Friday, October 21, 2016

It Only Takes a Spark

It was the late 60's. Our nation was reeling from Watergate.  The  political Viet Nam war had disillusioned an entire generation. Moral absolutes were rapidly being compromised. Homosexuality, pornography, legalized abortion, and divorce  were becoming the norm. The survival of our nation seemed hopeless ...  and then, the Wind of the Spirit began to pick up and increased to gale force  In our little city of  Bakersfield, California the revival began with the Youth, as it did in cities and towns across America.  We were overwhelmed with the numbers of young people coming to Christ, along with their families, businesses,  neighborhoods ... all the way up to our City Council and down to the homeless on the streets.  The avalanche of new believers seemed like dominoes falling before Him in repentance. Our church launched many young evangelists to the uttermost parts of  the world: Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, Kenya, East Africa, business owners in places of influence and to university ministries across America. That fruit remains and continues to bear more fruit that remains. All across our thirsty land, this song was being sung by young and old:

                                     
IT ONLY TAKES A SPARK TO GET A FIRE GOING;
And soon all those around can warm up to its glowing.
That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it.
You spread His love to everyone;
YOU WANT TO PASS IT ON.

I wish for you, my friend the happiness that I've found
You can depend on Him; it matters not where you're bound.
I'll shout it from the mountaintops;
 I want the world to know the Lord of love has come to me
I WANT TO PASS IT ON!

Father, do you have any more young Josephs, Daniels, Nehemiahs  or Esthers?  Maybe You have another Paul who again and again, like the young warriors before him,  dared to raise their voice,  declaring, "If I perish, I perish."

This week the two candidates were rockin' along pretty good before they kicked it up a notch and slung boulders instead of mud. We'd have to be some kind of stupid not to conclude that we're hurtling toward  the ultimate deception;  "...and this is that spirit of antichrist of which you have heard that it should come, and is even now already in the world." 

Father, as David confessed his sin of fear then turned to You, so do I. So do we.  "What time I am afraid, I WILL trust in Thee!"

Love,  Jo

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