A Kentucky summer or winter?

This was taken shortly before dinner time on Tuesday....it was about 82 degrees.

This was taken less than 36 hours later.

It's now Friday morning and there are about 5 inches out there...in here, we're hoping Aaron gets a snow day!

A week of Sunshine and Revival...

Last time I wrote, I was enjoying the peace & quiet a sleeping baby and 2 children out with their daddy to Blockbuster brings. That was close to a week ago. Has it really gone by the fast? It has been an awesome week. The weekend was filled with temperatures in the 80's that held on thru the first half of the week (now I sit Thursday evening...with at least 4 inches of snow on the ground). Max was running around in only his camo pants. He was busy getting a little sun on his back while his momma was getting sunburn on her nose. The summer weather was fantastic, but what has made my week was the revival at church. Honestly, Aaron and I were really curious and a bit hesitant at the mention of the word. All we know about revivals is what we've seen on the television. Visions of white tents, people fainting and being miraculously healed. We would have never thought that we would be a part of a Southern Baptist Church let alone attending the church's revival services.

I wish everyone I know could have been a part of it. God has His hands on that church.

Before moving to KY, I prayed for God to show us the way to a church.

And of course, I worried.

And of course, He took care of it.

Before moving to KY, I prayed to God for good friends.

And of course, I worried.

And of course, He took care of it.

Before moving to KY, I cried to Aaron that no one would be there to visit when Maggie was born.

And of course, I cried more than once.

And of course, He sent people. I had more visitors than when Max & Molly were born.

Our God is a Good God.

The church welcomed Dr. Bill Henard. If you get the opportunity go to the website and download a few of his sermons. Put your ipod ears in and listen. You can't help but be moved by his words.

Two things will always stay with me about this revival.

First, how I truly did feel God moving within the church.

Secondly, Pastor Bill posed a question on Tuesday night. If Jesus walked down Main Street tonight would He know me by name? That really struck Aaron and me.

There were 4 nights of revival. Each one held a significant message. Overall, it was all about what is keeping us from God. All of these notes come from Pastor Bill's message. I was writing fast so I'll do my best to make them into coherent sentences. Enjoy!

Sunday, March 8 ~ Morning Service

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

We need to take a look in our life & recognize what is keeping and will keep us from seeing what God wants for us.

We need to rid ourselves from guilt. There are 2 types of guilt.

1. real guilt -guilt for sin against God

2. self-imposed guilt - guilt imposed upon us by others

Our only release from guilt is through God.

Most of us run from God instead of going to Him.

We will never enjoy the fulfillment, joy, purpose if we continue to carry around our guilt.

We have become comfortable with the sin that already exists in our life. We don't even realize it.

In order to set yourself free from guilt you must:

1. Admit your need - confess to God

Get honest with God about it and then let it go.

It's amazing how we will break the exquisite to hang onto the insignificant. This is what sin

does to us.

2. Trust God's character.

He is Faithful.
He is a Covenant God.

He is Just.

God does not release us from our guilt for a cost. He just does it.

It wasn't enough for Jesus just to grow old and die. He was crucified for us.

Forgiving has to do with releasing not forgetting. You have to trust the character of God.

3. Believe His Promises & Receive them

Are you willing to be forgiven? Are you tired of feeling guilty? God will forgive you.

Satan is good at reminding us of our sin. Allow God to cleanse you. Let Him remove the stain

of sin.

Be a reminder of the blessing of God.

WHAT IS IT THAT IS KEEPING US FROM BEING WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BE???

Sunday, March 8 ~ Evening worship

2 Chronicles 7:10-15

When God shows up it's a scary thing b/c none of us can remain the same.

God speaks to Solomon, "if you want me to cme and fill this place - listen to me."

GOD SPEAKS TO HIS PEOPLE

He reminds us of why we need him. Take current condition of the world for example. We put our trust in money, investments, stock market, property, man...

we have forgotten about GOD!

We criticize our goverment for taking prayer out of our schools and abortions on demand...Christians themselves have moved Him out of their own lives.

If we want to see God move-it has to start with us. We belong to Him. It can't start with the lost or those who are out to get the Christians. It must begin with us.

GOD SETS SPIRITUAL REQUIREMENTS

He sets the following requirements out before us:

1. Humility- I see who I am in light of who God is. Not in light of everyone else.

2. Prayer-

a. falling prostrate on the ground

b. facing judgment

Do we want to see God in our schools, nation, etc. again?

3. Passion-He says, "seek my face". We need to know Him intimately.

Seek His face, not His hand.

4. Repentance- Turn from the evil of our ways.

We don't need to look any farther than our own heart for evil.

If we do these things God will:

1. Hear us.

2. Forgive us.

What is it? What is it that keeps me from seeing God move?

Unforgiveness. Because I am unforgiving it keeps me from seeing God move.

We always think that the person that wronged us owes us something.

How about I take what they owe me and I give it to Christ and He can do with them what

He will. It's not so much about forgetting as releasing. Trust that our God is a Just God.

3. He will heal us.

He solicits a personal response. He will sit back & wait.

DO WE NOT NEED A FRESH OUTPOURING OF GOD'S LOVE ON US?

Monday, March 9

John 4:1-26

Ultimate priority is doing everything for the glory of God.

Why has God left us here?

So He would use us to reach those who don't know Jesus Christ. We are His instruments.

3 simple things that evangalism must be:

1. must be intentional-We must be intentionally and passionately telling others about Jesus.

Acts 2:41, 47, 4:4, 20, 31, 5:14, 32, 42, 6:1, 7

2. must be relational-evangalism moves along the road of relationships

We aren't reaching the lost in the world because we aren't making relationships. We are

busy being in a hurry, on computer, getting thru the day, our own lives. (I am extremely

guilty of this!)

Relationships must be intentional.

3. must be confrontational

Now of course, this doesn't mean the nasty, ugly kind of confrontation. The notes from my

bible explain it this way: The woman in John 4 kept trying to change the subject when she

realizes that Jesus knew so much about her. He was confrontational about it. ....He gently

steered the direction back to Jesus.

Tuesday, March 10

Luke 19:1-10

If you want to receive God's goodness on you, you have to repent of your sins. Change direction.

What is repentance? What must I do?

1. Must desire to encounter Jesus personally.

You can become mediocre and may not even realize that God isn't there anymore.

We continue to do things the way we've always done them, but there is no fruit.

Ask Him, is my heart pure? Am I right with You?

If you want the power of God on your life...

2. expect opposition

People complained when Jesus stayed with Zaccehaeus.

When you get right with God, there will be people that will get upset.

If you want to get right with God...

3. you need to exhibit a real change in your life.

a. repent of your sins-if you are watching, listening, participating, & doing the same things you

were doing before you were right with God, you will go right back where you started.

Make the decision, "God here are the things that lead me into sin and here is what I am

going to do about it."

b. restoring of past offenses- Zacceheaus said he'd pay back four times the amount.

If we have done something to wrong someone we need to ask God for repentance.

Repentance says that there is no excuse. When you repent, don't give reasons why you did

what you did.

The world is saying the church isn't relevant. That is because they don't see God in us Christians.

If you want to see the power of God on us...

4. we need to look at God's gifts

Let your children and family see the change God has made in you. If you want it to change, allow it to begin with you.

Wednesday, March 11

2 Kings 5:1-14

Why do we resist the Holy Spirit?

One reason ~ pride

Because of pride we miss out on all sorts of things God has planned for us.

How can we overcome pride in our life?

First, realize how pride gets in the way.

Sin doesn't care about time.

Carelessness of pride causes us to keep ourselves from God.

Sin doesn't care who you are. It's impartial.

Sin doesn't only effect us physically, but effects us spirtually.

Second, avoid catastrophe of pride.

Makes us think that we are doing God a favor when we listen to Him.

You cannot bargin with God

**We are afraid of what other people will think-even our family members.

There will come a time when God will stop talking to you. Hebrews 3:8-11

You won't even know it's happening to you.

Thirdly, to avoid the peril of pride you need to surrender to the cure for pride.

God doesn't just patch you up and make you better...He makes you new.

That's how complete His forgiveness is.

God demands you surrender to Him on His terms.

None of us knows what's going to happen tomorrow.

Don't listen to pride.

Listen to God. Go to Him.

What do I need to do to have Christ in my life:

1. Repent of sins - turning away from sin

2. Trust in Christ. He is your one and only Savior.

3. Surrender to Him.

-willing to be obedient

-give your life over to Him.

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