Truth is, I can’t take credit for it. As I mentioned earlier, this was all Phyllis’ idea. It seems that many of my best ideas are actually her ideas that I implement. I think one of the secrets of a good leader is finding someone with great ideas and then just doing what they suggest. I know this is true concerning Phyllis.

We have seen God move in great ways in a short time this week. There have been 2 who made the decision to be baptized into Jesus. Many have had significant breakthroughs in their personal walk with God and we have had a few situations where breakthroughs were started. That’s what I want to talk about for a moment.

Sometimes, when God starts working in someone’s life, it doesn’t start off all that great -- at least from our perspective. Sometimes, it is a rough beginning. We can be tempted to think it is not God at work at all but rather that things are getting worse. That must have been what several people in Jesus’ life thought when he came to help them. Yes, there were times when Jesus would help or heal someone and “BAM” everything was better. There were other times when things happened differently.

For instance, in Mark 9 a man had brought his son to Jesus’ disciples to have them heal him but they could not. So the man brought his boy to Jesus. As soon as the boy saw Jesus, the demon that was in him “ ...threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.” Certainly this was NOT what the father was expecting.

Then, when Jesus actually did command the demon to come out of the child “The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, ‘He's dead.’”

Sometimes, things might look like they are getting worse when in actuality, they are getting better. Sometimes, our own “demons” or sinful natures don’t want to give in or go away quietly. And during times of prayer and fasting, our hearts come into contact with Jesus in new and deeper ways and we initially react like this poor boy did.

But if we are patient and faithful, we will be like the boy when “... Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.”

I want to encourage those of you who are going through difficult times and spiritual battles right now to not give up or give in to fear. Trust God, and trust Him to work in your life. It may seem scary and look like things are getting worse at first, but there will be a time of refreshing later as Jesus lifts you to your feet.

-Tracy