The Average Jane Journal #20 - Revival

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

I’m sure you have seen those verses a lot lately dealing with our upcoming election. What do they make you think of? What do they make you want to pray about? I wanted to share a dream I have had for awhile now. I would love to see this country have a huge revival-all across the country from all local government all the way to the top. Can you imagine that? Where all leaders wanted what God wanted? Where all leader’s hearts broke over the same things that breaks God’s heart? Where all leaders studied the Word of God and KNEW what was sin and disgrace?

All these months that I thought about this dream, has made me think of my church upbringing. As most of you know my father is a pastor and I remember having revivals at our churches. I have to say these are not fun childhood memories. Doesn’t that sound spiritual????? Here are some things that stick out, that make me not remember revivals fondly.

**Sometimes, I remember, the visiting pastor would have to stay with us. No child likes that, having to be on best behavior-maybe having to give up your room-you know like when a relative came to visit.

**Growing up, I went to church three times a week; that was a regular week. During revival week, we went every night; FOUR more times.

**Usually when there was a visiting preacher, different people in the church would want to have him for dinner. Sometimes our family would go with the pastor to families’ homes for meals. I hated doing this as a child. There we are, back to that “good behavior”. And I’m not exaggerating when I say there was one family, every time we went to their house I spilled something. I swear I was not doing it on purpose, I do not know why I was cursed. I remember the anxious feeling before every visit to their house. I remember it sort of being joked about by this family while we were there, but I didn’t find it funny because I knew my parents didn’t find it funny.

**I also didn’t like the idea of having to listen to another pastor. My dad was IT for me, and not only did I have to go to church every night-but I had to listen to someone I didn’t want to be hearing.

Like I said, the memories that revivals bring up in my childhood are not anything spiritual. Maybe your memories are different if you attended revivals. I laugh at myself now as I think back to these memories, but also feel a bit saddened. I accepted Christ at age 14, but just see all this wasted time that I did not live a life that God would have wanted. It’s pretty sad that when I think of the word revival, that those are the memories I come up with. I’m sure great things happened at all those revivals from my childhood, but I don’t remember that part of it.

I’m not a child anymore, so I want different memories-a deeper meaning of the word. I dream of this country seeing a revival. I came across an article that someone wrote, that wants the same thing for our nation. I found his comments touching, a definition that matches my dream.

"I think you have to identify what revival is not. It's not just emotionalism; it's not just a bunch of hype; it is not pure excitement. It is not a preacher just standing in a pulpit, hollering and ranting and raving and preaching about fire, hell, and brimstone. It's not about mass numbers of people coming to the Lord Jesus in salvation -- that would be evangelism.

"But what revival really is...it's God's people who have over a season of time grown cold, lukewarm, left their first love, and quite honestly are in a quagmire -- one foot in the world , one foot in the church -- and are thirsty." (written by Ryan Loveing)

We just can’t get past the fact that revival is about God’s people. Sure we want to bring others to Christ, it is our purpose on this earth to be Kingdom minded. But if you think about it, revival has to start with people that already belong to the Kingdom. Revival is reviving, which shows something has to occur that has already occurred before. Think of reviving someone’s life, you have revived them to living again-something they had done before. As God’s people, at one time, we had total “souled out”God hearts, as my pastor just recently said we were “bananas for Jesus”. We need to revive those hearts. We need to want what God wants, need to KNOW what is sin and disgrace, what breaks God’s heart.

So I hope that when you are praying for this upcoming election, on any level, that God will plant the word “revival” in your hearts. I pray that God will give you a desire to dream for a revival in this country. We need to be AWAKENED!!!! It’s up to God’s people!!

“Awaken” by Natalie Grant

Sometimes I feel like I'm just existing

I'm not really living

I'm only watching the time slip away

I've forgotten who I am in you

I'm not who I'm meant to be

I'm drifting farther away from my destiny

[Chorus:]Awaken my heart, awaken my soul

Awaken your power and take control

Awaken the passion to live for you, lord

Awaken me

My soul is longing, my heart is searching

I'm desperate for you to move

Give me a hunger, pull me closer I'm crying out to you

Awaken my heart, awaken my soul

Awaken your power and take control

Awaken the passion to live for you, lord

Open my eyes so I can see your presence Dwelling inside

Wake me up, cause I can't live another minute if I'm not shining your light

Awaken my heart, awaken my soul

Awaken the passion in me

Lord, awaken me to live my destiny

Lord, awaken me and shine your light through me

Lord, awaken me to live my destiny

Lord, awaken me and shine your light through me

The Average Jane Journal #19 - Ask God to Disturb You

“Most people die waiting! Yes, some go quickly-but for most of us we will die in bed-waiting!
Imagine yourself lying there, in bed and reflecting. Will you lie there with no regrets? Some regrets? Nothing but regrets?
The decisions you are making today are actually making the bed you will lie in while you wait to die.”

Wow, that’s quite morbid, right? But it might have gotten your attention. I want to suggest a book to you that I just started. It’s called Chazown, by Craig Groeschel.

Chazown is a Hebrew word meaning vision, dream, or revelation.

“Where there is no vision(chazown), the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18

Are you living your life with purpose and passion? What did God create you to do? What is your God given vision/dream?

What if your life changed the world even after you were dead?

What is your mission on this earth? What were you designed to do? Psalm 139:13-16

Do you have a desire to know what God designed you to do? Ask God to reveal it to you, and glorify Him with your life. How does living with focus, endurance, peace, and passion sound? This is a life lived knowing their chazown.

“God’s vision for your life is bigger and better than you’ve had the courage to even hope for. Your God is that good. That strong. And He loves you that much.”

“Are you willing to let God disturb you with dreams so big that you don’t know how they’ll be accomplished?” I love that question!!!!

I pray that this small taste of the book will spark in you a desire to know God’s vision for your life. Start praying about it, ask God to disturb you!! I have only read the first chapter-I can’t wait to see what God shows me. Maybe you will want to read it also.

The Average Jane Journal #18 - Something Big

Today I have been reading back through my journals for 2007 and 2008. I was looking for something specific but instead found an entry that has sort of repumped me. I was already feeling a renewed hope in God today, a renewed faith for following Him. I loved being reminded of my great desire to glorify God with my life, and to do His will.

A lot of you that read this journal go to Southlink, and just like you guys my church is also going through an expansion. We have outgrown our building and property; and Glory to God for such a problem to have. Anyway, just wanted to shout out to them, that I know what they're going through and I hope this song will remind you just how exciting all the work ahead is going to be. This song would be such a cool "theme song" while going through an expansion campaign. (And yes, I remember that the author of this song used to be the worship guy at Southlink.)

But no matter what God has given you to do for Him, I just pray that you can listen to this song and be "pumped for God". I pray that it will encourage you, like it has done for me once again. What is your "something big"? Don't let the word "big" scare you. Whatever you do for the Kingdom is BIG-no matter how small it feels. Just obey!!

"Attempt something so big for God that it is sure to fail without Him.” I’m not sure who first spoke these words, but they’ve never left me. I believe the desire to be a part of something greater than ourselves is built into the core of each one of us. That’s the reason I left Georgia to become the worship pastor of a church plant in south Denver called “Southlink.” I believe that this song will strike a chord with many visionary dreamers who are contemplating stepping out and doing something that only God can truly do through them. In his book, “Visioneering,” Andy Stanley said, “A divine vision done God’s way and in God’s timing is sure to succeed.” (paragragh by John Waller)

"Something Big" by John Waller

I wanna see something I've not seen Something so big
I wanna be a part of something great Greater than me
It's time to dream big dreams To see Your visionBecome reality
‘Cause it’s for You, by You, those who Love You wanna do
Something so big It’s destined to fail without You, Lord
It’s gonna fail without You, Lord
Something so great It takes a miracle to do
We, Your children Wanna do something big for You
We, yes, we are gonna sing a brand new song Something so strong
We will be the sound that wakes the dawn Something so loud
It’s time for breaking through ‘Cause there are no limits
For he who holds the truth
When it’s for You, and by You, and those whoLove You wanna do
Something bigger, something greater For the glory of Your splendor
Something bigger, something greater
Tell the story of Your wondrous love Your wondrous love
Those who love You wanna do
As long as we live, let us do something so big for You

The Average Jane Journal #17 - Is God In Charge of the Future

Well, hello everyone; it’s been awhile. I have been MIA for awhile-and without going into a long story, let’s just say that I’m happy to be back to a somewhat normal state of mind.(if I can be called normal)

A lesson I just had in my small group really touched me and I wanted to share it. It helped me gain a bit of my spiritual strength back, along with lots of prayers and tears. (Thank you to those of you who have been checking on me. )

If someone were to ask you if God was in control of the future, what would you say? Of course we would all say YES. But do we live like we really believe that? I know for me, I try so hard sometimes to be in control of my life; most of the time I do not even realize I’m doing it.

But what about when God asks you to do something hard, or out of your comfort zone? Is your automatic response peace, because God is in control of the future? I can’t say that for myself, I analyze EVERYTHING!!! To my own defense I like to say that I analyze things because I want to be sure it is God’s will, but I admit that sometimes it is just my own mind trying to control my life.

I encourage anyone that finds these notes meaningful to go watch the lesson; it was awesome. Just go to http://www.lifechurch.tv/. Click on blue box that says “I want to watch Messages”. Then click on Search Videos. Search for the series called You Don’t Have What It Takes, then click on Part 4. The lessons are all about 20 minutes long.




YOU DON’T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES

“YOU CAN’T CONTROL THE FUTURE”

1. Achieving greatness will require you to leave.

“The LORD has said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. Genesis 12:1-4

In Abram’s case, leaving was a physical leaving from his home. But a life of faith is always a life of leaving. You might need to leave your old life behind, and give your heart to Christ. You might need to leave your habit of trying to control your life. Are you stuck spiritually? Do you need to leave a great pain behind? Do you need to leave a big sin behind?

3 Reason People Don’t Leave

** People live by sight and not by faith.

The Lord said to Abram, “leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

Abram did not know where God was leading him, but he went-living by faith. He was not living by sight. Leave where you are and let God take you where He wants you to go. Listen to God and leave in faith!! The enemy is always trying to tell us to live by sight, not by faith.

By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8

**People have a fear of failure.

We all understand this one. Fear of failure is such a mighty tool the enemy uses, I get hit with it all the time. The enemy tells us “you don’t have what it takes”. He is right, our future is in God’s hands, not our own capabilities. Do you trust that God is in control of your life? Do you fear failure too much? We can also fear leaving our comfort zone, but remember Abram didn’t let that paralyze him.

**People don’t trust God with their future.

Ok, here is the big one. Do you really trust God with your future???? Are you seeking His kingdom and righteousness????

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’. For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:25-33

I put myself through a lot of worry lately, and this lesson made me realize that if I’m seeking God’s will and truly want to glorify Him with my life-then that’s all I can do. God knows my heart’s true desire, and He IS in control of my life. Remember the song that says “Lord, keep me in your will so I won’t be in your way”? I have been thinking about that a lot lately. I know God is in control of my life, but I want to be yielded to His control.

2. When God says leave He always gives you a promise.

Look back up at Genesis 12:1-4. Notice that God gave Abram one command, but 7 promises. No matter what you need to leave behind, God is there with you as you go forward. God also promises us eternal life, when we accept Christ as our Savior. But in your own personal “command” that God gives you, there could be other promises as well.

Are you aware of God’s promise to you?
Have you forgotten God’s promises to you?

The Average Jane Journal #16 - Songs Speaking to Me

I don't know about you but I get a lot of encourgement from music. Today was one of those days where I craved just listening to words from certain songs and being ministered to through the words from God. Today is one of those days where I couldn't tell you what my mood is-I'm sad, angry, disappointed, fearful; but at the same time hopeful, faithful, and desired to be yielded.

Just wanted to share two of those songs with you. The first one is definitely just a prayer to God. You can insert anything for the word "friend"-parent, child, a situation, spouse, a hurt, this country, etc. Today I have inserted just about all of them. The second song is just something God is working on in me, part of that being yielded.

Love you all.

"Prayer for a Friend" by Casting Crowns

Lord I lift my friend to You. I've done all that I know to do.

I lift my friend, to You.

Complicated circumstances have clouded his view. Lord I lift my friend up to You.

I fear that I won’t have the words that he needs to hear.

I pray for Your wisdom , oh God. And a heart that's sincere. And Lord I lift my friend up to You.

Lord I lift my friend to You. Though he's my best friend in the world, I know he means much more to You. I want so much to help him, but this is something he has to do. Lord I lift my friend up to You.

There's a way that seems so right to him. But You know where that leads. He's becoming a puppet of the world. Too blind to see the strings.

And Lord I lift my friend up to You.
Lord I lift my friend to You. I've done all that I know to do. I lift my friend, to You.

"Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath

Looked down from a broken sky Traced out by the city lights

My world from a mile high Best seat in the house tonight

Touched down on the cold black tile Hold on for the sudden stop

Breath in the familiar shock Of confusion and chaos

Are those people going somewhere?Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity Give me your arms for the broken hearted

Wasnt it far beyond my reach? Give me your heart for the once forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see again again yeah yeah

Step out on a busy street See a girl and our eyes meet

Does her best to smile at me To hide whats underneath

There's a man just to her right Black suit and a bright red tie

To ashamed to tell his wife Hes out of work Hes buying time

Are those people going somewhere? Why have I never cared?

I've been there a million times A couple of million eyes

Just moving past me by I swear I never thought that I was wrong

Well I want a second glance So give me a second chance

To see the way you see the people all alone

The Average Jane Journal #15 - What is Your Godly To-Do List?

I was attacked this week. Were you?

I was spiritually attacked by the enemy. He works so hard to get us to quit doing God’s will.

During my Bible study today(Beth Moore-her studies are awesome-I highly suggest. Yes Regina, all these years you were right!!!), anyway our topic hit right on for the week I had had. On a side note, the last two weeks we had to go ahead two weeks because we couldn’t find the next dvd. So today we went back and did the two lessons we skipped-God’s timing???? Anyway, she made a statement about satan and how he works. The enemy will do everything he can to get us to quit, then he turns around and makes us feel even worse by calling us quitters and cowards. You’ve heard that voice, right?

I am thankful to my Lord for my growing strength in Him-and for those of you that I leaned on and cried on a shoulder. I got through my discouragement and am back on track.

Our lesson today was all about goodness-a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Her main point is that this fruit of goodness is always doing; actively benefiting someone else. This is something God has been opening my heart to for awhile now. I have realized my great desire to bring Him glory and to do what He wants of me. Do you realize that God made a to-do list for your life before you were even born? Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

I have read that before but it means something now-now that I want to know what God’s to-do list is for my life. I am saddened to think of how long I have lived already and how many things I have not done on that list. What have I missed?

Beth talked about our culture of being self-absorbed, how easy it is for us to get bored. How much trouble do people get into because of pure boredom? Well, as she said in her southern twang and right to the point “they don’t have enough to do”. There is plenty to do in God, we all need to seek what God’s to-do list is for our individual life. We are all made different, with different passions and gifts, so our lists(good works) will be different from each other. And remember He knew what our good works would be before we were born!!! Isn’t that cool?

So back to my attack-this whole lesson today of course had me crying like a baby. (yes I know, I cry a lot these days)But I felt God was telling me the whole time that I was right where He wanted me to be and that I was working on my to-do list. I might not have handled my attack as bravely as I should have, but I didn’t get up and run like I wanted to.

So to close, the coolest thing God showed me today(via Beth) was found in righIsaiah 58:8 “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” The whole scripture you should read is verses 6-11, but for space I only wrote the one verse. She called this scripture a prescription for our life-God’s promise when we “spend ourselves” on others.

I loved all the promises but the last part about the Lord being our rear guard is what I believe God really wanted me to “see” today. Of course we see that as a way of God saying “I got your back”, and believe me I’m thankful for that. But listen to what the Hebrew meaning of “rear guard” is-to gather in, collect…as in harvest.

So God goes behind us(rear guard) and does the gathering when we plant the seeds(good works). We don’t need to look back and see if there is a harvest-that is His job. So when I was attacked I started telling myself that I could never make a difference in others’ lives-but it’s not my job to bring in the harvest. I am just to plant the seeds and keep looking forward. We can get discouraged when we try to look back and see if any of our seeds are growing. Just keep planting-that’s our job.

So what’s your to-do list? And are you doing it?

The Average Jane Journal #14 - Is There Joy In Your Life?

I am writing this with tears still streaming down my face-don’t worry, nothing bad has happened. I just finished watching The Bucket List, and pretty much cried like a baby through most of it. I loved the beautiful friendship and genuine love that was formed between the two main characters.

This morning before watching the movie I had been thinking about writing a quick journal entry asking for prayer. I woke up feeling so overwhelmed of all the need that I see around me. There is so much to pray for, so many hurts and needs in the lives of all the people I care about.

So after my heart was breaking about more things to pray for amidst my circle of people in my life, I woke up feeling overwhelmed. I felt like I needed help, that maybe I couldn’t do it-“feeling” is just too much for me. I am always questioning myself and how I’m doing on this new journey God has put me on-I’m sure there is someone much better for the job.

So anyway, back to the movie. I don’t know if you have seen the movie-which I do suggest, it’s very touching. And I’m not going to pretend it’s some scriptural, faith based movie-but of course the subject of death always brings up faith questions; no matter what you’re belief is.

But one scene in the movie was very eye opening to me, and helped me deal with my original thoughts I had when I woke up. The two characters are in Egypt, looking at pyramids. One of them tells of an Egyptian belief about two questions they are asked when they die. Their answers to the questions determine whether they go to Heaven or not.

Now first let me say, I am not writing about that belief-I do not believe that. Entry into Heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ only. But the two questions were awesome questions, that we can use in how we live our lives on this earth.

The questions are “Have you found joy in your life?” and “Has your life brought joy to others?”. I can just imagine Jesus asking those questions. That pretty much boils down to what our lives should be. As believers we should find joy in our life through Jesus, and the fact that our names are written in the book of life-our reservation is already made, no matter what happens here on earth.

And the second question, would carry out the commandment of loving others. If others find joy through our lives, we must have loved!!!! And maybe led others on that path that leads them to their own joy in Jesus Christ.

So, my feelings are totally different from this morning. Yes, I still feel overwhelmed but I realized I am finding joy in being on this new journey and praying for people I care about. It has been my desire to be used by God, and to bring Him glory and I believe He has put me where He wants me. Even if that is just to pray for people that probably have no one else that prays for them. Seeing God in little moments recently in my life has been JOY.

So my answer to the first question is definitely YES-not only my joy in MY salvation but joy in realizing I am where God wants me to be. We are never promised an easy life this side of Heaven, just a companion to live it with us. So when I feel overwhelmed, I must remember I’m not alone.

The second question I assume is not meant for us to answer about ourselves. Maybe that’s a question meant only for others to answer about us. But you know what? Not for my glory, but for God’s, I do want the answer to that question to be yes about my own life someday and hopefully I will continue to strive for that-even in the littlest ways; wherever God leads me.

And yes, I’m still crying.