HELLO!!! As usual, I am CONSISTENT at not being consistent with this blog!!! First I want to give you a few updates!

Part I

We just moved into a BEAUTIFUL home and Becky and the kids are so EXCITED!!! Paul has his own room in our basement (a.ka. "THE MAN ROOM") and it is one of the coolest rooms in the house! Alyssa is growing up to be such a beautiful girl and I am not liking it as she is getting closer and closer to her age to be married...45!!! Victoria is absolutely gorgeous and keeps us laughing and Hannah is a cutie pie!

We began a prayer meeting on Tuesday nights in our Church a couple of months ago and we are beginning to feel the effects! There is a tremendous level of expectation and we are having so much fun learning how to pastor!

A couple of weeks ago Pastor Larry Stockstill and his son, Pastor Joel Stockstill had a special meeting with 4 young church planters and I was honored to be one of them. For over 6 hours Pastor Larry poured out his heart to us on many different subjects, from preaching, teaching, praying, church planting, SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES, integrity, altar calls, staffing, etc... I feel so blessed to be connected with the Stockstill family. Pastor Larry truly demonstrates the spirit of Christ with a spirit of humility, gentleness, and compassion. At the same time he carries such a level of authority. It is refreshing to see how he has passed down to his children the same integrity, anointing, and authority that he has walked in for many years. I feel challenged to pass down a spiritual inheritance to my children as well!

Part II (Like how I change gears so fast?!!!)

One of the things that I believe has sustained me through 17 years of following Christ, 17 years filled with lots of ups and downs, has been a passion and longing for Jesus. I feel that many people today have flirted with Jesus a little bit, think about Him sometimes (and I'm talking about 'Christians'), and every once in a while, worship Him. My intention right now is not to be mean, critical, or judgmental.

I was never attracted to Christianity because of any form of religion. For me it was not a fear of hell that drove me to my knees. I was not looking for any bondage of legalism. I was sick of the emptiness in my life and tried to fill it with other things. When I 'discovered' Who Jesus was, I was done. It was over with. I fell in love with the Son of the living God and was changed for all of eternity. All I could think about was seeing His face, holding His hands, kissing His feet, and embracing Him and never letting go. Even as I write this now I can't help but weep. I have had several spiritual dreams throughout the years and they are all about seeing Him face to face. I don't try to abstain from worldly things because I 'have to', I try to abstain from them because I am in love with Him and want to please Him with my whole life and never break His heart.
If there is no Jesus, then I will become the biggest fool in all of the earth, because day by day He is capturing my heart more and more and my heart wants to explode. He isn't just a man who died 2,000 years ago, He is the resurrected King, and He is MY JESUS!

Revelation teaches us that He has a garment down to his feet with a golden band girded about his chest. This symbolizes priestly royalty. His white hair symbolizes absolute purity. His eyes like a flame of fire symbolize eternity, wisdom, omniscience, and judgment. His feet like fine brass suggest omnipotence. His voice like many waters represents his authority. What an AWESOME SAVIOR!!!

Early this morning I read Isaiah 52&53 and rejoiced that my heart was being touched. I will close on these 10 Prophecies in Isaiah 52&53 that were fulfilled in the New Testament concerning Jesus and the last prayer that Leonard Ravenhill wrote before He died:

1) He will be exalted (52:13); Philippians 2:9
2) He will be disfigured by suffering (52:14, 53:2); Mark 15:17,19
3) He will make a blood atonement (52:15); I Peter 1:2
4) He will be widely rejected (53:1,3); John 12:37,38
5) He will bear our sins and sorrows (53;4,5); Romans 4:25, I Peter 2:24,25
6) He will be our substitute (53:6,8); II Corinthians 5:21
7) He will voluntarily accept our guilt and punishment (53;7,8); John 10:11, 19:30
8) He will be buried in a rich man's tomb (53:9); John 19:38-42
9) He will save us who believe in Him (53:10,11); John 3:16, Acts 16:31
10) He will die on behalf of transgressors (53:12); Mark 15:27,28 Luke 22:37

TORCH MY HEART
Lord engage my heart today
With zeal that will not pass away.
Now torch it with Thy holy fire
That never more shall time's desire
Invade or quench the Heaven born power.
I would be trapped within Thy Holy will,
Thine every holy purpose to fulfill
That every effort of my life shall bring
Rapturous praise to my Eternal King.
I pledge from this day to the grave
To be Thine own unquestioning slave.

(The last poem written by Leonard Ravenhill at 2:30 a.m. 9 months before he "passed into life")