Its been a few dreary days here in Charlotte NC but God is shining through the fog and dreary weather. I am so excited for tonight and the next 12 days as preachers from all over the world come and speak at Elevation Church and together - we become one church. I am excited to hear the teaching and preaching of Gods word from so many wonderful and incredible leaders. For many of us, we are needing this shot in the arm. Holidays past now and the new THINGS that we received are now old and we are back into our daily routine and for some possibly in those bad habits again. I can say that the gym is still packed in the evenings but I go anyways knowing that in a few short weeks, those evenings will become lighter and lighter. Isnt that so true with our faith - over time we may become bored. We may become stale. We may become not so excited about what God is doing.... we just kinda float along and become complacent. Its times like these when a Revival comes or some big event or something happens in our lives where God either shows up BIG in our lives or someone close to us that we snap back on track. We once again get excited, we once again get pumped up, we once again take a new path or deepen a path we are on and become LIVE again.

Hebrews 5:11-14 - Warning against falling away - We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of Gods word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

There will always be a season of time where we all are weary and we get complacent. In religious terms it is often reffered to as "backsliding". It really is a tough place to be when we were once close with God, walking in step of our faith with others, excited to be learning about God and fellowshipping with others. Our faith journey is not meant to be alone because it is too easy to fall away, too easy to fall down, too easy to drift, too easy to not have our moral compass in working order. No, its meant to have others along for the journey, to correct us, to keep us moving forward, to hold us accountable and to help keep us from becoming "spiritually dull". Gods word when its not sharp in our lives, we tend to follow the crowds, we tend to follow the flow of others, we tend to drift towards what society wants for us and those things are not usually all that great. Once our moral compass is off course, its often times hard to get back in line.
I am so excited for one of my once close kids who has been doing their own thing the last few years called me and shared with me that she wanted to get back on track. She missed being plugged in, she missed her walk with Christ and she missed being part of something bigger than herself. There is probably some hurt that has taken place and seeing what we are doing and the direction we are going in - I am just excited that she has decided to plug back in, to strive forward with learning about God, gaining new friendships and once again shining her light - like a city on a hill. Her moral compass back on track leading her to a good place and in line with Gods favor and blessings for her life. Where there is one moving forward as you know there are always one or more moving away. These are the hard moments of ministry and leading others. It will always be a struggle but with all I have, I continue to keep my heart open and praying for them. Praying their season of drifting, though it may be painful, will be short and once again we can walk on the paths that God would have us to.

So where is your moral compass today? I am excited for codeorangerevival tonight and the next 12 days.... I am sure it will focus a lot of compasses over this time. I am so blessed to be part of this. Its all about you Jesus!!!

Hebrews 3:13 - Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today", so that none ofyou may be hardened by sins deceitfulness. We have to come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."

All I have ever wanted to do and focus on, is to be an encourager to others on their faith journey. No matter where they may be or where they have been. May I continue to do that no matter who is with me today, yesterday or tomorrow. Create in me a pure heart Lord and may my motives be fully from you. Show me the way - I will follow. Amen

CodeOrangeRevival loved ones,
Lonnie~