What is Revival?

“And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us as a remnant to escape, and give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage. For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage, but He extended mercy to us…to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.” Ezra 9:8-9

Father, we thank You for Your grace and for leading us to the way of escape into Your holy place.  Thank You for enlightening our eyes and giving us a measure of revival.  Lord, we ask that Deeper Still would be used to repair the broken and rebuild the ruins.  May You use Deeper Still to construct a strong wall of revival in the hearts of post-abortive men and women.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  

Being from the Northern US, the term “revival” was unfamiliar to me…until I moved to the South. 

It seemed as if the moment my foot stepped on Southern soil, I heard the word “revival”.  It was puzzling to me.  What is revival?  Why do we need it? 

I took four years of Latin in high school, and although I couldn’t tell you how to conjugate Latin verbs, I do remember that “viva” means “alive” or “living”.  “Re” is an English prefix meaning “again”. So, a “revival” literally means “to come alive again”.

Deeper Still Team Member, Deborah Corley, summed “revival” up best in these quotes she recently used at a prayer meeting for Deeper Still. 

"Revival awakens in our hearts an increased awareness of the presence of God, a new love for God, a new hatred of sin and a hunger for His word." Del Fehsenfeld

"Revival is that strange and sovereign work of God in which he visits His own people- re-storing, re-animating, and releasing them into the fullness of His blessing." Stephen Olford

"Revival is not some emotion or worked up excitement; it is rather an invasion from heaven which brings to man a conscious awareness of God." Stephen Olford

This Northern girl may finally be getting what “revival” is all about.  Revival isn’t about a meeting or a tent or an event at church.  It is about constantly keeping our hearts in tune to the heart of God and allowing Him to stir up His love in us. 

My prayer for each of you today is that you will experience a personal revival and encounter with the Lord today. 

Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for Deeper Still.

It's Ok

"[I pray] that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:17-19

Father, your love is too wonderful for us to comprehend.  Your forgiveness and grace is too marvelous for words.  Lord, may Deeper Still be rooted and grounded in love and be able to share the love of Christ which passes knowledge and be filled with the fullness of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My heart pounded as I read the words on the page.  A friend had recommended the book and I reluctantly read it.  As I read it I knew the Lord had led me to read this book.  I won't mention the book because it was controversial and there are still some parts of it that make me squirm in my seat. 

However, there was a part of this book where the Lord had my utmost attention.   In this book, a girl had died and went to heaven and her father was able to see her in heaven through a vision.  My composure broke as I read this scene. Out of seemingly nowhere tears poured down my cheeks. 

"I am so sorry", I softly whispered under welts of tears. 

I repeated these words again and again until tears turned to heavy sobs, the kind where you can barely breath the pain is so intense.  

His voice gently crumpled me to my knees.  He spoke, "It's ok." 

I argued with the Lord. "No, it's not.  It's not ok!" 

Yes, I know I shouldn't argue with God, but that day He seemed so wrong in what He was saying. 

Again, He comforted, "It's ok."  

Again, I argued, "No, it's not ok.  How can you say 'It's ok'?  I had an abortion.  I took my baby's life.  It's not ok!" 

This exchange went back and forth a few times before the Lord gently and patiently spoke these loving words, "Sue, do you think you could have been a better parent than Me?"

Quietly with eyes down, I responded, "No, of course not."

Again I heard, "It's ok."

The extent of God's grace and love will forever elude me.  My mind cannot comprehend the depth of His love, grace and forgiveness.  It is too wonderful for me!  All I know is that it is in the quietness of His presence that I have found redemption. 

His whispers heal the deep and vast crevices of our hearts with His unfailing love.

Storm Turned Stunning

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Eccesiastes 3:11

Father, you can turn the darkest of nights into a beautiful sunrise.  Thank you for making everything beautiful in its time.  We pray for the hearts of the women and men touched by abortion.  Lord, we ask for you to use Deeper Still to take their storm and turn it into a stunning work of art through your love.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I stood on the balcony with my seven year old daughter, Sarah, while watching lightning flash in pulsating colors across the night-sky canvas.

The majestic light show was magnificent.  However, as I stood there gazing on God's beautiful beat of blazing beams, my mind was fixed on a different beat--a heartbeat silenced.

Tears filled my eyes.  My daughter noticed.

"Mommy, why are you crying?"

"Sarah, I can't tell you right now, but I promise I'll tell you someday... Mommy made a bad decision."

"You made a bad decision?", she said with surprise.

"Yes."

She went on to confess that she too made a bad decision and had lied to someone.  It was a sweet moment. We hugged and talked and prayed.

In her mind, her sin was huge and she felt the weight of it.  However, knowing others fail freed her to find forgiveness.

This is why I share.  I share my story so others can find freedom and know that they are not alone in their heartache and pain.  I share so others will know there is forgiveness and restoration in Jesus.

I plan to share my story with my children someday when the time is right. It is a story of forgiveness and freedom. A story of grace and love. A story of restoration and redemption.

Just like the night-sky dancing with shades of light, the Lord can take darkness and make it beautiful. His Light overcomes darkness and reveals beauty.

The Lord can turn a storm into a stunning work of art.  That is my story.

Our Yes

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20

Father, we thank You for Your promise of Jesus’ return and the hope we have in You.  Lord, I pray that Deeper Still would be about Your Kingdom work as we prepare the bride for Your Bridegroom.  Let Deeper Still and all called to Your mission of Deeper Still say “Yes” to all You would have us do.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This picture is  the cover photo of the Deeper Still Team Facebook Page.

 

“Our yes hangs in the balance of a lot of people’s futures.”

 

A Deeper Still volunteer posted a similar picture that stated, “Our Yes Matters.”

Just 3 little letters can have a significant impact.  Our yes can be the difference between life or death, healing or heartache, and break-through or bondage.

This weekend, men and women from multiple states and even outside the US are coming to hear about the ministry of Deeper Still.  These attendees will be trained and equipped to take the message of Deeper Still back and perhaps begin a Deeper Still Chapter in their state or country. 

In addition, this training will be recorded on video so others around the world can be trained and equipped to effectively minister to abortion wounded hearts. 

Deeper Still needs your prayers.  Please pray for Karen and the Deeper Still Team, this training, the video-taping, those speaking, and for those attending. 

May our hearts be filled with His Yes. 

Mercy Multiplied

“Mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you.”  Jude 1:2

Father in Heaven, Lord, we ask for You to multiply the mercy, peace and love of Deeper Still.  We ask for you to expand Deeper Still.  We ask for You to multiply healing of those wounded from abortion to across the nation and the world.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sobs interrupted by gasps of breath filled the car as we left the event. 

We had just left a fundraising event for a local crisis pregnancy center.  The guest speaker was Pam Tebow.  The crowd listened intently as she shared her powerful testimony.  The doctors had encouraged her to abort her son due to health reasons.  She chose life.  As a result, Tim Tebow was born.  Tim Tebow is the famous football player known for writing scripture under his eyes and his bold kneel for Christ. 

I left the event broken and desperate.  Sobbing all the way home in the car.  That night I wondered the “what ifs” and the “what ifs” broke me. 

God had been leading me on a journey of healing my abortion wounded heart for the past 20 years and I have to admit, up until that night I felt pretty good and healed.  I didn’t see the need to go any deeper.  I thought, “I’m good right where I am.”

However, that night my heart whispered more.  God spoke to me during the event and said, “It is time.  It is time to go deeper.”

Three weeks later, He led me to the Deeper Still ministry through a friend and I attended the Deeper Still Ministry training two months later.  God led me deeper and drastically changed my life.

In a little over a week, Deeper Still will have a training meeting to teach others how to minister to those wounded from abortion.  People from across the nation will gather to learn how to start a Deeper Still chapter or will come seeking knowledge not knowing the end of their endeavor.

 

God is multiplying His mercy, peace and love.  Thank you for joining us in prayer as He multiplies His Kingdom.   

Between His Shoulders

“The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all the day long; and he shall dwell between His shoulders.”  Deuteronomy 33:12

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Deeper Still dwells in safety by You.  Thank you for sheltering Deeper Still and that the Deeper Still team rests between Your shoulders.  We also pray for all the Deeper Still participants, that You would shelter them and nestle them between Your loving shoulders as You work in their lives.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Today I watched as my seven year old daughter played with her seven month old cousin.  As he sat up, wobbly and unsteady, she went behind him.  She lovingly supported his back, his head resting between her shoulders.  She surrounded him to keep him from falling, protecting him.

 

What a beautiful picture of how the Lord also protects His beloved.   We may be wobbly and at times unsteady.  However, He envelopes His children with loving arms, and keeps us nestled safely between His shoulders.

 

Nestle up to the Lord and find rest, protection, comfort and care.  There is no place I’d rather be than resting between His shoulders, in His arms of love.  

The Lord is Our Battlement

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory;  no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly."  Psalms 84:11 

Father, we thank You that You are Deeper Still's sun and shield.  Father, we thank you that you give grace and glory to the Deeper Still Ministry Team and that You do not withhold any good thing.  Thank you Lord that You protect the team members of Deeper Still and surround them as a battlement.   In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

"The Lord God is a sun and shield."   The word "sun" in the original Hebrew is shemesh and it can mean brilliant, shining, or battlement. 

Battlement?  

A battlement is the top part of a castle.  They were used as protective agents during attack.   On towers or building tops, the flat roof is used as the protected fighting platform. 

The Lord God shines brilliantly and surrounds us as a battlement and shield to support us and protect us especially during battle! 

In one week, the Deeper Still team will join together to fight the forces of darkness on behalf of the 10 participants coming for the summer retreat.  

Thank you for joining us in prayer in fighting the battle to regain the ground from the enemy in each of these ladies' lives. 

Thank you, Lord, for these prayer partners you have brought to support Deeper Still Ministry in prayer. Lord, I thank you that you are their sun and shield.  Thank you that you give grace and glory and withhold no good thing from them as they walk uprightly with you.   In Jesus' Name, Amen.