Yea, I am Great
Sorry for the long break in post. I just went through a gauntlet of seven camps in eight weeks in four states. Exhausting yes, but as gratifying an experience as I have enjoyed in quite a while. Why you ask?
Was it the time spent in Alaska and Colorado enjoying waking up to the amazing backdrop of God’s artistic and creative genius? Was it His ability to paint the snow capped mountains in almost every view I took on a daily basis? Yes, that was part of it, not to mention the fact that I took time to climb a few of those mountains. Peaks like Red Rocks and Longs Peak are breathtaking. I even enjoyed a plunge in Lake Chasm at 13,000 feet. Something you can only truly grasp by experiencing it yourself.
Was it the relationships I built with both the amazing staff and the 100’s of campers that passed through my path each week? Yes, each and every person God sent across my path was there for a reason and I thank God for every opportunity to share their company and get to know them better! I met so many special people, Miracles that God both created inside their mother’s wombs and formed a plan for them to cross my path during the past couple months.
More than anything else though, it was the many times that God allowed me the opportunity to share the Truth, Hope, Joy, Love, and Gospel with so many on my journey! Week after week, I experienced and watched so many commit or rededicate their lives to Follow Jesus! It was like God placed a Fire in my Soul, then threw me into a dry field ready for Harvest. I am being conservative when I say that I saw no less than 50 souls come to Christ for the first time! All I had to do was show His love and listen to His voice, then get out of the way and watch God do His miracle working power.
Now that is something worth writing about. I just finished my last week of basketball camp yesterday, but the fun doesn’t stop there as I head to Arkansas next week to help my wife put on a Kid’s Revival! Those two words make my heart beat loud and the blood in my veins boil with excitement! Kids and Revival! Most of the souls I saw come to Jesus where kids and youth. Satan has been on a binge trying to take out our kids for too long! It is time to fight back!
It is time to fight fire with a more powerful Fire (The Holy Spirit). Yes, it’s time to defeat porn, drug and alcohol addiction, depression, suicide, fear, anxiety, and all the fiery darts the enemy has thrown at our kids! It is time to bully the bully and remind him he was and is still defeated!
I believe what I have enjoyed the last couple months is only the beginning! A powerful move of God through and in our kids and youth that we have never seen!
2 Timothy 3 paints a clear picture of the times we are living in. “1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
I jump ahead to verse 12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Even though the scene turns dark, hope is not lost!
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
We find more hope in Acts 2:17. “IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ says God, ‘THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE [divinely prompted] VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM [divinely prompted] DREAMS”
Vision of the youth! Vision is the ability to see what is coming, even though we can not see it just yet! I believe God is beginning to pour out vision and prophesy on our youth just like He promised He would! Even in the darkest days, the light will break through and the Fire of the Holy Spirit will prevail! I can feel the Fresh Fire coming.
Tonight, I was watching a movie classic, Wrath of the Titans, and was reminded of one of my all-time favorite lines in a movie. Felix, son of Poseidon and grandson of Zeus, walks up to one of the surprising heroes of the big victory. As he meets Agenor the Navigator for the first time. Felix says in response to Agenor’s introduction “I read that you are a great disappointment.” Without missing a beat, Agenor profoundly responds, “I am Great!” It was as if Agenor never heard the word disappointment, instead he flipped the script and ran with the card he was dealt as if it was the secret to his greatness!
I believe many adults, myself included at times, have said many destructive and unproductive things about today’s youth. Thing like “kids are soft these days” or we talk about the post-Christianity era we are entering in which public schools and universities have brainwashed our kids. Letting ourselves believe that America is falling into the same darkness that much of Europe has found itself in.
Well, I believe when times are at their darkest, opportunity is at its greatest. That is exactly when The Light shines the brightest and the Power of the Light, The Holy Spirit, begins pouring out of Heaven. This Fire will empower our youth to do greater things than we can even imagine! Much like the days of Daniel!
If you are a youth or a parent and you are reading this, then I challenge you to see with faith and vision, not just with your sight. See past the dark cloud. Seek the Light and confidently know and believe that something GREAT is coming. You are Great, just like Agenor confessed and professed on himself!
Rise up and Shine because Jesus is Alive in us and has plans to continue to conquer the darkness through you!