Haiti

My Prayer - January 14, 2010

O God, I am so grateful that I am not an orphan in this universe. I have a homeland, the kingdom of God. And because nothing can hinder the establishing of that kingdom, I have a peace that nothing can disturb. I am so grateful. Amen.

My Prayer - January 13, 2010

Father, I am utterly amazed when I realize you have not only taken me out of Satan's Kingdom, but you are using my prayer, when it is in line with you pattern, to demolish his kingdom and re-establish yours. Help me participate with all my might. Amen.

My Prayer - January 12, 2010

Lord Jesus, not only have you forgiven me, but you keep on forgiving me. Help me realize, however, that though your forgiveness is free, it is not cheap. For you had to die in order to bring me forgiveness. Help me never forget that. Amen.

My Prayer - January 11, 2010

Father, I see that again you are about ot face me with a strong and serious challenge. Forgive me if I draw back when your lance plunges deep. I have lived with demandingness for so long that I might not even be able to recognize it. Help me, Lord. Amen

My Prayer - January 10, 2010

O God, I am so thankful for the experience of my own conversion. May the wonder of it never dim within me. It began in a miracle and is sustained by a miracle. Blessed be your wonderful name forever. Amen.

And It Begins!

It is 11:05pm on Saturday night. I don't know what time it will be when I actually click on "PUBLISH POST".

Tonight is the night before the fast begins. Our Saturday night service was good. Pastor Stovall puts things in different perspectives. It's so refreshing to look at things in a different light! Service and worship were great, but honestly, they always are at Celebration Church.

I feel that I am prepared for the fast. I have figured out what I am going to fast, and my priorities, etc.

Well... Then LateNite. WOW! First of all, our worship was good, as it always is. After the third song, one of our CLC people came up and began to talk about Pastor Josh Turner's daughter, Riley. She is on life support now, from my understanding. Well, as soon as she began to tell us about Riley, God just broke me down. I don't know why. The Holy Spirit just but such a heavy feeling on my heart. I just began worshiping God, and praying for the Turner family..... tears racing down my face. I still do not understand why this heavy heart, but it was there... and still is.

Speaking of which, please pray for them. Not just a quick prayer, but lift the Turner's up to your creator, your savior, your comforter. Stand in agreement with Josh Turner in the name of Jesus.

I promised to blog daily. This is today's. I've experienced the Holy Spirit in a thick, almost like... wow, I really don't know how to explain it. It's unlike anything we are used to in a natural sense. And the fast hasn't even started yet!

For any of you reading this that are partaking in this fast, I warn you that God is going to do amazing things! Be ready for His holy, just and righteous hand to move in your life. Thank you Jesus!

-Chris

My Prayer - January 9, 2010

Gracious Father, I begin to see that there is something here that demands my thought and attention, and I don't want to miss it. Prepare me in mind and spirit for what you want to teach me in the days ahead. In Jesus' name. Amen.

My Prayer - January 8, 2010

O God, as I begin this quest for a deeper and more effective prayer life, my heart cries out: "Lord, teach me to pray." For I know that when I learn to pray, I learn to live - vitally and victoriously. Amen

21 Day Fast is here!!!!!

Ok, so this is a small entry to hopefully help some of you out.

Any of you that know me, know that I don't mind trying to fast, but I obviously prefer my food LOL. I am trusting in God in every aspect of my life for the next 22 days. I am excited, stoked, in awe, anxious and happy. I am ready for it and have planned to succeed, not fail. Below is what I am going to be doing. This is not a blog entry to boast, yet it is an entry to possibly give some of you resources or ideas. Also, let's PLAN our fast. I know that God will change our hearts and our directions sometimes, but 21 days of fasting and praying, I feel DEEPLY that we need to have devotions ready, things to keep us focussed on Him. If we just "wing" it, then I feel the enemy has a better chance to creep up in us.

So, below is my schedule. Again, I am believing that the power of His spirit will fill me and keep me strong against my human nature and hunger. I thank HIM in advance and believe in the name of Jesus that we will be strong and all grow closer to Him.

EVERY MORNING: Every Day With Jesus Bible - A One-Year Reading Bible -This thing is amazing. Last year I read a one year Bible and this one is even better. It gives a little Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs every day, just like all the other ones. But, this one gives you a daily prayer, plus more Scripture to go find on your own to go along with what you read that day. This thing is GREAT!

EVERY MORNING: I am doing Pastor Stovall's daily devotion for the fast. You can find that at www.awake21.org. I encourage ALL OF YOU to check it out.

EVERY EVENING: I am reading my other one year Bible. It's a different translation, and I am starting in like October. Total different readings from the morning, but just an extra few minutes in the word every evening.

MONDAY EVENINGS: There is a small group for the fast. There are SEVERAL via our church, and you can find one for you at www.celebration.org. I also encourage you to get connected during this time, even if you are not fasting.

TUESDAY MORNINGS: The FUSE room at Celebration Midtown campus will be open from 7:00am - 8:30am for worship and prayer. It will be come and go as you wish.

TUESDAY EVENINGS: *****EDIT***** Classroom "E" (across from the Annex) at Celebration Midtown campus will be open from 6:30pm until whenever we are done. We will either be playing worship DVD's (ie hillsong, michael w smith, etc) or live acoustic. Either way, tons of worship and even prayer if you want to. It will be come and go as you wish.

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS: Midweek service at Celebration Church www.celebration.org

THURSDAY MORNINGS: The FUSE room at Celebration Midtown campus will be open from 7:00am - 8:30am for worship and prayer. It will be come and go as you wish.

THURSDAY EVENINGS: I am the band manager for the band Blameless. Thursday nights is usually practice, but I think we will be spending more time in fellowship and prayer, so I will probably spend my Thursday evenings there. www.MySpace.com/BlamelessMusic

FRIDAY MORNINGS: Men's breakfast at Celebration Church Annex. I gotta tell you, if you can make it, and you are of the male species, you need to check it out! 7:00am - 7:45am or 8:00am, but if you have to leave early, it's fine because others do as well. Not sure if they will be serving food because of the fast or not.

FRIDAY EVENINGS: FURNACE NIGHT, BABY! There is seriously nothing like an hour or two of nonstop worship. I don't know how to explain it. I can't explain it. Just show up to our midtown campus!

SATURDAY EVENINGS: Our normal service at 6pm and then our LateNite service at 8pm. AMAZING!

SUNDAY MORNINGS: All 3 FUSE services. 9am - 2pm'ish.

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS: I am going to try to go to the Celebration DreamCenter downtown Jacksonville. Always a good message and great fellowship. I may not be able to make it due to lack of energy. Just believing in God and what He has planned for me on these afternoons.

SUNDAY EVENINGS: Celebration Red Bull Service! This is at our Orange Park Campus on Sunday nights at 6pm. Then our OP LateNite service at 8pm.

So, to recap, all of this is not to "boast" about everything that Chris is doing. It is to let you know that you can find things to help you out if you're not used to fasting. I encourage all of you to "blog" or "journal" your experience. It doesn't have to be public like this one, but God will do ridiculous things in your life if you let him over the next few weeks. And if you write about it, you can look back and see how it has transformed!

One last thing. I have always been taught, and from my understanding, fasting is giving up something and replacing it with prayer, worship, Bible reading, and time with God. So, if you "fast" your tv, but dont spend those 2 hours with God, I'm not convinced that you are "fasting" your tv. Or meals or anything else. Let's try to keep that in mind. We are to press in to God and replace our human cravings with time with our Creator... our Savior... our Comforter... I LOVE JESUS!

Thank you all for reading. Please keep me in your prayers during the next 3 weeks. I love you all!

-Chris

My Prayer - January 7, 2010

O God, how grateful I am for the sureness and certainty of your Word. Once again, I feel it entering into the core of my being. Help me to put these truths into practice the very moment I come under satanic attack. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

My Prayer - January 6, 2010

O Father, how serious and solemn is all this, but yet how true. Sin must ultimately be punished. I am so grateful that in Crist my debt has been paid, and availing myself of your offer I am eternally free. Blessed be your name forever. Amen.

My Prayer - January 5, 2010

Blessed Lord Jesus, You who knew the hurt of being falsely accused, draw near in the power of your spirit and heal me now. I take - and you undertake. Thank you, Savior. Amen.

My Prayer - January 4, 2010

Father, help me see that the first step in spiritual wafare is to "know the enemy". For until I know and understand my enemy, I will not be able to defeat him. Deepen my knowledge of these important truths, I pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

My Prayer - January 3, 2010

Blessed Trinity, Three in One and One in Three, my spirit joins with your spirit this day to worship you in spirit and in truth. Though sometimes darkness to my intellect, your truth is nevertheless sunshine to my heart. Amen.

My Prayer - January 2, 2010

O Father, what a change comes over me when I realize that your wrath is not so much directed at a persons as at the sin that demeans and destroys them. You are not against me for my sin, but for me against my sin. I am deeply, deeply grateful. Amen.