Post-Hayward

It has taken me some time to sit down and try to capture my thoughts on what took place in Hayward.  I’ve talked to the Lord extensively about it, or more accurately He has talked to me about it, and I think I can finally get some things expressed.  It is somewhat long, but I encourage you to take the time to read it.  

This past week was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.  The team that we took was incredible.  We were faced with numerous difficulties, and yet, were not swayed from the mission God had set upon us.  From abnormal physical exhaustion to oppression, this team continued to honor one another and encourage each other throughout the entire week.  It was amazing to watch.

For the first two and a half days, we saw almost no manifest fruit in the Spirit.  God is always at work, and things are always happening, but it is exciting to see it manifest instantly.  Scott and Dan did an awesome job bringing the Word, and yet we were hitting a wall in the Spirit.  At one point we discussed the importance of making war in the Spirit throughout the week, but for the first time in ministry I had the acute awareness that people outside our group were interceding on our behalf.  I can’t explain how I knew, but we actually got to see the manifestation of God’s reality break in to the realm of earth.

The second to last night, after watching the power of God’s impact increase steadily for two and a half days, Ed and I shared something that God had confronted both of us on “forgetting to mention.”  

“Will you tell them Who I Am?”  I cannot tell you that either of us “felt anointed,” or anything of the sort.  I think we were both quite exhausted, and maybe a little disheartened.  But when Ed spoke of God as He was revealed in the Old Testament, and I introduced them to Jesus, His Son, I tell you the response at the end of the night was like something books are written about.  It was no warm-fuzzy message, it was about dying that one might know this Jesus.  But when we invited the young people to meet Jesus themselves, ALL BUT ONE YOUNG MAN RESPONDED IN REPENTANCE!!!

I have never seen anything so sovereign, and so glorious, as to see about forty young men and women come and stand before the Lord, waiting to have Him transform their souls.  After a period of heaviness in which we didn’t pray for anyone, the joy of the Lord began to break out upon these youth as they experienced the joy of their salvation. And as these who would not sing to the Lord, now danced before Him, the music was turned off, and at that moment, the skies tore open and a deluge like I have never been apart of poured forth from the Heavens, and the young people streamed out into it to receive their water baptism from their Father in Heaven.

But it did not end there, no, God would have disciples as well as children, and when the last day dawned, we lay forth a challenge to forsake all thoughts of pursuit other than Jesus.  And on the last night, as hungry and empty vessels came forth, God released a Baptism of His Spirit upon these young people, that as they prayed for one another, some fell prostrate before the Lord, and others received His joy.  But not one person in that camp left that week without encountering the power, the love, the mercy, and the goodness of God.  Not one left without being touched powerfully by His Spirit.  And by the last night, every young man and woman in that room had had their eternity changed forever.

Praise be to you Jesus.  Never in all my life have I seen such a wonderful move of Your Spirit.  Never have I felt so helpless, and so delighted as I watched you move in my weakness.  You are incredible, My God, and I love You.  Amen.

Hayward

For the next few days we will be in Ramsay, MI and near Hayward, WI partnering with Pastor Todd Winkler and his church.  We’ll be with them for their Sunday morning service, and their senior high camp that follows through Wednesday night.  

Pray for us as many of the students haven’t met Jesus yet.  Though we’ve been promised tremendous fruit by the Lord.

Last time we partnered with this church we had an amazing weekend and numerous individuals encountered the love and goodness of God.  (Check out the testimonies at www.onehoperevolution.com .)  We’re really looking forward to this week and expecting God to do something incredible.  I realize that it is faith to expect God to do something huge, as that is exactly who He is!  He loves to change lives, heal the sick, and sweep masses of people into the Kingdom!  So we should expect Him to act as He loves to act!!!  

So we’ll give an update on what Jesus does this week, but enjoy partnering with us and sharing the fruit as you pray!!!

Thanks for all of your hunger and excitement over Jesus!!!

Writing or ripping?

As we enter into this new existence as children of God, we become new.  We are a new creation.  The pages of our life that we filled with destruction of our own making are tossed away as rubbish, and a new book is begun.  A supernatural story.  A masterpiece in the Hand of the Master.  Our life becomes the pages upon which Jesus creates a masterpiece.  He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.  He is writing a bestseller upon the pages of our life.  As we grow in our knowledge of Him, our pages become filled with beauty.  We are no longer seeking to follow all the rules, we now draw near to the Author Himself who etches beauty into us that reflects His.  As we get to know Him, we become like Him.

It is important to remember that the people around us are also being written into love stories, adventurous journeys, breathtaking dramas, and tales of heroics.  As we watch their lives it is essential to remember that as we see the blank pages that will one day be filled with greatness, we mustn’t tear them out because they now stand empty.  The Author Himself will etch beauty into their pages.  Though they now stand blank and void, they will one day contain heart bursting beauty.

Our impatience and tendency toward frustration can cause us to tear out the pages that will once be filled with glory.  Blank pages show up as insecurities, shortcomings, fears, and destructive behaviors.  But perhaps it would be in God’s graciousness to allow us, when we should see into the emptiness of a page yet written, to partner with Holy Spirit and be the pen through which the new life is written upon the page.  

As you see the lack in your life, or the lives of those around you, be not in a hurry to tear out those pages with no beauty upon them.  They will one day contain the very Beauty of God, written in His own handwriting, and at times if you’ll let Him, bearing the marks of a pen that looks just like you!

Crave

With all the desire to see God’s Kingdom come in glory, with all the longing to see revival, there is truly but one thing…  ”That I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  

There is nothing that compares to being with God.  Some call it the Presence, some call it the Glory.  It is Him, the I Am, God.  The tender way He surrounds us with a love that can only be experienced, with a touch so gentle that your senses can’t express it.  The overwhelming flood of emotion as the Desire of our heart draws near.  The rush of adrenaline as He leans in to whisper, “I love you, and you are mine.”  The shaking hands and the joyous tears that flow as Life Himself has breathed upon us again.

Oh how my heart and flesh cry out for You, O God!  I crave Your breath upon my face, and Your voice in my soul.  Stay near, turn your face to me, let Your goodness pass before me.  It is You that I desire.  It is You that I yearn for.  Come.

Rules or Rule-breakers?

As I sought the Lord this week on some things, He confronted me with the person of Moses.  One thing that resounded in my spirit last week, was a realization that as Moses stood upon the Mount, (in the Presence of an earth shaking, Holy God) receiving the Ten Commandments, as Commandment #6 (you shall not murder) came forth there must have been an incredible feeling go through Moses in that moment.  Recall if you will that for Moses, at this point, it was already too late.  He was a murderer already.  ”Oh golly.  This is not looking good.”

But something happened in that moment for Moses.  He realized that as He stood in the Presence of this Holy God, that the God who shook the earth was actually far more in love with the Rule-breaker (Moses) than He was with His own Rules.

Moses leaned in to the goodness of God, and in spite of his failure, He found that God cared far more for his friendship, than he cared for his performance.  What an incredible thought.  And so, to fulfill all the rules, that friendship might be had, Jesus Christ fulfilled all the performing that we might be friends of God.

And for you?  Are you more concerned with those around you breaking the rules?  Or are you more concerned with the rule breakers?  As we become more like our Father, we will be less concerned with the performance of those around us, and more enjoying of the friendship we can share with them in spite of their performance.

Jesus you are Beautiful.  Thank you for desiring friendship with us.  Thank you for overlooking our shortcomings and looking instead upon us as beautiful.  Renew our hearts and minds to love as You do, not the rules, but the rule-breakers.