awake21

  • Ash Wednesday

    "Anyone who has tended a fireplace knows that it needs to be stirred up occasionally." -William Booth

    Churches across the nation started out the new year with a 21 day corporate fast.  It was a wonderful awakening.  We saw God move in the lives of many people and in many situations.  Following the fast, one of things that we heard again and again was that people felt fasting should a more frequent part of their lives.  Not just once a year. 

    Jesus  spent forty days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry.  Ash Wednesday (today) marks the beginning of this forty day period of prayer and fasting.  It leads us up to Holy Week and Easter. 

    This is a great season to stir up that fire in our hearts that we felt during the Awake 21 fast.  I am so excited to participate in the Awakening Easter Devotional. Go check it out. 

     

  • Stay Awake

    In John 10 we find out that the devil is a thief. You need to realize that he means you nothing but harm. He doesn't feel sorry for you and he would rather see you dead than alive. The devil intends on destroying you, your marriage, your family, every relationship, your finances, your health, your... well I think you get the idea. He has a plan for you according to verse 10. He plans to steal, kill, and destroy you. Each week, I have the opportunity to sit across a table or desk from someone who is asking for our church to help their family. In 99.9% of the situations I listen to, it's not the lack of money that is the problem, it's the devil hard at work to destroy them. - the Chief's John 10 Study

    It's not particularly fun to think about this battle we are in.  The enemy doesn't want us awake to that fact we are in a battle.  See if I'm not in a battle, if there is no spiritual war then I don't need to put on my battle armor.  I don't need to stand guard.  I don't need to be alert or awake.  

    Here's the thing, there are bombs dropping and bullets flying all around us.  We aren't even aware of them.  We may not even know that we are at war.  We cannot be winning battles if we do not know that a war has been declared. 

    War has been declared.

    There is a battle in the mind and the heart.  Romans 7:21-23 says that when I want do good, evil is right there with me.   

    We have to stay awake.  We have to be alert to the battles going on around us.  The battles will be something different every day and at different hours. 

    And we thought all we had to do today was go to work, come home, cook supper, prop our feet up, and watch the news.  That's exactly what the enemy wants us to think! 

    Do not begin your day without putting on your full battle armor.  As you battle, remember that there are heavenly hosts cheering you on!

    Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading.  Be aware of the battle.  Be awake to pleasing God. 

     

  • Even a Baby

    Fasting Prayers Answered

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    When our daughter was just over a year old, we moved to a new state.  We had tons of trouble getting our electricity turned on. We needed the building inspector to approve our electrical wiring. We had already been through a six week long move and this was the final step to being able to live in our home. I met the inspector at the home site and he informed me that we had not met state guidelines because of a tiny mismeasurement. My heart sank.

    I held myself together just long enough for him to leave.  Then, I sat down in our soon to be laundry room and cried. That small mistake required more time, more wiring, more hotel, more permits, more money...

    My little daughter just over a year old came to me, placed her hand on my face, closed her eyes, and started audibly praying for me. I was stunned. For her to do that at such a young age overwhelmed me.  I sat there listening to her and hugging her tight. 

    With a new resolve, I dried my tears. I started unpacking and cleaning. I believed in my heart that God was going to work it out and that we were going to be in our home. My husband often says, "If you pray for new shoes, make room in your closet." I unpacked, cleaned, prayed, and fasted.

    The next morning I received a call from the inspector. He said that the mismeasurement was not truly a safety hazard, he had found a loophole around it, and the power company was on their way to turn on our electricity! I called the chief and my mom with the news. I smiled to myself when they both confessed that they too had felt lead to fast and pray.  God speedily answered our prayers! 

  • The Prayer of Two Friends

    Fasting Prayers Answered

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    Just after the chief and I celebrated our first anniversary, we found out that we were expecting our first child. Yay for firsts! Right?

    There was one thing that made it bittersweet. Our best friends in the world had been married for four years. For three years they had been trying to get pregnant and hadn't been able to.

    When I shared my news with her she was happy for me and hugged me sweetly. It was also then that we agreed to fast and pray together. She was sharing in my joy and more than anything I wanted to share in hers!

    God heard the prayers of two young friends! Our daughter was born in April and their son was born in August!

    I believe that through her willingness to rejoice in my blessing even when she hadn't received hers and our agreement in prayer and fasting together that God granted our request.  After all, it happened time and again in scripture (Leah and Hannah). 

     

  • Awakening Update and Encouragement

    We're half way through the Awakening 21 days of prayer and fasting (Day 10 1/2). In the days before starting the fast, I made a list in my fasting journal of all the reasons to fast - health and spiritual.  I also made a fasting prayer list.  I included concerns, dreams, relationships, little details, ginormous mountain moving requests...  All the things I felt God was pressing in my heart.  I am now continuing my journal by posting each day my current weight, thoughts, dreams, and changes in the areas I am praying about. 

    As I read back over the last 10 days, I see wonderfully beautiful strides in my fasting prayers.  This reflection has also brought back memories of all the times I have fasted (disconnected from the world) and prayed (connected to God) in the past.  I am reminded that I have seen God and continue to see God move mightily!  In posts to follow, I want to share some of those times with you.  Feel free to share your experiences in the comments.  This might be the encouragement someone needs to continue or start their own prayer and fasting. 

    God is real.  God is powerful.  We can connect to that power and see change in our lives.  These stories are affirmation. 

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    Click here to read a very recent fasting testimony I shared on day 2 of the Awakening. 

  • Get'cha Game On

    (Edited)

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    Our gal, Katie is number 33 (red shorts).

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    Our gal, Gracie is #33 (gray pants). 

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    Awakening continues (day 4). 

    Check out the Chief's Blog:  Day 4 - John 4.

    Be sure to visit www.awake21.org for today's resources.  Have breakfast, lunch, and supper while you are there! 

  • Awakening Conference Day 1

    Today, our church joins with hundreds of others worldwide to participate in "Awakening" 2011. Awakening is 21 days of prayer, fasting, and personal devotion that is sure to change the way we live and think. For the next three weeks the Chief invite's you to join in on our online study of the book of John.

    You can also find today's breakfast, lunch, and dinner at awake21.org.

    God I come seeking you today. As I begin this journey of prayer and fasting, I pray that you will overwhelm me with your presence. Father, take your rightful place in my life. Help me connect with you and disconnect with the world.

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  • Awake 21

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    Lighthouse Church (LHC) introduced the Chief and I to Awake 21 in January 2010. Awake 21 calls churches from around the world to come together with fasting and prayer.  I love that we are part of a church that is determined to do what it takes to see God move mightily!  LHC is made up of some awesome people.

    Through this time of fasting last January, we experienced miraculous breakthroughs in our personal life as well as in the lives of the people in our church.  In addition we read incredible testimonies of breakthroughs from people around the globe.

    The Bible says that when we seek God, we find Him. God is our source of life; when we get near Him in prayer, miracles happen! Check out www.awake21.org and consider becoming a part.  The absolute best way to start 2011!