Would you expect to see revival in the midst of a cornfield?  It’s happening in a rural community about five hours north of us, near Colfax, IL.  People are hungry for more, God is moving. 

Our group stuffed the white van full of sound equipment, instruments, and luggage.  We were off for our weekend adventure to connect with our friends.  This small Lutheran church has supported us in all sorts of ways - encouragement, service in Cairo, finances, resources, food…the list goes on.  This group of saints have a “Kingdom” mindset and desire to sow their seed on fertile soil.  A portion of their “harvest money” goes to the spiritual harvest field.  Talk about a biblical model.  Tithing their first fruits (Proverbs 3).  God is blessing their generosity, He keeps giving them more to give.  I am certainly learning much through their example. 

We were invited to be guests at a banquet, to share the vision of what the Lord is doing in Cairo, how God has used their investments and how we can continue to partner.  They had a feast for us.  Afterwards we lead a time of worship.  A bit different than their usual, but they were sure open.

Talk about a hospitable bunch!  We were each split up into different host families for the night, giving us an opportunity to meet all sorts of people from their church.  I was placed with this sweet older woman from the church.  You never would guess she was over 80 years old.  This church is composed of families.  People who have been a part of this church for generations.  A great spiritual inheritance. 

Sunday we joined in their worship.  Kristy gave a message on the Kingdom being near, speaking about the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6.  Jesus taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, as it is in heaven, let it be on earth.”  We have this spiritual authority in Christ to ask for things to be manifest on the earth as they are in heaven.  Amen.  After church, they asked us to lead a couple worship songs for their Sunday school time.  This is where things got a bit interesting.  We started with a couple fast paced songs.  I saw some stirring, body movements.  They are not used to clapping in church, so the kids didn’t know if it was okay to move around a bit or clap during the song.  A couple of the TR ladies started dancing with the little ones.  Such joy.  Such purity.  A couple seconds later, some bold adults joined in.  Even a couple men!  That’s right, grown men, doing Jewish circle type dances and shouting, “Praise the LORD!” I was astonished.  Then the pastor joined in.  A couple women went into the kitchen and pushed out the boys that were hiding.  Before the end of the song, many of them were out on the “dance floor” praising the Lord in a new way.  It was pretty remarkable.  I got a little teary watching this all take place (as I was leading worship seeing it unfold)…here I was in a little old church in the middle of a cornfield and revival is breaking out.  Who would have thought?  Where there is hunger, the Lord has NO boundaries.  If you ask Him, He will come. 

John 14
Jesus tells us He must go to the Father and will send us the Holy Spirit.  Through this Holy Spirit we are to do what Jesus had been doing and even GREATER things.  What?  Jesus healed the leper, drove out demons, multiplied food, made wine out of water, even raised the dead.  Jesus is not a liar.  He would not say these words unless they were true for us. 

I can not deny that I have a burning desire deep within me to be a part of these miraculous things, these Kingdom works.  There is a longing for more within my heart.  This longing must have been placed in me by my Maker.  I have come to the conclusion that we were made for so much more.  Will we believe it?  Will we walk in it? 

Chronicles of Narnia (movie quote):
Mr. Tumnus: [of Aslan] He’s not a tame lion.
Lucy Pevensie: No… but he’s good.

Our King is not tame, but He sure is good.  He is not safe, but who wants to live safe anyway?  A pastor shared his heart last night:  “Everything in my life is safe.  I am sick of living safe.  Since when was the gospel safe?  Look at the lives of the disciples, they weren’t living safe.  This kind of life is not for the faint of heart, but for the crucified of heart.”

What does your heart ask of Him?  What are you longing for, but afraid to ask.  Do not fear.  His perfect love drives out fear.  I am curious to know your thoughts…have you pondered these things?  Have you seen these things?  Have you looked into these greater things Jesus spoke of almost 2,000 years ago?  Does your heart long for His Kingdom to come?

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

-Luke 12:32

Without Christ I am NOTHING. 

Now, on the other hand, with Him I am everything.  He calls me a priest, a beacon of light, an ambassador, I carry the living God within my flesh.  It is difficult to understand how this dichotomy works. 

I am nothing; He has given me all things that equip me for godliness.  I am returning to dust, He has given me His living Spirit.  I can do nothing of worth for the Kingdom; He has clothed me with power to do greater things than Christ (John 16). 

The secret I have found is only finding security in who HE is, not in who I am.  For I was nothing, I was worthless, I was destined for hell and He found me!  He found me!  What an amazing revelation.  The King of Glory calls me His own.  The Mighty One who is altogether Beautiful and Terrifying calls me His Daughter and Bride.  My life is hidden in this Man.

Who is He to redeem such a broken person?  A broken family?  A broken nation?  A broken world?  Who are you Lord to love like this?  Your Love truly is better than life. 

Thank you for lifting the veil from my eyes.