Baseboards, Wooden Floors, and Bucking Buffers

If there's any blame for the whole affair, I'm assigning it to my friends. At a recent visit to their home, I couldn't help but notice their sparkling white baseboards and shiny wooden floors. Even though those lovely floors were shining (at least in part) because of polyurethane, my rarely-waxed floors were a sad comparison.

I didn't covet their floors, but they made me take a closer look at my own. 

The next day, I squatted down to inspect my own baseboards as I walked out the side door. I'm a little ashamed to tell this, but I thought the paint had chipped off in places. From my squatted position, I could tell that chipping paint was not the problem. It was dirt.

I hated the way my baseboards looked.

The only sensible thing to do was to make a change.

I grabbed bleach, an old toothbrush, and a rag and went to work. Before long, I had clean baseboards, too.

While I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the baseboards, I got an up-close-and-personal view of my floors. The wax, applied too long ago to remember when, was long gone. The floors looked dull and worn. 

I hated the way my floors looked.

The only sensible thing to do was make a change.

I swept, mopped, added a bit of stain, waxed, and waxed again. Sam's always helped me with the waxing and buffing, so he decided to use an old t-shirt to help me buff the wax. It didn't make a bit of difference. 

I needed an electric buffer.

Yesterday, I rented one. My vision of a two-hour job was quickly shattered by reality. I turned on the buffer and held on tight, just like the man at the store said. 

It slung me nearly into the wall. I let go. 

I refuse to be defeated by a machine, even one that weighs nearly as much as I do, so I grabbed hold again. Turned it on, went a few feet, lost control, got slung, let go. This went on for hours. 

Finally, I heard a loud boom from outside and the bucking bronco I'd been fighting went dead. A fuse had blown out on the electric line at the street. After I called the electric company and thanked God for the break in the action, I went to the garden to do a few chores.

As I rounded the greenhouse, eyes focused on the taller-than-my-head Johnson grass in the landscaping, my left foot slipped into a hole. I'm not quite sure how this happened, but I slid in nearly to my knee and my foot wedged into the bottom of the hole. 

With one foot trapped in the depths of the earth, I was thrown off balance and fell to my knees. It was no easy task to get myself upright again, but I managed it. My foot, however, was caught tight. 

I pulled up to no avail. I wiggled my leg and tried to slip my foot out of my tennis shoe. Nothing worked. I considered calling The Hired Hand for an emergency extraction, but I knew I'd never hear the end of it if I did. I thought about calling Sam, but I knew he wasn't strong enough to pull me out.

Finally, I did the only sensible thing. I begged God to help me, and He did. After another tremendous jerk with my leg that landed me on my backside, my foot popped out.

I limped back to the house. Since my shoes were now muddy from the hole, I took them off before I went inside to rub my sore shin and wait on the electric company.

Once the power was restored, I cranked it up again, this time in my socks. Without the traction of my shoes, the bucking buffer had free reign. Every time it changed directions, I slid like a puck on the ice. I held on tight to the handles, which made the machine go even faster. 

The sliding worsened. 

It slung me back and forth until I despaired of finishing the job.

By this time, the Hired Hand had come in. He and Sam watched the crazed action for a while. They laughed until their faces turned red and they had tears in their eyes. 

"What do you call that dance? Electric slide meets Watusi?" 

I suggested they take over if they didn't like my technique, but both men assured me they were having too much fun watching. 

"We don't want to rob you of your fun."

I've had fun before, but it wasn't while doing the Watusi with a buffer.

After six straight hours (that's not an exaggeration), I was ready to collapse. Sam was, too.  

"We could finish tomorrow," I suggested, hopeful.

"No. We aren't stopping until we're done." 

"That's easy to say, Sam. You aren't the one getting tossed around like a rag."

"We're not stopping till we're done." Sam was too tired to say more.

I kept going.

Seven hours and ten minutes of labor after I first started buffing, I finally reached a stopping point. My floors look much better. My baseboards are (mostly) clean again. All because I stopped long enough to compare my floors with floors that were already clean.

When we stop long enough to compare our lives with one that's "already clean", it can spur us to make change, as well. Sometimes, the lives of other believers can push us to a new action, a different attitude, a closer walk.

If we want a gold-standard comparison, though, we need to compare ourselves to Jesus. Our God-man lived as we lived, felt as we felt, hurt as we hurt, yet never sinned. 

When I compare my heart to His, I hate the way my heart looks. The only sensible response is for me to make a change. 

Today, let's compare our lives to Jesus. Are we faithful as He is faithful? Are our lives holy as He is holy? 

If not, there's only one sensible thing to do. Make a change.

Let's invite Him to clean what needs to be cleaned, buff what needs to be shined, change what needs to be changed. Let's let Him do what needs to be done so that we can be the shining picture of righteousness to those who see our lives.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 nasb

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In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: A Week's Worth of Missionary-ness
Here's a link to the prayer guide: The Prayer List
Here's the link to my Global Outreach page: Leanna Hollis 
Here's the link to the post about helping Louisiana: Loving Louisiana
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#Christian

A Week's Worth of Missionary-ness

19 August 2016

I've known about Global Outreach International for more years than I'll say right now. When I was just a girl, I volunteered with them in Honduras for three months. It was a life-changing adventure. I came home full of dreams of spending most of the ensuing years on the mission field.

But life...

Life and sin got in the way of those dreams.

It seemed like a crazy number of years later when Steadman Harrison (Global CEO) and I first discussed my digital efforts. "We'd love to partner with you," he told me the first time back in April. "You're a digital missionary," he assured me in June. I didn't know what partnering with me meant, but somehow, he encouraged me along until I was convinced.

I'm still in awe of how God orchestrated this whole process. 

One week after completing missionary orientation, nothing is like I expected it to be. Truly, I assumed I would be working from the comfort of my screened porch, more often than not in shorts and t-shirt.

Every time I walked down the hall at MOT, however, a strange thing happened when I passed the second office on the left. Something in my heart whispered, "That's your office." 

I didn't really want it to be, but the voice in my heart would not be denied. Finally, I prayed, "Lord, if this office business is from you, don't just tell me. Tell Global, too." 

He did.

Late Friday afternoon, that Voice was joined by the voices of Stan May (board member), Rory Tyer (VP of Marketing), and Steadman Harrison (CEO). Suddenly, I found myself as a "funded missionary" at the Home Office ministering in areas of Prayer and Discipleship. 

(In case you're wondering, a funded missionary is one who raises their own support via those who partner financially in order to have a salary and fund their ministry projects)

So far this week I've spoken on prayer to a precious group of believers at Sherman Baptist Church. They joined with me in praying big for this hurting world of ours, and I'm thrilled and encouraged by their willingness to step outside their comfort zone.

I've prayed with countless hurting people here in the second office on the left, and I've prayed with even more out in the community.

I've prayed for and encouraged missionaries around the world via email correspondence on a daily basis. 

I've continued my outreach of discipleship, traveling over the digital highway this week to Germany, France, China, Portugal, Russia, Canada, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Kenya, Belgium, Latvia, and (of course) the United States. 

There've been thousands of views as people have read about the salvation of surrendering to Christ, overcoming a stagnant spirit, sharing the love of God with those around us, and joining in the mission of God to help those in the midst of disaster in Louisiana.

The Hosea study is still ongoing. There have been many views there, as well. Dozens of people have now completed the entire study and even more are still progressing through. 

This "in your place, at your pace" course has allowed people around the world to participate in discipleship training. Since the Hosea study began May 1st, we've had participants from the United States, France, Germany, Portugal, Nicaragua, Ireland, Canada, Latvia, Malaysia, and Spain. 

Discipleship Training has reached literally around the world.

It's been an exciting week, but my life as a missionary has just begun. I'd love for you to join with me as a team member in this amazing adventure.

Here are a few ways you can help:
1) Pray for me every day. If you can only do one thing to help, this is the "one thing" I desperately need you to do. Please pray that I'll be faithful to the work, that I won't be overwhelmed by the need, and that I'll be efficient, compassionate, and creative in how I share the love of Christ.
     
2) Like and share blog posts. This is critical, because it extends my digital reach more than you can imagine. Be sure to pray for the reach of those posts and that they will be like arrows to the heart of the readers, pricking them to move closer to our Lord. 

3) Lend a helping hand. Prayer warriors, I'd love for you to join with me on our knees to pray for the needs of missionaries and for those who are hurting throughout this world. Contact me and we'll schedule a time to pray. (lhollis@globaloutreach.org)

4) Give financially if you can. First, give your tithe to your church. If God moves you to share with this organization or to support my mission endeavors, you can do that in several ways.
online at:  http://globaloutreach.org/north-america#/leanna-hollis/ 

(My account number is 4841) You can donate by bank draft, debit or credit card, or PayPal.
via mail: Checks should be made out to Global Outreach International with my account number (4841) in the "for" line. Mail them to:
     
     Global Outreach International
     P.O. Box 1
     Tupelo, MS 38802

When you give, pray that those dollars yield a harvest of lives that are transformed by the love of Christ. (Global is a 501-C3, ECFA-approved organization, so your dollars are tax-deductible.)

5) Participate in discipleship training and encourage others to participate, as well. It's not too late to start the Hosea study (lessonsindiscipleship.blogspot.com). Don't forget: It's in your place, at your pace. This study lends itself to group study as well, so considering inviting your church to join you in Hosea. An in-depth study on the book of James is scheduled to begin in early 2017, so plan to take advantage of that opportunity.

6) If you need a speaker for an event, consider inviting me. I'm happy to share about what God is doing in this place, teach from Scripture, or help as needed. 

Less than a week into this, I've realized one important truth. Being a missionary is nothing like I expected. It's much better. Harder. Sweeter. 

This has been a big change for me, but it's been worth it. I've touched lives around the world from the second office on the left. I've seen God move hearts in ways I could never do on my own. 

Before He left, Jesus told His disciples to go. Make disciples. Teach them to obey. Be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts the earth. (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8) That's exactly what I, the most unlikely of missionaries, have done. The grace that has made this possible astounds me. I hope I never get over it. 

As I reminisce about the events of this first week, I have to wonder what the next month, the next year will bring.
If it's anything like the last few days, I'm not sure I can imagine what next year will bring. This transition is an exciting time. Thanks for sharing the adventure with me. It means more to me than you will ever know. 

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 29:11 nasb

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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: The Failed Missionary: Loving and Helping Louisiana
Here's the prayer guide link: The Prayer List

#Gospel #Christian

The Failed Missionary: Loving and Helping Louisiana after the Storm with No Name

Just this past week, I attended Missionary Orientation and Training with Global Outreach International. This morning, I realized I'm a failed missionary already. 

It was a bitter pill to swallow. 

Our neighbor to the west, Louisiana, is in desperate trouble (as is a portion of coastal Mississippi) and I have taken mere seconds to pray for them. I've done nothing to help. I haven't even written an impassioned blog post.

I'm sorry, Louisiana and costal Mississippi. I've been so focused on the changes in my own life that I've overlooked the devastating changes in yours. I know its late, but I apologize. You are on my mind and heart today. You are in my prayers now.

The people in Louisiana are not just people in a nearby state. They are my fellow Americans, as are the people in my own state who have been affected. Many of them are brothers and sisters and Christ. 

It may be that some of them who are suffering will see the love of God in His people and become part of our family. If they've waited to see the love of Christ in me, though, I'm a little late to the work.

My friend and co-worker, Allie, has family in the area. The stories she's told me this morning have broken my heart. I've wiped away tears more than once.

The rains started last week. After more than 24 inches of rain, the floods started. There are reports of eight feet of water flooding into houses in less than two hours. Imagine that for a minute. Water, not trickling in or seeping in, but roaring into your home.

A family friend and his father were separated when his dad was washed away by the ferocity of the flooding. A week later, he still has not been found. His body has not been recovered. That's a kind of grief and loss I hope never to experience. 

The loss of material possessions is terrible, but the loss of life is devastating. At last count, nine people were dead. That number will likely rise as the waters recede. 

Children have been separated from their parents by the raging waters. I've seen pictures of children sleeping on the roof of their home, on the top of their car, alone. No adult supervision. No one to comfort them until rescuers come.

According to The Weather Channel, NOAA described this as a "sheared inland tropical depression." Some people are calling it "The Storm with No Name". 

CNN reported that 30 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana will be declared disaster areas. More than 20,000 people have been rescued from the flood area. More than 12,000 people are currently in shelters, unable to return to their homes. Flood waters made their way into more than 40,000 homes. 

Portions of I-10 have been damaged and are closed to traffic. Flood waters are still receding. State and federal authorities, as well as National Guard, are working tirelessly to rescue and help.

Rescuing people from the flooded areas is only the first step in the process. After flood waters recede, the work of repairing homes for families to move back in will be enormous. To make matters worse, many of these people were not in a flood plain. I am told by those with family members in the flooded areas that their loved ones did not have flood insurance, nor did their neighbors.

Consider that for a minute. Water up to the roof inside your house and no insurance to help in the clean up and recovery. The needs are monumental.

How can we help? 

We can pray for safety for those in harm's way, endurance for those rescue workers, and hope for those who've lost so much.

We can give. Eight Days of Hope/Hope Reigns will be in Baton Rouge helping families whose homes have been damaged. You can donate from this link: Donate to 8DOH/HR 

We can go. Eight Days of Hope/Hope Reigns' Baton Rouge work days will be August 18-26. You must be 18 or older to volunteer. (I've volunteered with them before. This is a terrific, Christ-centered organization.) You can volunteer with this link: Volunteer with 8DOH/HR

Crisis Response International (one of my all-time favorite Christian ministries) is deploying to Louisiana and is accepting both donations and volunteers. Here's the link: Volunteer with CRI.

Here's a list of other organizations that will be mobilizing disaster relief efforts (and the links). They are accepting both donations and volunteers.
Samaritan's Purse (My family members have volunteered with them. Great organization.)
Salvation Army (this is a donation link)
Operation Blessing International (this is a donation link but there is a volunteer button on the page)
Other opportunities (This CNN page links to other relief efforts underway)

We can help and, together, we can make a difference for those who have lost so much. We can assist those who go, even if we must stay home. We can share the love and hope of Christ will people whose hope is in shreds. 

We can, through the wonders of the digital highway, reach around the world. Today, let's travel that highway to reach those in need in Louisiana and Mississippi. 

We can make a difference, if we will.

"Then the King will say to those on His right... I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in, naked, and you clothed Me... Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even to the least of them, you did it to Me." Matthew 25:34-36, 40
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Here's the link to yesterday's post, in case you missed it: The Fire-Filled Bones
Here's the link to the world-wide prayer guide: The Prayer List

photo courtesy of freeimages.com
#Lousiana

Fire-Filled Bones

Jeremiah's  writings are full of beautiful passages that have spoken to me over the years. Most of the time, I read Jeremiah focused on what speaks to me. 

Lately, however, I've focused on the price Jeremiah paid as a prophet. He had it tough.

When God called him, He spoke words that would have frightened me. "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you." (Jeremiah 1:5 nasb) Those words would've told me there would be something to fear, something from which I would need to be delivered. I might have run in the opposite direction, but not Jeremiah. 

When God said speak, he spoke. While false prophets promised victory and prosperity, Jeremiah prophesied judgment and coming captivity. His message wasn't popular, nor was he. 

Jeremiah stood in the court of the Lord's house and pronounced words that inflamed the priests. Judgment was coming because they had stiffened their necks against obeying God's word. 

Pashur (a priest and chief officer at the temple) had Jeremiah beaten and put in the stocks. When he was released, Jeremiah spoke the word of God even more boldly. 

Zedekiah, the king, shut Jeremiah up in the court of the guard because of his prophecies, but still he proclaimed the word of God.

Eventually, Pashur and a band of his buddies got permission from the king to deal with Jeremiah. They thought they had the perfect plan to silence him. They tied Jeremiah with ropes and lowered him into a cistern. There was no water but such a deep layer of mud that Jeremiah sank into it. 

After he was rescued, Jeremiah continued to proclaim the word of God, as if he were heedless of the danger.

Jeremiah was called by God to speak the truth, and he did it, regardless of the cost. If truth be told, I'm not that bold. I can't say with certainty that I'd persevere.

When I read Jeremiah 20, though, I'm reassured. Jeremiah did as commanded, but it wasn't easy for him. He was discouraged and heartbroken. There were times when he felt like God had deceived him into accepting his calling.

One truth, however, kept Jeremiah going. The fire of God in his bones.

"But if I say, 'I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name,' then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it." Jeremiah 20:9 nasb

Jeremiah could not deny his faith because the truth blazed through him. He learned that the only thing worse than suffering for God was refusing to suffer for God. 

What is it, then, that keeps us from speaking the love of God to those around us? 

Today, let's pray that the name and word of God would become like a burning fire in our bones that refuses to be denied. Let's speak when the Spirit says speak and let God handle our consequences.
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: Settling for Stagnant 

Here's the link to the world-wide prayer guide: The Prayer List 
#disciple

Settling for Stagnant

Like many of my age, I grew up with the King James Bible. Even now, it's the easiest version for me to memorize. The language, however, occasionally stumps me. 

My most recent "stumping" came from a passage in Zephaniah, in which he refers to men who are "settled on their lees". The NASB translated the word as "stagnant in spirit." 

From the original language, the word means to be "congealed", "thickened" or "curdled", rather than fluid and flowing. 

Think for a moment about things that are stagnant or curdled. Muddy swamps. Spoiled milk. Clotted blood. No movement. No activity.

Now read Zephaniah's words: 

And it will come about at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps,

And I will punish the men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, 

'The Lord will not do good or evil.'" Zephaniah 1:12 nasb

God will intentionally search until He finds those who are so stagnant in their faith that they have become no better than a muddy swamp or spoiled milk. They have lost the fervor of their love for God and no longer find Him pertinent. 

They think He will not move. 

They assume God will do nothing in response to their sin. Nothing in response to their prayers. Nothing in response to any repentance they might offer.

Does that sound familiar? 

I fear that the church in this country is filled with people who struggle with stagnant spirits. People who have seen the routine of church attendance without power for so long that they no longer believe more is possible.

Being stagnant in spirit, however, is a choice we make. It comes as a result of prayerlessness, faithlessness, and sinfulness, and carries a terrible price. Zephaniah describes the failure of vineyards, the desolation of homes, the punishment of God.

We cannot bear fruit when we allow our spirits to stagnate, but there is a solution. 

When we repent and turn back to our Lord, He floods us with living water that leads to refreshment and a return of the joy of our salvation. We can, once again, be fruitful and multiply.

Today, let's take a look at our own hearts. Are we becoming stagnant in spirit? Have we begun to doubt that God can or will move? 

God is still on His throne, so let's stop settling for stagnant and get rid of the sludge. 

Let's open our Bibles, kneel before our Lord, and ask for an infusion of Living Water. Let's allow Him to restore our hearts and open our eyes to His workings all around us. 

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. Psalm 42:1-2a
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photo courtesy of freeimages.com

In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: Accepting the Salvation of Surrender
Here's the link to the worldwide prayer guide: The Prayer List
#disciple #livingwater #stagnantspirit

Accepting the Salvation of Surrender

The Babylonian army was at the gates. It wouldn't be long until they were inside the city. King Zedekiah was terrified. 

He was king only because Nebuchadnezzar had captured and replaced the previous king. He knew his time was short. Toward the end of his sham-reign, he was so frightened that he called for Jeremiah, who was imprisoned. The king wanted a secret meeting to find out what the prophet of God recommended. 

Jeremiah had been beaten and imprisoned by the king's men, and was still in prison when the king called for him. I might not have been congenial toward the king, but Jeremiah spoke truth without hesitation. (Leanna paraphrase coming up.)

"What do I do, Jeremiah?"

"Surrender is the only option that will save you."

"I can't do that. I'm too afraid."

"You have two choices. If you surrender, you will live. The city will not be burned. You and your household will survive. If you don't surrender, they will get you anyway. The city will be burned and they will capture your wives and your sons. It won't be good, King Zedekiah. Accept the salvation of surrender."

Zedekiah was consumed by his fear and his pride. He stayed in the palace until the city walls were breached, then attempted to escape by night through his garden. 

Just as Jeremiah had said, the army captured him. They killed every one of his sons while Zedekiah watched, helpless. The last sight he ever saw was the death of his sons. The Chaldeans blinded his eyes afterward and carried him to captivity. On their way out, they burned the city.

Zedekiah must have spent the rest of his life wishing he'd obeyed Jeremiah's words. "Accept the salvation of surrender."

Those words are just as true for us today. The only salvation for this world and for eternity is found in surrender to Christ alone. 

Fear and pride still keep us from the hope that can save us. When we follow Christ, we must first give up our will to have His. We relinquish our right to sin in order to have his righteousness. 

This surrender can be terrifying, until we realize that we are surrendering to a holy, loving God who has plans for good and not evil. Plans for a future and a hope, not for calamity.

The only salvation, the only peace, the only hope are found in Christ alone. When we accept the surrender of salvation, we find the life Christ desires for us... abundant and joy-filled. 

Today, let's consider our relationship to God. Have we yielded to Him? Are there areas in our lives that need fresh surrender? Let's raise our "white flag" and give ourselves fully to the only One worthy of our dedication. 

Christ alone, our only hope.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 niv

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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post:The Bad Influence and the Terrible Price

Here's the world-wide prayer guide: The Prayer List 
#Christalone #disciple #salvation

The Bad Influence and It's Terrible Price

There are times when Scripture shocks me. What caused me to shudder recently was a verse in 2 Kings written about the time during Josiah's reign.

Josiah was king of Judah. He tried hard to do everything right. He worked diligently to undo all the idolatry of the kings before him. If anyone could have "bought" mercy for Judah by his good deeds, it would've been Josiah. Mercy, however, comes from God alone.

God rewarded Josiah for his faithfulness, and spared him the worst of times, but He had sad news for him.  

"However, the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath with which His anger burned against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him." 2 Kings 23:26 nasb

Manasseh became king of Judah when he was twelve years old. His idolatry was extreme. Scripture tells us his wickedness was "more than all the Amorites who were before him." (2 Kings 21:11) He was worse than the worst pagans.

Manasseh wasn't just evil privately. He did evil in public. He encouraged all the people of Judah to follow along with him, and they did.

Manasseh "made his sons pass through the fire". Those words tell us that Manasseh burned more than one of his sons as a human sacrifice to the idol Molech. 

He trivialized the gift of life to the extreme.

Eventually, God had enough of unheeded calls for repentance, so He sent the Assyrians to capture Manasseh and carry him, in chains, to Babylon.

At last, in exile, Manasseh repented and cried out to God. God heard his cries, brought him back to Jerusalem, and allowed him to reign as king again. Manasseh did many good things after his return. He destroyed idols, restored the altar of God, and ordered the people to return to the Lord.

Manasseh's good deeds were too little, too late. He had led the people into the worst kind of idolatry, and they refused to be led back out of it.

They continued to worship idols.

They continued to burn children alive at the altars of idols.

They continue to spill innocent blood as if it were nothing more than water.

That precious blood was more than water to God.

Our Lord did not view their sin casually. There was a price to be paid and neither Manasseh's late repentance nor Josiah's faithfulness could hold back judgment. Only widespread repentance and revival could do that. 

When it finally came, judgment was devastating. Jerusalem was burned and leveled.

It's easily forgotten, but our sin has wide-ranging effects and long-lasting consequences. 

As Manasseh learned, those consequences are greatest when we lead others into sin. If the people Manasseh led astray had turned back to God, judgment could have been avoided. They did not. Repentance could not be accomplished by royal decree.

In that same way, the innocent blood that has been spilled in this country has not been overlooked by God. Our idolatry and immorality have not gone unnoticed. We are no better than Judah in her later days. We deserve judgment no less.

Repentance and revival are critical if our nation is to return to her former glory, and they cannot be accomplished by executive order. Each one of us must allow God to search our hearts, repent of our sin, and turn back to Him.

Today, let's admit our own personal sin and truly repent. Let's ask God to cleanse us and keep us from further sin, including that of bad influence. Pray, too, for sweeping repentance and revival that lasts until all the work of repentance is done.
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: The Orange Tutorial
Here's the link to the worldwide prayer guide: The Prayer List 

#revival #reviveAmerica #Judah #disciple #repentance