Friday, August 14, 2009

Harvest Crusade 2009


Harvest Crusade Anaheim Stadium
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I love many things in life. I love my morning coffee. I love a cool crisp breeze blowing in my windows. I love my children. I love feeling "alive" when I laugh. I love music and I love watching people being transformed.

Tonight is the start of the Harvest Crusade at Anaheim Stadium. I have been several times and I love it. I am going tonight to hear THIRD DAY, which is one of my Favorites! Taylor and Kamille, Chloe, Trenton and my Mom are going with me. I pray that each of us comes away forever changed. I pray that the Lord does a work in the hearts of all who attend. It is going on all weekend and it is FREE! If you have never been - you need to go! Greg Laurie is amazing!

I am sure that I am not alone when I say that music speaks to me. When I feel broken, hurt and down, I can count on listening to some of my favorite artists and know that I will be renewed.
Third Day is a band that has done this for me over the past couple of years. During our trials and challenges I would go alone into my van and listen to many songs by THIRD DAY.
CRY OUT TO JESUS is one that really speaks to me. YOUR LOVE, OH LORD is another.

I am so happy to be going tonight and taking Taylor with me. I pray with all my heart that something gets "in" and that he is touched. I wish we were going as a family - but Stace has to stay with the lil sprouts. The massive crowd would be way overstimulating for Turner.

I often get caught up in trying to be all that I know God wants me to be. Alone I am a failure. I have to remember the devotion that I recently read by Greg Laurie...

"Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.
In the Christian life we often try in our own strength to do what God has called us to do. We think, I've got to keep God's commandments and resist temptation and love my spouse and. . . . It is hard stuff.

But when we say, "Lord I can't do this on my own. I just ask that your Holy Spirit would fill me and help me to do these things," we will realize that doing what God tells us to do can actually become a delight rather than mere duty.

The Bible says, "Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). The word "filled" used here carries multiple meanings, one of which is wind filling a sail. So to be filled with the Spirit means being carried along by, and under the control of, Jesus Christ. The word "filled" in this verse also speaks of something that is continuous. So effectively, this verse is saying, "Be filled over and over and over and over again with the Holy Spirit."

Another way the word "filled" could be translated is "to permeate," the way salt was packed into meat to preserve it. So to "be filled with the Holy Spirit," means that we need to let the Holy Spirit permeate our lives and everything we do. Let the Holy Spirit permeate your prayer life, your worship life, your business, your marriage, and the way you treat others.

So a good habit to develop is to get up in the morning and say, "Lord, fill me with the Spirit today. Help me to be permeated by the Spirit. Help me to be led by the Spirit. Help me to obey what the Spirit leads me to do."

I hope that speaks to you like it did me.

So let's go on today and be filled with the Spirit. Let GOD lead. Get into the passengers seat and close your eyes - I dare you!
It's okay - God knows how to drive!

xoxo
Janean