During the 21-day DANIEL FAST, I journaled and prayed unlike recent memory.
In a way, it kick-started a new energy for these relational disciplines.
I remember one prayer time in particular. I closed my eyes, engaged my mind, and I was immediately filled with the presence of God. Usually, I have to detox from my day, the calendar, my stressors, etc.
This experience convinced me of the spiritual power of fasting. Every time I felt the pang of hunger or the emotional tug of ‘wants,’ I would go to God with it. He became my ‘filet mignon’… he became my ‘ben & jerry’s cherry garcia!’
When it came to journaling, I would often fill the pages and force myself to stop. Again, I completely owe this renewed vigor to the fast.
REMEMBER: The ‘fast’ is not magical… It is the power of sacrifice, the relational effort on my part to open my heart even more completely to God. It was awesome.
I recently finished a DANIEL FAST. Basically, I was a VEGAN for 21 days, giving my hunger and my preferences to prayer.
This was primarily a SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. It also disciplined me PHYSICALLY.
Over the next several posts, I will explore many of the large lessons God taught me on this journey.
SURPRISE #1:
I have learned as much OR MORE on the BACK END of this journey as I did during the actual fast.
It feels as though I’ve had a spiritual TUNE UP…
Ideas are flashing and flowing… vision has been jumping from seemingly out of NOWHERE…
I love this journey of following Christ!
This summer will mark my 30th year with Jesus, and I’m always experiencing him in new and surprising ways!
As I mentioned in my last post,
God is changing lives at Keystone Church. He is speaking clearly into marriages and rescuing his lost and broken children like never before.
Yet, sometimes God will surprise us! I am always challenging our staff to keep their personal walks with Jesus fresh, never relying the excuse: “I’m in ministry, that should take care of my spiritual needs.”
Eric and April Colquett, who have been with me since DAY ONE, have been led by God to provide leadership to Keystone’s very first church plant (Wellspring Church in Myrtle Beach, SC). Eric and I have prayed over this decision and I am sure that God is in this. We are both sad in ways… and we are both excited for God’s future.
This is an incredible opportunity for my friend, pastor Trey Kelly, to gain an experienced leader who has successfully helped Susan and I plant one of the greatest churches in the world (my unapologetic bias acknowledged).
Pray for Eric and April as they make this MISSIONAL MOVE to follow God in this wild adventure of life!
Change is in the air!
I love the smell of FRESHLY BAKED BREAD, the perfect pizza, pipe tobacco, and east Tennessee mornings at my Grandparent’s house.
None of those beautiful aromas can compare to the smell of LIFE CHANGE that’s in the air at Keystone Church!!!
This past weekend we held a sold-out Marriage Weekend… The response has been unbelievable:
Some memorable LIFE CHANGE quotes:
“Our marriage will never be the same”
“We had the most honest conversation in our marriage during the date night”
“He took steps toward leading me spiritually that blew me away”
I’M NOT DONE YET!!! We also launched our new series, HIGH FIDELITY this weekend.
We saw 64 people find new life in Christ and we experienced a new non-holiday attendance record!!!!
Change is in the air… I can feel it! I love it!!!
Later I will post another change that is coming…
This Valentines weekend will go down as one of the most RISK-RIDDLED weekends of your journey with Keystone!
February 13,14 We are launching our MARRIAGE WEEKEND, where tons of couples will take a RELATIONAL RISK and put it all on the line to see their marriage IGNITED… It will change lives!
February 13,14 We are also launching a new series titled, HIGH FIDELITY… hundreds of people from our city will be called to take a SPIRITUAL RISK and find God’s great plan for a lifetime commitment to marriage
FINALLY: FEBRUARY 14 WE ARE LAUNCHING OUR 4TH SERVICE!!!
This 12:45 service will accomplish 2 things… (keystone: memorize these two things!)
1. We will take a RISK and create a space for people who can’t come at our normal times and make it to Keystone… bartenders, late niters, partyers, etc., etc… LET’S TRY TO CREATE A SPACE FOR THE LATE NIGHT CROWD!
2. We are also attempting to create MO SEATS FOR YO PEEPS! 11:15 is our #1 service attended by guests. We are coming very, very close to running out of room in that hour in our kids area, our auditorium, and our parking lot. If YOU are led to attend or serve 12:45, you will be providing seats for the PEEPS who are NOT HERE YET!
PRAY ABOUT IT
GET IN ON IT
DON’T MISS IT!!!