Not By Might, Nor By Power

I have been going through an intense battle spiritually. I don't know if it's because of the conference we have coming up in September or if it's because I have decided to pursue God with everything I have or maybe it's both.
I was talking to God on Sunday morning and I told Him that I was tired and I needed His strength and power to flow in my life. It was one of those Sundays where I didn't feel like worshipping but I did regardless because I needed God to speak to me and I was pursuing God like crazy. During the worship service I didn't feel anything; during the preaching I didn't feel anything it wasn't until after everyone was dismissed and I was standing there talking to God and a word from the Lord came to me "It's not by might nor by power but by my spirit." At that moment my spirit man jumped and I was broken before God in His presence. I stood there, in amazement that God would love me in spite of me.
I guess that's what grace is all about. Check back soon; I am starting a couple of different studies that I am going to share with everyone that will read them.

Facing Your Giants

I started one of the best books I have read in about a year the other night. It was written by Max Lucado entitled "Facing Your Giants." I purchased the book simply because I love the story of David and Goliath but as I began to read the book I couldn't put it down. It's very well written and it causes you to stop and take a look at yourself and what your own giants are that you face so you can live a victorious life.

My Prayer

God; I can't do this on my own anymore; I need your help now more than ever. I am sick of pretending that I can do it on my own. God please I need your help to get free; please visit me and change my thoughts and feelings. I know you are my source and you are the one that can bring about change for my life. Please Lord; my soul longs for you and my heart thirsts for you in a dry and waterless land. I love you and I want to bring honor to you.

Can't Stay Average Anymore

Yesterday morning on the way into church I heard a song (don't know the band name) called "I Can't Stay Average" it "hit" me so hard I couldn't get that thought out of my head. So when the youth went back to the chapel for class yesterday the power of God hit me and I wound up on the floor weeping and crying not only for Unleashed Fire but all of the youth ministries across Ohio and America. I have only felt that way one other time and it was when I was when I was in Mexico 10 years this Summer. I have never really felt the heart of God but it's starting to happen more and more. My desire is that the fire of God would fall on the state of Ohio like it has in Florida. I know it's coming but I want it to start with me.

A Generation Of Prophets

Last night I attended the "opening service" of God Force 2008 "Igniting A Generation" and it was, needless to say, absolutely incredible. I went just to see some friends and talk about some memories and the service was powerful. There was no preaching it was a time of prayer, worship, drama and more prayer. Towards the end of the service the spirit of God really moved and the youth pastor at Eagle Rock Church (www.erm.org) came to me and said "God wants you to know that you are about to step into your rest. You've been fighting a battle in your finances, home, marriage, and youth and God's getting ready to send you the rest you need and it's going to start this year." No one knew the struggles we've been facing (not even family) and that word was dead on.
After he left the praise and worship pastor came to me and said "I don't know you but God told me that the disillusionment and disappointment and hurt that has come from pastors and leaders you've given your heart and life for is ending tonight. You've not left His hand and the anointing you are getting ready to walk in is what you've prayed for. God is going to start drawing you into the secret place of His presence. He's going to "swoop" down and pick you up in His arms."
After all of this God brought me to Matt. 10:16-18 and He told me that He's raising up a generation of prophets. God's getting ready to place us in front of kings and governors and we are to speak what He tells us to speak what He's told us to speak. Be encouraged in this God's raising up a generation that will not compromise what they believe and why they believe it.

Getting Things Right

As I sit here at 2:13am I can't get the thought out of my head that God is calling me to take care of some "weights" that have been impeding my progress. They aren't heaven and hell issues they are just things that I have to get rid of so I can push toward my destiny with nothing holding me back.

Jesus please help me to become all that you want me to be and all that I want to be so I can carry the full weight of what you have for me to carry.

Change Your Thought Life

"Before you change your thinking you have to change what goes into your mind." I received that quote from a Zig Ziglar newsletter that I subscribe to. I think that we (church) have done a disservice to people by telling them to change their stinking thinking. But we don't give them way to make that hope a reality. When I read the above quote it hit me like a ton of bricks; I had always read Phil. 4:8 but it never made sense until I read that quote. My prayer for the remainder of 08 is that I will learn how to change what goes into my mind so I can step into my destiny.
It's so easy to allow the cares of life to "bog" us down and it's very easy to complain instead of doing something to change the circumstances that are within our power to change. I have made the determination that I will change what goes into my mind and, as a byproduct, I will change what comes out of my mouth.

Breakthrough Experienced

Sometimes there are situations and circumstances in your life that seems to take the "fight" out of your walk. I had been experiencing that since the middle part of December. For those of you that don't know I have accepted a position to be the associate youth director at ALT. Since that time I have really had a burden on my heart to teach the teens the power they possess and the power that they can walk in. During that time I have been "butting heads" with a certain teenager.
It seemed like no matter what I was teaching or ministering on he would have a problem with. So I began to really pray and fast certain things to get God's attention and get the power of heaven behind me and I continued to pray for him. Two weeks ago, on a Wednesday night, we experienced breakthrough. In class we began to talk about the decisions you make and how people view you. We asked the teens if their friends knew they were Christians. This teenager said "they know I go to church but not that I'm a Christian." From there we asked if he died that night where he would spend eternity. He said "hell probably." I'll admit that the flippant attitude scarred me at first but I then began to talk to him and the evangelistic anointing began to flow.
I looked at him and told him that it was time to get things right with God. I told him that he was a leader and was a voice to his generation. As much as he hated to hear that he knew that I was telling the truth. That night before we left he prayed a powerful prayer and it got the ball rolling for God to show up in a mighty way. It's my heart's desire that these teens experience God in a mightier way then I ever have.
So that Sunday (Jan. 20) God began to move on us and I couldn't even teach and when we got back into the youth room God showed up again and it turned into a prayer service and God showed up. I am so excited and thankful for what God has done and is going to do.

Keep checking back for more updates.