Wednesday, November 12, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET BEST FRIEND :)

Ok, so I just had to laugh at this picture...
This was my "Welcome Ashley" party that the Kee's
had for me when I first moved here last August...and guess
who I'm sitting next to...haha :) The Lord makes me smile! :)
We look so dorky!! haha!

And now...well...I get to hang out with this cutie
all the time! :)

Happy Birthday sweet boy! I am so thankful that the Lord has brought us together!! You are such a gift to me!

I am soooo thankful for you! I am most thankful for the constant way you love the Savior and seek to grow to become more like Him! You continually seek to know my heart and what the Lord is doing in my life...even when I talk your poor ear off! Thank you for being one of my very best friends since I moved here! You bring so much happiness and joy to my life everyday! Thank you for making me laugh so hard that my eyes water and my stomach hurts, for caring for me after hard days at work, for all the thoughtful surprises and super fun dates, for making silly memories, for belting out our favorite songs in that car, for helping with my budget (haha), and for constantly loving me through it all. You are my strong man and there is no one else in the world I would rather be with! I am excited to continue growing together in this season :) I know that Lord has such good things for you in this coming year!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

The Last Great Outpouring

"I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End,"
says the Lord, "who is and who was
and who is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:8

"Behold, you stand on the threshold of a new day.  For I have truly great things in store for you.  Yes, you have not power to conceive what I am about to do.  For I will bring to pass a new thing.  You will rejoice exceedingly.  You have heard of the showers, but I say to you: I will send a mighty downpour.  Many have cried out to Me from hungry hearts and have received of my fullness and seen My glory; but I say to you: In the day of the great deluge which is coming, many will come to know the reality of My power who have until now not even dreamed of a thing.
Many who are scoffers and many who are honest doubters will find themselves swept away on the swelling tide of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  For this is the time for the last great outpouring.  This is the day of preparation for the coming of the Lord.  Many shall rejoice together in the Spirit's work who are now at sword's point over doctrinal disputes and barriers of tradition.
But let your heart be encouraged; for a new day is dawning; a day of repentance and a day of gathering for My people.  For they shall not continue to be barricaded and isolated behind walls of prejudice.  I am the Lord, and I will be worshipped in spirit and in truth, and not in the bigotry of sectarianism and narrowness of denominationalism.  The world is waiting for a robust Church to minister to its needs; and how can an ailing, dismembered Body bring healing to a sick and dying world?
Surely  I will pour out My Spirit, and by prophecies, by signs and wonders, by many different types of miracles, and by healings, I will reaffirm the veracity of My Word and bring the message of the Gospel of Redemption to many who would otherwise never give heed.  I am the Alpha and the Omega.  Sand firm in Me.  Never waver.
Be faithful regardless of apparent failures and discouragements for My word shall surely be fulfilled, and your eyes shall see revival in proportions such as never before witnessed in the history of the human race.
Keep your eye on the end of the coarse.  Victory is secured already.  Do not let the hurdles cause you consternation.  Stay in the running.  Truly, I am at your side.  According to each day shall your strength be; and the race is not won by the swift, but the obedient shall receive the prize."  (Come Away My Beloved, 130-131)

Acts 2:17-20
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
 the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.


Let us not forsake our First love...
 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.  “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ Revelation 2:1-7

May we be a people on our knees crying out for God's Spirit to be poured out upon His people. We as individuals, the church, families, this nation...are all in desperate need of Jesus today!  He should be our FIRST LOVE, the blazing fire that is burning within each of us even in the midst of the darkness surrounding us.  He is eager to pour out His Spirit afresh on us today!  
Oh Lord, we wait in expectation for you!