Clear Conscience

Having a clear conscience means there is "no one alive that I have ever wronged, offended, or hurt in any way that I have not gone back to and sought to make it right with both God and the individual." It is not sufficient merely to seek God's forgiveness when others have been affected by your sin.
Repentance has been defined as "returning to the point of departure." To return to the point of departure from God's standards is to retrace your steps and seek to mend relationships that have been damaged by asking for forgiveness for your improper conduct, speech, and attitudes.
Additionally, in order to have a clear conscience, it may be necessary to make restitution for your previous actions. You cannot be right with God and at odds with man.
A clear conscience is essential to a revived life. Memorize Acts 24:16 to help you remember this principle.

Insight from the Word:

Matthew 5:23-24 "If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

Acts 24:16 "I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and men."

1 Timothy 1:5 "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

1 Peter 3:15-16 "In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."

Below is a link to dealing with the above mentioned topic. Please take a listen; it may change your life.

http://www.lifeaction.org/infuse-podcast/2008/8/19/dealing-offenses-toward-others/

© Life Action Ministries: Revival Review--Keys to Continued Revival

El Salvador Trip

We have returned home from a week long mission’s trip with the team to El Salvador. It was an awesome experience with our entire team (25 total). We ministered at a local church the first Sunday, we did painting and maintenance work at the Shalom Children’s Home (http://www.harvesting.org/) and did kids club activities in the afternoon, and we worked in a local village drilling a fresh water well and teaching hygiene to the people that lived there (http://www.water.cc/).
I believe that not only did the trip allow us to serve those in the village as well as in the children’s home, but to serve each other in a way that we had not experienced before. The perspective that was gained as well as being in that environment with the team will allow us to have an intimacy that we have not had previous. It was a time for us as a team to bond together, serve together, and come along side one another in a way, in a place, and in an environment that many had never been. The kids at the children’s home captivated the team member’s hearts that were there. The drill/hygiene team was able to get into the village and spend time with those whose environment is radically different than anything that we would be used to, and experience a joy from those who appeared to have nothing on the surface but who where rich to the core. The perspective that all of us gained will be a blessing and a challenge for all of us as we get ready to come back together in January. Many of us will miss the relationships that have begun with those in El Salvador (The Savior) and may prompt several of us to make a return trip in the future, to continue the work that was begun there.
I am excited to see how God uses this trip in order to prepare us for road life together once again in January. What a blessing it has been.
Pictures of the trip can be found at the links below:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ben.slenk/ElSalvadorDrillSiteAndHygiene#

http://picasaweb.google.com/ben.slenk/ElSalvadorShalomChildrenSHome#

http://picasaweb.google.com/ben.slenk/ElSalvadorPainting#

Raising a Generation of Wimps

Are We Raising a Nation of Wimps?
http://www.albertmohler.com/ (from his book “Culture Shift” Engaging Current Issues with Timeless Truth)

To be honest, I look at the magazine Psychology Today as something of a trade journal for the therapeutic culture. The magazine spins out seemingly endless cover stories on how to be happy, self-actualized, and successful, but its worldview is light years from classical Bible-based Christianity. Nevertheless, this magazine is really on to something with its recent article, "A Nation of Wimps," written by Hara Estroff Marano. This article is must reading for every parent.
Marano begins her article with a portrait of cushioned childhood. "Maybe it's the cyclist in the park, trim under his sleek metallic blue helmet, cruising along the dirt path . . . at three miles an hour. On his tricycle." From there, Marano moves to cite the "all-rubber-cushioned surface where kids use to skin their knees," and the fact that the kids aren't even allowed to play alone. Their mommies and daddies are playing with them, making sure that the little darlings don't experience even the slightest scrape, scratch, or scare. "Few take it half-easy on the perimeter benches, as parents used to do," Marano explains, "letting the kids figure things out for themselves."
To the contrary, today's parents are now spending a great deal of their time doing little more than protecting their children from life. Marano describes this as "the wholly sanitized childhood, without skinned knees or the occasional C in history." The result of all this? Our kids are growing up to be pampered wimps who are incapable of assuming adult responsibility and have no idea how to handle the routine challenges of life.
David Elkind, a prominent child psychologist, counters, "Kids need to feel badly sometimes. We learn through experience and we learn through bad experiences. Through failure we learn how to cope."
That seems to be a foreign concept to many of today's parents. Coddled by a generation of Baby Boomers, today's parents have turned into hyper-protectors. Kids are not allowed to play, because they might get hurt. In today's highly competitive environment, kids have to excel at everything, even if parents have to actually do the work or negotiate an assisted success. The routine play of childhood--even the pointless chatter, nonsense, and aimless play of children--is now considered wasted time or worse. "Messing up" is simply out of style, Marano explains. "Although error and experimentation are the true mothers of success, parents are taking pains to remove failure from the equation."
"Whether we want to or not, we're on our way to creating a nation of wimps," Marano warns. She fast-forwards to college and university campuses, where "the fragility factor" is now most clearly evident. As she explains, "It's where intellectual and developmental tracks converge as the emotional training wheels come off. By all accounts, psychological distress is rampant on college campuses."
This statement is easily verified by observing the reports issued by academic institutions. Psychological distress--sometimes evident in the mild form of anxiety and, in other cases, in binge drinking, self-mutilation, and even suicide--are now major concerns of college administrators.
As Steven Hyman, Harvard University's provost and former director of the National Institute of Mental Health lamented, the problem "is interfering with the core mission of the university."
What is the source of this problem? Observers are zeroing in on parental pampering as the most critical factor behind this pattern of student "disconnect." Smothered by parental attention and decision-making during childhood and adolescence, these young people arrive on the college campus without the ability to make their own decisions, live with their choices, learn from their experiences, and grapple with the issues of adult life.
But the academic issues do not show up only on college campuses. Today's kids must be successful, at least in the view of their insistent parents. Even in pre-kindergarten programs, parents now show up with a list of special demands, insisting that their child must be treated with special care. Inevitably, these are often transformed into diagnoses of learning disabilities that will require special instructional accommodations. If this trend is not reversed, virtually all students will be diagnosed with some form of learning disability and the entire classroom experience will break down.
Marano blames this on parental "hyperconcern."
John Portman, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia, suggests that American parents "expect their children to be perfect--the smartest, fastest, most charming people in the universe. And if they can't get their children to prove it on their own, they'll turn to doctors to make their kids into the people the parents want to believe their kids are." Inevitably, what the parents are actually doing is "showing kids how to work the system for their own benefit."
By the time these kids get to college, some parents are just getting warmed up. "Talk to a college president or administrator," Marano advises, "and you're almost certainly bound to hear tales of the parents who call at 2 a.m. to protest Brandon's C in economics because it's going to damage his shot at grad school."
The article goes on to cite the experience of psychologist Robert Epstein of the University of California San Diego. When Epstein announced to his class that he "expected them to work hard and would hold them to high standards," he received an outraged response from a parent--using his official judicial stationery--accusing the professor of mistreating the young.
Epstein, himself a former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today, later filed a complaint with the California Commission on Judicial Misconduct, and the judge was censured by that body for abusing his office. Nevertheless, this is just one more incident in what is becoming a normal experience on too many campuses.
How special are today's students? Well, according to their report cards and diplomas, they are very special. The problem of "grade inflation" now means that, in terms of an actual measure of academic excellence, grades are now virtually useless. On some campuses, the average grade is approaching an A. Lawrence Summers, Harvard University's embattled president, discovered when he assumed the university's presidency in 2001 that 94 percent of the college's graduates were receiving graduating honors. Peter Stearns of George Mason University argues that grade inflation "is the institutional response to parental anxiety about school demands on children." As Marano expands, "It is a pure index of emotional over-investment in a child's success."
In an interesting twist, Marano focuses on one particular technology that betrays the inability of today's children to establish their own identity and responsible decision-making--the cell phone. "Even in college--or perhaps especially at college--students are typically in contact with their parents several times a day, reporting every flicker of experience," Marano observes.
When parents play along with this dependency, they "infantalize" their children, "keeping them in a permanent state of dependency." Life is lived in an endless present tense, with no need to frame long-term decisions, make plans, or engage in sustained inter-personal conversations.
Who is at fault here? Marano presents this situation as rooted in bad parenting and the unwillingness of parents to allow their children to fail. Undoubtedly, this is part of the problem. Today's parents often see their children as little trophies to be polished. Many see life as a competitive game, and they are determined to do whatever it takes to get their children on top--even if it means cutting corners, changing the rules, and even writing little Johnny's term papers.
No doubt, Marano was on to something here. As one college student lamented to his counselor, "I wish my parents had some hobby other than me."
David Anderegg, a professor at Bennington College, warns that parents must not try to protect their children from life. "If you have an infant and the baby has gas, burping the baby is being a good parent," she explains. "But when you have a 10-year-old who has metaphoric gas, you don't have to burp him. You have to let him sit with it, try to figure out what to do about it. He then learns to tolerate moderate amounts of difficulty, and it's not the end of the world."
Christian parents can fall into this same game, pushing our children as if worldly markers of success are to be our greatest goals and hallmarks of achievement. We must push our children toward excellence, but define excellence in biblical terms consistent with the Christian Gospel. Our concern should be that our children are raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and are pointed to God's purpose for their life. A life spent in self-sacrificial service, on the mission field, or devoted to the cause of the Gospel will not win the plaudits of the world.
Marano's article should serve to warn us all that we must not protect our children from the process of growing up into adulthood. While we are charged to protect our children from evil, and to guard them from harm, we are not to shield them from reality. As our children grow older, they should demonstrate an increasing maturity that allows them to deal with the problems of life--not to run from them.
Beyond this, we must expand our concern to the young people as well as their parents. Without doubt, hyperattentive parents who coddle their children are part of the problem. Nevertheless, we also face the reality of a generation that seems, in all too many cases, unwilling to grow up, assume responsibility, and become genuine adults.
Hara Estroff Marano's article is a bracing alert addressed to today's generation of parents. This article demands our attention, even as Christians will want to press its arguments further. Let's be thankful for the lessons learned from skinned knees, routine disappointments, and hard work. Otherwise, we too will be raising a generation of wimps.

Tired of Being Tired

Taken from "Spirit of Revival" magazine.

If there is one term that describes the state of affairs in the lives of people today, it is overload. The mere mention of the word triggers a groan within us. Overload reminds us of the weight of everyday life. We are overwhelmed, overworked, overcommitted, overanxious, overmatched, and overextended. Our tanks are on empty, and we’re running on fumes.
Have you ever been in a health club and seen someone sprinting on a treadmill? That’s the mental picture that comes to mind. We’re running as fast as we can to keep from falling off the back, and we desperately need to stop that relentless machine and take a breather. But we can’t seem to find a button that will turn the thing off.
So we keep running. For weeks. Months. Maybe years. And we are running with a huge pack on our backs, full of all the important things in our lives. Things like family, career, and personal goals.
The trouble is that all of the running is beginning to catch up with us. We’re worn out. Exhausted. Even the wisest, healthiest, and most capable among us feel it. There is a collective sense that our personal worlds are spinning out of control, and we despair of ever gaining the upper hand.

See Why We Run
What has brought us to such a state? Why are we living at a pace that we know is too fast? It really comes down to the fact that we have believed three lies about living.

Lie #1: “You can have it all.” No, you can’t! But even if you could, where would you put it? What would you do with it?
Solomon spent his life accumulating everything he could possibly get his hands on. (You can read a personal account of his quest in the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes.) He had homes that would have made it into Architectural Digest. He owned breathtaking vineyards and beautiful wineries. He kept stables of thoroughbred horses. He had wives—seven hundred, to be precise—along with three hundred concubines.
King Solomon really did have it all (1 Kings 10:23). He managed to pull it off. And when he got there, he realized he had been deceived. Having it all simply wasn’t worth the effort. He was left with a handful of ashes:
All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. . . . So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind (Ecclesiastes 2:10, 17). Solomon acquired it all and was still deeply disappointed. After reading his assessment, you may be ready to take a couple of days off!

Lie #2: “You can do it all.” We know instinctively that there’s no way we can do it all. But a quick review of our crowded daily schedules might make an outside observer think we believe otherwise. The frantic pace of our lives is now on display even with our elementary school children.
It is not uncommon for one child to have the following commitments: school (at least eight hours, five days a week), homework (an average of two to three hours per night), piano lessons plus daily practice time, karate lessons, soccer team (one game per week plus five practices). That would be an average schedule for an average American child.
When you multiply that kind of schedule by several family members, it’s easy to see how life starts reeling out of control. The pace multiplies exponentially. When is there time to have dinner together at home? When is there time to take a walk together around the neighborhood? There is no time left for relationships.

Lie #3: “You deserve it all.” If you deserve it all, you are of course going to work 24/7 to make sure you get it. And tragically, when you begin to believe you deserve it all, you will run over anyone that gets in your way.
We’ve been reading too many true-life stories of top executives who drove their companies into bankruptcy while stockpiling millions away for themselves. They showed utter disregard for the shareholders and employees who were financially wiped out in the process. We despise this kind of self-centered behavior; yet the problem also exists closer to home.
For years I have observed a number of men who have left their wives and abandoned their children in pursuit of having it all. I’ve seen the same epidemic spread to more and more women as well. I’ve seen fine Christian men and women become cold and callous toward their families.
What happened? They were living at a breakneck pace. There was very little time for each other or for nurturing their relationship with the Lord. It was go-go-go from early in the morning until late at night. And when their lives got so busy that they had no time for God or His Word, they became vulnerable.
The wrong pace can lead to wrong decisions. Pace is not just a scheduling issue. For the Christian, it’s a life issue.

Deficit Living
Overload is a symptom of deficit living. Overloaded people live in deficit—emotional, relational, or spiritual. When our checking accounts are overdrawn, we experience an adrenal rush that pushes us to find a way to immediately cover that shortfall. But where do you find a surplus when you’re completely out of money?
It’s also possible to get overdrawn in life. We get overdrawn in our marriages, overdrawn with our kids, and disconnected from God. We run out of currency—the emotional and relational “cash” that it takes to live well.
The good news is that God has provided what is needed for life and godliness—an unlimited line of credit in his Word and by his Spirit. But most believers are attempting to live out of the change in our own pockets rather than drawing on God’s resources.
God created us. He designed us with a longing for happiness and love. The problem is that we have searched for satisfaction outside of God’s good and gracious plan.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invited us to overcome overload—not by reading the latest bestselling book or attending a dynamic seminar—but by coming to Him:
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Jesus knew how to live . . . and we don’t. That’s why we’re overloaded. And that’s why Jesus said, “Come to Me.” The very first step in overcoming overload is coming to Him, embracing Him as the sovereign God, and learning from Him.

Revival Report - November 2008

Dear Revival Family,
"It's like a blowtorch--we can't get in front of it."
"If we had the entire army, we still couldn't stop it."
"Wind is king here; it's dictating everything we're doing."

These statements were used to describe the ferocity of the recent wildfire near Los Angeles. But they also reflect what many are feeling about the events of the last month, in which the American banking system almost collapsed, major companies failed, and the stock market lost nearly 50% from its peak value.
Genuine fear swept the country as we tried to comprehend the crushing loss of our retirement savings and the mind-numbing cost of the government-sponsored bailout of our financial system. Many still worry about the security of their jobs, not to mention the future of a country saddled by massive levels of personal and national debt.
Even more troubling than the financial crisis, however, is the moral disintegration it exposed. Stories of calloused corporate greed and widespread political corruption betrayed our public trust and undermined our confidence in those in power. Congressional approval ratings bottomed out at only 11%, and a cry for credible leadership echoed across America.
But most disturbing of all was the fact that at the height of the crisis, when experts were wildly scrambling for solutions, not once did President Bush, John McCain, or Barack Obama--professing Christians--suggest that we stop to pray! The candidates did not even end their debate speeches with the historic phrase "God bless America." Apparently, as far as our leaders are concerned, God isn't part of the solution at all.

The Urgency of Now

The absence of God-consciousness in our society today is what makes this such a critical moment for America--so urgent that I feel compelled to stop everything I was doing in order to send you this special edition of Revival Report. In my lifetime, our nation has never experienced a more dramatic wake-up call with so little public acknowledgement of our need for God.
Regardless of whether the worst of the crisis is now over or whether it proves to be a precursor of even more turmoil in the days to come, there is a vital spiritual lesson we must not miss: God uses times of crisis to call people and nations back to Himself. Times of uncertainty, financial or otherwise, are divine opportunities to recognize the futility of our idols and to embrace the true hope that is in Jesus Christ alone.

Prayer in Times of Uncertainty

The prophet Hosea lived in times very similar to ours. Pervading winds of wickedness and unbelief swept over the people of God. Lust and greed dominated the political and religious landscape as worship of Baal filled the land.
The hope of Hosea's day must be our cry today: "It is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and rains righteousness on you" (Hosea 10:12). In times of crisis, our hope is Jehovah God! No matter how dark the hour or how insurmountable the problems, there is no limit to God's power.
A. W. Tozer echoed this belief in the all-reviving power of God in an article entitled "Revival: No Limit to What God Could Do."
There is no limit to what God could do in our world if we would dare to surrender before Him with a commitment like this:
"Oh God, I hereby give myself to You. I give my family. I give my business. I give all I possess. Take all of it, Lord--and take me! I give myself in such measure that if it is necessary that I lose everything for your sake, let me lose it. I will not ask what the price is. I will ask only that I may be all that I ought to be as a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen."
If even 300 of God's people became that serious, our world would never hear the last of it! They would influence the news. Their message would go everywhere like birds on the wing. They would set off a great revival of New Testament faith and witness.
God-sized change is possible for America today. But it is critical to recognize that every revival in history has been birthed, cradled, and nurtured in prayer. That's why now is the time to seek the Lord as never before. WE MUST SEEK HIM! The wind of evil can be overcome by the wind of the Spirit of God, but believers must repent, and we must pray!

Ripe for Revival

As strange as it may sound, I believe the crisis and uncertainty that America now faces are part of God's providential plan to invite America to spiritual awakening and revival. While I grieve over the hardships many are now experiencing, there is a sense that this is the season we've been waiting for--an opportunity for believers everywhere to express their confidence in God and to testify that Christ alone is the true hope of America.
The connection between crisis and spiritual revival is part of American history. In 1857 the stock market dramatically crashed amid loss of confidence in the American banking system and U.S. economy. Five thousand businesses failed within a year, and thousands lost their jobs. Yet in the midst of financial calamity, thousands of businessmen turned to prayer, and the great prayer revival of 1857-58 resulted in almost a million conversions!
The same situation is true today. The change we need in America will not ultimately come from the politicians in Washington or the market leaders at the Treasury or Federal Reserve. According to Scripture, real change begins in the hearts of God's people and is empowered by God's Spirit (1 Pet. 4:17; Zech. 4:6).
That's why I am eager to report that a passion and hunger for God to send a sweeping revival appears to be growing. God is working now in the lives of His people:
Even as I was writing this letter, a pastor called asking what I thought about him starting "prayer clubs" in his county. God had given him this burden: "If we have local Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs, and book clubs, why not have local prayer clubs for revival?"

Over 6,000 women gathered in Chicago to seek the Lord for personal renewal. Most signed the True Woman Manifesto to become agents of change through living out biblical womanhood. (Go to www.TrueWoman.com to read and sign the manifesto.)

Sixty churches gathered for a Send the Rain conference in Douglas, Georgia. For the first time in the city's history, God broke down ethnic and denominational barriers. When asked why 3,000 adults felt compelled to gather and seek the Lord in a town of only 11,000, they replied, "We are desperate. Our marriages are failing, our kids are rebelling, and our churches are dying."
A thousand people attended a prayer meeting for revival in a small community northwest of Atlanta. It was followed by an all-day Heart-Cry for Revival pastors' conference marked by unusual hunger for God.

I spoke during the Sunday morning service at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, the weekend their movie "Fireproof" was released in over 800 theaters. Only God could cause a movie saturated with core revival truths to garner a national release and exceed box office expectations.

Sixteen Life Action revival summits and THIRST conferences have taken place in local churches so far this fall, and 40 more communities will be reached by the end of spring. In each location there have been vivid demonstrations of life-change--the kind of life-change that multiples, like in this family from Alabama:
Wow! That is about all I can say. Wow! Fifteen days ago my husband and I had two family members that we didn't have a right relationship with, and he was very hardhearted about what happened between them. After the sermon on forgiveness, my husband woke up and spent one hour with God. He then called his granddad at 6:00 a.m. It has changed him. After 7 ½ years of marriage and going to Sunday school and church services at least once a week, we have found God in our marriage. Fifteen days ago, we were playing mom and dad, husband and wife--now we are becoming a godly family.

Just as this family experienced radical change, God can also take a hardhearted nation and transform hearts, homes, churches, and communities. Widespread revival has happened before--let's urgently pray for God to send the sweeping wind of His Spirit to America again!
Thank you for sharing that vision with us. Our hope is in the Lord. And the time for revival is NOW!

Seeking Him together,
Byron Paulus and the Life Action Staff

Pride

Pride is being more concerned about what others think of me than what God knows me to be. Pride can manifest itself through shyness as well as through arrogance. Pride deals in generalities; humility deals in specifics.
When you find yourself beginning to talk in generalities about what God is doing in your life, or you are content to confess sin generally rather than specifically, you can be certain that pride is re-establishing a foothold in your life.
Keep yourself accountable to others for what God is doing in your life. Be open. Be transparent. Be honest. Be specific. Pride covers up; humility confesses.
The first tendency people have when they begin to back up on the work of God in revival is to cover up their true spiritual condition with a false cloak of spirituality. They say the right things, they do the right things, but they have ceased to be right.
Rather than being honest and transparent about their condition, they choose to "save face" by pretending to be revived when they are not. Spiritual accountability to others will help to prevent pride from settling into the revived heart.

Insight from the Word:
Proverbs 13:10 "By pride comes nothing but strife."
Proverbs 16:18,19 "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud."
Proverbs 21:4 "Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin."
Daniel 4:37 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

Making It Personal
• Have I confessed to God the specific sins I have been guilty of committing in the past 24 hours?
• Is there any need or sin in my life that I have refused to admit to God or to others?
• Am I leaving a better impression of myself with others than is honestly true?
• Is there any area of pride, resistance, or self-sufficiency in my life that could be causing God to resist me?

© Life Action Ministries: Revival Review--Keys to Continued Revival

Trailer Life

No I am not sick…..
What I thought would be a simple and quick project turned out to be a 4 hour multiple trip to the hardware store event……. Just to replace the toilet in the large bathroom in the trailer.

Victory in Gettysburg

October 12-22 we had the privilege of being at Gettysburg Baptist Church for an 11 day conference. During that time we saw God do some great things among His people. We wanted to share one testimony from the Senior Pastor at that church. It was amazing to see what God did in the life of his son while we were there.

“Praise Adonai! I just got finished singing that song with the worship team and band. My favorite song is that song. Thank you, members of the entire team, and all of you at headquarters for your lives laid down for the Lord. Thank you for your sacrifice and dedication.
Thanks to the “Trailer People” and their families and all the members of this team and what God has done through you for my church. I see change – revival in the eyes and focus of many here at Gettysburg Baptist Church. I pray that it’s just the beginning of what will happen here and spread to Gettysburg and from there to the area. I have prayed for Gettysburg, PA, for 25 years. It is the town where the civil war changed a nation. May it be the town where revival changes a nation!
But more than anything else, praise God for my son Ty. God changed his life during these days. He is my 42 year old son, who is my assistant pastor. But he has been angry and bitter for years. I spent the past six months trying to figure out how to fire him without hurting the church. But he’s my son so I agonized over that. I’m 62 years old and my son is 42 years old. I was always hoping he would serve on this ministry, but he was so angry I could not put him in more responsibility.
This morning, with [family revivalist], as my witness, he met with me and humbled himself, got on his knees and asked my forgiveness. I got on my knees and embraced him and we wept and I forgave him. I promised a blessing on him. It is a new day in my life – I have prayed for this moment and longed for it for years. I have always felt my son will do greater things for God than I ever could. He is more talented and gifted than I am. Now I will pray and see that happen.
Then afterward, he got on his knees and asked his mother to forgive him. Her response was the same. We are thankful and praising God. I have been walking around with the greatest joy all day. Praise the Lord! Thank all of you!”

Humility

The heart of Jesus was to bring glory to the Father in all that He did, never taking credit for Himself. The heart of humility is one that esteems others as greater than itself. It serves others, it submits, and it desires that God be glorified.
This principle is closely tied to that of honesty, for honesty before God and others will keep you humble. The moment you think you're humble, you're not!
The opposite of humility is pride, which has an exalted opinion of itself and is self-seeking. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. The pathway of humility is the key to releasing the grace of God in your life.
Insight from the Word:

Proverbs 22:4 "The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life."
Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
1 Peter 5:5-6 "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you."


Making It Personal:
How have I expressed my need to God and to others in the past 24 hours?
Do I gladly receive instruction, correction, or rebuke from others, particularly from those I perceive to be "less spiritual" than I am?
Is there anyone that I do not esteem as better than myself, or that I am unwilling to serve?

© Life Action Ministries: Revival Review--Keys to Continued Revival

Interesting Things at Churches

One of the things that many of you have asked for is a look at trailer life as well as the fun things, and the not so fun things that we experience while on the road. One of things that I would like to add to this plethora of experiences is to share some of the interesting things that we run into at some of the churches we visit……
For example, the picture attached was something I had never seen before. This was the men’s bathroom at the church. I couldn’t help think about what it would be like to have someone share the experience with you while in the bathroom. No divider, no space between you and the “other guy”. “Um…. excuse me, could you pass me a square or two when you get a chance.”

Conference Testimonies

God is so good, and faithful, even when I am so low in my spiritual state or being. I want to thank you for the messages this week to remind me of all the blessings that I have missed. I had the opportunity to change that this week.

The conference this week was “exactly” what I needed. Somehow I knew that God would be hitting on the areas of my life that needed work even before your team arrived. God reminded me of His grace and love for me. I was able to pour out the “substitutes” in my life on Sunday night. What freedom that gave me. A freedom I hadn’t felt in quite some time. God is continuing to work in my life. Thank you for being a tool in His hands. May God continue to bless your walk. I will be praying for your ministry.

All of the services have been great and God spoke to me in each one. However, during our ladies’ luncheon, God really used [revivalist’s wife] to show me some areas that I need to give over to God and issues of my heart to discuss with my husband. I know our marriage will be strengthened from the message God gave [revivalist’s wife] to pass on to me. It was awesome and she is a great, servant used by our Lord to speak to women about things we really needed to hear. . .

Thank you for the exemplary Christian example that every team member has shown through attitude and action. I have been challenged in several ways during this four day Thirst Conference, but one instance in particular stands out above the rest. I have, without realizing it before, been abusing my family by not controlling my temper, not that I have been physical, but that I so often get upset with them for little things. I mean God has been so GOOD to me, He has given me a wonderful wife and two children. I have committed to God to always stop and thank Him for them before I respond in any way going forward. May God bless Life Action.

My life will be changed in the area of brokenness and forgiveness. The Lord spoke to me in our worship and praise like I have not had in a long time. I found a greater need to be close to my wife and children. Thank you for coming to Elkview.

Thank you! Each day I waited for the evening service. What a blessing it has been to me as we praised and worshiped my Lord. My husband and I have been through much, so we were able to come and get on our knees before God. We felt God speaking to us both about forgiveness and forgiving. I hadn’t realized how much I had refused to acknowledge my sin. Thank you again.

I have returned to the high place, close to the Son. Thank you for pointing me to the King of Kings who sustains me in the rough times and now I know He enables me to live the Christ-centered life by looking to the cross. I am ashamed that I wanted to leave my true love, Jesus Christ. I have been in church 52 years; I’m 52, and used to go forward as a child over and over (Baptist church). Always wanting Jesus but not until 1980 did I truly experience salvation, spirit-filled! So many sweet times with the Lord… I began to move farther and farther away, grieving the Holy Spirit, from the one true lover of my soul. I began playing church, going in my strength. I have been so weary. . . I’ve prayed, “God, please do not let me express my depravity. Please fix me.” Over and over I asked, “Don’t you want me to serve you?” I just want to be faithful and speak your work to children. I want to be a story teller to teach the word of God, to be a full time Christ follower. Thank you for telling me that to be all that Jesus wants is to focus on the Cross. I needed all the teaching, thank you. I have been obedient to the Lord. Thank you so much.

I just wanted to let you know what God has convicted me in my life this week. I was pricked by the Holy Spirit during a message on stewardship. I’m one of those people who you would call “cheap.” I would get upset at my husband for leaving a generous tip at restaurants. Eventually I felt bad about it so I stopped griping at him for tipping well, but I still complained in my spirit. God convicted me that I have been selfish. How could I who has been so blessed, not be willing to bless others? From now on when my husband gives a good tip or when I see a need that needs to be met, I am going to change my attitude about it with God’s grace and hopefully meet the need. Thank you, Life Action, for showing me how I need to be blessing others with the blessings God gave me.

You have shown me some of the things that have hindered my growth with God. One of the things is that I was letting possessions get to me. I had a hard time with when I saw something I wanted I would figure out every possible way so I could get it. If I would put that much thought and time with God it would be wonderful. So thanks for the cup!

Thanks for reminding me of God’s power, greatness, and wonderful love. His grace truly is enough! Twenty-nine years ago, God delivered me from the bondage of sin and set me free. Praise His wonderful name! His mercies are new every day. God has spoken to my heart this week in the area of putting Him first, yes, first, even above family.

God is merciful to me. For a lot of years I have had to ask my daughter for forgiveness. I have lied to her. I have yet to do that [ask forgiveness]. The Life Action team has been God’s instrument this week to put me into action. I intend to go to her, I’m sure she will forgive me. I know this may be what we both need. Thank you for coming! Please remember me in prayer. I love our Savior!

First, thank you for coming to be with us. I have enjoyed every moment. God is the lover of my soul, my savior, my comforter, and my every hope. Thank you for helping me and reminding me just how awesome our God is. These days have broken me and given me a renewing of my faith. This is the best revival I have ever attended. God is using your team in a mighty way. Thank you and God bless.

Wow, how to put into meager words what it is like to feel God, know God, and commune with God? I have had an awesome, wonderful awakening from a nap I didn’t realize I was taking. How sweet it has been to collectively worship our Lord and to feel like one big family under a great Father. I would love to go on and on but I am struggling to put into writing what I have experienced and will continue to experience…thank you for being His “tool.”

I have felt a moving of God. I have needed to feel spiritual growth for years (we haven’t been members at Elkview Baptist Church for long) and I believe that growth has started. The music has been wonderful! The preaching has been wonderful! Thank you, thank you, Lord.

I have come to better appreciate the holiness of God and what that means. How I should compare my thoughts and actions to the holiness of God. If I can focus on this, I think I will make better choices with my family and my wife. Choices to appreciate them better, to treat them better, etc. When I get away from God and don’t pray or study my Bible, then I lose the appreciation of who He is and what He has done. How can I justify the choice to sin when I think about God and His love for me?

God is my loving Savior who is ever present in my daily life and only a prayer away. This week I have been reminded of His holiness and my neediness, and a refreshing of the Holy Spirit, an affirmation of a lost and dying world that I must be more persistent to reach with the Gospel.

You have certainly been a blessing to me. God has touched my heart through you and I am again reminded how great God is. I have been challenged to live a more focused life for Jesus and to honor Him in everything I do. It’s easy to be “too busy” to take the time to study God’s word and to meet with Him, but I want to do better in this area and strive to be more Christ-like. You have again taught me about true forgiveness and I am ever challenged to forgive again and again. Thank you for being here and I have been so spiritually uplifted during these past four days. Thanks to such a God-centered conference.

When I first learned that we would have several days of meetings, I thought “How in the world can we fit this into our ‘busy’ schedule?” Praise God, we did fit it into our so-called busy schedule. The Lord has blessed us so very much through the meetings. God bless you as you continue on from here… sharing truth and praise across our country, because we are a dry and thirsty land. We were honored to share our home with [team girls]. They brought joy and laughter to our house and were extremely well mannered.

Thank you for your visit to Elkview WV. I am so glad you came to this church. Thank you so much! We were drying up and needed to be refreshed and revived. Wish you could have stayed longer as you really helped me and will be in my daily prayers. Thank you and God bless you.

I have very much appreciated worshiping God with you. I trust God will continue to bless our congregation in a greater way. We will strive to continue to remember how God has been to us. We will strive to pass on to others what we have learned and felt as we experienced God’s will for our lives. Thanks for your encouragement and examples you have set before us. May God continue to bless you. We will continue to pray for you.

Thank you for ministering to us here in Elkview, WV, this week! It has been a blessing to be able to participate in the services and be fed while the team takes care of all the behind the scenes work. We often don’t get that break. It came at a good time as I realize that I need to focus more on my purpose for serving, to give of my talents to worship Him, rather than the drama that comes with being in the place where the buck stops. It’s a wonderful feeling to be refreshed. Thanks to you, the reader, for your part in this ministry for it may not always be acknowledged. Yet it serves an important part of His purposes. Thank you!

God is everything to me. Your team has given me much encouragement to continue living for my Heavenly Father. I’m 80 years old and have been more active in the church during my younger years and after meeting with you, I’m sure I’ll be able to put self last. My husband is 87 years old with Parkinson’s disease and requires much attention. Now this can be done with God’s help, without murmuring.

I came to the revival to renew and refresh my Christian faith. The Words of God washed across me like summer rain. It opened my eyes to things that I am unaware of or chose not to see. It made me search my conscience to the people I hurt over the years. After discovering those people I harmed, it made me realize I had to make amends in order to have the peace of mind that I have been looking for. Did the revival meet my expectations, yes, and more. Praise the Lord!

God has reminded me how powerful He is and that when God’s people are sensitive, He will speak to us and change us. Although I had prepared my heart much before the team came, I was challenged by the Lord concerning some personal guards I must maintain.


I have been thrilled as a pastor to see people respond wonderfully to the challenge of God’s word, watching some pray before services together and seeing them respond to the challenge has been an incredible blessing. I am praying that this is just the beginning…

I have enjoyed the meetings. They have been a blessing and a cause for me to confess a lot of things that needed to be dealt with. There are still things that I need to work on. I appreciate the time and the effort that the team gives to promoting Jesus Christ and causing me to examine my own life, and make some confession that I needed to deal with in my life. Revival is a really great way to draw closer to God once again and to relearn some things that we may have forgotten along life’s journey. God is still working on me.

I have enjoyed these four days with you. I have seen that I need to reprioritize my life in order to serve the Lord in the way He wants me to serve Him. I have enjoyed the praise music as it glorifies the Lord. I have also enjoyed the messages as they have led me to the awareness that I need to focus on the Lord more every day. Thank you and God bless you.

Each service has opened my heart to God’s word and has shown me areas in my life that I need to let God lead. God is a gracious and loving God that desires for me to draw closer to Him. I have a desire to allow God to come and control me daily. Thank you for your ministry.

Thank you for joining us in our worship. Your team has refreshed me. I am working on becoming a better husband and I gained valuable tools in how to do that. I also have become more active in my prayer life by concentrating on the things that matter and not petty things like money or my career. Thank you and God bless you all.

Thank you for coming and ministering to Elkview Baptist Church. During our revival as a church, I personally experienced revival. I have learned about God’s love and forgiveness. I have also learned that I still fall far from grace, that there is forgiveness that was needed in my life. He also has shown my need to give of my time, talents, and gifts to store treasures in heaven and not treasures on earth. Most importantly I have learned that revival doesn’t have to end today, but continue throughout my walk with the Lord.

To be truthful I was not looking forward to this series of meetings. Sunday morning I came to church out of obligation. Then, the first service touched my heart in such a way that I could not wait to get back on that evening. God has spoken to me this week through His word. I have grown spiritually and I want to continue so much to practice what I have learned this week. I have turned over those things I have seen that I do not want in my life to God and praising Him for the power to overcome these obstacles in my way with His help. Praise God that you came and helped to rescue my weary soul.

It has been a blessing to know how God works in all of our lives. It’s great to become broken and to humble ourselves before the Lord and give everything to Him. To know God loves me no matter what I do or who I am is amazing. The ladies’ luncheon was awesome.

This revival has helped me to put some things in my life in proper perspective. It has increased my faith some and has shown me an area where I need to learn to trust God more. I have asked His help in developing trust in this area. I am also praying that He helps me to “keep Him first” in my life; then all other things will take care of themselves.


I didn’t know what to expect when I heard your team was coming. I didn’t know what to expect when I agreed to house two team members. Wow…the surprise was worth it! How God has used every ounce of this week to minister to me is amazing to me. To think God loves me enough to use four days to minister to me in this way, is blowing me away. I didn’t realize that I needed a break from serving to be ministered to. The fact that your team did everything ministered to me, allowed me a time of renewing that God knew I needed so desperately. I needed a time to really focus on what He had to teach me. The ladies’ luncheon spoke to me in so many ways. I didn’t realize how much power I was trying to hold onto in my church life, family life, etc. every area in my life. Each message spoke to me about a different area that needed a renewing and work in my life. God and I have met in such a way the last few days that I haven’t allowed Him in many years. Thank you for the privilege to house [two team girls]. I mean thank you, thank you, thank you! These two young ladies are two of the nicest, respectful, lovers of God that I have ever met. They ministered to our family every minute we spent together. Their love of God is evident in their speech, their dress, and their actions. Again, thank you for this opportunity. God has truly begun a revival in my life this week. Thank you for allowing God to use each of your lives in this way. You are truly impacting the kingdom for eternity.

Testimonies

Below are unedited testimonies from a previous church:

Your team has been a true blessing to us. Thank you, [revivalist] for teaching us the true principles of giving and forgiving.
You have truly opened our eyes as to what our true duty is as a Christian, more than the Sunday and Wednesday attendance.
We are truly expecting great things in our lives from the Lord. He has blessed us in such huge ways this year. It would be hard to imagine more!
Praise God for you and your team. Come back and visit sometime; our doors are always open!


I just wanted to say thank you. I have learned that I don’t need to try to control my life and I should let God lead me and I should turn everything over to Him. Thank you for opening my eyes. I am no longer in the dark.


. . . Thanks for your words on the marks of a Spirit-filled Christian. The measure of a church is the amount of fruit that is produced.


My husband and I have had problems with tithing on a regular basis – more so the ability to turn the 100% control over to God. These last four days, the Holy Spirit has tapped our hearts and we are turning everything over – 100%.
Thank and praise God for this awesome team. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and life stories. We will be praying for you!


God has truly touched me during this revival. I’ve been living for quite a while knowing that I had walked away from God and distanced myself. I have decided to turn and move back toward God. I will become a better follower of Christ. I will become a better husband and a better friend. I want to live from this day forward in the love of God and do what it is that He wants me to do. I’m grateful that God has opened my eyes and softened my heart. Thank you all for what you have done and I pray that God will continue to bless you all.


This week God healed my broken heart. In June of this year (2008) I was informed my husband lied to me when we were married 14 years ago. You see, he never had divorced his first wife. He told me he had never been married.
I have been able to forgive him completely by God’s grace. The pain is gone. In fact, last night (9-9-08) after the services, I was folding laundry and he stopped by for a few minutes during his work break (we are separated). He asked me, “What did the preacher talk about at church?” I shared what [revivalist] shared about hurt and forgiveness. I have been living Romans 12:20 for many days, and I have no regrets.
I am currently waiting for a court dated because my marriage is not valid and I have filed a petition for annulment. He is finally divorcing the first wife and I have told my husband that I am not going to remarry him unless he is changed from the inside out. (He’s not a believer.) I know the God who can change my husband, and it is by the power of the living Lord that I can look at the one who has caused me incredible pain. I still cry out to Jesus to save him and that he will choose to get off the wide road of destruction.
This week has been very rewarding. I have prayed for strength in coming straight from work, getting the children and my husband and I ready and heading off to church. God has provided all the strength that I have needed (not that I doubted that He could).
Everything you guys have said has been so uplifting. I pray that God gives you all the strength [you need] to keep going and growing. You are wonderful through Christ.
I love to see the young people so strong and not ashamed.


Thank you for the opportunity to get familiar with Life Action. One of the things that impressed me most was the politeness of your team. The adults are obviously teaching moral values and general courteousness in the younger generation. It’s a pure joy to see young men honor the young ladies and both to respect the “older generation.”
. . . You’ve made me “thirst abundantly” for the Lord. Thanks for the reminder that it’s not all about me, but it’s all about God and His glory.


I am only 12 years old but I have a big heart for the needy. My school has a March of Dimes for the disabled babies. I gave my money out of my piggy bank to the March of Dimes. I believe God wants me to give. I know I’m not perfect but one thing I can do is give to people who need it more than I do. I think everyday about the little kids in Africa and how bad the parents must feel when they can’t give their kids fresh water or home cooked food. So everyday I think how lucky I am to have wonderful parents and a home because I can’t imagine how I would feel if I did not know God.


Well, I came to Calvary for the first time ever on the last day of revival. I came with more doubt than I have ever had in my entire life. I have had a lot of sadness in my life. My mom just found out she has cancer last week and she is also in the middle of a divorce. So needless to say, we are “broke.” It is very hard to have faith when so much hurt is surrounding you. But just the atmosphere you all gave off, the happiness you show and feel, gives me hope and I started to have faith again.


I have been really touched by the Lord during this time. I would like to start by thanking each team member for their dedication and love for the Lord. You give up the everyday comforts to serve Him. I have truly met Christ this week. I am the youth pastor here at Calvary. So often I, while not saying it out loud, think God is lucky that He has me. I sometimes took the attitude that I know what is going on. I really have no clue. This week the Lord truly humbled me. He showed me I am not nearly as important or good as I would like to think I am. I want to praise Him for using someone like me; someone who is unreliable, unworthy, not nearly good enough. I just want to thank you for doing what you do.


Thank you for your time and preparation that you put in to each service. I must be honest that I wasn’t really excited about these days because I have been particularly busy this week. However, Monday night God clearly spoke to me at the beginning of the service. He showed me who He really is in a way that I have never experienced before. Since then, I have been excited about coming each night to see what He is going to show me. I am looking forward to meeting with Him each day. Thank you for all that you have done in these days. I pray God’s many blessings on you as you move on.


Today at work my supervisor said, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Tonight at the revival service, I heard the same statement again. I want to live and give the way God wants me to.


I enjoyed the luncheon. I was impressed with knowing I lack the passion I once had for God. I pray my love for God grows and is more passionate about Jesus. I loved seeing the love for God your children have in the services.


I have been praying so long for Jesus to help us repair our home. It’s been three years and we still are cramming two families into a one family home. Today I was ready to give up, wondered if He gave up on us, too. My husband encouraged me to go to church. I thank God he did. From the moment the songs started, I felt His hope. I found a book of encouragement. I thank Jesus Christ for not leaving us. Thank you for reminding me and reflecting Him. Thank you.


I lost my wife September 9, 2007. To be here and hear the Word of God spoken and taught has been a blessing for me. I thank God for your faith; it shows in every song and every word that has been spoken. I wish all of you the best as you travel across the country. May God bless each of you greatly. It has been a pleasure to hear and see the faith you all have. Bless all of you.


I am thankful for these past four days. God has been speaking to my heart prior to this on areas of my life that I need to work on, but I cannot do it alone. It is only through Him that I can overcome my struggles and even decisions of what and where our family is supposed to be. God has spoken to my heart about filling my life with “substitutes” when He’s tugging on me to spend time with Him. The messages and truths that have been presented this week have hit my heart hard. Give Him total control of my life in every area. He wants that from me! (cross-centered life)
I am also thankful that my son has been presented truths in Happy Heart City that he can take and hide in his heart. He (Braxton) is like a sponge. They all are at this age and they can never learn too much about God and His truths and Word. They soak it up – all of it! What he has shared I know there is so much more hidden in his heart. Thank you for taking these four days to teach him and love on him!

Thank you so much for your ministry to me. As the pianist for Calvary Baptist the responsibilities get in the way of truly allowing God to speak to me. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to be free to participate in worship and have a mind uncluttered for God to speak to me.
[Worship leader], your music choices were wonderful and tied in beautifully with the teaching. Thank you.
[Revivalist], your method of teaching was gentle, but direct. God has truly gifted you as His messenger. Thank you.
Thank you, team, for working with the children and youth.
I have felt dry and barren of late, and this revival has pricked my heart and stirred a longing for a freshness and trueness to my life and walk. Pray for me as I try to give God true and full control in my life. I will pray for your ministry and for God’s spirit to precede and prepare as you go.
Thank you again, and God’s blessing on you all!


God has been a real blessing to me and my wife’s hearts these four days of revival. We have really enjoyed the messages this team has given. We feel that we are a lot stronger in our beliefs and we are better people. I hope that you will come back some day.


Your team has provided our family with lessons from God’s word that have drawn us closer as a family and especially as husband and wife. We now have forgiving hearts toward one another. We have already put into action the act of forgiveness and rebuilding relationships. You will never know the change we have seen in each other in these short days. We have rid ourselves of bitterness and are expecting God’s blessings.


It has been a great blessing to attend these meetings. God has been here with us and I’m so thankful to see so many dedicated people being used by Him. It’s very easy to see that the team is made up of people who put God first in their lives. I shall continue to see a growth in God’s church here in Jesup, GA.
Thanks for coming our way.


Thank you so very much. You all have given me a new look on life and that God is the reason for all the things I have in my life. Your ministry team is outstanding and you do turn lives around. My two teenage children have enjoyed the youth ministry and they tell me how much they have enjoyed learning from [youth revivalist] and the rest of the team.
God bless all of you and you will always be in my prayers.


I have gotten a blessing each time I came to the word but not only then but when I get bogged down during the day or night, I remember the messages I heard and pray for forgiveness. I am going through some difficult times now, with family and health problems. So on Sunday I gave all my problems to the Lord. He is the only one that can do all things. I am trusting in Him to solve them, and I know He can. I have shared with others in my neighborhood and other family members. They are Christians, but there is always room for revival, just some of these passages from the Thirst program. I have been able to relate the everyday things going on in my life, so now I have Bible scriptures to go to and put them in Jesus’ hands and pray really hard. I have made the decision to rededicate my life for the glory of God and join Calvary Baptist Church.


Thank you all for coming to the South with your message of revival and spirit of love and service. God has done a work of healing in my life this week. The healing has come after the surgery of cutting away of tumors and cancers of bitterness and hurt. My prayer is that this seed will continue to grow and the healing will come to my whole family, especially our 18 year old son. Thank you to [team member] for taking on our family as a special prayer project. God is great and His timing is perfect!


My name is Duane, my wife is Jamie, and Jessica is my 8 year old daughter. We want to let you know what a wonderful blessing it has been worshipping our awesome God with all you guys and gals. We thoroughly enjoyed the singing and music. Each of Ryan’s messages touched our hearts. Thank you so much for the time we had this week for a great revival. My 8 year old daughter skipped her favorite thing to do in life (baton twirling class) so she could attend Base Camp. I know how excited she had to be for this to happen. Thank you all for your wonderful ministry. . .


I have enjoyed you all being here. It has really helped me get my life back on track. The way God works through all of you is just eye opening. I really can’t say much else as I am speechless. But I thank you for taking the time to be here. It truly has touched my heart.


I am very thankful for the blessings that you have brought me through the love of Christ. I have not been in church regularly for some time and this revival has given me the encouragement to get involved as I was before. . .


Thank you for coming to Calvary and ministering to us in Word, song, and service. The servant hearts of the team members were such a blessing God spoke so powerfully through the truths presented to our congregation. I pray God’s richest blessings be on you as you travel and minister to other churches. Also, my prayer is that we will witness the move of God in revival in our congregation and the growth of disciples for the Lord.
The Lord has truly used this team in a special way during the days of the Thirst conference. To God be the glory!


Thank you so much for these days of revival. Each of you, your sweet faces, your smiles, your servant’s hearts have been a blessing to me.
I have had a reminder of the importance of personal repentance and cleansing. I’ve been encouraged to continue in the Word and steadfastly cling to the cross.
I have loved the music and the spoken word, the truth that has been shared. I appreciate that the focus has been on truth and not emotions. Just keep running the race and remember that each of you are loved and lifted up in prayer.


What an exciting week it has been! Life Action was great! Everyday was better than the day before, viewing the list of sins on the PowerPoint was powerful. I don’t take the time to realize what I have done each day that dishonored my God. The ladies’ luncheon was excellent. God will prevail. Listening to the true touching stories of [revivalist’s wife] was amazing. I want to express to our youth girls the importance of a great relationship with their parents. Sharing prayer requests, going on dates, and saying a little prayer before we blow up impacted my life. The team as a whole can be described as meek, humble, and full of God’s love. Each night I have been personally greeted by someone new who truly wanted to talk too just me. I give thanks to the Lord for sending you all our way. May God lead you through His perfect plan with ease, but I know that it’s the hard stuff that shows our faith and shows how God can work and mold us. Thanks again, we love you.


I was convicted in my heart that I do not always treat my wife as I should or show her the love God commands me to show. I thank you guys so much for that sermon. I also saw how much my kids loved their teachers and it just filled my heart. I thank the Lord for those young adults.


The hurt and forgiveness comes at a special time in my life. Thank you! God bless and keep you well and safe.


Every night you have encouraged me in a different part of my life and awakened things in my life.


I have thoroughly enjoyed this revival and it has truly touched me in ways that I couldn’t ever have imagined. I have faced some of the most trying times as I every have in the past three years. I have been holding onto things that hinder me from moving forward. I have been holding on to pain, anger, resentment, fear, and other things that have kept me from “being free.” I had initially contemplated on coming to the women’s luncheon at Calvary Baptist taught by one of the most humble women I’ve met [revivalist’s wife]. If I hadn’t come, I probably wouldn’t have gotten what I needed “in words” to deal with some of the issues in my life. It was by no accident that I attended this revival. I have been touched in ways that I myself cannot express in words. I can now be myself and be content in doing so, simply because God forgives, His love is eternal, He is “for” me, and He lives in me. Thank you, Life Action, for your testimonies, your humility, and your love for God displayed throughout this revival!


It’s been amazing! God has moved tremendously through me and strengthened my walk ever more. Losing my leg has been a really big deal, but with God, praise, and hearing His Word, as much as I can is what lets me make it through each day. I have enjoyed every bit of this revival and I pray that God will open the door that He wants me to go through and serve Him with all I can give and more. I am really glad you all were able to come to our church. I pray that I will be able to become part of Life Action Ministries.


Wow, I didn’t know where to begin. This has been like nothing I have ever experienced for a revival meeting. We were a host home for one of the team members. I was excited about it and my husband was skeptical as we had never shared our home like this before. The blessing we received from this is insurmountable! [Team member] was our guest and I am fully convinced that God has this planned before we ever even knew to say yes. She is so unique and such a godly young lady and taught me and ministered to me more than anyone has in a very long time! She is anointed to be on this team and God is truly using her. As for the other team members, revivalist and wife, worship leader, and all the others, I have been remarkably refreshed and it is my prayer that it will truly transform our church as if has been so lukewarm and leaning more in the direction of the world. I have felt this for some time now. The apathy has been quite burdensome. I have a hunger and thirst and this has only made it so much stronger for the things of Christ. We have many in our congregation who are struggling. Please pay we will seek God’s will and His face to transform our church for His use and glory.


Words will not come so clearly in this few minutes of time, but thank you to your whole team. I came in the door Sunday full of anxiety. You see my family (husband, myself, and children) have experienced financial loss for about five years now and we have been blessed over and over by God. He has provided every small item we have needed, even adding two blessings of children throughout this time. However, lately, my husband and I have become discontent with where we are. Constantly dreaming, wishing, and asking for more. Tithing and giving has definitely been an area of conflict between us. Through all of this, our marriage has also been stressed with little love and little respect. Each night that [revivalist] spoke and brought scripture to light, the scripture cut me to the bone and conviction over my place with God and how my heart has become deluded; not 100% in God’s control. I have been convicted to get on my knees before God, humble myself and give Him my whole self over and over again. Thank you for your sacrifices of time and energy to come here. You all seem anointed and I know for sure this was for “such a time as this.” Thank you!


You guys have really shown me what it means to worship God in a true honest way like I have never seen it before. May God have all the honor in everything we do through Jesus Christ His Son. . .


Thank you, [revivalist], for using God’s word to help me through a broken friendship. My friendship was with God. I have forgiven myself but even better is that God forgave me before I asked. God used you to get me back. I want your Base Camp and Happy Heart City to know that I appreciate their devotion to God and the interest in Abigail and Hannah. They love you guys more than you will ever know. You will be remembered in prayer. My words can not express their love for you. We speak blessings of love and safe travel over you.
Music team, what a blessing you have given us. Thank you for using the talents that God gave you to bless us.


I have really enjoyed all that your ministry team has brought to my life in these last four days. I have felt an overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit. And slowly I am allowing myself to open up and release myself to do what I feel He is telling me to do! I also want to mention that my son, Adam, loved Happy Heart City. We have heard all about it, about everything! “Put up, Sit up, and …” He absolutely loves that. You all please come back!


The services were very inspirational and beneficial to help me rededicate my life. I want to share God’s love even more than I ever have. It’s very evident that the families from the team and the students are filled with the Holy Spirit.
God spoke to me through the message and music and told me how I could be a better wife, mother, friend, and Christian example for someone who doesn’t know Him. It helped me to want to be a better steward of my money and go over and above with my offerings.

Honesty

Honesty before God and others will safeguard you from the inclination to talk further down the road than you are actually walking. Honesty will help you maintain an understanding of your real condition of being poor and needy before the Lord.

Without honesty you begin to lose sight of your true state of existence and tend to become like the Laodicean church, rich, increased with goods, and needing nothing.
The quickest path to honesty lies in getting a fresh vision of God. The experiences of Moses, Job, Isaiah, and Daniel all illustrate the recognition of personal need which comes with a vision of God.
The closer you get to God, the more you will see your need for Him and His continual redemptive work in your life. The smaller your list of needs, the more deceived and self-sufficient you will become.

Insight from the Word:

Proverbs 28:13 "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."
Luke 8:15 "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience."
2 Corinthians 8:21 "We aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man."
Colossians 3:9 "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices."

Making It Personal:

•What three words or phrases best describe my spiritual life and walk with God in the past week?
•What are the three greatest spiritual needs in my life at this point?
• How long (days or weeks) has it been since I was really honest with another person concerning my true spiritual condition? Who is that individual?

© Life Action Ministries: Revival Review--Keys to Continued Revival

The Cost of Failure and Success

We have been in Gettysburg for one week and have had the opportunity to tour a couple of the battle fields from the Civil War. It was a humbling walk across the fields knowing the cost that was paid, on the ground that our feet touched. The cost that was paid, in order to succeed….

Failure and Success

No man is worthy to succeed until he is willing to fail.

Failure and Success: Greatness Has Its Price

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
--2 Timothy 2:3-4

The laws of success operate also in the higher field of the soul-- spiritual greatness has its price. Eminence in the things of the Spirit demands a devotion to these things more complete than most of us are willing to give. But the law cannot be escaped. If we would be holy we know the way; the law of holy living is before us. The prophets of the Old Testament, the apostles of the New and, more than all, the sublime teachings of Christ are there to tell us how to succeed....

The amount of loafing practiced by the average Christian in spiritual things would ruin a concert pianist if he allowed himself to do the same thing in the field of music. The idle puttering around that we see in church circles would end the career of a big league pitcher in one week. No scientist could solve his exacting problem if he took as little interest in it as the rank and file of Christians take in the art of being holy. The nation whose soldiers were as soft and undisciplined as the soldiers of the churches would be conquered by the first enemy that attacked it. Triumphs are not won by men in easy chairs.

Success is costly.

2008-2009 Team

Here is a picture of the team that we have been entrusted with for this ministry season. It has been exciting to get to know all the new faces as well as the new personalities. I am eager to see how this team is used this year as we travel to 30 different churches across America bringing the message of Revival.

On The Road Again

It has been about 4 weeks since we hit the road and it is amazing how fast the time goes by. I can hardly imagine that we have already completed 5 Conferences (Douglas GA, Jesup GA, 2 in Tupelo MS, and Princeton IN), and have just started our 6th event in Elkview WV. Based on our current schedule and one year of travels, it appears that it is time to try out a little different method of communication to keep all of you updated as to what life is like and what God is doing in the lives’ of His people. Our goal with this new blog will be to keep you updated on a much more frequent basis. Many of you have also inquired as to "trailer life" and this will also be the avenue that we have some fun with as we share our life in the trailer with you. This will include pictures as well as some life lessons that the four of us, as well as the team, learn as we go. We may from time to time send out an e-mail/US Mail newsletter but the majority of the communication will take place through the means of this blog. We will send out an e-mail notification whenever there is a new post on the site and you will be able to read it at your leisure.
There is no doubt that there is a cost to be paid for the life and career that God has chosen for us during this season of life. There are things that for many years we took for granted. Family, friends, permanent home, organized activities for the kids, work and career etc…. Our community looks different and it is much more difficult to have and keep the close relationships that have had a huge impact on us for much of our lives.
However, it has been apparent to me the sacrifice that others have made as a result of us being on the road many months out of the year. Obviously there are those that have sacrificed some of their finances in order for us to be out on the road, for that we are grateful and are blessed beyond measure. There are also those who sacrifice some of their time by praying for us, without which, this style of living would not be sustainable for us.
Sacrifice can be defined as: to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else. I caught a picture of this just before we left Labor Day Weekend. As we stood at camp, after a month of training the team, my parents came to see us off and pray for us. As we stood there in a circle praying, I couldn’t help see and hear (through the words and tears) the sacrifice that they have had to make as a result of what God has called us to do. Our parents, family, and friends have had to surrender and give up seeing us, as often as they would prefer to. They have put themselves at a disadvantage in regards to relationships with us and with grandkids for the sake of something else…… a pursuit and passion to Glorify God through a revival among His people and a Spiritual Awakening among the lost. I am 37 years old and I can honestly say that I was homesick before my parents had left camp as a result of seeing their sacrifice in what we are doing.
Thank you to all who have sacrificed on our behalf.
Attached are some pictures of “Trailer Life”.
Blessings.