He heard his child call . . .

For the last two years I have attended Celebration, I have prayed everyday that my husband, the love of my life would seek the goodness in God.

The first year I attended, my husband would not come. It saddened me that he was missing God in his life. But I knew it had to be when he was ready.

Last Easter he attended and loved the vibe of the church; from Pastor Stovall’s message, to seeing the love of God fill the sanctuary. From that point on he attended with me and our children every Sunday, yet he hadn’t fully given himself to God.

But I continued to have faith that Pastor Stovall, Celebration and God himself would reach him when he was ready to really open his heart.

This New Years we shared our goals (as we always do) and the one that hit me the most was he wanted to give himself to God. Amen!

We both shared in the goal of the Lord by fasting together and praying.

It was an incredible feeling of joy!

Recently, at one of the Sunday services, Pastor Stovall asked who wanted to given themselves to Lord in front of everyone. My husband stood up, walked to the front with a hundred others to stand before God and he gave himself.

Tears of joy ran down my face as I was watching my wonderful, loving, caring husband truly commit to our heavenly father.

Bring it to God first - good things will happen. Mark 9:14.

Thank you Celebration for being the eyes for my husband and showing him the greatness of the Lord.

During the 21 days of prayer and fasting, I began reading the book, A Hunger for God by John Piper. The book focuses on Isaiah 58, the same chapter that Pastor Stovall has talked about many times.

A particular chapter in the Piper book really stood out to me; the chapter that focused on the part of the verse that says, “The fast I chose is taking care of the hungry, homeless, and afflicted (paraphrased by me).”

I work in an elementary school and Friday we talked about a little girl whose shoes were too tight.

That made me think of an idea to get some clothes together that we could keep at school for these and other situations. I went by Target that night and picked up some children’s clothing, about $38 worth.

The next day, at home, I was paying some bills and opened up an envelope from my insurance company. It was a check of overpayment for $40!!!

I was struck by how faithful God is for blessing us when we obey the things he lays on our hearts!

About 9 months ago I was locked up in the St. Johns County Jail for a lot of reasons.

The only person I had to blame was myself, but I decided to put the blame on God. I kept saying it was His fault that I was in the situation I was in. Even though I had given up on Him and stopped loving Him, He never stopped loving me.

It’s funny how things work out - especially prayer.

My mom and I know a lot of others were praying that I would come to love Jesus like I had before, but in my heart I wanted nothing to do with Him.

On May 30, I heard what I think was an angel speaking through my best friend’s mouth saying he had just prayed and felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. I prayed that night (and I mean I prayed). I poured my heart out to God and asked Him back into my life.

And when I was done, I felt this relief from my addiction to drugs and the life I was living before.

I was reborn and it felt so good.

Soon there after, I got a bible and started reading it and reciting verses to others I was locked up with. One of the verses that stuck out to me was Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

That verse hit me so hard.

No matter what happened, I knew that God was going to protect me and guide me through whatever lay in my path.

About a month later, I was sent to a rehab instead of serving the county time, praise Jesus.

Well to make a long story short, I was kicked out of rehab and because of that I violated my probation. When I was locked up again I went into the jail a whole new person. I was a child of Christ.

While in jail, my mom told me about the fast and what I should do for the fast and what it was all about. I then began to fast even though I was locked up and I began the pray that God would have his way in the court room.

There were a lot of people praying for me and hoping I would get out on the 16 of January. When I went to the courtroom that day, the state attorney had other plans for me. They offered me another rehab and I didn’t take it so then they offered me 9 months in the county. I still didn’t want to take that so at the last minute I cried for help. I asked God to give me the courage to speak up for myself and He did.

I told the judge about my schooling with me being so close to graduating and she considered me for drug court which meant I got to come home in a week.

I trusted in God and he delivered just like He always does.

It may not be the way you want it to be, but God does answer prayers and my prayer was to come home to my family and friends at Celebration.

I was reading an earlier post today about someone receiving their prayer language, and I was reminded of how hard it can be to trust God in this area and of my own “awakening” in this regard when I was a youth.

In Jeremiah it says we will find Him when we seek Him with “our whole heart,” and I believe the same is true of that powerful connection we make with the Holy Spirit.

I prayed with a woman at the altar two Fridays ago to receive her prayer language, and she was so earnest to receive it but frustrated that it wasn’t happening. “I think I have a mental block,” she said. “Maybe my head is too much in the way.” I encouraged her to pray past that and to continue to seek God with a heart that pushes past the “intellect” and draws only on the “spirit.”

I remember going to several youth meetings and seeing people receive their prayer language at the altar. I would leave and go home feeling like somehow God wasn’t ready for me to have it or I was doing something wrong. I got into a quiet place in my room and just began to worship, refusing to think too hard about it or worry that it wasn’t happening.

I focused entirely on worship, praising and giving thanksgiving to God for all He had done for me, and saying over and over, “Whatever you want for me, Lord, I’m eager to receive it.”

It was during that personal time with God, not at an altar or with anyone praying over me, that the Holy Spirit fell on my heart and I opened my mouth to find a new language tumbling off my lips.

It was awkward and foreign to my ear, and my mind immediately wanted to rebel against the process, but I just pressed in and kept those utterances coming.

I looked up at the clock some time later to realize I had been praying in that language for nearly 2 hours! And I learned that it was something I had to begin to operate in daily so that I could overcome any discomfort or doubt I had about its origin or purpose. Just as we have to exercise discipline and practice over our formed prayers, we have to do the same with our prayer language until, like our own language, it flows from the spirit unhindered.

So, for those who may be struggling in this area, set your mind at ease and put your focus on worship and relationship first.

Remember, if we “seek first,” those things will be “added unto” us.

I have a story to tell that is not my own, but Rachael’s. I’ve asked God how to share “her” story, but can only communicate it from my experience.

In the eyes of the world, Rachael was born with many physical handicaps. Among them she is deaf and unable to speak. I have watched this beautiful gift of God for 21 years and she has far exceeded what the doctors ever thought possible for her to accomplish.

I’ve often thought that she tries so hard for us to hear her; to communicate what she is thinking and how she is feeling. There is just so much that we don’t know.

Rachael’s brother started attending Celebration with my son a short time ago. His mother (my friend since the second grade) has seen a change in him and has been saying that she wanted to come too.

This past Sunday was the plan.

Sunday morning arrived and they were running a few minutes late. I thought if they don’t hurry up then it’s going to be next weekend. I wanted to be on time only thinking of getting my “seat” for the service.

As we drove, I could see something was wrong with Rachael. Was she excited or upset? Would she disrupt service? I knew they would be taping for TV. Would she have an outburst during the time Pastor was speaking?

As we settled into our seats and the music started, I watched as she held tight to her precious mother’s hand. She sat so quiet and still.

I forgot all my worries as I heard the message.

At the end of the service, Pastor asked if anyone had not asked Jesus into their heart to stand. Rachael stood up! I could see that her mother started to reach for her but stopped. As her head raised and she gazed towards heaven, her mother and I both knew she had been touched by the Holy Spirit.

God had spoken to Rachael’s heart in a way that only she could HEAR!

We have cried, rejoiced and shared this miracle with friends and family. Last night her mother asked her in sign language, “did you feel Jesus in your heart?” Straight faced and without distraction, she said YES!

How does she tell us that she got saved? How does she give her testimony?

I felt compelled to tell you that “the line” was shortened last Sunday and Rachael got saved. I look forward to her continued awakening as she starts her walk with Jesus and with her new family at Celebration Church.

For about a year, I have been praying to receive the gift of tongues.

Two Fridays ago, a friend of mine went to the Friday night prayer service and received the gift of tongues when Pastor Stovall did an altar call. My friend did not even believe that tongues were real, but she asked God to give it to her if it really was. Her testimony affirmed to me that I needed to continue to ask God for this gift.

I work the 3rd shift, and I have to be at work at 8pm on Friday, but I used some vacation time so I could attend yesterday’s prayer service.

When Pastor Stovall made the altar call again to receive the gift of speaking in tongues, I was one of the 1st in line.

Well, I am so happy to say that I did receive my prayer language, and I really feel like an actual baptism of the Holy Spirit really did occur. It was such a life changing experience, and I just want to say that I am so happy to be a part of this church.

I truly share Pastor Stovall’s vision and I have and will continue to dedicate my time and money into this church. I constantly pray for the leaders here, and I just wanted to say thank for being a church that gets people connected to God.

God is so amazing! God has really been speaking to me about the power of prayer and little did I know He was speaking it to those around me as well.

For some time now God has been telling me to start praying with those who I am working with here at OP, but I would ignore him saying, “God who am I to ask them to pray? God, I do not want to do that. God, please not me! Why me? I am not comfortable praying in front of people.”

Well, I am released! Praise Jesus.

On Friday I was called up to pray. That whole day God was speaking to me 2 Chronicles 7:14. I was drawn to this verse all day long.

That night I was asked to pray for world missions for the church. I did not know what to pray so I just began praising God, humbling myself before him. “Father use me, empty me, fill me with all that is you.”

God spoke through me and I was released of speaking in front of people. A perfect peace came over me. Then another breakthrough . . .

Saturday at the 7:30pm Midtown service was so amazing. Thank you God that we are able to worship so freely! I am so grateful to be a part of a church that allows us to worship God so intimately!

God is up to something big. He is just waiting for us to completely surrender all to him.

My prayer is that whatever it is that God has been tugging at you to do, DO IT! SURRENDER it to him. He is waiting to bless you. Step out in faith. Trust in God to carry you through!

And yes, another break through this morning.

On the way to work, I knew in my spirit something great was about to happen. Pastor Paul, myself and Jennifer Mac all met in the office and were sharing things God was placing in our hearts. Moments before that Amery, Pastor Paul and I had been doing the same.

I felt God telling me this was the moment and it was as if God was speaking the same thing to all of us. We began to pray and God just kept revealing to us more things to pray for.

As we were finishing the prayer time, the phone rang and it was my mom. She has been going through a very hard time and I have been encouraging her to come speak with Pastor Paul, but she kept postponing. Well, she was in the parking lot and wanting to speak with Pastor Paul. Praise Jesus!

Get this . . . just before we had begun praying, Pastor Paul had his morning appointment cancel! Now that is divine appointment!!

God is so amazing! And the power of prayer is unbelievable. The impact of our prayers just leaves me in awe!

As I shared with those that I prayed with this morning what I had been feeling, they shared they had felt it as well. We all had our reasons why we had not done so, but know that we have done this and been open with one another, watch out!

It has been revealed and nothing can stand in our way! The enemy had us in bondage and the chains are broken.

I challenge you where ever you are: take time today to grab a few people and pray, pray, pray.

The impact will be one that will effect eternity!

May you be blessed!

I am going to try to summarize all that God has done for me. I was laid off on Dec 31 after 5 years with the company due to budget cuts. I had no severance pay or anything else but vacation left to be paid.

At the moment of my announcement, I felt the peace of God and His words come out, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).” I knew then that it was meant to be. God literally bombarded me with His promises that I will overcome, that I am His daughter and He will bless me in the hills and in the city and that He will open the storehouses of Heaven to pour out a blessing I can’t contain.

Everywhere I looked or listened, there He was reminding me that He is my Provider.

Two weeks later, after much praying, believing and trusting Him, fasting, tithing, reaching out to the prayer warriors, applying for jobs, rebuking the devourer, I started working. A sub consultant from my old job heard of my dismay and looked me up in the phone book and called to offer an interview and maybe a part time job.

I had departed from a job that I drove more than an hour one way in traffic. Busy and with no help, I requested cell phone service for business, but never received it, and then had to expense part of the purchases.

God replaced that with the following:

• Cell phone
• $1,001.34 signing bonus
• 15 minutes away from home (against traffic)
• 40 hrs and hourly (was salary before)
• Business credit card
• No micromanagement
• Free reign of the office

The people are great and I already have earned respect! I also see how I can bless this office with my learned skills. What is really unbelievable to me is that My Father never waivered or let me fall into depression or lack. I never lacked, instead, I never had so much money in my bank. In addition, He has placed me in a place I can witness.

I give Him, and only Him, all of my praise and worship and I will forever tell of His goodness and unfailing love for me. If He did it for me, so He will for you!

I love You Dad!!!!

The day has come. The time will be upon us soon.

For all those who have been faithful taking part in the fast, you are almost there!

To wrap up the past 22 days (did you notice?), the Midtown Campus is hosting One Way Worship Night. We’re going to get our worship groove on and praise God for all the amazing things he’s done during our season of prayer and fasting.

Don’t miss out. It all starts tonight (Wednesday) at 7pm.

Afterwards, you are free to run rampant on the restaurants in Jacksonville and start checking foods of your cravings list. You know you have one!

So tell us what’s on your list?

I share this day to glorify the Lord! For today and the twelve previous, I have been alcohol free! The Lord has delivered me and let me know that “I” now must resist the pleasures of the flesh and seek first the Lord and that I can do all things through Him who freely gives.

I have been expectant of the Lord and He has been expectant of me. I am humbled, yet joyful in the Lord. His grace and love are beyond me, yet for me.

I am content in the Lord Jesus Christ who restores and cleanses.

Thanks be to God!