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Monday Morning Musings–End of the Trail Edition

Oh the joys of being a portable church.  We showed up at the venue for Sunday morning service and found that we had mail there waiting for us.  Also, it was still set up for a party from the night before.  We were able to change some things and some things we had to live with.  That is the nature of the beast.

When you are portable, you have to get to the place where you are satisfied with lights and air conditioning.  We had both, we were good.

We had a worship service where we talked about worship, then went back into worship after the word.  I love those services.

Donnie Williams sang a song with the band for the first time.  I hope we see more of that.

Our bass player is getting married and is taking some time off.  If you play bass, and you love Jesus, see Khamille.  There may be a place for you on the team.

At the end of service we had a fire tunnel simply because it seemed like the thing to do.

Had a first time visitor come through and get delivered.  How do I know?  You had to be there.

After service we went to look at The Mission’s new office space where we will be storing stuff and I will have an office.  Really excited about what is coming in the future.

Podcast, pix and video are sure to come up soon.

Next week at Don Estridge High Tech Middle.

Less than 5 Days Left on the Awakening Fast

Less than 5 Days Left on the Awakening Fast. Let’s finish strong.

Monday Morning Musings–Final Marriott Edition

We had a new room at the Marriott this week.  The last service we had at the Marriott was really good and I was looking forward to another.  This room was bigger and it fit us much better.  We are meeting this week at The Loft at Congress and hopefully we will no longer be on the trail after that.

Khamille lead worship.  Good as usual.  Little better than normal for some reason.

Lucas is straight killing it on the drums lately.  I was really digging his playing this Sunday.

I am hoping either we have more musicians raised up in the house or God brings some to join what we are doing.

Told the folks that we are should have a lease on a new place this week.  Keep that in prayer.

I am looking forward to having Friday night prayer again.

Had a teaching I was really excited about regarding prayer. 

If prayer seems like a chore, you are doing it wrong.

The Lord told me to deal with the spirit of barrenness. Had amazing altar ministry at the end of service.

We are looking at getting office space for mid week meetings and a moving truck for storing our gear.  If you have the hookup let me know.

Fast with Purpose

In this last week of our Awakening fast, fast with purpose.

Don’t Give Up!

Don’t give up. Some is better than none.

Awakening Fast, What’s Coming Out of You?

It’s not what goes in your body, it’s what comes out you need to watch.

Half Way Through Awakening 2011

We are half way through our time of prayer, fasting, devotion, and worship. Time to get focused!

Monday Morning Musings–MLK Day Edition

Another great day to be saved, set free, and filled with the Holy Ghost.

We met at The Loft at Congress in Boca.  I like the room we meet in but it is not so great for Mission Kids.  We also seem have more warfare there.

Lillian lead worship and it was great as normal.  I love that we have such talented and anointed worship leader in our church.

We had first time guests again this week, just like every other week.  The funny thing is that we have not had a service in the same location three weeks in a row since we left Orchard View but the guests keep coming.

One plants, another waters, but it is the Lord who brings the increase.

We continued our Awakening message series.  Last week we talked about fasting, this week devotions…kind of.

Earlier in the week the Lord spoke the words, “The Baptism of Fire” to me.  When I started preaching I knew that’s where we were going.

We had a first time visitor get the Baptism of Fire.  BAM!

Great altar call.  Love the anointing.

Jam Off This For A Minute – Steffany Frizzell – He Is Like

Steffany Frizzell – He Is Like

This was a spontaneous song from the IHOP Prayer Room that got released on one of their limited edition CDs.  Stephanie kills it right here.

Carl’s Rules for Fasting

As we begin our 21 days of fasting, devotion, prayer and worship, I want to lay down my rules for fasting. I don’t have these written anywhere, and this is certainly not an exhaustive list, but I hope it portrays the spirit of what I believe about fasting.

1. Fasting involves food.  Please don’t say you are avoiding one website on the internet and call it a fast.  That could be a spiritual discipline, it could be the elimination of a distraction, it could be the breaking of an idol,  but it is not a fast.
2. Jesus won the victory, salvation is by grace and God gives gifts.  Chances are you think you know this.  The fact that you are fearful of not fasting correctly betrays this fact.  You can’t earn anything from God.  Not through a fast, hours of prayer, evangelism, being radical or weird.  It does not earn you anything from God so cast off the fear and quit worrying that you won’t get it right and miss your blessing.
3. Fasting changes you, not God.  The ultimate goal of a fast is to humble yourself further.  When you stop eating you deny yourself pleasure and often push yourself into discomfort.  This is the place of saying, “My will is not the most important thing on the planet. I choose to not satisfy my desires.”  God gives grace to the humble.  And that’s all the gifts of the Spirit are, graces.
4. Don’t’ compare your fast to anyone else’s, even Daniel’s.  Read the bible concerning Daniel’s fasts.  He did not want to be defiled by what the King served so he ate only vegetables and drank only water.  But when he needed to hear from God, the bible says that he ate no meat or pleasant food, and drank no wine.  There is a big difference.  Some have perverted the Daniel Fast into a legalistic menu of blessings.  And to be honest I think the juicers of the world are behind it.  Funny thing is, Daniel only drank water on the Daniel fast.  No juicers allowed.  Quit asking if the kind of rice you are making is permitted.  That kind of thing is just stupid.
5. Don’t tell folks about your fast.  You are not inspiring anyone else, you are receiving a really bad reward. Though there is nothing wrong with asking someone to fast with you.  That is quite helpful.
6. Pick your fast.  Unless the Lord specifically tells you about your fast it is really up to you.  If the fast means something to you it will mean something to God. Pick something easy that won’t change your lifestyle and chances are you won’t see many results other than the pride of saying you fasted. The goal is to be uncomfortable.  If you are not a fasting veteran, a water fast may make you feel like you are dying the first few days.  But you don’t have to feel like you are dying for the fast to count.  You may not be able to fulfill the fast you pick.  Selah
7. Fasting alone does not accomplish the goal of a fast. During the fast we are to pray, interact with God.  In fact, during the fast you should experience a greater grace to pray.  It is through prayer AND fasting that you will grow during this time of sanctification.  Religions all over the world fast but they don’t grow in grace with God because the only way to God is through the Son.  And if you are not feeding from the life of God all you are accomplishing is a fleshly work.
8. Don’t give up.  If you decide to fast with water only for 10 days and after three you blow it, don’t give up.  You may able to restart after that meal.  If you don’t think you can, don’t go back to your old diet.  Go on a modified diet.  It’s not all or nothing.  Complete the remainder by restricting your eating.
9. Fasting is an invitation to encounter God in a new way with less of you.  Enter in and seek God as much as possible.  Normally when I fast I either get breakthrough right away or later, after the fast is done.  Fasting until God does something is not always the best idea.