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Saturday, May 12, 2012
This is the day in which the Lord had made! My spirit is filled with rejoicing. I wake today, with the feeling of a fresh, new Sunday. Ah, the wonderfulness of a fresh spring morning, when the sun glistens from the dew on the lush, green leaves. The moist smell fills the air, as my body is wrapped in a warm, safe contentment.
Oh, God how I appreciate You anew this day. All day long, I had walked with You, side by side, as the day progressed, yesterday. Last night, You had sustained me in a fulfilling rest. I slept more thoroughly than I had in a very long time. It's something I hadn't even known I was lacking, until You had fulfilled me, oh Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. Though I had walked in the mire, and even gotten stuck in it. Every time, You had lifted me from the mire and set my foot on solid ground. I can stand firm with confidence, knowing You are with me always, even unto the end of the Earth.
The Frustrated Faith series, being taught at West Coast Word Church completely compliments the messages You have been giving me at CRC Kingdom Life church. One will teach it in one way (very easy for me to understand), while the other will teach it in a different way (also very easy to understand). Its awesome how this situation reminds me of Your Word that says, "out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, Your every Word is established." These two churches only just know about each other, at best. I mean, Pastor Clay and Pastor Aaron had never met, as far as I know. Even still, You are putting Your Word out there, throughout Tarpon Springs, not at all unlike the Azusa Street Revival, or the Brownsville Revival. I see something very much like that happening here in the Tampa Bay area. I would LOVE to see a whole new Bible Belt being formed all over America and around the world.
Last night, You had led me to a mission statement that reflects Pastor Clay's passion for the Tampa Bay area. He see's that 10% of Tampa Bay will experience compete restoration before 2026. From the time I was 15 years old, You have placed in me a very strong purpose. I know that purpose was there, even before the foundations of the Earth. I realized my calling in a jail cell, before I was 15 years old. I remember, Lord. You washed me inside and out, with Your Holy Spirit. When I was released to go home, the Pentecostal pastor explained to me that my experience had been the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I had spoken in tongues even before I understood what all that meant. From even in my ignorance, You had taken care that I receive of You, the very best, even in the worse of conditions. You had sustained me through it all.
All my life, I see countless opportunities to serve You, where I am and with what I have. Your grace had always been sufficient. I had never known lack. Somehow, its always been sufficient, even in jail. It is not a duty that I commune with You daily, oh Lord. It is a privilege and an opportunity to be in Your presence, to be face to face with You, oh Lord. How many Christians who had grown up in Christian homes with Christian families and STILL had not known You as personally as I had been with You, Jesus. Even then, there is much I still do not understand. You have sustained my inquiring mind with enough to move forward, but not so much as to overwhelm my intellect. Some mysteries will simply have to wait until I come home.
Now I will get into Your Word, Lord... to learn more, to be filled even more with You, oh God. I ask for divine understanding, and to be able to share this Word with others, both in actions and in a way that even children can understand and follow. Bless my recall memory, that I may be able to bring to my lips Your Word, complete with explaination, that the listener can adapt to, to adhere to and apply. Help me bring life to the dying. Help me bring tools so that You can make disciples of these people. That truly is how to keep and sustain a new member of the Kingdom... keep them busy being about YOUR business. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Saturday, May 12th, 2012 - 7:55am
