15 days.
It's been 15 days since I left my home; my husband and children and headed to Goshen, IN for this thing called "revival." I had no idea driving here what would be asked of me, or how much I'd have to give up to fully pursue the heart of God. And I'm realizing it isn't just a fullness in the pursuit of God's heart. . .but it is an absolute EXCLUSIVITY in the pursuit of His heart. It isn't enough that I am fully pursuing His heart. . .I am being called to only pursue it. And my God, my Holy God. . .what a pursuit.
Our first day on the ground here, we went out with a team to pray for people in the community. I expected rejection. I expected polite, "no thanks." I expected a little Bible beating too. What we encountered instead, was a community that was hungry for Jesus, and a team that was gentle and loving and giving in their witnessing of Jesus Christ. It blew me away. I've been a Christian for 25 years and I've never seen anything like this. And then, we moved into the worship service that night, which was also unlike anything I'd ever experienced and I've been around a bit in the worship circles. I was in pure delight as I watched what God was doing in those early days.
Fourteen days later, I am weary. And that's a good thing. It means I've been busy. . .I've been working. . .I've been fighting. . .and I've been all about my Father's business. We've been out in the community; we've been on special assignments; we've been in businesses; we've been homes; we've been in church; we've been ministering to the broken hearted; we've been interceding; we've been studying; we've been worshiping. . .and worshiping. . .and worshiping. (And eating - we've been eating just fine)
Were I to die tonight, I could honestly say I would die empty. I am so full of God's presence, but I'm also so empty of myself. There's so little of who I was when I got here, that I'm not sure I really know who I am today. I am not the same as I was on February 3. And I'm ok with that. I want to die as empty as possible. . .b/c I want all of Christ that is poured into me to be poured out. I see human emptiness every.single.day we're here. It's in the young people who are dealing with depression, peer pressure, addiction, eating disorders, abuse, and so much more. It's in the people who are coming without their families b/c they're more hungry for God than they are for peace with their spouses. I see it in the Amish who are risking everything to be with us, to worship with surrender and abandon. I am in awe of their faith and the cost they are paying to choose to follow Christ in this way.
I've been talking to friends and fellow ministers around the country and even around the world. I so want to see the people who've been petitioning God for DECADES for revival to, "Come & see." I get it - we all have responsibilities. Whether it's your job, your family, or your church, there are a dozen good reasons to not lay aside everything and travel to Indiana. But is there ONE good reason to lay it all aside and come and see? If you're reading this, consider this an invitation; not unlike the one Jesus issued to Andrew. Come and see. Come and see what is happening in a region that was dry and starving for revival and how 7 days turned into 52.
Come and see. . .and then die empty.
