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Heat wave

Things have been heating up around here, in more ways than one. According to the thermometer outside, the temperature on Saturday reached at least 101º F. That is blazing hot for this area, especially this early in the season; summer is still over a month away, after all! Fortunately it has already cooled down at least 20º today, and the temperatures will be dropping back to more normal levels for us in the next few days.

There is another way in which things have been heating up for us, however. Spiritually, the fire that was ignited inside of us a couple of weeks ago in Lakeland has not diminished but rather has become stronger, if that is possible. I find myself seeing the people around me in a new light; what are their needs? What can I be praying for? How can God reach out and touch them in a meaningful way, and how can I be a part of that?

We do not want to take for granted the blessing that we have experienced in being able to make the trip to Florida to see for ourselves what God is doing there. We were touched powerfully by being in God's presence, and we want to share that touch with everyone who wants it. The fire inside from being there and from watching on GodTV and the Internet is so strong, so deep, it is hard to put into words. It's much like a burning ember; the slightest breeze or bit of dry fuel will quickly turn it into a bonfire.

God is at work in the world today, and he's kicking things up to the next level. We have seen God do many things in our lives and in the lives of others, but there has never been anything quite like this in our experience. It seems like every time we turn around, we sense God's presence right there, waiting for us to notice and respond. That's why I say he is even hungrier to spend time with us than we are to spend time with himhe is knocking on the door of our hearts, waiting for us to invite him in to fellowship with him.

Let me be very clear on this: I am not talking about religion or being religious. God wants to spend time with us in relationship; he invites us to work in partnership with him here on earth. He wants to fill us up with his presence so we will never be the same again. The idea that the God who created everything wants to dwell with us is amazing, but it is true. That's why Jesus came, to make the way for us to have that kind of intimate relationship with God and to show us that God really does want that. I do not think we could have believed that God loves us and wants relationship with us if Jesus had not come, and I know that relationship would never have been possible without the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. He made the way by doing what we could never do, pay the price for all that we have done wrong, so the books are cleared for us to come to God.

Whether you choose to believe and accept it or not, God wants to heat things up in your life. He wants to light a fire of passion for him within you and bring you into a deeper walk with him. It's not about a particular denomination or church, it's about an opportunity to know God in a personal way. The natural outgrowth of that relationship with God should be getting connected to other followers of Jesus. We need relationship with others to continue to grow and learn about God, to be sure, but that is not the ultimate goal. The real goal is for each one of us to get connected with God personally, then we can begin to get connected with others who have come into relationship with God as well.

May 18, 2008

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