The Greatest Barrier To Revival - Self

"Perhaps the greatest barrier to revival on a large scale is the fact that we are too interested in a great display. We want an exhibition; God is looking for a man who will throw himself entirely on God. Whenever self-effort, self-glory, self-seeking or self-promotion enters into the work of revival, then God leaves us to ourselves." - Ted S. Rendall

Well, being by myself is the scariest of my scary thoughts. One thing draws me to repentance quicker than anything else: the recognition that the Holy Spirit is right there to show me the correct door to walk through, save me from disaster, lead me on the right path if I will only humble myself. If God chose to withdraw His breath then the whole world would cease to exist. Better that than for God to just withdraw Himself and leave us here alone.

"I don't want to be alone." That is spoken out of fear.
"I don't want to be left to myself." That is spoken out of wisdom that has seen what I do when I'm left to myself!

When I read the Ted S. Rendall quote this morning I immediately thought of our friends Trevor and Catrese. The specific line that brought them to mind was, "God is looking for a man who will throw himself entirely on God." Trevor and Catrese have been led to bring adopted children into their already full home. They have fostered in the past but now they're being led to foreign adoption. If you haven't checked into adoption lately, it's big business. It's a racket. The fees are outrageous. A better word might be astronomical. Trevor and Catrese don't have that kind of money. They, well, don't have any money outside of normal bill paying money the rest of us have. What Trevor and Catrese do have is a desire for revival. A desire for the nations to be reached for the Kingdom. Instead of waiting for a "big display" or an "exhibition" from God, they are individually throwing themselves entirely on God. And if the SCARIEST THING in the world is being "left to yourself" then the 2nd SCARIEST THING is stepping out in faith to follow God!

They have a really large whiteboard set up in their living room and it's divided up into a graph of sorts; maybe chart is a better word. What are they charting? Several weeks ago, they started writing all of the needs that had to be met for the adoptions to take place. Then they stepped out. They heard God's voice and then they stepped out in faith. Took action. Took on some risk. Put themselves out there. And now, the chart has all kinds of blanks filled in where GOD HAS MET NEEDS ONE BY ONE. Never, ever in a big or extravagant kind of fashion. Each time in small and incremental ways through individual members of the Body of Christ.

Cool stuff, huh? It's so exciting when you see brothers and sisters doin' the thing. It's encouraging to the rest of us. It's positive. It's renewing. It brings revival to our souls!

Trevor and Catrese fly out from Kansas City this Thursday. That means their other rugrats show up on our doorstep this Wednesday afternoon. MY. KIDS. CAN. NOT. WAIT. They have been counting the days and marking the calendar FOR WEEKS. Hysterical excitement is the only phrase I can use to describe it. Sometimes MC's eyes literally roll back in her head when she thinks about it. It's just to much for a 5 year old girl to take.

Trevor and Catrese will fly in, meet the new kids, hang out and get acquainted, ect. and then come back to the States the following Thursday. They will go back to bring them home later in the year if everything continues as planned. (They will bring the ADOPTED kids home later in the year. They will be picking up their current children from our house next week. If you're reading this, you'll be back next week. Right?)

Everyone from each of our families could use some "yarpers" this week. Which leads me to our other friends, the Colliers, who are serving in SE Asia. When we email them we have to talk in code so for prayers they always say "yarpers". It's contagious! Anyway.....they are expecting baby #5 in the next 3 weeks and additionally have some major decisions to make. Plus, V's parents are flying in from MO to see the new baby (and all those other grandbabies!) So "yarps" are needed all around for travel mercies and wisdom in decision making.

But please, please, please DO NOT pray patience for me as I take care of all these kiddos. I get the urge to smack people who ask God to give me such things. :-) How about good weather so we can go outside and health so that nobody gets sick or hurt. And definitely good health and energy for me. I've had bronchitis and it's been a real trip. Hopefully I will be good as new by Wednesday.

All of that said, I will probably be absent from blog world for awhile trying to break the Guinness World Record for most pb and j sandwiches made in one week. Whew!

Love to all - HAPPY SPRING!!!