This the first blog post for Esther since she joined our team! We're so excited for her perspective, gifts and talents. May you be blessed! -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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There are a million things God is doing right now. One thing He is doing in me is drawing out what is in my heart.

Someone mentioned that this time of seclusion that we are in is like Jesus‘s time in the wilderness. (Lk 4) For forty days he prayed and fasted and then was tempted by the devil. I had felt the similarities in that it has been a time of prayer and fasting for us. But now I am also beginning to feel the similarities in the temptation.

It has definitely been a time of testing for me, and he is drawing out what is in my heart by the testing. He brings me through the wilderness to try me, to humble me, to know what’s in my heart. To see if I will do what he commands. (Duet 8:2)

He refines me as silver is refined. (Ps 66:10) He prunes me that I might bear fruit. (Jn 15:2) He is so gracious not to leave us where we are, but to transform us! Not to leave those things in our hearts that are opposed to him, but to draw them out and make them bare.

When I see how beautiful his work is, I realize that I am not even worthy to be pruned! It is in his grace that he prunes us. Yes, it is a loving hand that turns up the heat.

So, if you are also being tried and tested during this time and you begin to see ugly things come out of your heart, do not be discouraged. He uses fire and water to bring us out to rich fulfillment. (Ps 66:12) He is using this time to make us READY! May we, like Jesus, come out of the wilderness in the power of the Holy Spirit! (Lk 4:14)

Esther

It's time for a revolution. Love demands it. 

Jesus is a radical. He baffled the religious leaders of His day... and HE'S STILL DOING IT! Jesus hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors, people who were at the bottom of the moral social ladder in their day. 

Jesus sent out His followers when they hardly knew what they were doing. They didn't go to bible college, they didn't spend years, studying His word... in fact, they didn't even have the New Testament!

Jesus started a revolution. He didn't say, "Be nice people that everyone likes and respects." He said things like, "Take up your cross and follow me, whoever wants to save their life will lose it, love your enemies, become a servant, blessed are the persecuted..." and so many things that were unheard of in their day, and still are today.

This revolution was, and still is, the pure embodiment of love. Many have twisted what love is, but Jesus' life defines it perfectly -- see also 1 Corinthians 13.

So, let's go back to our first love, Jesus. Let us live like Christ.  Let's wake up from the slumber that is brought on by the world and all its' cares.

Let's join the revolution He started. 

Today (April 19, 2020) is the 245th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. God is using the current state of the world to awaken His bride, the Church. People all across the world are coming back to their first love, Jesus, and are joining Him as He runs into the darkness. 

"Do this [LOVE], knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep" (Rom 13:11). The darkness of our world is getting more and more pronounced. As followers of Jesus, we are called to go into the darkest places and bring freedom and LIGHT. Jesus said that we are the light of the world.

It's time for a revolution.

Love demands it.

Josh & Mary