Peter Moments

Hi Family...I wrote this in 2008 and I thought it was worth re-sharing :)

God Evening Family,

I haven't written in two weeks. Some are breathing a huge sigh of relief. Some weren't aware of that because they delete the email unopened. But perhaps there are one or two of you who actually were wondering why you haven't received Revival Prayer in two weeks.

I'll tell you why. I'm having a Peter Crisis. Let me explain. Peter was not the beloved desciple, that was John...you know, the one always leaning on Jesus' breast. No, Peter was the one with the big mouth. He was always saying the wrong thing, putting his foot in his mouth, or offending folks. Well I've been doing the same for two weeks now. No matter what I do it's wrong.

So as I sat down to write the first week and then the second week I found myself second guessing every word. A little fearful lest I offend, I deleted everything. Cowardly? Maybe...ok, yes, somewhat. But also a Godly fear has crept into my heart. You see I don't want to say just anything. I don't want to spout off my opinions anymore. I want to speak as the Spirit gives me utterance, as an oracle of God. James asked if both bitter water and sweet , salt water and fresh flowed from the same source? How terrible when the same mouth that just uttered Thus sayeth the Lord with such annointing and boldness then begins to complain about the price of eggs and the broken washing machine.

I want to be not just Spirit led but Holy Spirit possessed. I want to forsake the pleasures of this world and throw myself with abandon off the precipice of earthly wisdom. I want to own nothing but the Knowledge of who He is and what He says. I want to trust Him completely and cast off every weight that keeps me tied to the natural. I want to take God at His Word. I don't just want to operate in the supernatural...I want to be supernatural. But I am not.

Even now in frustration I want to delete this as well. To hang up writing for good. But yet He said... write.

There is someone who questions as I do. "Who am I to do anything for God when I'm such a mess? Who am I to speak to anyone of God?" The devil says quit and accuses you of every sin and weakness. He calls you that word that causes you to cringe..."Hypocrite!".

The Word says agree with your adversary quickly. Admit your failures...nod your head swiftly at the devils long list of accusations. But then turn your eyes to the cross. He is your Champion. He did not die because we were perfect but because we couldn't help ourselves. How much more will He help us now that we are His. Paul boasted in his weaknesses because it was only when he was weak that he could be truly strong in Christ.

So march onward soldier and do not faint but continue to abound in the work of the Lord. And when you have a Peter moment...smile, you're in good company!

Continue in Prayer...

Love,
Lauren







God Evening Family,

I haven't written in two weeks. Some are breathing a huge sigh of relief. Some weren't aware of that because they delete the email unopened. But perhaps there are one or two of you who actually were wondering why you haven't received Revival Prayer in two weeks.

I'll tell you why. I'm having a Peter Crisis. Let me explain. Peter was not the beloved desciple, that was John...you know, the one always leaning on Jesus' breast. No, Peter was the one with the big mouth. He was always saying the wrong thing, putting his foot in his mouth, or offending folks. Well I've been doing the same for two weeks now. No matter what I do it's wrong.

So as I sat down to write the first week and then the second week I found myself second guessing every word. A little fearful lest I offend, I deleted everything. Cowardly? Maybe...ok, yes, somewhat. But also a Godly fear has crept into my heart. You see I don't want to say just anything. I don't want to spout off my opinions anymore. I want to speak as the Spirit gives me utterance, as an oracle of God. James asked if both bitter water and sweet , salt water and fresh flowed from the same source? How terrible when the same mouth that just uttered Thus sayeth the Lord with such annointing and boldness then begins to complain about the price of eggs and the broken washing machine.

I want to be not just Spirit led but Holy Spirit possessed. I want to forsake the pleasures of this world and throw myself with abandon off the precipice of earthly wisdom. I want to own nothing but the Knowledge of who He is and what He says. I want to trust Him completely and cast off every weight that keeps me tied to the natural. I want to take God at His Word. I don't just want to operate in the supernatural...I want to be supernatural. But I am not.

Even now in frustration I want to delete this as well. To hang up writing for good. But yet He said... write.

There is someone who questions as I do. "Who am I to do anything for God when I'm such a mess? Who am I to speak to anyone of God?" The devil says quit and accuses you of every sin and weakness. He calls you that word that causes you to cringe..."Hypocrite!".

The Word says agree with your adversary quickly. Admit your failures...nod your head swiftly at the devils long list of accusations. But then turn your eyes to the cross. He is your Champion. He did not die because we were perfect but because we couldn't help ourselves. How much more will He help us now that we are His. Paul boasted in His weaknesses because it was only when He was weak that He could be truly strong.

So march onward soldier and do not faint but continue to abound in the work of the Lord. And when you have a Peter moment...smile, you're in good company!

Stay in prayer and in the Word,

Love in our Lord,
Lauren

That's Word

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Romans 12 (The Message)

Stay in Prayer and in the Word!

Love in our Lord,
Lauren

A.R.K.S.

God Evening Family,

Yep, still stuck on ARKS only this time it's an acronym.

My favorite movie of all times is Evan Almighty. (Yes I suggest you see it.) Evan is a man elected to Congress. He appeals to God for help him make a difference, only it never occurred to him that God would take him at his word. God shows up and gently but firmly insists that Evan build an Ark.

I won't ruin the movie for you but I will say it was through this movie that God first spoke to me about Arks or in this case A.R.K

Acts of Random Kindness.

More and more I am convinced that I have a responsibility to help people not only come to Christ, but to stay saved.

This world is cruel, calculating, and indifferent to the pain people endure. There are times when a word or gesture of kindness is like a crust of bread to a starving man.

The problem lies in agendas. True kindness has no agenda. It just is. Jesus healed countless men and women he knew would later reject Him simply because He was moved by compassion.

Those with agendas do not waste their time on people they know will never be saved, never achieve their destiny...never be a "successful" Christian. They look for those with the right qualities and then they begin the work of conversion. Discipleship means reproducing themselves which is kind of strange since none of us is the standard...

Jesus is the standard.

Jesus was the Master A.R.K. builder. From raising a widow's son from the dead during the funeral procession to making sure his mother would be cared for by John, while hanging on the cross mind you, Jesus was always sensitive to suffering of others. He did what He could to ease that suffering.

The command from God to Noah was, "Make yourself an ark..."Gen 6:14

The command from Jesus for 2000 years has always been make yourself an A.R.K.

Love everyone. Be kind to everyone. And as much as it is up to you be at peace with all. Honor all men and suffer even the least to come to Him. Make yourself that compassionate person who does all you can to ease the suffering around you...with no agenda.

Whether people come to Christ or not, whether they do grand impressive things for God or not, whether they just can't seem to mature in Christ we are to show the kindness of God.

Why?

Because, for now, the Ark door is still open. Just as they can come in they can also walk out. God's will is all be saved and for those who walk out of His Ark there is no promise of tomorrow.

What if all it takes to keep a soul saved is a not so random, Holy Spirit inspired, act of kindness from me? What if that soul is my spouse, my child, my mom or dad, a pastor, or a new convert? What if I hold back that kindness and someone goes to hell due to my lack of compassion? My refusal to just be...

... kind?


"Make yourself an ark..."Gen 6:14

Stay in Prayer and the Word!

Love in our Lord,

Lauren

Ark Builders

God Afternoon Family,

There is something weighing on the heart of God that is beginning to weigh on mine.

God is looking for Ark builders.

The end of this world as we know it is coming. Two thousand years ago the apostles declared that Jesus was coming soon. Two thousand years later we stand at the brink of that Great Day.

In preparation for that coming the church has been commissioned to win as many souls to Christ as we can. Very few are doing that, but for those who are I believe there is an aspect of soul winning that can be overlooked, or at least not given priority in the mind of the soul winner.

Generally in winning souls, great mercy and kindness is shown to the lost. The message, preached truthfully and without compromise, is ornamented with patience and a great show of love. For the one that is drawn by the Father and receives Christ as Lord, this "love" is sweet refuge from the rejection and harshness of the world.

All too soon however, once it is relatively assured that the new convert really is saved and locked in to the local church, seasoned men and women seem to breath a sigh of relief as they remove their spiritual masks. Almost in unison it's as if they say,

"Okay, now we can be ourselves."

Patience now begins to wear thin, compassion and concern is rarely evident, the fruit of the spirit has gone sour, and instead of being our brother's keeper the scripture of the day is, "work out your own salvation...". At the end of the day, the body lays down it's head down in peace because we've done our job and the poor heathen is saved.

People are not that stupid. As a sales woman I do my utmost to give sincere compliments and to be kind to my clients because they are people, not because I want their money. I do this because I hate being "sold". I know when people are being nice to me because they have an agenda.

People know when they are just another notch on the evangelistic belt.

There is a difference between loving people and loving bringing people to Christ. One continues to cultivate the relationship while the other dumps the heathen at the feet of Christ and walks off. Jesus is looking for those who will cultivate the relationship.

God had Noah build the Ark to preserve life until the danger passed. God expects us to do the same. Instead of wooden boats, arks are now the hearts of men where people can remain safe until Jesus comes for His church.

When we do not develop hearts filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control what comes out of us is everything prideful and wicked. Instead of patiently helping one another just stay saved we have become a source of stumbling.

When our brother backslides, offended, it is not simply because they had no relationship with God it's because they also had no relationship with the body. If a finger is dismembered the tissue in that finger will die because it it cut off from the nourishment that comes through the blood flow of the body. If a brother has not connected intimately within the body he will eventually die because he is cut off from the nourishment of Christ that flows through the church. Before one develops intimacy with God he connects with the one made in the image of God.

I understand all to well that there are those who will not connect no matter how well they are loved by their brethren. But when the body refuses to grow in the fruit of the Spirit we in effect
cut off our brother from the love and mercy of God. Then his blood is on our hands.

We build arks for souls. Therefore we do not just show love to the new convert, but our spouses, children, leaders, pastors, and peers. Everyone in the church is a soul in need of keeping

We build arks when we choose to be the peace maker, when we give, and when we labor in God's house instead of leaving the work to others. We build arks through sincere gestures of kindness to one another, forgiving one another (quickly), and looking out for the troubles of our brother as well as our own. We build arks when we prefer one another before ourselves.

We build arks not out of duty but a sincere desire to see everyone make it to the right hand of God.

We build arks because hell is real and we are our brother's keeper.

When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the boat with all your family..." Gen 7:1

Stay in prayer and in the Word!

Love in our Lord,
Lauren

Take up Your Cross

God Evening Family,

I'm not quite sure how to write this, but I know God wanted me to share what He showed me this morning.

Last Sunday I was fasting. As I was listening to the sermon that morning I heard God say pray for My body. So I continued the fast and each day focused my prayer on whatever the Holy Spirit led me to pray for His body. Among other things I prayed for the fear of the Lord, finances, missionaries, pastors, laborers for the harvest and workers to rise up.

One day I specifically prayed that God would heal His body. I felt such a certainty that the body of Christ was so sick and the sickness was like a cancer that was rapidly spreading.

Today was the last day of the fast and when I woke up, before I had even opened my eyes, I had a song on my heart about the Cross. As I opened my eyes I had a vision of Jesus. He was holding a cup in His hand and He said,

"The reason so many are falling away is because they refuse to embrace the Cross. The end is closer than ever before. For those who embrace the Cross the end is glorious."

He looked at me and held out the cup. "Will you drink from My cup?"

I hesitated because I knew it was the cup of suffering. I told Him I didn't want to drink from that cup and I needed His grace to help me to do so.

He said, "Embrace the cross, the end is glorious."

I took the cup and drank from it. It was so bitter and it made my stomach hurt. As I drank I saw so many things it was almost a blur and I couldn't see it all. I saw wars, strife, people suffering, others carrying or being nailed to their own crosses. Then all was silent and I was dressed as He was. My robe was so beautiful and everything was bright and white. Then I heard the worship of so many saints, all united in our praise of the Lamb. Finally My head was laid in His lap as He sat on His throne.

This vision could have lasted longer than a minute but for me the message was clear. In order for me to be with Jesus forever I must take up my cross, but in my flesh this is impossible. It is only through the strength of God that I can allow my flesh to suffer the agonizingly slow death of the cross.

When we think of suffering we often think of those who suffer unto blood shed. However in this country very few experience the pain of being martyred. At least for now. Our crosses tend more towards our dealings with people or circumstances. For instance when we encounter an offense the temptation is to respond in some carnal way, yet the Word of God says to forgive. To obey that Word I have to nail my fleshly desire for revenge firmly to the cross and graciously extend the hand of peace.

Crosses are not easy. No one wants to drink from the cup of suffering and humiliation. Yet Jesus gave the answer. In Luke 22:42-43 we find Jesus asking His Father to take away this same cup. Jesus was not spared but His Father sent an angel to strengthen Him.

The end truly is near folks and many are forsaking the Word of God to live their own version of Christianity where suffering and humiliation don't exist. Many are already deceived into thinking that they are still right with God despite the fact that they refuse to obey His Word.

Nothing in me wants to suffer. Yet God demands it because this flesh must die. So my part in the matter is to find my own Garden of Gethsemane and cry out to God for the grace to take up my cross, that I too may follow after Christ.

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Heb 12:3

Stay in Prayer and in the Word!

Love in our Lord,
Lauren

The House of Kindness

God Morning Family,
There is a story in the New Testament that has always weighed on my mind in that I've never fully been at peace with the way some interpret it..

The story is found in John 5:1-9 and tells how there was a pool called Bethesda where miracles happened. At certain seasons an angel would stir the waters and whoever got into the water first was healed of whatever sickness they had.

Jesus comes on the scene and taking note of a man who had been lying by that pool for 38 years, He asked him,

"Would you like to get well?"

The man responds by saying that he could not get well because every time the waters were stirred someone would get in the water before he could. He had no one who would help Him.

I've heard this invalid described as an excuse maker, an apathetic man who was wallowing in self pity. I heard it said that if this man really wanted to be healed he would have found a way to get in that pool, therefore if you and I are not healed, delivered, or still struggling in some emotional area it's because we just don't want the victory bad enough.

I do believe that we are responsible to do our part when it comes to receiving things from the Lord. But, I also know that sometimes people suffer from conditions (Physically, mentally, spiritually) that they can do absolutely nothing about. They are not making excuses they just do not see a way out of their suffering. It is in these cases that God expects us to help one another.

It is amusing that the pool was called Bethesda which in the Hebrew means house of kindness. Imagine this. The pool is packed with the sick and infirm waiting for the angel to stir the water. They are as close to the pool as they can get. Day after day passes and everyone is afraid to sleep or take their eyes off the water for even a second. Everyone is on edge and no one is thinking about their neighbor. All they want is to be the first one in the water so they can be free from misery. Finally the waters begin to stir and the people are anything but kind. The sick are trampling on one another. Fists flail as each one desperately attempts to be the first to step in.

Finally a shout of triumph! A young man with kidney stones had pushed down an elderly woman with cancer and stepped in the water first. Glorifying God he went home healed with out a second thought about those still sick. The crowd went back, each one to their place, some weeping, others grumbling, all dejected.

Then Jesus comes and His attention is immediately fixed on the one who had been their 38 years and his complaint was so genuine Jesus did not dispute it. There was no one who would help. So Jesus spoke and the man was healed.

I have several thoughts on the matter and even as I write I pray God convict me daily to put my needs on the back burner when I have an opportunity to show a kindness.

1) We are our brother's keeper. We have a responsibility to be the solution to an other's problem. I imagine Jesus angry at the selfishness of His people as they lay by that pool. He still gets angry. We get so wrapped up in ourselves, our trials, that we forget to have compassion for one another. When we get our breakthrough we praise God with our mouth but forget that our brother is still suffering.

I wonder what would have happened if someone had determined that the next time the pool stirred they would grab their brother and jump in together. Maybe God would have been so pleased that in His mercy they both would have been healed. Maybe a revival would have started and everyone who jumped in would have gotten healed.

Don't forget the four friends that tore up the roof of a house to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Jesus healed that man and said it was because of the faith of his friends. Mark 2:1-5

2) Jesus healed the man by the pool and it was the sabbath. Jesus knew by healing this man on the sabbath He was asking for persecution as it was considered unlawful to heal on the sabbath.
It will cost us to extend help to someone else. We will suffer the little...maybe giving up our eating out money to give another family groceries. We will suffer greatly...as do those who bring the Gospel of Salvation to countries where Christians are persecuted to the death. Yet those who are willing to lay down their life to bless someone else are called the friends of Jesus.

3) Finally, and my sincere apologies if this sounds cynical but, in the end we can really only depend on Jesus. For 38 years no one would help this man and I imagine he must have reached out for help. He must have begged for help only to have people turn a deaf ear. For 38 years people had an opportunity to show kindness in the house of kindness and no one did. The man waited because he had no choice, but finally God showed up.

The proper response to this is to keep your heart soft and do not get bitter. Selfishness is human nature even in the most spiritual man or woman of God. The best of us have to fight off self more than the devil...how much more those in the church who do not seek God and His ways.

Just remember while you wait for God, though you may have been forsaken do not forsake others. When God shows up pay it forward.

We can all do something to help one another. We can even help those who make foolish decisions. Do not flippantly shrug your shoulders when, because of their rebelliousness or stubbornness, people suffer. Prayer and compassion is always needful, especially for the fool.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Phil 2:3-4

Stay in Prayer and in the Word!

Love in our Lord,
Lauren

My Brother's Keeper

God Evening Family,

Some months ago I realized that having a fruitless life was a sure way to reserve a place in hell.

Yesterday I heard someone say that Christians who do not bear the fruits of Jesus Christ were going to hell. He referenced John 15:2 which says,

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away...

I also found in Luke 3:8 & 9,

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance...And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

The scripture is in no way vague. Jesus says He is the vine and we are the branches. If we branches do not bear the obvious fruit that marks us as Christ's then we have no place in Him and thus, no place in heaven.

But what fruit is Jesus talking about. Well obviously we must have the fruit of the Spirit found in Gal 5:22 & 23,

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

But the scripture in both Luke 3 and John 15 is specific. In both of these Jesus demands that those who are His must love the very people made in His image. Look at John 15: 16 & 17

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.

In Luke 3 after John warns the people that the fruitless will be cut down and cast into the fire the people ask him what must they do to avoid such punishment. He tells everyone to share with others, the tax collectors were commanded to not cheat the people out of their money, and the soldiers were told to not use their authority to take advantage of others.

The fruit of our relationship with God is the love of people. He said Himself if we say we love Him and do not love others we are liars. (1 Jon 4:20) How we treat the least of us is how we treat God. Cheat others you cheat God. Turn your face away from a brother in need and you've just turned your back on God.

This is no milk toast, sappy, "God bless brother, be warmed and filled" kind of love. How must we love? We must lay down our very lives for one another. Prefer one another before ourselves. Go out of our way and be inconvenienced for one another. (1 Jn 3:16-17)

Still not convinced? How's this? On that great day God will separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep on His right hand who will enter heaven, generously and on purpose loved others by clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and visited the shut-in and imprisoned. The ones that went to hell lived selfish, self-centered lives and God declared that He took their lack of love towards others as an expression of their lack of love toward Himself. (Matt 25: 31-36)

God doesn't make it complicated. Love God. Love People. Not too hard...

...right?

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another 1 Jn 3:10-11

Stay in the Word and in Prayer!

Love in Our Lord,
Lauren