life & loss
freedom & hold
count the cost
of Your presence i fold
into the Light
after Your heart
Grace at night
pierce the dark
take Your time
but don't wait long
for us to outshine
this bitter prologue
is the plea too early
am i asking too late
Love covered mercy
outlasts rotten bait
enter third Heaven
thick as the fog
experience stands leaven
as i pour out this log
visions of You
and the life i take
long overdue
are these perpetual states.
J.W.S
6.6.10
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
*The Secret's in the Telling*
"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Revelation 12:11
"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." Habakkuk 1:5
Ok so after a long mental debate I've decided to continue up the blog past India and take it back to Norman, OK. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Family and friends want me to (I'm sure strangers are indifferent)
2. It's cheap amusement
3. The Secret's in the Telling
Being back from India for over a month, and telling the stories of God's goodness and greatness and anointing over the trip, I've discovered the power of testimony. Satan trembles at our testimonies because he sees the power in it. He knows that it's the testimony of God's consistent love, grace, mercy, and goodness in our lives that wage war against his intentions to pull us away from the Father's love. There is something very powerful that happens when a testimony is spoken into the atmosphere, whether that is a lifelong testimony or a testimony about how God gave us grace for a difficult day. The testimony unravels God's greatness to people. It shows how God has worked and gives a promise of God's continual goodness.
Jesus' provision on the cross created the greatest avenue for us to declare His goodness by our words to others. The declaration of God's goodness and our satisfaction in Him can't be over exaggerated because His goodness is infinite.
Today I want to challenge you to give a testimony of how God has worked in your life to someone. Whether that's your spouse or a colleague or your kids or a friend or the lady behind the counter at Walmart. Whoever it might be, just tell it. God's goodness is meant to be declared daily and always.
Bless the Lord,
Wes
"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." Habakkuk 1:5
Ok so after a long mental debate I've decided to continue up the blog past India and take it back to Norman, OK. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Family and friends want me to (I'm sure strangers are indifferent)
2. It's cheap amusement
3. The Secret's in the Telling
Being back from India for over a month, and telling the stories of God's goodness and greatness and anointing over the trip, I've discovered the power of testimony. Satan trembles at our testimonies because he sees the power in it. He knows that it's the testimony of God's consistent love, grace, mercy, and goodness in our lives that wage war against his intentions to pull us away from the Father's love. There is something very powerful that happens when a testimony is spoken into the atmosphere, whether that is a lifelong testimony or a testimony about how God gave us grace for a difficult day. The testimony unravels God's greatness to people. It shows how God has worked and gives a promise of God's continual goodness.
Jesus' provision on the cross created the greatest avenue for us to declare His goodness by our words to others. The declaration of God's goodness and our satisfaction in Him can't be over exaggerated because His goodness is infinite.
Today I want to challenge you to give a testimony of how God has worked in your life to someone. Whether that's your spouse or a colleague or your kids or a friend or the lady behind the counter at Walmart. Whoever it might be, just tell it. God's goodness is meant to be declared daily and always.
Bless the Lord,
Wes
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Resting in our Dreams
This past week I had the opportunity to travel to Coorg which is in southeast India in the Western Ghats. The area is so beautiful and peaceful. No more car horns or constant exhaust smell. It was a great time to process all that the Lord has been doing for the past two months, and even get a little rest in before coming back to the city for two more weeks.
It's in those times that I just want to sit with God and dream with Him. "Lord these are my desires. How can we achieve them." In second Samuel God tells David that He was willing to give him any desire. That's because David's heart was so interwoven with God's that nothing David asked for was in the realm of vanity. When we are close to Him, His desires become ours.
I believe some of us have this mentality that God is so huge(which is true) and we are these incredible sinners(which is not true, we're saints) that we don't want to bother God with our "petty" inquiries. What we fail to realize though is that our Daddy loves us so much. He saved us, and we are his children, and there is nothing too small that He won't give to us. I'm not talking about a "health, wealth, and prosperity" gospel, but what I am takling about is a Daddy soo giving that just loves to pour Himself out on His kids. God is a holistic God. He covers every need and desire. Like I said earlier, when our heart is near to His, our desires our His desires. "How much more will the Father in heaven give good gifts to those that ask Him?(Matthew 7)"
When we were kids we had faith and hearts that viewed nothing as unnatainable, and now we are children of the most gracious Giver. So just open your hearts and your palms to the heavens, and start to dream again. Pray hard and obnoxiously! It's Christmas 365 days a year!
Weston
It's in those times that I just want to sit with God and dream with Him. "Lord these are my desires. How can we achieve them." In second Samuel God tells David that He was willing to give him any desire. That's because David's heart was so interwoven with God's that nothing David asked for was in the realm of vanity. When we are close to Him, His desires become ours.
I believe some of us have this mentality that God is so huge(which is true) and we are these incredible sinners(which is not true, we're saints) that we don't want to bother God with our "petty" inquiries. What we fail to realize though is that our Daddy loves us so much. He saved us, and we are his children, and there is nothing too small that He won't give to us. I'm not talking about a "health, wealth, and prosperity" gospel, but what I am takling about is a Daddy soo giving that just loves to pour Himself out on His kids. God is a holistic God. He covers every need and desire. Like I said earlier, when our heart is near to His, our desires our His desires. "How much more will the Father in heaven give good gifts to those that ask Him?(Matthew 7)"
When we were kids we had faith and hearts that viewed nothing as unnatainable, and now we are children of the most gracious Giver. So just open your hearts and your palms to the heavens, and start to dream again. Pray hard and obnoxiously! It's Christmas 365 days a year!
Weston
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Lower Still
In 1904 a young Evan Roberts prayed the prayer "Bend me, oh Lord." It was this confession of submission to God that springboarded the Welsh Revival, seeing over 100,000 new believers give their lives to Jesus within a year.
Jesus calls us to live a life lower still. Jesus, how much time should I spend with you? Lower still. How should I love my spouse? Lower still. What does it look like to give to those around me? Lower still. How do I love? Lower still. Heidi Baker said, "...draw us into a life of living even lower still, leading us on the low road--the only road forward--until we become as desperate for God as the poor are for daily bread."
I think we feel as if we're missing something when we live prostrate. In reality, though, we're prostrated at the feet of the Giver. No one gives good gifts like the Father. We pour ourselves out to Him and those around us, and He fills us back up. We bend ourselves, but it's His love and grace that keeps us from breaking.
Jesus give us a revelation of what it looks like to live lower still. I need to be facedown on the ground in humble submission to You. You are the awesome, uncreated, creator who loves me, and I want Your thick, tangible presence which is found only when I'm lower still.
Weston
Jesus calls us to live a life lower still. Jesus, how much time should I spend with you? Lower still. How should I love my spouse? Lower still. What does it look like to give to those around me? Lower still. How do I love? Lower still. Heidi Baker said, "...draw us into a life of living even lower still, leading us on the low road--the only road forward--until we become as desperate for God as the poor are for daily bread."
I think we feel as if we're missing something when we live prostrate. In reality, though, we're prostrated at the feet of the Giver. No one gives good gifts like the Father. We pour ourselves out to Him and those around us, and He fills us back up. We bend ourselves, but it's His love and grace that keeps us from breaking.
Jesus give us a revelation of what it looks like to live lower still. I need to be facedown on the ground in humble submission to You. You are the awesome, uncreated, creator who loves me, and I want Your thick, tangible presence which is found only when I'm lower still.
Weston
Friday, June 18, 2010
Shika Baba
Hey family and friends!
First, I love each of you and can't wait to see you! 3 more weeks! God has been moving so much since I last posted. Salvations, healings, the love of Jesus being displayed in the city by the multitiudes, daily. Praise God! I was watching a Bill Johnson teaching and he said, "I'm alive for one thing, to see a move of God transform society. I don't have anything else going on." God is moving. He's moving here and He's moving in America. Revival's coming to Oklahoma. It's coming to Norman. It's coming to Duncan. It's going to sweep. God make me a carrier of revival.
You caught me at a bold moment, but it's exactly who God says we are. Right now God is pouring identity in me. I am who He says I am. I've resolved that. God is raising a people of apostolic passion. A people who will not take no for an answer. Who refuse to listen to the lies of the devil. God is anointing men and women right now who will carry that apostolic anointing. Right now my heart is going out to my hometown and how desperation and relentless passion will spark revival in the city. I see churches filled because of how tangible and powerful the presence of God is in them. I see youth's pastoring those around them with the presence of the Spirit. Homeless, poor, sick, hungry are filled and clothed by the compassionate body of Christ. I see men and women resolving their identity in the Lord. People who refuse to be depressed, sick, lonely because of the presence of God that is upon them. I picture this city as a place that declares Isaiah 61:
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn..."
God gave me this verse this morning, not only for myself but for the city of Duncan. This will be a year of favor from the Lord. Revival will come not through special services or programs, but by being the hands and feet of Jesus in our schools, workplaces, and carrying His presence with us.
Shika Baba. It's a Swahili term for 'hold onto the Father.' How do we see, experience, feel, live revival? We shika baba. We hold onto the goodness of the Father and we don't let go. We aren't miffed by the devils schemes but we declare over ourselves our identity in Jesus. We have the mind of Christ. We are new. We are no longer depraved. We are carriers of the Spirit, and we're leaking Him onto those around us.
Whew,
Weston
First, I love each of you and can't wait to see you! 3 more weeks! God has been moving so much since I last posted. Salvations, healings, the love of Jesus being displayed in the city by the multitiudes, daily. Praise God! I was watching a Bill Johnson teaching and he said, "I'm alive for one thing, to see a move of God transform society. I don't have anything else going on." God is moving. He's moving here and He's moving in America. Revival's coming to Oklahoma. It's coming to Norman. It's coming to Duncan. It's going to sweep. God make me a carrier of revival.
You caught me at a bold moment, but it's exactly who God says we are. Right now God is pouring identity in me. I am who He says I am. I've resolved that. God is raising a people of apostolic passion. A people who will not take no for an answer. Who refuse to listen to the lies of the devil. God is anointing men and women right now who will carry that apostolic anointing. Right now my heart is going out to my hometown and how desperation and relentless passion will spark revival in the city. I see churches filled because of how tangible and powerful the presence of God is in them. I see youth's pastoring those around them with the presence of the Spirit. Homeless, poor, sick, hungry are filled and clothed by the compassionate body of Christ. I see men and women resolving their identity in the Lord. People who refuse to be depressed, sick, lonely because of the presence of God that is upon them. I picture this city as a place that declares Isaiah 61:
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn..."
God gave me this verse this morning, not only for myself but for the city of Duncan. This will be a year of favor from the Lord. Revival will come not through special services or programs, but by being the hands and feet of Jesus in our schools, workplaces, and carrying His presence with us.
Shika Baba. It's a Swahili term for 'hold onto the Father.' How do we see, experience, feel, live revival? We shika baba. We hold onto the goodness of the Father and we don't let go. We aren't miffed by the devils schemes but we declare over ourselves our identity in Jesus. We have the mind of Christ. We are new. We are no longer depraved. We are carriers of the Spirit, and we're leaking Him onto those around us.
Whew,
Weston
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Oh Piercing Joy or Pruning
How I spent my quiet time:
Oh piercing joy you never come too late,
Rip through my stomach like shards of clay.
Broken and smashed against solid ground,
Unleashed anointing oil shows the smile You've found.
Oh Lord Your iron is sharp,
It cuts through my flesh like a rippling barb.
Each cut inches closer to the Christ in me,
Affliction upon affliction, electric until screams and
Rest...
Oh piercing joy You never come too late,
Cascade through my chest like light in the day.
Cooling sensations streaming down skin,
Chills the aches and the pains, inches till dim.
Winds of love just striving to blast,
Uncovered rubble and piled up ash.
I'm half the man I used to be,
I'm my Father's half and He's set me free.
Meditations on John 15:1-11
Pruning can be rough and painful, but it's for our joy and His glory
Oh piercing joy you never come too late,
Rip through my stomach like shards of clay.
Broken and smashed against solid ground,
Unleashed anointing oil shows the smile You've found.
Oh Lord Your iron is sharp,
It cuts through my flesh like a rippling barb.
Each cut inches closer to the Christ in me,
Affliction upon affliction, electric until screams and
Rest...
Oh piercing joy You never come too late,
Cascade through my chest like light in the day.
Cooling sensations streaming down skin,
Chills the aches and the pains, inches till dim.
Winds of love just striving to blast,
Uncovered rubble and piled up ash.
I'm half the man I used to be,
I'm my Father's half and He's set me free.
Meditations on John 15:1-11
Pruning can be rough and painful, but it's for our joy and His glory
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Approach & God's Love In It
The transfer of anxiety to excitement is in the reason for the approach. A future glory in comparison to present gain is worth an eternity. What one sees as dutiful the other sees as freedom. What one calls stress and fear of sharing, the other calls peace from within. Jesus' mandate "Go and make" is the approach. "Come and I will give you rest" is something you find in the approach. The fullness of the Holy Spirit is being received with each step toward the receiver. We have never been more filled up than prior to the impartation of the Spirit into one's heart as an initiator. We are filled in worship and other acts that display our love for God, but at the moment of reproduction we are fully immersed in the Spirit beyond any comparison.
Sharing Jesus is falling in love. It's this natural happening that takes place when the Holy Spirit connects the words, demeanor, presence of one person to the heart and soul of another. Just like love, this encounter can take many forms: tears, laughter, racing heartbeat, slight confusion, being unsettled with excitement, peace, joy, but it all happens with a smitten heart.
Varying loves can take varying periods to get over. From a few years to a lifetime. But the transcendence of God's love to the heart of man ecplipses both hearts in such a way that mountains melt into liquid for a display of splendor nowhere equal to the love that God has for the recieved one. This love transcends time. There has never been a creation that is so inescapable. There has never been a song, or a poem, or a book, or an experience that has fully explained it. Jesus' act of love surpasses His written Word. It floods our greatest emotions. Outperforms our greatest acts.
Weston
Sharing Jesus is falling in love. It's this natural happening that takes place when the Holy Spirit connects the words, demeanor, presence of one person to the heart and soul of another. Just like love, this encounter can take many forms: tears, laughter, racing heartbeat, slight confusion, being unsettled with excitement, peace, joy, but it all happens with a smitten heart.
Varying loves can take varying periods to get over. From a few years to a lifetime. But the transcendence of God's love to the heart of man ecplipses both hearts in such a way that mountains melt into liquid for a display of splendor nowhere equal to the love that God has for the recieved one. This love transcends time. There has never been a creation that is so inescapable. There has never been a song, or a poem, or a book, or an experience that has fully explained it. Jesus' act of love surpasses His written Word. It floods our greatest emotions. Outperforms our greatest acts.
Weston
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Monsoon Season
Hello friends and family! So sorry I'm just now posting, but our internet has been down for the last ten or so days. I'll make it extra long.
I think it's finally sunk in that this place is our home for a month and a half, and we've got the pace of life down pretty well. I love this city, and the rapport that the city and I have is "so nice*". The city is so adventurous and there's always something interesting happening and something fun to do. What my day usually looks like is waking up around 6:30 or 7, soaking** and spending time with Jesus, enjoying a wonderful breakfast by our good friend and landlord S, going to the gym and workout and share Jesus, hit up the city for a couple hours(maybe go to my favorite coffee shop soak more and share), lunch, intern team time in the afternoon, go out and bless the city in the late aternoon, dinner, more heaven on earth after dinner, sleep.
This is a basic outline of what we do. We sow and soak, sow and soak. We also get the blessing of being able to share and hangout with the short term teams (SST) from America, and helping them with the city as much as possible. Our priority in the School of Breakthrough is to get a breathrough to give a breakthrough. In other words everything that God is doing in each of our lives we pour and minister out in the city. So much fun!
We are seeing some incredible things in this city! People being healed, numerous salvations daily, peoples lives being changes, incredible words of knowledge that are right on! God is pouring Himself over this region in a powerful, powerful way!
One of my favorite stories thus far was when one of our SST members was sharing Jesus with a young man who was an atheist, they had a discussion about the Gospel and the man wasn't showing much interest. The team member got a word of knowledge about a cruise line. He then asked the man if he has ever wanted to own a cruise line, just a shot in the dark. The man then claimed that it was his dream to be a cruise line owner! After that the team member got to share about God's desire to bless him and have a relationship with him. And right there the young man accepted Jesus! Thank you Jesus!
This is just one of many ridiculous, awesome salvation stories that we've seen and got to be a part of.
Bill Johnson said that "the pieces of our life build up to one moment, 'Well done good and faithful servant' and at that moment nothing else will matter." That statement has been something I've been chewing on for the last couple of days. What a blessing and honor it is to be ministering in South India, but even when I focus on what I'm doing and try to give to it fully, I know that there is so much more that God has for me.
The past couple of days in my times with Jesus, He has told me that I am about to experience a season of life I've never experienced before. It was exciting and odd at the same time seeing as that I am halfway across the world living a life that I've never lived before. But that irony is the character of God. When you feel like you know Him and when you feel like your fully experiening Him, he turns around and says "But I have soo much more for you. You're only scratching the surface of the gifts, blessings, and intimacy we will share together."
I love each of you tremendously and I hope this has blessed you today!
Weston
* "So nice" is a term we hear and say a lot here.
** Soaking is when you practice experiencing the presence of God. No agenda. Just a place of peace and rest in His presence.
p.s. It's monsoon season here for those that love to get caught in the rain! Hosea 6:3
I think it's finally sunk in that this place is our home for a month and a half, and we've got the pace of life down pretty well. I love this city, and the rapport that the city and I have is "so nice*". The city is so adventurous and there's always something interesting happening and something fun to do. What my day usually looks like is waking up around 6:30 or 7, soaking** and spending time with Jesus, enjoying a wonderful breakfast by our good friend and landlord S, going to the gym and workout and share Jesus, hit up the city for a couple hours(maybe go to my favorite coffee shop soak more and share), lunch, intern team time in the afternoon, go out and bless the city in the late aternoon, dinner, more heaven on earth after dinner, sleep.
This is a basic outline of what we do. We sow and soak, sow and soak. We also get the blessing of being able to share and hangout with the short term teams (SST) from America, and helping them with the city as much as possible. Our priority in the School of Breakthrough is to get a breathrough to give a breakthrough. In other words everything that God is doing in each of our lives we pour and minister out in the city. So much fun!
We are seeing some incredible things in this city! People being healed, numerous salvations daily, peoples lives being changes, incredible words of knowledge that are right on! God is pouring Himself over this region in a powerful, powerful way!
One of my favorite stories thus far was when one of our SST members was sharing Jesus with a young man who was an atheist, they had a discussion about the Gospel and the man wasn't showing much interest. The team member got a word of knowledge about a cruise line. He then asked the man if he has ever wanted to own a cruise line, just a shot in the dark. The man then claimed that it was his dream to be a cruise line owner! After that the team member got to share about God's desire to bless him and have a relationship with him. And right there the young man accepted Jesus! Thank you Jesus!
This is just one of many ridiculous, awesome salvation stories that we've seen and got to be a part of.
Bill Johnson said that "the pieces of our life build up to one moment, 'Well done good and faithful servant' and at that moment nothing else will matter." That statement has been something I've been chewing on for the last couple of days. What a blessing and honor it is to be ministering in South India, but even when I focus on what I'm doing and try to give to it fully, I know that there is so much more that God has for me.
The past couple of days in my times with Jesus, He has told me that I am about to experience a season of life I've never experienced before. It was exciting and odd at the same time seeing as that I am halfway across the world living a life that I've never lived before. But that irony is the character of God. When you feel like you know Him and when you feel like your fully experiening Him, he turns around and says "But I have soo much more for you. You're only scratching the surface of the gifts, blessings, and intimacy we will share together."
I love each of you tremendously and I hope this has blessed you today!
Weston
* "So nice" is a term we hear and say a lot here.
** Soaking is when you practice experiencing the presence of God. No agenda. Just a place of peace and rest in His presence.
p.s. It's monsoon season here for those that love to get caught in the rain! Hosea 6:3
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Thus Far
So it's been over a week and I've finally got settled into the city. I love it so much. The people here are amazing, the food is incredible, the coffee shops are insane! Coffee, coffee, coffee! No but really, this is an incredible place to get to live for two months. You might have to have an adventurous spirit and be willing to get lost for a while, but it's all a part of the journey.
We've been blessed to have already encounter many amazing people and new friends, and through that see God move in salvation and healing. This is such a place of cultural pluralism and even religious syncretism that to come here with another idea can seem hopeless, but watching people react to the Gospel of love and to Jesus Christ the way that they have even in the short week we've been here has been an incredible encouragement.
Tomorrow morning, bright and early at 4 am, we get to greet our first team at the airport. The strides five of us have made in sharing the gospel has been incredible, but we get the opportunity to watch this team of twenty two boldly engage this city for Jesus, and I'm so excited to get to watch that and try to sow into what is reaped through that with discipleship. This is the first of many teams and they are going to be a major refresher and joy to spend time with.
In the meantime, our team will continue building relationships throughout the city, and looking for what God is doing and playing a part in that.
In my own heart I'm finding a brand new since of freedom in the Lord. I think it's so easy to be on mission and see it as business. Meet people, share the Gospel. Meet people, share the Gospel. But there are so many parts that make the latter more effective. Such as waiting and the Lord and see where and how He wants to move. There is a language of the Holy Spirit and we need to get involved in following it. Also, if we wee to try to engage a city without doing so relationally we would severely hinder the work of the Lord. Take for example the work of the seventy two in Luke 10. Christ saw it more effective to initiate the message of the kingdom of heaven through relationship rather than unfamiliarity. Food for thought.
Love you family and friends and i'll talk to you very soon. Two days, I promise.
I miss beef,
Weston
P.S. I'll fill you in more on South India culturally next post.
We've been blessed to have already encounter many amazing people and new friends, and through that see God move in salvation and healing. This is such a place of cultural pluralism and even religious syncretism that to come here with another idea can seem hopeless, but watching people react to the Gospel of love and to Jesus Christ the way that they have even in the short week we've been here has been an incredible encouragement.
Tomorrow morning, bright and early at 4 am, we get to greet our first team at the airport. The strides five of us have made in sharing the gospel has been incredible, but we get the opportunity to watch this team of twenty two boldly engage this city for Jesus, and I'm so excited to get to watch that and try to sow into what is reaped through that with discipleship. This is the first of many teams and they are going to be a major refresher and joy to spend time with.
In the meantime, our team will continue building relationships throughout the city, and looking for what God is doing and playing a part in that.
In my own heart I'm finding a brand new since of freedom in the Lord. I think it's so easy to be on mission and see it as business. Meet people, share the Gospel. Meet people, share the Gospel. But there are so many parts that make the latter more effective. Such as waiting and the Lord and see where and how He wants to move. There is a language of the Holy Spirit and we need to get involved in following it. Also, if we wee to try to engage a city without doing so relationally we would severely hinder the work of the Lord. Take for example the work of the seventy two in Luke 10. Christ saw it more effective to initiate the message of the kingdom of heaven through relationship rather than unfamiliarity. Food for thought.
Love you family and friends and i'll talk to you very soon. Two days, I promise.
I miss beef,
Weston
P.S. I'll fill you in more on South India culturally next post.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Arrival in South India!
Wow, so after a long, stressful trip here, our team finally made it! this is an incredible place that God has given us. We were met by our team leaders at the airport and spent the next two days getting to know them better and getting to know the city better. Last night we had dinner at the leader of the the Long term teams house with the rest of the team and it was an incredible time of fellowship, and they made this city halfway across the world feel like home.
We have already begun casting seeds and right now were just waiting for the floodgates to fall and see the fruit that God intends for us to experience. I love this place. And I want to be very direct in this statement, we should feel at home greater at no other place than the Kingdom of God. And right now this is home. And it will be for two months. So where our feet tread and our shadows are cast the Kingdom of God will be there in the form of His Spirit. I want you to know that God has placed me here for a reason, and from birth it has been God's plan to put me here for the summer of 2010 because he has a great work for me. Family I love you soo much and can't wait to share with you even more what God is doing in me and in the city. I miss you but the time is going to fly and i'll be home and with you before we know it. Friends, you are a blessing and i can't wait to impart to you what God has done through me.
Love you so much and talk to you soon,
Weston
We have already begun casting seeds and right now were just waiting for the floodgates to fall and see the fruit that God intends for us to experience. I love this place. And I want to be very direct in this statement, we should feel at home greater at no other place than the Kingdom of God. And right now this is home. And it will be for two months. So where our feet tread and our shadows are cast the Kingdom of God will be there in the form of His Spirit. I want you to know that God has placed me here for a reason, and from birth it has been God's plan to put me here for the summer of 2010 because he has a great work for me. Family I love you soo much and can't wait to share with you even more what God is doing in me and in the city. I miss you but the time is going to fly and i'll be home and with you before we know it. Friends, you are a blessing and i can't wait to impart to you what God has done through me.
Love you so much and talk to you soon,
Weston
Sunday, May 2, 2010
His Promises
This morning I had the great blessing of being able to share about my upcoming summer in India to my church family at First Baptist Duncan, OK. God has blessed me beyond belief by giving me two families that love me and share in the excitement about what He is doing. One in Duncan at First Baptist, the church I grew up in and was fostered in, and the other at Antioch in Norman where God has given me an unbelievable family to run with and see heaven on earth with.
While sharing with my congregation this morning in Duncan, casting the vision God has given me for my summer, I was immediately overcome with emotion. It was under that roof, as a thirteen and fourteen year old that God began casting His own vision for my life. One spent poured out to nations. It was there that that apostolic passion and yearning for revival began burning. And this summer I get to taste the promises He gave me years before. He is true in keeping His promises.
Thanks for listening and be blessed,
Weston
While sharing with my congregation this morning in Duncan, casting the vision God has given me for my summer, I was immediately overcome with emotion. It was under that roof, as a thirteen and fourteen year old that God began casting His own vision for my life. One spent poured out to nations. It was there that that apostolic passion and yearning for revival began burning. And this summer I get to taste the promises He gave me years before. He is true in keeping His promises.
Thanks for listening and be blessed,
Weston
Monday, April 26, 2010
the "Highs and Lows" of Highs
I am covered with the fingerprints of God. This year especially He has been molding me and stretching me, stripping me of strongholds I've dealt with for years. I can't think of a time in my life when the progressive work of God has been so vivid and distinct.
So with that said, in preparation for my trip there has been a big looming issue I have found. I have a huge lack of faith in the work of God in my life.
Let me explain. When I was a kid, I loved going to camps. For great reasons too. It was a time when the forefront of my mind was focused on Jesus. The worship was incredible. The speaker was incredible. The fellowship with my youth ministry was incredible. So good. So whether it was at Falls Creek or Super Summer, or a weeklong mission trip, it was a time when God had me. It was also a time when a term i affectionately call the "camp high" takes place. It usually happens on Thursday night or Friday night of the week. Extended worship. A lot of tears and emotions. A lot of godly conviction. There's a move of the Holy Spirit. And it was almost as if we had to be in that special place for His Spirit to move in power like He did.
So I'm not trying to ground my expectations. Believe me, I DO NOT WANT TO BE REALISTIC. Realism is a wordly term. God is in the business of the impossible. Healing the impossible disease, saving the impossible sinner, convicting the impossible pharisee.I should live with these expectations every second of my day.
But why should my expectations be any higher in India than they are in Norman, OK? Why should His anointing happen there this summer and not here this morning? Why do we feel we have to be somewhere to see any life change? God has placed me in Norman, OK. God is going to move in me in Norman, OK. This summer God will place me in South India. God is going to move in me in India. Plane tickets are not essential for more anointing or life change.
Father, heal my disbelief that you care about me so much that your fullness is obtainable anywhere, at anytime. Allow me to make a home in Your sanctification. And bring revival to these cities.
In light of Grace,
Weston
So with that said, in preparation for my trip there has been a big looming issue I have found. I have a huge lack of faith in the work of God in my life.
Let me explain. When I was a kid, I loved going to camps. For great reasons too. It was a time when the forefront of my mind was focused on Jesus. The worship was incredible. The speaker was incredible. The fellowship with my youth ministry was incredible. So good. So whether it was at Falls Creek or Super Summer, or a weeklong mission trip, it was a time when God had me. It was also a time when a term i affectionately call the "camp high" takes place. It usually happens on Thursday night or Friday night of the week. Extended worship. A lot of tears and emotions. A lot of godly conviction. There's a move of the Holy Spirit. And it was almost as if we had to be in that special place for His Spirit to move in power like He did.
So I'm not trying to ground my expectations. Believe me, I DO NOT WANT TO BE REALISTIC. Realism is a wordly term. God is in the business of the impossible. Healing the impossible disease, saving the impossible sinner, convicting the impossible pharisee.I should live with these expectations every second of my day.
But why should my expectations be any higher in India than they are in Norman, OK? Why should His anointing happen there this summer and not here this morning? Why do we feel we have to be somewhere to see any life change? God has placed me in Norman, OK. God is going to move in me in Norman, OK. This summer God will place me in South India. God is going to move in me in India. Plane tickets are not essential for more anointing or life change.
Father, heal my disbelief that you care about me so much that your fullness is obtainable anywhere, at anytime. Allow me to make a home in Your sanctification. And bring revival to these cities.
In light of Grace,
Weston
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tonight's Encounter
Wow. I wish I could better express how I feel towards tonight's worship and His blessing, but it's impossible. I don't know what's going to happen or what next year will look like or what kind of anointing will come over the summer for our ministry, but it's going to be huge. Is this what it looks when the "overcomers" begin to arise? His sons and daughters manifesting the Spirit to no limit? I believe the clouds are beginning to form, and that with every desperate cry for revival and the Father's blessing the cloud thickens until our desperation becomes so thick and so concentrated that the Father no longer withholds the rain. Why does God not send revival when He has the power to do so? When it is His Spirit that creates the revival? Because only the most desperate and unquenchable people get to drink from the hydrant.
"Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain."
Joel 2:23
I have no clue what it's going to look like when revival comes. I'm preparing for my expectations to be blown.
The word God gave me tonight in worship was "encounter continuity with Jesus". This means that as passionate as we are to worship Him in numbers, the fuel for more and more will come in times of deep intimacy with Him when we're alone. In song, in prayer and intercession, fasting, knowing Your character through Your Word.
The most unquenchable worshiper is the most foolish and undignified of all.
Make me a fool, Jesus.
Weston
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
18 Days!
Well I have 18 days to go before hopping on a plane and jumping the pond on my way to South India for over two months. The preparation has been a little stressful, but God has been continually pouring Himself out on me.
The name for the blog, "the Telling", came out of Habakkuk 1:5: "Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
Just as God promised in Joel 2:28, His Spirit is being poured out, and it will continue to be poured out. This blog is only a telling of the pouring out that we will see in India. I believe I can have all the expectations in the world, yet nothing can possibly prepare me for the goodness of the Lord I am about to witness.
Things to pray for in days ahead:
- the lives we encounter while we're there, and salvation among them
- the six short-term teams that will be coming through and preparation for their hearts
- the long-term team in South India, and the faithful men, women, and children giving their lives for that city and for revival in it.
- the other interns, Heather, Kelsey, Kevin, and Terrance and more anointing in faith. It's faith that heals and sees God move, and we need more of it.
- Revival in South India
Thank you so much for your prayers!
Talk to you soon,
Weston
p.s. As I was typing my passport and visa arrived.
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