Why have some big adventures in my life come through the state of Missouri? This is a state where my spirit of adventure was revived back in November when I took a spontaneous trip to IHOP. When I was in highschool I was an adventurer, traveling all over the place presenting the Gospel. From driving a vanload of kids down to Dayton at the age of 17 (why again did parents let me do that?) to the many secular venues I infiltrated with the life of the gospel, I adventured.
Somewhere along the line, that part of me took a backseat. I don’t think that it was a bad thing because my character needed desperate attention. My rebellious and pride-infected self was in danger of uprooted everything I had become, and threatened my future.
YMC helped destroy that rebellion and pride in me and build me up in ways I never could have dreamed. But something felt so dead in me in the fall of last year, and I was desperate for a personal revival. So I pursued an Awakening in Kansas City, where God turned me from friend to bride and renewed my sense of adventure – the very thing that birthed Firestorm in its beginning days.
Now I’ve been invited to Aurora, Missouri by my long-time friend Pastor Ken Hogue, and I’m excited! Ken and I have had many adventures together with Firestorm. I can remember extraordinary times with God, including one time when a couple of our members were singing in the sanctuary on a non-service night and one of them went out in the Spirit. We were drawn there one by one, and the presence of God manifested in a super-intense way. I’ll never forget that.
I’ll be speaking at a summer camp this week all 5 nights, and this will be one of the more stretching adventures yet. Young people will be gathered in that room who want an encounter with God, and I’m a minister who wants to find out what Holy Spirit wants to do and grab ahold of it. I’m looking forward to great things.
The vision of Firestorm, which is now 8 years old and has just seen its final original member graduate, still burns inside of me, and will continue to drive me with evangelistic and prophetic fervor. A youth pastor of mine once said that I have the gift of an evangelist and pastor, which is a rare combination. And let me tell you, I feel the tension of those gifts in me often. I have an intense desire to stay and disciple people, and an intense desire to go out and evangelize with the full Gospel. The best way that I can describe a call that I know is on my life is this: I am to pastor young people and take them evangelizing with me, teaching them how to do so. And while these past few years the pastor in me has been the focus, once again I feel the evangelistic fire rising once again; this vision of Firestorm will always burn in my heart.
I speak tonight on "The Answer of Fire". Let fire fall!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Remembering to Forget
Psalms 45:10-11 (NKJV)
10 Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father's house;
11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
Psalm 45 is a well that I return to on a regular basis. While Hosea is my favorite book (for reasons I won’t share now), Psalm 45 is my favorite Biblical chapter, loaded with a prophetic and poetic picture of a bride making herself ready for her king, soon to be husband.
Vs. 10-11 are sticking out to me today. We often talk of the cost of following Jesus, meaning we must lay down the things and people that are important to us. Jesus talks about leaving your father and mother, your own people for His cause. He says that everyone who pays this price will receive many-fold over what has been given up!
While the cost is different from person to person, the principle is the same: this is going to cost you everything. For this young lady in this chapter, she had her own people and her own family, and she was called to leave it all behind for a life with the King. However, this Scripture takes it a step further: not only do you leave, but you forget. This is important because if you do not forget, your heart hasn’t truly left those things behind, and you are prone to return to your old life.
This beautiful bride has just paid a great price: she left everything she knew and loved behind. But imagine if she had lived her life in regret, in constant mourning over what she had lost, so much so that it effected the way she lived her present life. What if she had dwelt on how good it was to live a comfortable life, or the sins that brought her flesh comfort, or the people she loved dearly? The king would lose desire for her beauty, for her intimacy, because her heart belongs to something that she already left behind. This is why the writer saw it so vitally important to tell the daughter to FORGET, not just leave it behind.
This does not literally mean that you just forget about everything, as if you had no past at all. It simply means that you live your life in such a way that what you left behind does not overcome your love for God. It means that you choose to not be regretful (even though you might feel regret), to not meditate on what you have lost, but Who you have gained. It means that even though you mourn and travail for the people you have left behind, you are prayerful and hopeful for the day that they will be a part of the kingdom.
I might not know what you have left behind, but we all have something or someone. You’ve left it all behind…
But remember to forget…
Because the King desires your beauty!
10 Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father's house;
11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
Psalm 45 is a well that I return to on a regular basis. While Hosea is my favorite book (for reasons I won’t share now), Psalm 45 is my favorite Biblical chapter, loaded with a prophetic and poetic picture of a bride making herself ready for her king, soon to be husband.
Vs. 10-11 are sticking out to me today. We often talk of the cost of following Jesus, meaning we must lay down the things and people that are important to us. Jesus talks about leaving your father and mother, your own people for His cause. He says that everyone who pays this price will receive many-fold over what has been given up!
While the cost is different from person to person, the principle is the same: this is going to cost you everything. For this young lady in this chapter, she had her own people and her own family, and she was called to leave it all behind for a life with the King. However, this Scripture takes it a step further: not only do you leave, but you forget. This is important because if you do not forget, your heart hasn’t truly left those things behind, and you are prone to return to your old life.
This beautiful bride has just paid a great price: she left everything she knew and loved behind. But imagine if she had lived her life in regret, in constant mourning over what she had lost, so much so that it effected the way she lived her present life. What if she had dwelt on how good it was to live a comfortable life, or the sins that brought her flesh comfort, or the people she loved dearly? The king would lose desire for her beauty, for her intimacy, because her heart belongs to something that she already left behind. This is why the writer saw it so vitally important to tell the daughter to FORGET, not just leave it behind.
This does not literally mean that you just forget about everything, as if you had no past at all. It simply means that you live your life in such a way that what you left behind does not overcome your love for God. It means that you choose to not be regretful (even though you might feel regret), to not meditate on what you have lost, but Who you have gained. It means that even though you mourn and travail for the people you have left behind, you are prayerful and hopeful for the day that they will be a part of the kingdom.
I might not know what you have left behind, but we all have something or someone. You’ve left it all behind…
But remember to forget…
Because the King desires your beauty!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Spider-man is Real
Well, in principle anyways.
Spider-man has definitely impacted my life, even helping shape it at a younger age. Not only him but other childhood heroes I had, such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Tai Kamiya from Digimon. Before you laugh (which honestly, is OK if you do!), let me explain what I mean.
God speaks to people indifferent ways. When someone asks me how to better listen for his voice, I first try to destroy the concept many people have that His voice is either heard audibly or in your head. He also speaks in dreams, pictures, creation, knowledge, and an endless list of other things. It's important to recognize How God speaks to you as an individual, the love language in which God specifically uses with you in mind.
He even uses the secular to speak. Jesus often did that with His parables, which I find fascinating. My good friend Chris had an experience with the Lord as DMX was crying out to God on one of his albums while Chris was high. The fear of God came over Him and he'll never forget that. DMX, of all people!
For me, one of the more dramatic worldview changes came when Spider-man came out. I was 15 years old and my Grandpa took me to see it the first time. I remembered the impact that it had on me in regards to responsibility. Forever engraved in me was Peter Parker walking away from Mary Jane at the end because He chose his destiny instead. That lesson that God used set me up to be responsible, and that year I started my own D.J. business and also ran with Firestorm, an evangelism ministry that I pioneered.
Even more dramatically was Spider-man 2 that came out the summer before my senior year. The whole movie was the struggle over whether or not he would choose Mary Jane over his calling. He knew that both could not co-exist, and he experienced the pain, love, and sacrifice that comes along with being who you are meant to be. It sobered me unlike anything I had experienced up to that point because God spoke very clearly to me through it. I made up my mind -- I wouldn't choose anything over my calling.
That was challenged to the point of agony several times from that point all the way until now, and will continue. I didn't know that I would almost choose a job over ministry schooling. I didn't know that I would meet an amazing girl that wouldn't be God's plan. I didn't know that time and time again, I would be confronted with the deep personal agony of wanting something so badly but not being able to have it if I wanted my destiny. Had I not had what God taught me in 2002 and 2004, I would not be here at Victory as a pastor, because each of those deep battles birthed the path that led me to this point.
I could have been married, but not at VCC.
I could have been successful at Starbucks, but not at VCC.
Last year a battle emerged that challenged my calling...
And even a new battle now that has caused me to think about all of this again.
And wow...all of those battles went down to the wire. The closest thing I can describe it as would be 2 basketball games in a row, games 6 and 7, facing elimination each time, shooting the ball from half-court at the buzzer to tie the game and go to overtime. I sunk the desperation shot each time and won in overtime -- but only because God gave me some crazy dose of grace at the last second.And the thing is, that was just in the first round. So-to-speak, I'm young and still have 2 rounds to go until I reach the Finals.
I wish I could tell you that you wont go through deep personal battles like this, but you will. They will never end. At different periods of your life you will have the option to choose something (even a GOOD thing) over God's plan. You have to remember your calling and cry out to God, because even then there is no promise that you will make the right choice. Pray scary prayers, because apart from His help, you will be so emotionally clouded that you wont make the right choice if you don't seek counsel from both God and wise men and women. Even after that, making the right decision will require all of your effort and all of His grace.
I am encouraged by the way Spider-man 2 ends. Peter makes the choice of his call over Mary Jane, and he still gets her at the end of the movie. Wow! As a result of my obedience God will eventually give me what I most desire (if I still have that desire once He is through), but He will likely make sure I'm good and dead before He does. Only then can I live with that blessing.
Spider-man has definitely impacted my life, even helping shape it at a younger age. Not only him but other childhood heroes I had, such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Tai Kamiya from Digimon. Before you laugh (which honestly, is OK if you do!), let me explain what I mean.
God speaks to people indifferent ways. When someone asks me how to better listen for his voice, I first try to destroy the concept many people have that His voice is either heard audibly or in your head. He also speaks in dreams, pictures, creation, knowledge, and an endless list of other things. It's important to recognize How God speaks to you as an individual, the love language in which God specifically uses with you in mind.
He even uses the secular to speak. Jesus often did that with His parables, which I find fascinating. My good friend Chris had an experience with the Lord as DMX was crying out to God on one of his albums while Chris was high. The fear of God came over Him and he'll never forget that. DMX, of all people!
For me, one of the more dramatic worldview changes came when Spider-man came out. I was 15 years old and my Grandpa took me to see it the first time. I remembered the impact that it had on me in regards to responsibility. Forever engraved in me was Peter Parker walking away from Mary Jane at the end because He chose his destiny instead. That lesson that God used set me up to be responsible, and that year I started my own D.J. business and also ran with Firestorm, an evangelism ministry that I pioneered.
Even more dramatically was Spider-man 2 that came out the summer before my senior year. The whole movie was the struggle over whether or not he would choose Mary Jane over his calling. He knew that both could not co-exist, and he experienced the pain, love, and sacrifice that comes along with being who you are meant to be. It sobered me unlike anything I had experienced up to that point because God spoke very clearly to me through it. I made up my mind -- I wouldn't choose anything over my calling.
That was challenged to the point of agony several times from that point all the way until now, and will continue. I didn't know that I would almost choose a job over ministry schooling. I didn't know that I would meet an amazing girl that wouldn't be God's plan. I didn't know that time and time again, I would be confronted with the deep personal agony of wanting something so badly but not being able to have it if I wanted my destiny. Had I not had what God taught me in 2002 and 2004, I would not be here at Victory as a pastor, because each of those deep battles birthed the path that led me to this point.
I could have been married, but not at VCC.
I could have been successful at Starbucks, but not at VCC.
Last year a battle emerged that challenged my calling...
And even a new battle now that has caused me to think about all of this again.
And wow...all of those battles went down to the wire. The closest thing I can describe it as would be 2 basketball games in a row, games 6 and 7, facing elimination each time, shooting the ball from half-court at the buzzer to tie the game and go to overtime. I sunk the desperation shot each time and won in overtime -- but only because God gave me some crazy dose of grace at the last second.And the thing is, that was just in the first round. So-to-speak, I'm young and still have 2 rounds to go until I reach the Finals.
I wish I could tell you that you wont go through deep personal battles like this, but you will. They will never end. At different periods of your life you will have the option to choose something (even a GOOD thing) over God's plan. You have to remember your calling and cry out to God, because even then there is no promise that you will make the right choice. Pray scary prayers, because apart from His help, you will be so emotionally clouded that you wont make the right choice if you don't seek counsel from both God and wise men and women. Even after that, making the right decision will require all of your effort and all of His grace.
I am encouraged by the way Spider-man 2 ends. Peter makes the choice of his call over Mary Jane, and he still gets her at the end of the movie. Wow! As a result of my obedience God will eventually give me what I most desire (if I still have that desire once He is through), but He will likely make sure I'm good and dead before He does. Only then can I live with that blessing.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Fixed or New?
I’ve been returning to a well lately that I come to every so often for refreshment. Like Bill Johnson says, highlight the areas in your Bible where you return to time and time again for water. For me, I’m always refreshed by meditating on the truth that we are not fixed people, but new people. As I like to say, God’s not a mechanic, He’s a Creator. Jim White talked about it a little tonight, and boy was it good!
Jesus didn’t come to fix me, He came to make me new. I run into problems when I try to fix my old man which is meant to die.
Are we treating people like they are new, with no past and only a bright future? Or are we treating people like they are fixed, with the potential that they will break again?
The old man is fueled by the expectations of others. We keep it alive and instead of killing it so it doesn’t smell bad anymore, we try and make it beautiful. Spray extra cologne to help over the stench, when in reality the beauty we bestow upon it will eventually leave but the stench will remain long after it is gone.
One of the main areas I’ve been feeling strongly about this is in the area of purity. I’ve heard some people say that because they have not had sex before they are married, they feel like they deserve someone who also remained a virgin until marriage and thus, will not entertain being with people who’ve lost their virginity. I don’t share that opinion. Wow, I could miss an amazing woman if I think that way! Besides that, there isn’t such thing as a virgin apart from the new man. My Bible says that if any man looks at a woman (or vice versa) with lust, he’s already had sex. We are actually body, soul, and spirit and if one part sins, it infects every other part. The sin that condemns because you lusted is equal in damnable power as committing fornication.
So the truth is there are no true virgins in the old man, but there is with the new!
If you are redeemed, washed in the blood, saved from your sins, born again (I feel a preach coming on lol) then God has restored you and there is no past! In other words, you are a virgin not because in your past life you had sex, but in this present life of being redeemed God has restored your virginity in every way.
This is not to undervalue those who have not had physical sex. It’s absolutely amazing to meet someone who gets married that has kept themselves pure in that way. Thus far I’m one of those virgins in that definition and will be that on my wedding day as well. However, I could care less if my future wife has slept with guys before – she’s been restored. Even if she stumbled after she became a Christian. God restores even after salvation! She is a virgin, through and through! Let her walk down that aisle with the whitest of dresses, because that virgin is getting married! It’s like turning back the clock without traveling in time, the mystery of restoration!
In reality, this is what Jesus has done for us. He took the adulterous bride that we were and restored us. He treats us without memory of our former adulteries, even though we cheated on Him. So let’s treat people like they are brand new – because really, they are!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Tradition
Merry Christmas everyone!
NOW it really feels like Christmas. I had a really hard time this season feeling that it was actually the time of year, but today was certainly a great day!
Traditions can be pretty great. True, tradition tends to many times become sacred cows in our lives that limit us rather than uplift us, but when they are kept in a way that doesn't keep one in bondage but rather creates memories and deepens our recollection of what really matters, they are quite useful.
My family would have no traditions if it was not for Christmas. I really enjoy them, and I thought I'd share a few with you today! Leave me a Christmas tradition of yours on my facebook as I'd love to hear yours.
So here are a few:
*Christmas Eve is always spent with my mom's side of the family, even before my dad passed. Up untuil this year it was always at Grandpa and Grandma's, but this year we moved to a bigger house because there are too many great grandkids that have tipped the scale!
*Christmas Presents. Around my family, getting a gift for eachother is more important than getting a gift for eachother on our birthdays! Christmas actually supercedes birthdays! lol. I get at least one gift for each of my family members and everyone else does the same. Not just cheap gifts -- we really bring out the big bucks. Could be why we rarely get eachother anything for birthdays. lol.
*Christmas Breakfast. My dad used to make this massive buffet of ham, eggs, hasbrowns, toast, bacon, and more. We've done this as long as I can remember. Now my brother Justin cooks it, and Tyler and I assist. Great and yummy tradition!
*Christmas Cookie Buildup. Mom cooks all kinds of cookies (that we are not allowed to have before Christmas...but I sneak them anyways) and unleashes them for feasting on Christmas day.
*Do NOTHING! On Christmas Day we dont go anywhere. Every other holiday we keep that option open, but Christmas Day is reserved for just our family. This is priceless to me!
*Grandpa and Grandma. They come over and see what we got for Christmas, and Grandpa plays with something that we bought. Today he tried to put together Tyler's puzzle that has 300,000 possible ways to put together wrong. He didnt get very far, lol.
So in times like these I wonder how many of these traditions I will keep when I have a family of my own, and also how many we will make. None of these are sacred cows to me, but they are special at this point in my life. I'm looking forward to when I have a family of my own and we can have special Christmas' together!
It's been a wonderful Christmas and I hope yours was too. May you have wonderful memories with your family -- they are precious gifts from God!
...And to all a goodnight!
Love,
Chris
NOW it really feels like Christmas. I had a really hard time this season feeling that it was actually the time of year, but today was certainly a great day!
Traditions can be pretty great. True, tradition tends to many times become sacred cows in our lives that limit us rather than uplift us, but when they are kept in a way that doesn't keep one in bondage but rather creates memories and deepens our recollection of what really matters, they are quite useful.
My family would have no traditions if it was not for Christmas. I really enjoy them, and I thought I'd share a few with you today! Leave me a Christmas tradition of yours on my facebook as I'd love to hear yours.
So here are a few:
*Christmas Eve is always spent with my mom's side of the family, even before my dad passed. Up untuil this year it was always at Grandpa and Grandma's, but this year we moved to a bigger house because there are too many great grandkids that have tipped the scale!
*Christmas Presents. Around my family, getting a gift for eachother is more important than getting a gift for eachother on our birthdays! Christmas actually supercedes birthdays! lol. I get at least one gift for each of my family members and everyone else does the same. Not just cheap gifts -- we really bring out the big bucks. Could be why we rarely get eachother anything for birthdays. lol.
*Christmas Breakfast. My dad used to make this massive buffet of ham, eggs, hasbrowns, toast, bacon, and more. We've done this as long as I can remember. Now my brother Justin cooks it, and Tyler and I assist. Great and yummy tradition!
*Christmas Cookie Buildup. Mom cooks all kinds of cookies (that we are not allowed to have before Christmas...but I sneak them anyways) and unleashes them for feasting on Christmas day.
*Do NOTHING! On Christmas Day we dont go anywhere. Every other holiday we keep that option open, but Christmas Day is reserved for just our family. This is priceless to me!
*Grandpa and Grandma. They come over and see what we got for Christmas, and Grandpa plays with something that we bought. Today he tried to put together Tyler's puzzle that has 300,000 possible ways to put together wrong. He didnt get very far, lol.
So in times like these I wonder how many of these traditions I will keep when I have a family of my own, and also how many we will make. None of these are sacred cows to me, but they are special at this point in my life. I'm looking forward to when I have a family of my own and we can have special Christmas' together!
It's been a wonderful Christmas and I hope yours was too. May you have wonderful memories with your family -- they are precious gifts from God!
...And to all a goodnight!
Love,
Chris
Sunday, November 29, 2009
IHOP Adventure: Parts 3 & 4
Sometimes if you have trouble remembering the great things that have happened to you, the best thing to do is evaluate the change in your life and work backwards. I can tell you that something shifted in my life in a powerful way. I've been greatly impacted by their lifestyle of prayer and fasting, their unrelenting drive to contend for the Kingdom to invade, their passionate "lover and a fighter" bride and forerunner relationship to God, their depth upon depth of prophetic ministry both in music and in preaching. Some might ask why God chose to move at IHOP...I would ask why wouldn't He? They have prayed 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year for 10 years straight, and a move of God broke out. They eat, sleep, and breath prayer in cries for the last great global revival that will usher in the second coming of Christ. Of course, they haven't seen all that they have prayed for in the beginning stages of this awakening, but certainly this could be the beginning.
I went to the prayer room and was simply blown away. There were rooms for deliverance, prophetic, healing, Israel, travail, and more. Someone or band continuously playing live music, declaring the Word of God and interceding through instruments and singing. I have no doubt that from that room major disasters have been cancelled, 5-fold ministers have been called, lives have been saved, nations have been re-directed. How do I know this? John Wesley once said "God does nothing apart from the prayers of His people." God has chosen for us to partner with Him, and contending in prayer releases the finished work that He so desires to release. He just simply won't do it without us releasing His power through prayer. This is so much deeper than I can elaborate right now, so I apoloize for stopping here -- but I won't leave you hanging. Read Dutch Sheet's "Intercessory Prayer" and you'll never look at intercession the same again.
I left IHOP with two major takeaways, everything that I just said as one of them. I am not suddenly an IHOP maniac that is going to say they are the only ones who have it going on and I want to get out there. There are so many great movements across this country, such as what is going on at Bethel in Redding and the RAMP in Hamilton -- and of course, my church Victory Christian Center! My heart burns for this region, for VCC. There have been words spoken over this church of a great move of God coming to us. I just have finally gained the revelation via my trip to IHOP that God's promises are unlocked by intercessory prayer. Sounds silly that I didn't realize this before, but prayer is everything.
I'm becoming more and more consumed with the passion to pray and fast, to contend for the awakening to come in this region, for revival to break out at Victory that will completely be authenticated by the precious presence of the Holy Spirit showing up in full demonstration of Salvation -- deliverance, healing, and redemption.
So there you have just some of what God did. I know I didn't go into details of actual events, such as Misty Edwards in the prayer room singing about the redemption of a harlot. If you want to know more, just ask! Thank you for praying for me while I was there -- it was a trip I'll never forget!
With admiration,
Chris
I went to the prayer room and was simply blown away. There were rooms for deliverance, prophetic, healing, Israel, travail, and more. Someone or band continuously playing live music, declaring the Word of God and interceding through instruments and singing. I have no doubt that from that room major disasters have been cancelled, 5-fold ministers have been called, lives have been saved, nations have been re-directed. How do I know this? John Wesley once said "God does nothing apart from the prayers of His people." God has chosen for us to partner with Him, and contending in prayer releases the finished work that He so desires to release. He just simply won't do it without us releasing His power through prayer. This is so much deeper than I can elaborate right now, so I apoloize for stopping here -- but I won't leave you hanging. Read Dutch Sheet's "Intercessory Prayer" and you'll never look at intercession the same again.
I left IHOP with two major takeaways, everything that I just said as one of them. I am not suddenly an IHOP maniac that is going to say they are the only ones who have it going on and I want to get out there. There are so many great movements across this country, such as what is going on at Bethel in Redding and the RAMP in Hamilton -- and of course, my church Victory Christian Center! My heart burns for this region, for VCC. There have been words spoken over this church of a great move of God coming to us. I just have finally gained the revelation via my trip to IHOP that God's promises are unlocked by intercessory prayer. Sounds silly that I didn't realize this before, but prayer is everything.
I'm becoming more and more consumed with the passion to pray and fast, to contend for the awakening to come in this region, for revival to break out at Victory that will completely be authenticated by the precious presence of the Holy Spirit showing up in full demonstration of Salvation -- deliverance, healing, and redemption.
So there you have just some of what God did. I know I didn't go into details of actual events, such as Misty Edwards in the prayer room singing about the redemption of a harlot. If you want to know more, just ask! Thank you for praying for me while I was there -- it was a trip I'll never forget!
With admiration,
Chris
Saturday, November 28, 2009
IHOP Adventure: Part 2/4
Hey everyone!
So three guys jump in a car on Thanksgiving weekend, drive over 800 miles for an encounter with God that would change our lives. Sounds crazy, and I'm glad that I live in this world of crazy -- because this trip has been amazing.
Last night we went to the Awakening service, and right away God connected me with a friend from Victory! She came to our church years ago and left and came to IHOP. It was really good seeing her again and hopefully we will all connect later on tonight.
Julie Meyer led worship for the first half and it was incredible. These IHOP artists have an amazing ability to weave together multiple songs and use them to lead us into God's presence. They have more excellence, creativity, and depth in their music department than any ministry I've seen or learned about.
We got to witness Mike Bickle, Lou Engle, and others officially recognize Wes and Allen as the leaders of this Awakening. It was a beautiful thing to see fathers release sons to run with something that could forever change the course of the IHOP community and even the world. Mike has not spoken a single word in the webstreams that I've seen, and to see Mike so proud of them made my heart glad. Something else that was remarkable was this: Allen is the president of IHOP U, and Wes is on staff under him. Allen recognized that God's hand is on Wes to lead the Awakening, and submitted himself to his leadership in regards to it. I thought that was a beautiful display of how the body of Christ can work -- choosing to submit to those who God's hand is upon for a specific task, even if they are under your leadership. Wow.
There is no superstar mentality here. Everyone contributes, from the worship leading to the ministry. There hasn't even been preaching -- just the leadership recognizing what God wants to do and run with it.
A highlight of the night is when Julie Meyer prophesied over Wes...she began to sing over him something that God sang over Him in a dream, and oh my...it was overwhelming!
Something shifted in me at a certain portion of the night that I know that I'm set free from. I wont share it yet, for now it is "secret history" as Bill Johnson would call it. All I know is that I got the main drive of what I came for last night, and I'm THRILLED!
btw, Misty Edwards led worship for the second half. Amazing. She is definitely my favorite worship leader ever.
Today we are going to the IHOP prayer room and then to one last service before we begin the long journey home. Please pray for me -- I'm excited at what God is doing in me!
With admiration,
Chris
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