Renewal

Over the past few weeks my prayer times have been filled with an urging from God to be stirred. Stirred in the gifts, stirred in passion and stirred in fire for Jesus. Since I moved here from Colorado in 1995 I have wanted to see an outpouring that changed communities and neighborhoods. So God led me to do something about it and start a church. For the last 3 years I have specifically sought an outpouring of the power and the life of the Holy Spirit in our homes, our communities and our church. Often my dreams of this fell short and were met with a test from God to continue to follow Him by faith and wait patiently. As I type this I am still waiting feeling more and more like the prophet Micah.

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7)
Yet, could it be? Could it be that God is ready? That His Holy Spirit is set, poised to pour out on us right now? Could it be that our response to this will determine the course of many lives in our region and even possibly the eastern seaboard? Could it be that God will pour out on us, a small church in the middle of Maryland, such a blessing of His Spirit that is drives the darkness from lives here and beyond. Could it be that we are sitting right on the edge of a revival, an outpouring that will rival the previous revivals, could it be it is more than a revival? Could it be an awakening?

This week is the first time God has opened the door for renewal in our church. Many of you experienced this on Sunday morning and it continued for those that attended the Sunday night service. In that service God spoke loud and clear. He said this:
“I will move among you, restore your lives and unburden your hearts. I will remove the ties that have bound you to sin and bring healing to you, your family, your church and your communities. Yet, you must want it and be present for the miracle. If you long and need Me to come in your life, I will, but you must turn aside from all your planning on doing this week to seek Me.”

In response we are we will pray like never before. We will worship like never before. We will proclaim like never before. We will declare like never before. We will see Jesus glorified like never before. We will simply come together and ask, the rest is up to Him to pour out on us.

Will you seek Jesus like you have never before? The results start with us seeking Him and letting God chang our plans.
“I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD."” (Ezekiel 39:29)

Change We Can Believe In

How many times in life do we really get lost? I still remember that horrible feeling when I realized I had wandered away from my parents in the store, running from isle to isle hoping to just catch a glance of them so I was not alone. I guess that’s it, often when we lose our way we end up alone, isolated and almost feeling abandoned. We sense that we are trapped in a world that pressures us to be ungodly and drives us away from knowing we can change.

Do you know that change is possible? Many live lost in the lie that a person can’t change, it’s just not true. Each human has the ability to ignite change in their lives and make themselves better. I am not talking up a new self-help book. I am promoting the One that changes from the inside out. Each of us can take the areas we are lost in personally and offer them to Jesus. In exchange He gives us a new life and fresh start clean from all guilt and shame.

Walk in that today and don’t let your past do anything but remind you how great a God you serve.

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:24-25)

Move Your World

The famous Greek inventor and mathematician Archimedes was quoted saying “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” This was ever so true for me a few weeks ago as I was driving down Ritchie Highway and my serpentine belt on my SUV decided to shred. Without it this 5,000 pound hunk of metal and rubber is worthless. Luckily I was with a friend and we both set our sights on fixing the car. After purchasing the supplies the hard part came. We had to put this long wrench in a pulley and pull to release the old belt and allow for the new one to slip in place. Our lever was working right up to the finishing point. You know that last inch or millimeter that you need to make it. No matter how hard I or Rick pushed and pulled the new belt was just not going to slip into place. Out of exhaustion and desperation we pulled out a tire wrench and placed it over the other wrench and SNAP the belt went on without a grunt.

All we needed was a bigger lever and the job was so easy. Instead we struggled to make the ends meet and in the end were only met with defeat. Many of you today need to follow Archimedes words and ask God to come and place His lever in your life. No matter how hard you try or how successful you become there will always be leverage on your life you can’t overcome. You need a bigger lever; you need to surrender to God’s lever. Some of you are reading this with judgment in your heart towards God because of those situations you can’t overcome. Secretly you are growing in hate towards the God that loves you, your best asset for life. You feel that it is His fault for the situations. Understand it was not Him that forces you to push and pull on your lever trying to solve your life’s problems. All along He has been there offering a bigger and better lever for life in Jesus. What part of your life today do you need to stop using your lever and ask God to use His in your life? Where do you need to ask forgiveness, or humbly restore a relationship? Use God’s lever to move your world.

“Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,…” (1 Chronicles 16:10-12)