternal difference in our community. We have 4 teams of people branching out this Saturday to simply love people...while expecting NOTHING in return. Those teams will be helping a local ministry that reaches kids on the West side by providing man-power for remodeling projects. Another team is making baked goods to give to local firefighters and simply say thank you. Another group is convassing Colfax, Illinois with door-to-door prayers and baked goods. Yet another group is preparing materials to promote Child Abuse Awareness month.

Your family can participate in these projects OR...go out and reach people with your own family, in your own community by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

For more information on these projects and to learn how you can sign-up please click here!

With all promotions aside for Big Dream Day, go out and change the world by sharing the love and care of Christ. Keep it simple!

WE'RE MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE THROUGH THE LOVE OF CHRIST!

Winter has an end...

I've come to learn that when the sweet Holy Spirit wakes you up to pray and download from His Truth and Power...you better get up. Here is what the Lord stirred in me on Sunday, March 10 around 1am.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This winter has been depressing for many people on my different fronts. I know of families who have lost loved ones this winter; individuals who have lost jobs; men who have struggled to grasp hope; women discouraged about having husbands who will lead their families; families dealing with one round of sickness after another, and the list continues. I'm not trying to be a downer here or discourage anyone. The truth is all of these things can happen in any season of the year to anyone at anytime.

Here's my point, especially to those who feel their lives were previously described about.

Winter has an end and it begins with Spring!

God's Word reminds us that there are times and seasons for everything. Winter itself can become depressing with the cold, dreary, and gray days. (Hence seasonal depression)

I love this time of the year, however, when nature seems to scream, "That's enough!" and the bright yellow sun starts to pierce through the melancholy clouds; the snow melts away and spring flowers start to burst through the thawing soil; the air seems to gasp for warmth with one day at 35 degrees and the next at 60! (Don't worry...warmer weather is coming!)

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"

What if we joined in the anthem going on in the earth and declared over our own lives "That's Enough!" to the complacency, monotony, depression, loss and fear?

Forgive me for these childish analogies that follow but I'm a father of 4 little ones, 6 and younger, so I'm learning to break things down and keep it simple. I see a cocoon breaking open and a new creation trying to fly. I see a tadpole trying to trade it's old fin for legs and jump like crazy. I see an infant learning to crawl, then stand, then walk because they want to run with their brothers and sisters!

Are you hearing my heart in this? Someone reading this right now is saying to their struggles, their addictions; saying to the devil himself, "LET ME GO! I want my destiny! I want Jesus! LET ME GO!" Here's another analogy to consider. I see a man who believed a lie and allowed the devil to wrap him up in a straight jacket. Now the man is trying to pull a Houdini; trying to break free from the lie he believed.

So, what's the point? Where do we turn? When does this winter end? Where are the refreshing spring rains?

Acts 4:12 admonishes us that "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Here are more promises from God's Word we can rely on in calling on the Lord:

Psalm 145:18
"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth."

Acts 2:21
"And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Proverbs 18:10
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe."

Now, I've said all that to say this: When was the last time you got on your knees and called out, cried out to Jesus? When was the last time you deliberately spent quality time with God? Some of us have spent more time on Facebook than in God's Book! I've grown to know this to be true that if you want to know the health of someone's walk with the Lord...see how wore out their Bible is. Are their knees knobby from constant prayer? Can they worship without music? Is their walk blameless and wisdom sought after by others? Contemplate these questions for your own life.

Let me clarify something from my opening statements. I am not saying that the loss of loved ones, the loss of a job, or having sick children are the results of not spending time with Jesus. My point is that this is where we find breakthrough. This is where winter gives up and spring comes alive. This is where the choke-hold of depression and fear releases and you can breathe again. It happens when you CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD...JESUS!

I've heard many stories of believers who were attacked by a demonic spirit. They've described the attacks as someone sitting on their chests while they are laying down or someone strangling them. And in that place of torment all they could cry out was "JESUS!" And freedom came. You see, your freedom has a name and it's Jesus! (Acts 4:12)

Have you got yourself caught up in the rip tides of temptation; the currents of complacency? Where are you in your walk? Are you lost? If you could measure your faith, what would it add up to? More questions to contemplate and take before the Lord.

My conclusion. A few months ago a new song called The Drought Is Over was born during a revival at Victory Christian Center. It has brought liberation and prophetic release to people throughout Illinois, and now Texas and Nebraska. People joined in the song and said to their own drought, "THAT'S ENOUGH! LET ME GO!" However, my heartaches for those who took their umbrellas out or ran inside for shelter instead of dancing in the rain. (I'm referring to freedom from the spiritual droughts that people have been walking through.) Are you missing your God-encounters? The rains of refreshing are pouring out, so where are you standing...or kneeling?

Start your breakthrough from winter to spring by calling on the Name of Jesus. Stay there until He comes and speaks to you. Open that once-dusty-Bible and begin reading Romans 7 & 8 and let the words rekindle your passion for Jesus. (For that matter, start reading God's Word from cover to cover.) Bow your knees, lift your eyes and hands to where your help comes from.

Jesus is waiting for you. (Read Matthew 11:25-30)

 

Note: Over the next few months, or as long as the Holy Spirit leads, I will be posting and blogging challenging and encouraging words to refresh your time in God's Word, prayer, and personal worship. No more worshipping only on Sundays but developing a life of constant worship...24-7-365. Stay tuned.



What Can We Do Differently?

The blog below was written on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 10:43pm. I hope it encourages you.

                                 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

What can we do differently?

That's a pretty vague and wide open question. However, this is a question that is bothering me this evening. It's stirring me to think and pray and rethink.

One could answer this question by doing truly anything opposite of what they are currently doing at this moment. One could change the very direction of their lives with the answer. One could change someone else's life for the better, or for the worse, by their answer.

Let me bring it more down to a personal level: What can I do differently? Yes, the question posed is still vague...but not in my heart. Let me let you in on the conversation of my heart this evening. I'm under conviction by the Holy Spirit. I'm brokenhearted and moved with compassion; longing to see change for the benefit of others. (Yeah, I know my answer is kind of vague too but keep reading.) Here it is...

What can I do differently to better help people discover the love that God has and is pouring out for them?

What can I do differently to better help people develop friendships that are genuine, deep, and long lasting?

What can I do differently to better develop leaders who lay down their very lives to love God's 'sheep' and to care for them with an unwavering compassion?

            ...I could keep going but will refrain as to get to the point.

What can I do differently....?
What's so interesting about this question is that my answers may be totally different than yours, and that's fine. Your 'what can I do differently' question may be different from the questions I've presented as well. The question asked reveals the attitude of the heart. I want to do something different.

                And I will.

With the help of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit...things will change and the answers will come.

See, I don't know all the answers to my questions above. That's not really the point. The point is I need to be honest enough to ask them and give them to Jesus to answer and bring about the difference as I submit to Him and His power.

I must apologize if this blog makes no sense to you. This is more of a 'journal' entry for me in sharing with you what's stirring in my heart. Maybe it's my pastor's heart breaking for people and longing to see them heal, grow, experience life altering freedom, and claim the identity Christ has given them in His Word. I long to see people grow in community together, serving together, being The Church. Loving each other and worshipping God!

So...what are your 'what can I do differently' questions? More importantly, how will you choose to respond to the questions you pose?

May my heart be broken for the things of God. May He chip away at my thickheadedness and help me grow in compassion for people. May He guide me in loving people and help them love others in return.

Yes, I will do things differently.

Know this. Your 'what can I do differently' questions could change your life forever...or someone else's life. Just sayin.