I Am Going to Die {A Daddy Draft}

A Daddy Draft

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

I am going to die this year. 

You heard me right, I am going to die. I've lived a happy life, but all of that is going to change. You see, God has called for an army to rise up out of First Baptist Church of Elkhart, IN and I know God is calling me to the front lines. We are marching forth to do battle against the Prince of the Power of the Air (Ephesians 2:2). I am laying my life down and I will die to myself so that I can be used by God to further His kingdom for the glory of His name.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24

Our church's mission this year is to be used by God to save the whole world.

"Foolishness" many will say. "Impossible" still others will scoff. "Unrealistic" believers will tell us. That's just the beginning of this battle. You see, those are all lies from the one whom we're fighting. Our Commander and Chief has told us, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT)

I can hear you believers out there:
[Chuckle]
[Giggle]
[Snicker]
"Yes, God can do that, but He's not actually going to do that."
"I've never seen God do anything like that before."
"You're aiming too high, you'll never achieve that goal."

I know God will use our church for a world harvest this year. I know it because He has promised to do more than we can ask or think. I know it because He has given this vision to our Pastor. I know it because I truly believe God wants the world to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). I also know that it's going to cost us...

That's right, I'm well aware of the fact that those who truly lay down their lives for the cause of Christ suffer dearly. I've watched my pastor endure the tragic death of his daughter only a couple of months ago. I've seen him raise his hands in praise and lose his breath from giving all he has to worship our Commander and Chief. I've seen him press on toward the prize, knowing full well that this life is but a whisper. We are strangers in a foreign land battling against a Dark Prince who is holding this world captive from joy and peace. I will not fear this world. I will not run from the calling upon my life. I will be strong and courageous knowing full well that my treasure is laid up in heaven where no moth or rust can destroy it (Matthew 6:20).

If you're looking for a safe place to go where you can hear about God and then go back to your life during the week, don't come to First Baptist Church. 
If you want a place to go just to catch up with your friends and drink coffee, don't come to First Baptist Church. 
If you want to go somewhere that will make you feel good about yourself and give you advice on how to be happy, don't come to First Baptist Church! 

We are an army that is rising up to fight for the lost and dying souls of this world. We are training our bodies and making them slaves to the will of our Commander and Chief. We are giving up everything that this world has to offer so that we can gain an eternal reward. 

We are at war and we will not back down, we will not give up, we will not waiver from the Truth.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

I realize that most will not get this far in my post here. But if you're still reading, if you can feel our Commander and Chief tugging on your heart to join in this battle, we must begin to pray. The only way to win this battle is on our knees. Will you commit to pray? If you can, I want to invite you to join me at First Baptist Church on Thursday mornings at 7:00am. Dress warm, I don't have keys to get inside. We need to begin crying out to God to use us for the glory of His name. So that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow (Philippians 2:10).

Won't you come and die with me this year? Forget about yourself so that you can experience all that God has in store for this year. 

 "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23 

Revive me, oh Lord, according to Your word. *A Daddy Draft*

Source

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit in the presence of The Lord? I've always felt distanced from God. It's as if my head is so clogged up with knowledge about God and who He is that none of it has made it to my heart. After years of theological and doctrinal studies I packaged God all up into a nice neat little box that explains everything that we know about Him from the Bible.

In November last year our pastor announced that an organization called Time to Revive was going to be coming to our area. I was super excited about the idea of revival. I've heard about revivals from the past and how God does amazing unexplainable things and brings thousands into the kingdom. I didn't really understand all the details of this new ministry, but I knew I was ALL IN! 

January 12th, prayer week began. A whole week of praying morning, noon, and night every day. I was there every chance I could, and something very unexpected happened. God began moving in an amazing and unexplainable way throughout our community. Every prayer meeting I attended I could feel that I was entering into the presence of the Lord. Then it happened. The main speaker began talking about healing and prophesying. My theological alarms were sounding a red alert. However, I couldn't deny the fact that at every prayer meeting, I was personally meeting with God. He was there every time. I scrutinized every word and passage preached, and everything I was hearing was in line with scripture, it just didn't fit into my theological grid. 

Source

Revival is here in Indiana, and our prayer week has been extended to 52 days. I am deeply struggling with the theology being preached, and yet I love going and experiencing the presence of The Lord. I feel like Peter when he walked out on the water to meet with Jesus. He eagerly jumped out of the boat and began walking. But then he noticed how big the waves were and how fierce the storm raged and fear gripped him. He began drowning in the midst of it all. I jumped into this Revive Indiana from the start, but now it's as if the Holy Spirit is doing something so huge that I'm fighting to keep my head above water. I can't explain or understand all that God is doing. For the first time in my life my God is so big that I can't put him in a box. And you know what...it's wonderful.

Revive

Have you heard?? Revival is HERE. 

Friday night we were tasked with giving away this bracelet on Saturday. 

I thought, how am I going to do that? I am going to be home all day until the Tim Hawkins concert at our church. When am I going to see an unsaved person to share this with?

Well...

Last night Derek and I enjoyed a date to see Tim Hawkins.

((BIG thank you to E&R for watching all of our babes, and to my Dadda for nabbing us amazing seats since we were super late as usual!))

We decided to go to Honey's for dessert. Apparently as we were walking in, Derek was wrestling with whether or not to remind me about the bracelet. He decided not to. I didn't even think of it until I saw a couple walk in and smiled at them. Suddenly, God rubbed some "eyesalve" on my eyes and I started to see people. I found a table that was in the midst of the busy little place and sat. 

And waited.

And watched.

The couple I had smiled at earlier sat down at a large table next to mine.

I noticed the table I was sitting at had some ice cream on it so I wiped it up and had to walk to the front of the store to throw the napkin away. In that few seconds, a group of teenagers took my table.

So I sat with this couple. They talked first. They had a blond haired, blue eyed boy named Jack with them. (Coincidence??) Derek came shortly after and asked how we could pray for them. 

In the end, I was able to hand over my bracelet, pray for them, get contact info, and now they are interested in visiting our church.

"Divine appointment" truly is what happened. I had absolutely nothing to do with any of it. The Spirit used me because He could. I wasn't nervous. I wasn't stressed about what to say or how to say it. 

That is supernatural.

These souls are so precious to God, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, I saw those souls as precious to God and they became precious to me.

Oh, and this is just the tip of all that God is doing just in my family! Derek… he is a new man. He is the spiritual leader in this family and is charging ahead with hope, joy, passion! 

And Marie?? {sigh} God is moving in her tiny heart. A few days ago she declared somewhat out of the blue: 

"I BELIEVE IN JESUS"

She has always said she does but this was different. She just felt the need to let me know. So later I shared with her about when I got saved and walked her through the bracelet. At the end of all that she mentioned one of Derek's friends saying, "We need to tell [soandso] about Jesus because he doesn't believe in Jesus." And she couldn't wait to give her bff next door a bracelet and tell her about Jesus! I don't know if she is eternally secure yet, but I have so much peace when I used to feel a desperate urgency. 

What an incredible week we've had. And it's only just begun…