The backdrop of a revival begins with the majority of people becoming comfortable and compromising. Where the group of people who have been set apart (sanctified) by God are choosing to blend. But God’s warning against this is clear throughout the Bible:

So what is a revival? Here are the definitions:

• an improvement in the condition or strength of something
• an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again
• a new production of an old play or similar work
• a reawakening of religious fervor, esp. by means of a series of evangelistic meetings
• such a meeting or series of meetings
• a restoration to bodily or mental vigor, to life or consciousness, or to sporting success

At Bible study we discussed how God starts a revival in action, and we looked at the example of Ezra:

So to incite a revival is to dedicate yourself to the following principles:

1. Preparing your heart
2. Purposing to do God’s commands
3. Preaching the truth

Looking at both the example and the definition we can get a glimpse of God’s heart towards changing a generation. As all great things in life, it is put into motion by the Holy Spirit, but God uses his creation to display his glory. People coming to have Life in Him is His greatest glory.

So, where does this put us? Do you desire to be a part of the greatest revival of the century? I do, and no organization or call to action will accomplish this amazing task. But God’s call to us right now is very clear:

Take a look at Matthew 1:1-16 and all you really see are some names:

Here are the meanings of all of the names above:

Then If you were to put that all together with punctuation and modifiers, then you would get something similar to this:

God’s salvation is the anointed beloved father of a multitude. He is to laugh at the supplanter and he shall be praised. A breach is rising as the sun, the palm tree enclosed high one of the prince’s people enchanter’s garment. In him is strength - wide - serving a friend. Wealthy, beloved, peaceful light of God, enlarger of the people, who’s father is God is a cure. He is whom God judges and whom God has exalted. The strength of God, upright possessor, is the might of God forgetting works of workman, whom God heals and whom God establishes. I have asked of God, sown in Babylon, who’s father is majesty. The raising up of God-helper - the righteous, the Lord will establish His praise and help of God as a gift. The supplanter will add their rebellion. God is salvation anointed.

Isn’t it amazing that within seemingly innocuous names we find the very gospel of God? How great is God in his promises to His people and his truthfulness in prophecy! Can you believe that long before Jesus ever walked on earth, God put the names of the people that were in his family line to be the very prophecy that He would fulfill? God is truly wondrous indeed!

Before this point I looked at faithfulness as God being patient with one thing, like an area of weakness, or that He will carry you through a specific circumstance in your life. He is and does all of that, but His faithfulness goes so much deeper than that.

Look at the faithfulness of God in Romans 11:29:

I’ve read this verse many times, especially during summer months when the lure of a setting sunset to awaken selfish desires lingers on the horizon. Or when fall leaves dispense upon new soil relinquishing red flames of desire. In apathy and anticipation, this verse comes alive in the peace of His mind.

What I had never noticed before was the middle of this verse. It’s amazing to think that God’s calling is irrevocable - even when we’re stupid and blow it, or when the moss has grown on our legs, or even when our faith is waning. God has a call on our lives that He will accomplish, and nothing can take it away (see Romans 8). This verse is so comforting when my heart aches to be reaching people for God, and it seems like there are no open doors. When discouragement floods into the room there is assurance that we can stand upon the Rock who is higher.

Among Christian circles there is often talk about what gifts people posses. Gifts of encouragement, helps, teaching, evangelism, hospitality, etc, which are all very great and amazing gifts indeed, but it appears that there is more to gifts than acknowledging the Giver. This verse says that callings are at the same weight. So what we are doing with the gifts that God has given is just as important. Are we resting on our laurels, sipping from the nectar of a good life, or springing into the woods of unknown territory?

For now I’ll leave you with Psalm 145 by Shane & Shane:

great is the Lord, so worthy of praise
great is the Lord

one generation will
commend Your kingdom
to one another
they will speak of You
and i will meditate
on Your wonder
and they, they will speak
of Your glorious splendor
of Your majesty
everyday i’ll praise thee
forever and ever

everyday i will praise
for You open Your hand
and satisfy desires of all things
my God the King

the Lord is gracious
and slow to anger
He is rich in love
He is good to all

all who call on Him
in truth He is near to
and He hears their cry
and saves them

Saying that I honor marriage is strange for 3 reasons:
1) That I would need to make such a statement. It’s amazing how our culture has shifted in the current times to place such an emphasis on things of the self rather than others. This polemic is only contradicted in the cases of widespread disaster and in rare individuals (hopefully those that are so gripped by love for God that they could not help but love others).
2) Many of you that are reading this already agree this statement, and in fact I know that there a few of you married ones lurking about :D
3) I am single.

I thought about expanding on that last point, but I guess it’s fairly obvious. But this post has been a long time coming. I bought a ticket for the hype machine that sold me career before companionship, which lead me straight to desiring to wait until I was around 40 until marriage. This compounded with selfishness and pride lead me to the conclusion about 2 years ago that marriage was a rotten thing that should be avoided at all costs.

Thankfully, that is not how God left me. He brought so many people into my life to show me what marriage is and isn’t. He reminded me of all of the scripture that affirms such a relationship (Matthew 19:4-6, Genesis 2:18, Song of Solomon, Ephesians 5:22-28). He showed me that our relationship with Him is modeled in the marriage covenant. Oh, how great and glorious the mysteries of God are.

So, where does that leave me today? To be honest, I’m not really sure. What I do know is that this is incredibly freeing to write. I’ve met so many single girls who are afraid of saying that they actually want more than companionship, but they would much rather have a covenant. That life is more than desiring a passing feeling or someone to go to the movies together with, but a commitment that centers on Christ. We are told in the church so many different things, from pray your way to a mate to go out and find a date, that it’s easy to get confused.

As all things, It is not about us, but rather about the one who created us. How did Adam and Eve meet? God provided, Adam proclaimed, and Eve trusted (Genesis 2:20-25). What a beautiful model. Just like all good things, they come from the Father of heavenly lights (James 1:17). In all this talk about marriage let’s remember one thing, that if it’s truly good it’s from God. Let’s praise God for his great mercy and blessings that pour out upon us abundantly.

This episode is all about God’s grace. Please listen and post comments about how God’s grace has changed your life.

• Desiring God Radio - John Piper just plain rocks. He is a passionate exhorter that blows apathy out of the water.
• Devotions 4 Gamers - Don’t be confused by the title, this is for all Christians, those that game and those that don’t. It’s a short but sweet devotion every day that is a reminder to live out your faith.
• FamilyLife Today - This is one of my favorite programs on radio right now, and I’m stoked to have it as a podcast. You don’t have to have a family to appreciate and enjoy this, it’s all about living for God in everyday life.
• Focus On The Family Radio Theatre - This is some of the best audio theatre I have ever heard when they do the classics. Sometimes you have to wade through some other cheesy titles to get to the great stuff like The Hiding Place and The Secret Garden. I can’t wait until they play The Chronicles of Narnia.
• God In Tech - All about using technology to serve God by a pastor. Some of the stuff is kinda basic, but there are some real gems in there. Their hearts are really in the right place too.
• GrassrootsMusic.com Blog Podcast - Really great full length independent music that glorifies God, what more could you want? How about being able to download all of the music they feature too.
• Ryan Dobson’s Undone - This guy is right on, even though his father has some strange priorities. Just skip the one or two that are political in nature and you will hear some really great interviews with people that are counter-culture for Jesus. Rock on.

Leave a comment here if you know of any other great podcasts out there :)

You part the heavens, touch the earth
You open eyes to see Your worth
And the walls are coming down, and the walls are coming down
And every plan of Yours prevails
Lord, Your purpose never fails
And the walls are coming down, yes, the walls are coming down
And the walls are falling now

And the clouds are blowing now
And Your truth is raining down
And the earth is shaking now
With the thunder of Your power
And the walls are coming down
Yes, the walls are coming down
There’s a shout that’s rising now

Since you guys might like to listen too, just go to bible.geekgirl4god.com. From there you can just copy the RSS feed link into your aggregator or download straight from the website.

Since it’s so subtle, I thought I would just mention what has changed :)

• New header image (flowers are nice, and blue is cool)
• Added recent music tracks played right under the header (which pulls from iTunes using AudioScrobbler)
• Put the recent verses under the header
• Author info and link (re)added to the side
• Monthly Archives now uses the calendar format
• Categories is now a drop down
• Latest music is updated with larger images
• Permanent link to the podcasts RSS feed
• Shorter homepage, with a bit more focus on the most recent post, and posts after only have summaries

I went this route since it’s a bit more minimalist and clean, plus it gets the homepage length down some. I’m still trying to decide what links I want to incorporate back in, and how to do it without having information overload. Any ideas and comments are welcome.

Should You Get It? Read the important parts in the store Focus On God: It’s all about praising God Entertainment Value: There are a few funny moments. Writing Quality: Different.

I don’t think anyone that has seen a photo of David Crowder has thought to themselves, ‘well, that looks like a fairly normal person’. So it is fitting that his writing style follows suit. On several occasions he makes analogies to God that leave you wondering how his brain works. From Nunzilla to Peeps, to shooting the neighborhood bully with a BB gun, it truly is astounding the jumps he makes in his logic. Unfortunately, much of the book is so random that it’s hard to find any continuity.

However, the end of the book was marvelous. If you see this in the store, read the chapter for Psalm 150 and the Conclusion, it is both profound and encouraging. I’ll leave you with a quote from the last chapter:

“Praise of the high GOD who has been attached to your insides since the thought of life found its way into your bones. Turn it up and sing loud. Sing from inside where you believe. Sing the favorite song of creation, the song that will never let loose its hold. And lean in close to those around you, close enough for your faces to gently touch, and let them hear what plays ceaselessly inside you - the praise of our Maker.”