Prepare the Way for Revival!

When I first started this blog, it was to share our story in hopes to encourage someone else and to share the journey we felt God was taking us on. Years ago, when we were still very broken God gave both Jason and I an audible word in a church service; we both heard it. That word was, "Go". God hasn't given us a clear picture of what that means. He has been revealing , however, that "go" doesn't always mean a moving of us, it can mean a releasing of us and a move of Him.
A little over a year ago a close friend of ours came to us and said he felt God saying that he was to start a church, if he didn't move now when he felt God telling him, he would be passed by and God would use someone else who was willing. Jason and I knew immediately that this was our "go". Since June  (technically last January, we didn't officially start meeting until June) we have been attending LifeChange Church. It started in our Pastors home the first week, then by the second week we had to move to a hotel meeting room. We are currently looking for a new location since we filling the space we are in. God has been doing some amazing things in the families that attend our little church. About 3 weeks ago I felt God saying "prepare the way". At that time we were planning a trip to World Revival Church in Kansas City  as a whole church and I thought God was meaning to prepare for Him to do something on this trip. I have no doubt He meant that, but that wasn't all. We had roughly 45 people go on that trip from the ages of  7 to their late 60's. Some of us were feeling the Fire of Revival stirring before we went but others were ignited there. The flame has been fanned. I was journaling a couple days after we returned and this is what God revealed to me.
He started with showing me a passage in Come Away My Beloved "Behold time is short. Be not entangled in the things of this world, for they are transitory. Be not over-concerned as to thy personal needs, for your Heavenly Father knoweth what ye have need of and He will supply. But let thine uppermost concern be to carry out My will and purpose for thy life, to be sensitve to My guidance, and to keep thine ear toward Heaven. Miss anything, but don't miss My Voice. Other voices may introduce disharmony, but My voice will always bring peace to thy heart and clarity to thy thinking. For ye shall hear My voice behind thee saying: This is the way, walk ye in it, when you turnest to the left or to the right."
Then, He spoke through His Word. Phil 3:13-21 - Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Join with others in followong my example, brothers and take note of those who live according to this pattern we gave you. For as I have often told you before and now say with tears, many live as enemies to the Cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that we will be like His glorious body.
Then he spoke to the church through my pen, I didn't even know what I was writing until after (God is good) "How far you are away from My will. I need you to listen to my voice. I have equipped you to push out the voice of the enemy so why are you listening to him? My tears are falling for you because you are not listening. I am about to move in a powerful way, I cannot have you in My way, but I need a willing heart that is ready and willing to be used. You need to be able to die to yoursefl, so you can carry My will to the nations. Put yourelf aside. I did not give you a spirit of timidity so stop being timid and fearful. Quit looking at who you were, look only forward toward My Goal. You want revival; So why do you keep getting in My way? I have hungered to come to My church, to be near you, yet you have pushed Me away. Do not be as hypocrites. If you hunger for My Presence, then LET GO! Why are you making it harder than it is. It is simple, step forward. It is not a journey, it is one step only into My presence. But don't just step there, stay there. Walk with Me; be My feet on earth; be My hands on earth; be My voice on earth. When you can step aside and let My will take control in a radical, Bold way then and only then can I come and bring revival to My church."
Lord Jesus, do a new thing, in us and through us. revival starts in us. Fan the flame of Your revival. Spread the Fire Lord.  For Christmas this year let us as a church give You a present; a willing and hungry heart- hungry for Your presence. In Jesus Name.

Romance Me

Forgive the repetition, This song has already inspired one blog in the past but just like God's Word, the same words can speak something totally different each time you read or hear them.

Embrace by Jake Hamilton

“Wanna feel your embrace, wanna feel your arms around me, wanna feel your heart beating, next to mine.”

We just got done studying Captivating by John and Staci Eldridge and one thing the book talked about was our desire for romance. I remember a time (actually I still struggle with it) when I hungered so badly for the romance. The problem I had was I was looking at Jason. Then Jesus started romancing me, first through music, then through His Word, and even through His creation. Then I finally came to a realization and turned to Him and felt His embrace.  I love my husband, and I still desire romance from him, but once I felt the embrace of God and heard Him whisper “you are my beloved”, nothing else compared. The only problem I have is it fed the hunger. I can’t get enough. I now want to sit at His feet all the time. It is at His feet I feel safe, I am romanced, I am encouraged, I am lifted up.

I get so busy and distracted by the world and the busyness that I forget my First Love. I begin to look to Jason to feed that hunger, and as much as he tries, he can’t and I’m left feeling lonely and hurt. But when I turn my gaze back to Jesus, that’s when I know, “it’s all gonna be ok”. Only He can fully satisfy. That’s why we have that burning desire. He put it there, but not for any earthly thing or person to fill; He put it there for Him. Only Jesus can fill the void we often feel. Turn your gaze to your Lover; let Him romance you; let Him comfort you. I promise (He promises Hebrews 13:5) He will not disappoint you when you turn your heart fully to Him.

Redeemed

“I’ve been redeemed.” What does that mean and how do we, as Christians, walk in that? I’ve been doing a Bible Study with other women using the book "Captivating". As we were studying the chapter on healing our wounds it made me realize just how little we truly walk out our redemption. The Webster dictionary defines redeemed this way, “as to buy back; repurchase; to free from what distresses or harms; to free from captivity by payment of ransom; to change for the better; repair or restore.”

Jesus came to redeem us. (Luke 1:68; Galatians 3:14; 1 Peter 1:18) We willingly acknowledge that He came to redeem us (buy us back) from the punishment of our sins, but is that truly where it ends or is there more; much more? The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come!” Look at the definition again- “repair or restore”. If Jesus came to ransom us from our sins at such a great price don’t you think that He also wants to ransom us from the things that hold us captive as a result of sin “to free from what distresses or harms”

We accept Jesus’ salvation but daily we must accept His redemption. It is far too easy to fall into the chains of shame and regret even as we walk out our salvation, but to truly accept everything Christ did for us and to walk in all He gave us, that is becoming “the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The song “Redeemed” by Big Daddy Weave says it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU

Seems like all I could see was the struggle

Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past

Bound up in shackles of all my failures

Wondering how long is this gonna last

Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son

Stop fighting a fight it's already been won"

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be

I am redeemed, I'm redeemed

All my life I have been called unworthy

Named by the voice of my shame and regret

But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"

I remember, oh God, You're not done with me yet

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be

Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me

'Cause his day is long dead and gone

Because I've got a new name, a new life, I'm not the same

And a hope that will carry me home

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, 'cause I'm not who I used to be

Power

God began His work in our marriage and in our lives years ago and He always finishes what He begins. This has been a long journey so far and even though we are far from finished we are so much closer to what He has for us. The last couple of weeks have been filled with change. Jason is officially done with the military, well at least on terminal leave. We are now walking in faith that God will provide the job that He desires Jason to have, and Jason spends his days putting in resumes. We recently  got the chance to finally go to the Omaha HUB and God did not disappoint us. It was rejuvenating to see God reveal Himself and His power. And God is continuing to give us wisdom. This is just a few of the things He has been showing us lately.

In Matthew 19 Jesus was asked by some Pharisees about divorce, His answer... Matthew 19:4-6 "...at the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not seperate." Jesus went on to answer them with this in verse 8 "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning." and in verse 11" Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given." 

Perhaps it is better explained in the devotional we have been reading  called "Come Away My beloved" by Frances J. Forbes. It is written as if God, Himself were speaking to you.
" I want you with Me. Because I love you. Where do you expect to see a queen? Beside the king. I have not spoken of you as such, but ye are My Bride. A queen is subordinate to a king, and he reigns while she stands by. No, ours is a closer relationship, for I have vested you with authority also. Ye reign with Me if it be so that ye recognize your privilege...
For I would have a people who live in ME continually, and not that ye be moving in and out of this place. I would have ye live continually in the center of the kingdom of God, just as I have place the Kingdom within the very center of your being."
How much more can we, as a married couple, be used by God when we come together in His Name (Matthew 18:24)? He is in our midst, He moves in us and through us.There is Power of the Holy Spirit when 2 people with softened hearts come together as one. For years Jason's heart and my heart was hard, but as God softens us the closer we grow together. The closer we grow together, and the closer we grow with God, the more the Power is unleashed to work through us to strengthen His Kingdom within a lost world. 

Radical

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. Too many are made and then broken. Ecclesiastes 5:5 says "it is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it" so I don't make resolutions. However I do like to choose one word which helps give me direction for the year. Last year I chose "Passion". I didn't want to be asleep in my faith anymore. I wanted to walk out passion in every aspect of my life. I couldn't just go through the year, day by day, going through the motions. I spent the year passionately chasing after God and what he has for me. This year my word expands on that. My word for this year is "radical". I still want to passionately give myself to Christ but I also want to walk out my life this year in a radical way. I no longer want to be in the box of society. I no longer want to be in the  box of religion. Jesus walked outside the box and broke all the boundaries. God has been working on me to "no longer conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of my mind" -Romans 12:12. I want to pray radically, love radically, take a radical approach to hospitality, serve radically, speak radically, worship radically, and live out a radical faith. (1 Peter 4:7-11) My prayer is for God to show me what a radical life looks like and then for Him to equip me to live it out.