This past weekend, we were blessed with the opportunity to work with two different groups of teens at the United Presbyterian Church of Whitinsville, MA. There were a few teens that converged together for this incredible event that ministered to both the adults and teens alike. It was awesome to see the power of God fill our times of worship and the Holy Spirit’s presence provide healing for those that needed it during the event. God was definitely the guest of honor and moved in the hearts of those that He needed to stir and prod.
Our theme for the weekend was based on how our realities and stories need to intersect and be about God’s redemptive plan and story for humankind. It was quite an intimate atmosphere that was geared towards allowing us to see the greater picture of God’s revival for individuals to eventually change into city wide renewal and generational transformation and change. I absolutely love how God shows up at these events and takes them and paints on our hearts the desire to see even greater things than what is taking place before our eyes. It allows us to think about a world that isn’t self focused, but God honoring.
At one point in the weekend, we were driving to a park to go hiking and spend the afternoon together outdoors. I looked around and saw the abandoned buildings and mills that once had businesses at work to give the town identity. Now, there isn’t much left to these business and the buildings themselves are left to much decay. I was reminded in the car ride that it isn’t the leftovers that give this town and small city identity, it is the restorative power of the Lord. God wants to move in individuals’ lives and cares about the details, but He also cares about the condition of our cities and our neighbors that so desperately need His loving touch and grace to set the sinner free from the spiritual bondages to their lives.
God is on the move. He is stirring my heart to see the greater picture, the big story of His will to be unleashed in people’s lives. The revival of the 1800s in Rochester, NY can still happen today in the cities around the USA and the world. I’m dreaming and I’m optimistic! I’m entrenched in how this could happen and simply thinking about how it can all come together. I’m reminded of prayer and the need to live in humble submission to the things of God. He wants to break out, but He wants to start first in me. I want to have a contagious walk with the Lord and I pray that others would want the same. Without it, I am simply ministering from my own heart of flesh instead of under the transformational power of the Lord.
So… let’s do it! More importantly, let’s allow Him to do it! Let’s surrender our expectations and will, desiring to have God write His will and plan on our lives by listening to the still small voice of God competing to reach our lives in spite of the busyness and noisiness of life itself. Let’s go for it together!
Now… go get ’em!
Jay