♥
fact. I’m not a great writer. the only time that I feel like I can write my feelings down is between midnight and two in the morning. seriously, all other times fail me. college papers? oh yeah, those were all written in the middle of the night. so incredibly thankful for online english classes. during the day, I can’t focus to save my life. I kid you not. I get distracted so easily.
lately, I have felt like I’ve been in a rush. I hate that feeling. I have a classic type B personality. I like peace, quiet, solitude, and time for reflection. without that time, you can expect to see me frazzled in about two weeks. any more than that, I’m a complete and total emotional wreck. the last two weeks have been in the frazzled state. for the past two days, this verse has been in my mind:
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
you’ll probably laugh at me, but when I was growing up I thought that “being still” in the Bible literally meant standing still. but now, I know that it’s a little more than just standing still for a few minutes. I have the tendency to worry about the future. I stress about school, jobs, planning a wedding, staying organized, etc. etc. etc. but, God says that even then… be still.
I wonder how many times I’ve missed out simply because I haven’t been still. I wonder how many times I’ve stressed for no reason at all? I’ve had to ask myself, when was the last time I was really still? no distractions. no facebook. no twitter. no email. no pinterest. no tv. and the other mindless things I do throughout the day. just stillness. just peace. just me and my Bible. why fight my own battles? I just have to be still. God will fight for me. when was the last time you were truly still? ♥
I remember going to my first tent meeting in 2004ish. I didn’t know what to think about it. I didn’t know what to expect. I just remember the thoughts I had of the first night I went. This thing is huuuuge. Why are there shavings? I’ve never seen anything like this before. I think I kind of like this.
Six years later, I’m still amazed. I’m amazed at all the wonderful things God can do. The highlight from this past Monday night said:
Monday, September 13, 2010
Oh how sweet to be back under the Old Gospel Tent in Bristol! The choir began singing “Revive Us Again,” and Pastor Danny Sykes opened our service in prayer.
Folks kept coming in as the presence of the Lord filled the Tent, and there were around 700 people in attendance. We praised the Lord to see 45 Preachers in the service, and they filled the altars crying out to God for a breath from Heaven.
Bro. Ralph preached a message from I Samuel 4:21-22 entitled “The Fog Of Lost Glory.” He was rejoicing as he told the waiting congregation that Gershon Salomon had called from Israel. He said, “Something is about to happen…you can feel it in the air! I believe that the Messiah is near!” Praise the Lord for that hope of His soon return!
Bro. Ralph also told the story of his Dad, Dr. Ralph Sexton, Sr.’s last few days. He had been praying for Revival and a mighty move of God in the Tri-Cities area. Oh that the Lord would honor those fervent prayers from His faithful servant!
Our nation, our churches, and our families are in trouble. We have seen the glory begin to depart off of our land. Light is leaving, and darkness is invading. We don’t have many prayer warriors left…they are dying, and we are left with a generation that is caught up in the fog of disobedience. Who will cry out to God in the darkness?
We need the power and the presence of God again! Revival is bigger than any trailer or tent or personality. It is in the person of a Holy God Himself! Revival begins in a group of people who are desperate. The two markers of Revival are an awareness of the presence of God and a desperation.
At the end of the service, the altars were covered with folks seeking the Lord, and three precious souls were saved!
- www.ralphsextonministries.com
I have been so incredibly blessed to be able to go to the tent as much as I have this past week. It’s been an absolute joy to be able to go with my sweet precious friends and take my camera with me. It has been amazing to hear my pastor preach and watch people spiritually grow. What looks like benches is actually old oak altars. I’ve seen thousands of people throughout the past few years pray at them. Praying for God to help them, their family, their community, their kids. It’s been absolutely incredible.
