But isn’t God is a god of surprises? Time after time He comes through right at the last minute to save us or bless us with a God-sized opportunity.

We believe our INAUGURAL “Words From Jesus: How To Hear God’s Voice” webinar launch is just such a surprise and God-sized opportunity for YOU.

We’ll be sharing what we consder our BIGGEST GOD STORY of 2009.

But don’t just take my word for it. Listen to Nancy Slocum’s excitement in her audio message. She called me out-of-the-blue yesterday bubbling over with excitement and prophetic words.

http://wordsfromjesus.net

Whether you are available to participate in the LIVE webinar at 8 am EST tomorrow (Sat Dec 5) or not, we still encourage you to register so you can watch the recorded webinar.

The topic for this inaugural and global WFJ webinar is “The Spiritual Triangle Between Virginia, the U.K. And Italy!”

The cost is only $50, $25, or $0, depending on your financial circumstances.

And all (100%) of the proceeds from this webinar will go to Renato and Patrizia Amato, Italian missionaries for more than 30 years, and the ones who started this Words From Jesus global movement. Join Team Destiny in SOWING SEEDS to bless the Amato family and God’s BILLION SOUL VISION.

http://wordsfromjesus.net

Prepare the way for the greatest Christmas ever!

Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

“The business of the church is PRAYER!” – Holy Spirit

Blessings for ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches!

Joseph

Joseph Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR and The Journal Guy
Founder and Executive Director of Webinars777 and Seminars777
Changing Lives to Disciple Nations
Community Transformation Specialist

www.empower2000.com
540-445-1GOD (540-445-1463)

Stay connected!
Twitter: http://twitter.com/thejournalguy
Facebook: http://facebook.com/thejournalguy
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/thejournalguy

P.S. Sign up TODAY for my free E-course “30 Days To Breakthrough” God wants to transform your life NOW!

P.S.S. Spiritual Journaling will transform your life!

UNCOMMON Journaling is the key
to unlock YOUR dreams!

A team is a group of people doing something together to produce a specific result or outcome. None of us, no matter how good we are can be great at everything. So what are 6 key advantages of teams?

Advantage 1: Increases productivity
Organizations are continuously looking for efficiency or productivity gains as a source of competitive advantage. Teams, especially those that are close to the point of delivery can identify what needs to change to boost productivity better than any group of senior managers could ever hope to. Let the team focus on productivity and the organisation gains.

Advantage 2: Improves communication skills
For teams to succeed they need to be able to get their messages across, listen effectively to other points of view and build on ideas. As a result of being on the team, people are getting the opportunity to develop and improve their communication skills.

Advantage 3: Diversity of skills
Some people in organisations thrive in dealing with the big picture stuff. Others get their kick from getting immersed in the detail. There will be others who thrive on idea generation and others who love to take something from concept to finished article. This diverse range of people skills and working together have the potential to deliver a much better solution than any one individual could ever hope to do.

Advantage 4: Improved problem solving
Think about a time when you had a problem that you needed to solve. You probably get so far and then end up getting stuck because of your own range of experience or knowledge. When you have access to the wider range of skills and knowledge you ultimately solve problems faster and better.

Advantage 5: Process improvement
Few business processes operate in isolation just within one area of the organisation. They tend to cross functions and even geographical boundaries. A team with insights of different parts of the process will clearly be better placed to make successful process improvements.

Advantage 6: Smarter use of resources
When a team has focus on getting a specific result, chances are they will find creative ways of using the resources at their disposal rather than focusing on the constraints.

Bottom Line – There are numerous advantages of teams. What else would you add to the list of advantages.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people to improve their leadership and management skills and getting better results through teams. For information about services and programmes click here.

The Great Commission is a TEACHING as well as PREACHING commission!

Mt 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NAS) Teach them all I commanded you.

Did you know that Jesus gave us 50 commandments to take to the nations?

The 50 commandments of Christ will change a nation. Notice how Jesus commands us to both preach repentance and TEACH THEM TO “OBSERVE ALL THINGS THAT I COMMANDED YOU”. We tend to focus on getting people saved, or born again. That is certainly the start. This however is called the “Gospel of Salvation.”

The “Gospel of the Kingdom” on the other hand is the Gospel we are called to preach. It includes the call to repentance but goes much further. It 7 Mountains of Culture reaches into the world system and threatens Satan’s control over the nations. It is a teaching commission along side a preaching commission. It has been neglected too long.

To disciple a nation you need a philosophy that governs all aspects of behavior yet is flexible enough to apply to all sectors of society. What are the sectors of society the gospel must penetrate in order to disciple nations?

There are in fact seven mountains or world kingdoms that make up the matrix in which the culture of every nation exists. These mountains are also called “mind molders”, because the person who controls the tops of these mountains has leverage over the minds and lives of those beneath in every other mountain. The church has a message for each of these mountains. We need to both demonstrate the power of God and recover our confidence in the practical, life changing dynamic that is unleashed when society is built on non optional universal life principles- the commandments of Christ! It is the absence of this moral foundation that explains why it is easier to liberate a country from dictatorship than it is to bring it into order and prosperity once the dictator is out of power.

 
“Prayer opens the way for the Word of God to run without hindrance. It creates the atmosphere that is favorable for the Word to accomplish its purpose.” – E.M. Bounds

I am writing this email to you while in Maui Hawaii on a two week vacation with my wife Julia. Yes, I’m actually taking time off from other things I could be doing on this gorgeous island to encourage and inspire you.

For years, going to Hawaii was a pipe dream for me – something I would do some day. Finally, it became a reality. And journaling played a key role in that. I came here to support Julia, who qualified for the Xterra World Triathlon Championship that took place on Oct 25. And believe it or not, it was actually a big step of faith for me to drop most everything I was doing to come here for two weeks of R&R.

On October 12, I wrote a devotional titled “The LORD is doing a marvelous work in me to SIMPLIFY my life.” SIMPLIFY is my keyword for life. In that I wrote, “While journaling early in the morning on Sept 22, the day after my arrival in Utah for our vacation, the LORD told me to free up my Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to give me a 4 day weekend every week to allow me much more time for rest, reflection, revelation, prayer, and meditation on the Word of God. My goal is to be STRATEGIC and create MARGIN to bear much fruit for the Kingdom.”

So what? What does this have to do with YOU and Pray Culpeper?

Lots! God is raising the bar for His children to pray and intercede much more – that includes YOU as well as me. God sent me to Utah in late September to rest, reflect, and receive His revelation to free up three days each work week to ABIDE and PRAY.

Let me ask you, “What is more important in your WEEKLY ROUTINE than coming together with other believers to pray for the transformation of your community?” Do you know praying together is what initiated Pentecost and began the great revival in the book of Acts?

There is nothing – let me repeat nothing – that brings UNITY like praying together with other believers in the name of Jesus. It’s one of the fastest and most POWERFUL ways to enter what I call “the Holy Spirit zone,” where the Holy Spirit reveals God’s plans and puts feet to your prayers. It’s where miracles take place.

Prayer is the key to unlocking God’s prevailing power in your life, in your business or ministry, in your community!

So here’s the deal. I’m asking you to make the commitment through December 31, 2009 to come together with other believers in your community to pray at least once a week for the transformation of your community.

Here are 3 simple ways for YOU to GET INVOLVED and stay connected:

1) Subscribe to our World-Wide Prayer Community at www.PrayCulpeper.org

2) Refer 3 friends each week to visit www.PrayCulpeper.org

3) If you live in or near Culpeper, join us for the “HOUR OF POWER” prayer time on Wednesdays at Noon at Reformation Lutheran Church (415 S. Main Street, Culpeper, VA 22701). If you can’t come to pray on Wednesdays at noon, other community prayer opportunities include:

a) 7 pm on Mondays at Church on the Rise (1136 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper, VA 22701) led by Pastor Baker Rigg

b) 7 pm on Fridays at Praise The LORD bookstore on Main Street, Culpeper, VA

If you live in another community, state, or nation, make the commitment to start coming together with at least 1-2 other believers to pray for the transformation of your community at least weekly starting this week or next. It’s time to stop making excuses for things we put ahead of prayer.

Blessings to successfully jump the higher bar of prayer!

Randy Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR and The Journal Guy

Randy, good morning to you. Thank you for meeting with me first thing this morning. Thank you for your attitude of gratitude and heart to praise Me. I AM the God of peace. I AM He who weeps with those who weep. I AM My Spirit. I AM gracious. I AM the forgiver of all transgressions. I AM the manna that came down from heaven.

Randy, yes, that was Me who just spoke to you. I want You to do a teleseminar interview of John Paul Jackson. I want you to start doing weekly teleseminars or BlogTalkRadio shows with Christian celebrities. That will create tremendous attraction marketing. These leaders will be interested in what you do. I also want you to start weekly teleseminars with Pastor Baker Rigg. He wants to move forward with Web 2.0 technology. I want you to start going to his weekly worship and prayer gatherings on Monday evenings. I AM raising you up to raise up a new standard of prayer in your community.

Randy, it is Me who is making you smile. I AM smiling down upon you. My favor is upon you. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. I AM the God of your salvation.

Randy, right now, I want you to paste your notes from the Utah trip into your journal. Enjoy. Be blessed. Receive what I AM giving you. I AM your protector. My favor will protect you from your enemies. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. I AM smiling down on you. With you I AM well pleased.

Randy, what you have done with the 6 new people in the Prosper Now 777 course is huge. You and your team have helped them load their own space shuttles on the launching pads and now their rockets are firing to launch them forward into their destinies. That makes Me smile. I have blessed you to be a catalyst to release My UNCOMMON favor into My children’s lives. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. I AM smiling upon you.

Wow Jesus. What great encouragement. Thank You. I love You so much. You are the reason I breathe, move, and have my being. You are my morning joy. You are the delight of my days.

I AM your God of promise. I AM returning. I AM He who places your tears in My bottle in My book. I AM God who shows you things to come. I AM the seven spirits and they are Me. Me secrets are with those who fear me.

Randy, it was Me who led you to listen to the I AM – 365 Names of God this morning. I wanted to remind you who I AM and who you are in Me. Victory is here.

Randy, I want you to follow up with the Chamber prospects today. I want you to go to the Culpeper lead share meeting this morning as Chris’ guest. Taste and see that I AM good. I AM the LORD; he who is joined with me is one spirit with Me. I AM the spirit of counsel. I AM your provider. I AM tenderness. I AM the true shepherd. I AM the dispeller of all fear and doubt. I AM interceding for you right now. I AM love.

Hi Baker,

Thanks for letting me know why you missed yesterday’s Pray Culpeper session. It was powerful. We missed you.

After yesterday’s prayer time, Pastor Brad Hales talked about the need for our local pastors to put this weekly gathering for prayer ahead of all other programs and ministries. Brad says this time of prayer is very uplifting for pastors. He says our community will be transformed when our pastors commit to coming together weekly to pray. He says praying together in the name of Jesus brings unity.

I am NOT available to attend the Pray Culpeper session on Sept 23 in person because I’ll be in Utah next week supporting my wife Julia as she prepares to compete in the Xterra National Triathlon Championships. However, I plan to be on my knees praying in Utah while the Pray Culpeper session is taking place on Wed Sept 23 at Noon. As I write this I am overcome with the presence of God.

Pastor Brad Hales, Pastor Howie Holmes (Providence Bible Church), Dewey McDonnell, and Jim Charapich (President, Culpeper Chamber of Commerce), all said yesterday after the Pray Culpeper session that they definitely want the weekly prayer time to continue every Noon on Wednesdays at Reformation Lutheran Church no matter what.

Our community prayer team looks forward to your participation at Pray Culpeper on Sept 23 at the Reformation Lutheran Church, 415 S Main Suite # 101, Culpeper, VA 22701.

Incidentally, Wednesday Sept 23 is a HUGE day spiritually. It marks the birth of the greatest prayer revival in the history of America. On Wednesday September 23, 1857, Jeremiah Lamphier held his first prayer meeting in a Reformation Church in New York City that launched the Fulton Street Revival. See http://yourdailyblessing.com/prayer-revival-in-america/

I encourage you to invite other pastors and people who have a heart for prayer and worship to join as well.

I’m sending a copy of this email to members of the Culpeper Ministerial Association so they can come and invite others with a heart for prayer and worship as well. I’ll posting it at the Pray Culpeper (www.prayculpeper.com) and Transformation Virginia (www.transformationvirginia.com) blogs to help get the word out. I’ll sending a seperate email to my emails lists for Your Daily Blessing, Pray Culpeper, and Transformation Virginia as well. God is going to get His word out for people around the world to pray as communities on Sept 23.

To God be the glory, now and forever.

Blessings for an extraordinary finish to an extraordinary year!

Randy
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR & The Journal Guy

P.S. Your love for prayer and worship is birthing something very significant.

——————————————————————————–

From: Baker Rigg
Date: Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Subject: Re: Connection
To: Randy Peck

Thanks Randy
had a ministry session that lasted to 12:15 yesterday. Will try again next week.

——————————————————————————–

From: Randy Peck
Subject: Re: Connection
To: “Baker Rigg”
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 7:42 PM

Hi Baker,

Thank you for your email and prayers. I appreciate all you are doing for our community.

We missed you today at the weekly Pray Culpeper meeting at Noon. Hope you can make it next week.

Blessings,
Randy

——————————————————————————–

From: Baker Rigg
Date: Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Subject: Connection
To: randy@empower2000.com

Randy,

Great connecting with you at the ministerial meeting. I will make plans to attend the prayer meeting at the Lutheran church tomorrow. Our prayer time for Church on the Rise is 7pm on Monday nights. I am praying for you today.

Baker

Title: If You Dare To Care Then Share
Description: Q&A Session (FREE Webinar) For 8-Week Web 2.0 Course
Course title: Establish A Powerful Online Presence
Date/Time: Tuesday September 15, 2009, Noon EST and again at 8 pm EST
Hosts: Dr. Randy Peck, Dr. Jerry Graham
Guest Panelists: Karen Hannon, Bob Sims, Renato Amato

If you dare to care, then share !
If you share, pay heed !!
God will reward every good deed !!!

Those are the lyrics to a poem written by Hugh Traulsen in the 1980′s titled “Caring / Sharing.” He dedicated that poem to his wife Ann after she died from a rare form of lung cancer in 2007.

I first got connected to Hugh on July 4, 2009, FREEDOM day in America when we celebrate the birth of our nation. On that historic morning, I discovered the most profound voice message of my life from Hugh. Hugh’s message led me to promptly call him and God immediately connected our hearts.

Even though Hugh has very little money and is disabled, he has turned out to be one of my greatest blessings of 2009. Through Hugh, I got connected to Karen Hannon.

Karen opened the door for me to do two live seminars in Glen Allen (Richmond) Virginia on Sept 1 titled “Establish A Powerful Online Presence.” The purpose is to inspire people to share their stories, products, and services with the world. That’s my God-given gift – CONNECTING.

Karen was the very first person to sign up for our 8-week online Web 2.0 course that starts tonight called “Establish A Powerful Online Presence.” And she is bringing along with her a herd of followers.

Today at Noon EST and again at 8 pm EST, Dr. Jerry Graham and I are hosting a free live Q&A session (webinar) to answers questions about the 8-week course. We have 3 guests on our call, including Karen Hannon (Richmond, VA), Bob Sims (Austin, TX), and Renato Amato (Italy).

CLICK HERE to reserve your seat for this life-changing webinar at 8 pm EST (New York), 5 pm PST (California), 1 am BST (London)

This Q&A session and the Web 2.0 Course are for YOU if…

1) you are tired of being the best kept secret in your field
2) you are looking for a way to get your message out BIG
3) you want to use your expertise to make GREAT MONEY
4) you want to sell without being salesy
5) you are done thinking about going big and are ready to TAKE ACTION!

Web 2.0+++ is at least 100x more powerful than Web 1.0 (a traditional website). What this means for you is every hour you spend using Web 2.0 strategically is equivalent to at least 100 hours you spend with traditional marketing. And every dollar you spend on Web 2.0 equates to at least $100 for traditional marketing.

Share the wealth by inviting your friends and followers to the free Q&A session. Even if you are not available, by registering you will receive free access to our recorded audio.

Blessings to dare to care and share your stories with the world!

Randy Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR and The Journaling Guy

P.S. To learn more about the Web 2.0 course, see
www.prospernow777.com/yes/

P.P.S. At the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders in the U.K. earlier this year, the primary word received was “no more business as usual.”

“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit;” (John 15:8a)

Yesterday, I went to the monthly “Christ In Culpeper” (Prayer Culpeper) meeting at the Culpeper Train Depot. Eight prayer warriors were there initially and one more joined us before we finished. The presence of God was very strong.

While we were praying I saw a vision of a large waterwheel dipping down into the water (God’s living water) and bringing water up to people waiting in the window above. Many, many people are so thirsty for God’s living waters.

Also while we were praying, the Holy Spirit impressed upon my heart strongly to resume weekly prayer meetings. When I got home, I found a letter (article) in the mail from Burt Swardstrom titled “Prayer Revival In America.” Burt is Director of Communications (Prayer Coordinator) for Mastermedia International.

As I was reading that article (see below), I knew with absolutely certainly that I am to start a noon-time weekly prayer meeting in Culpeper in which business people can meet for prayer that will rapidly evolve into daily prayer meeting all over our community. Prayer and faith go hand-in-hand. Prayer and love for Jesus go hand-in-hand.

I feel so deeply the pain of broken hearts and broken families in our community. PRAYER IS THE ANSWER. There is no revival without prayer. The only way a city will be transformed is when pulpit and marketplace leaders come together regularly to pray. That is foundational to every great revival.

Jeremiah Lamphier held his first prayer meeting in a Reformation Church in New York City on Wednesday September 23, 1857. Within weeks, hundreds of people were gathering to pray. It’s interesting that in 2009, September 23 is also a Wednesday.

Late yesterday afternoon, I spoke with Brad Hales, pastor of Reformation Lutheran Church in downtown Culpeper. He has agreed to allow his sanctuary to be used for prayer time on Wednesdays at Noon. So we will start weekly prayer meetings from Noon – 1 pm on Wed, September 2.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, we praise You as the God of prayer, the God of revival. Thank You for stirring my heart to begin weekly prayer meetings in downtown Culpeper starting Sept 2. I’m expecting an explosion in faith and God-centeredness. May Your Holy Spirit send the invitations to people’s hearts to come. Thank You Jesus!

Blessings to experience the power of prayer in your community!

Randy Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR & The Journal Guy

——————————————————————————–

Prayer Revival In America
Source: http://www.truthkeepers.com/prayer1.htm

Wesley Duewal (Revival Fire: ZondervanPublishingHouse)

1857 Prayer Revival in America

A quiet, zealous forty-six-year-old businessman in New York was appointed on July 1,1857 , as a missionary in downtown New York at the Dutch Church. Jeremiah Lamphier had been converted in 1842 in Broadway Tabernacle, Finney’s church that was built in 1836.

Lamphier felt led by God to start a noon-time weekly prayer meeting in which business people could meet for prayer. Anyone could attend, for a few minutes or for the entire hour. Prayers were to be comparatively brief. Lamphier’s group met on the third floor of the old North Dutch Reformed Church on Fulton Street in New York. Lamphier printed some handbills announcing the prayer meetings with the title, “How Often Should I Pray?” He left these in some offices and warehouses. He also put one on the door of the church on the street side.

The first day, September 23, 1857, Lamphier prayed alone for half an hour. But by the end of the hour, six men from at least four denominational backgrounds joined him. The next Wednesday there were twenty. On October 7 there were nearly forty. The meeting was so blessed that they decided to meet daily. One week later there were over one hundred present, including many unsaved who were convicted by the Holy Spirit of their sin.

Within one month pastors who had attended the noon prayer meetings in Fulton Street started morning prayer meetings in their own churches. Soon the places where the meetings were held were overcrowded. Men and women, young and old of all denominations met and prayed together without distinctions. The meetings abounded with love for Christ, love for fellow Christians, love for prayer, and love of witnessing. Those in attendance felt an awesome sense of God’s presence. They prayed for specific people, expected answers, and obtained answers.

Newspapers began to report on the meetings and the unusual spirit of prayer that was evident. Within three months similar meetings had sprung up across America. Thousands began praying in these services and in their own homes. I n New York, gospel tracts were distributed to those in attendance, with instructions that they pray over the tracts and then give them to someone God brought to mind.

The three rooms at the Fulton Street Church were filled beyond capacity, and hundreds had to go to other places. By early February a nearby Methodist Church was opened, and it immediately overflowed. The balconies were filled with ladies. By March 19 a theater opened for prayer, and half an hour before it was time to begin, people were turned away. Hundreds stood outside in the streets because they could not get inside. By the end of March over six thou- sand people met daily in prayer gatherings in New York City. Many churches added evening services for prayer. Soon there were 150 united prayer meetings each day across Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Meetings began in February in Philadelphia. Soon Jayne’s Hall was overfilled, and meetings were held at noon each day in public halls, concert halls, fire stations, houses, and tents. The whole city exuded a spirit of prayer.

PRAYER MEETING FERVOR

Almost simultaneously noon prayer meetings sprang up all across America in Boston, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, New Orleans, Vicksburg, Memphis, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, and in a multitude of other cities, towns, and in rural areas. By the end of the fourth month, prayer fervor burned intensely across the nation. It was an awesome but glorious demonstration of the sovereign working of the Holy Spirit and the eager obedience of God’s people.

America had entered a new period of faith and prayer. Educated and uneducated, rich and poor, business leaders and common workmen-all prayed, believed, and received answers to prayer. Even the president of the United States, Franklin Pierce, attended many of the noon prayer meetings. This was not a revival of powerful preaching. This was a movement of earnest, powerful, prevailing prayer.

All people wanted was a place to pray. Sinners would come and ask for prayer. Someone would individually pray for them, and in minutes the newly saved person was rejoicing in Christ. Prayers would be asked by name for unconverted friends and loved ones from allover the country. In a day or two, testimonies would be given of how the prayers had already been answered. In some towns, nearly the entire population became saved.

Six months previous to Lamphier’s prayer meeting boom, few would have gathered for a prayer service. But now a spirit of prayer occupied the land, as though the church had suddenly discovered its real power. The majority of the churches in most denominations experienced a new dimension of prayer. The Presbyterian Magazine reported that as of May there had been fifty thousand converts of the revival. In February, a New York Methodist magazine reported a total of eight thousand conversions in Methodist meetings in one week. The Louisville daily paper reported seventeen thousand Baptist conversions in three weeks during the month of March. And according to a June statement, the conversion figures stood at 96,216–and still counting. all but two of the youth in one high school were saved. A similar event took place in Toledo, Ohio. These are just brief examples of what was happening constantly all across the nation.

The accounts of the prayer meetings during those revival years describe how the people would quietly gather at the place of prayer promptly at the appointed hour. Whoever was leader for the meeting—a layman or a minister— arose and announced a hymn. They sang one or two verses with great joy, the leader prayed briefly, and then turned the service over to the members. Any person was free to speak or pray for no longer than five minutes. If the person took more than that time, a small bell was rung and it was someone else’s turn.

Requests for prayer, often coming from distant places, were spoken or read. Often sinners arose and requested prayer for themselves. Members gave testimonies of answers to prayer, and the people praised the Lord. Brief exhortations on prayer or revival were allowed but limited to five minutes. Many testified of revival progress in various locations. Promptly at the closing of the hour the leader rose and pronounced the benediction, and the people quietly left the building. Occasionally someone might stay behind to pray with a spiritual seeker.

THE INVISIBLE CLOUD OF GOD’S PRESENCE

A canopy of holy and awesome revival influence—in reality the presence of the Holy Spirit—seemed to hang like an invisible cloud over many parts of the United States, especially over the eastern seaboard. At times this cloud of God’s presence even seemed to extend out to sea. Those on ships approaching the east coast at times felt a solemn, holy influence, even one hundred miles away, without even knowing what was happening in America.

Revival began aboard one ship before it reached the coast. People on board began to feel the presence of God and a sense of their own sinfulness. The Holy Spirit convicted them, and they began to pray. As the ship neared the harbor, the captain signaled, “Send a minister.” Another small commercial ship arrived in port with the captain, and every member of the crew converted in the last 150 miles. Ship after ship arrived with the same story: both passengers and crew were suddenly convicted of sin and turned to Christ before they reached the American coast.

The battleship North Carolina was anchored in New York harbor as a naval receiving ship. More than a thousand young men were on board. Four Christians agreed to meet together for prayer and knelt on the lower deck. The Spirit of God so filled their hearts with joy that they broke into song. Ungodly men on the top deck heard the singing, looked down, and saw the boys kneeling. They began running down the stairs, mocking and jeering. The convicting power of the Holy Spirit so gripped them that by the time they reached the bottom deck they fell on their knees and began crying for mercy.

Strong men who were deep in sin were broken down by the Spirit’s power and knelt humbly in penitence and faith. Night after night the sailors prayed, and hundreds were converted on the ship. Ministers were sent for, and they came out from shore to help in the gracious work of the Spirit. The battleship became a mighty center of revival. Converts of the movement, completing their periods of training, were sent out to other navy ships. Wherever they went revival fires were kindled in other naval vessels.

IN HOMES, SHOPS, FIELDS, AND CHURCHES

Reports came in of hundreds being converted in prayer meetings, private homes, workshops, and fields. Often the doors of businesses held signs reading, ” Closed, will reopen at the close of the prayer meeting.” Five prayer meetings took place daily in Washington, D.C. Five thousand or so attended daily services in the Academy of Music Hall.

In Philadelphia, Jayne’s Hall removed partitions and added space for six thousand people to attend daily meetings. At this time George Duffield wrote the hymn “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.” For months multitudes of churches opened every evening for prayer, and some of them had from three to five services of prayer each day. All were filled. The services consisted of simple prayer, confession, exhortation, and singing. But it was ” so earnest, so solemn, the silence. ..so awful, the singing. ..so over-powering” that the meetings were unforgettable. A canvas tent was erected for outdoor meetings, and it immediately filled with people. In four months’ time, a total of 150,000 people attended the ministry in the tent, with many conversions. Philadelphia churches reported five thousand converts.

The Presbyterians in Northern Ireland heard of the awakening in Philadelphia and sent fraternal delegates. These delegates returned to their homeland and reported what they had seen, and the revival broke out in Ireland, spreading across the British Isles.

REVIVAL IN THE ARMY

Because of the bitter tensions of the Civil War and the slavery issue, for a time it seemed that the southern states would not be as powerfully influenced by the revival as the northern ones had been. Others dispute this assumption. An unusually powerful revival broke out among the southern troops stationed around Richmond, Virginia, in the autumn of 1861. It began in the hospitals among the wounded men and then spread into the camps as these men returned to active duty. Prayer meetings were organized and hundreds converted. The movement spread rapidly throughout the army, reaching the troops of Tennessee and Arkansas.

Revival was encouraged by Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, who were well known as devout Christians. By the mid-summer of 1863 the revival had spread through all the Confederate armies, and thousands of men had been converted. Chaplains and lay missionaries went out among the troops, preaching and distributing tracts and dealing personally with hungry hearts. By the end of the war at least 150,000 soldiers had been converted, and more than a third of all of the southern troops had become praying men. The revival among the southern troops was primarily a revival of prayer, as the earlier revival in the North had been. While the best estimates are that 6.6 percent of the entire population of the United States was converted during the revival, the percentage among the southern troops was 21 percent. The North really did not win the war—prayer and a mighty revival did!

When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. (Acts 15:31)

What kind of impact does validating others have?
What would the world be like if we all took a purposeful intent to be more validating of others?

In late October 2008 I went to the Relational Coaching Network (RCN) retreat at a beach house in Virginia Beach as guests of Jerry and Sharon Graham. In response to an email request by Tony Stoltzfus, a well-known, well-respected coach trainer who is the founder of the RCN, I agreed to videotape a session at the retreat about “How to Form and Run a Coaching Cell.”

Tony felt very strongly that for coaches to continue to be part of the RCN, they needed to participate in their coaching cell groups with at least 3 life coaches. So on December 4, Jerry, Deborah Smith, and I had our first 3-way coaching meeting over the phone. During that meeting, Jerry recommended we invite Ben Stewart to also be part of our group, which we gladly did. Ben accepted.

Yesterday afternoon, we had our first 4-way coaching cell group meeting with Jerry, Deb, Ben, and me, with Jerry serving as facilitator. Wow! This was an awesome blessings for all four of us with lots of encouragement and validation.

During the course of our conversation, Jerry shared one of his recent “two-way” (Jesus and him) journal entries. That prompted me to share one of my recent two-way journal entries. In response to that, Deb said that one of the things the LORD is holding her accountable to from this conversation is to journal again.

Later I shared a recent revelation that members of Team Destiny are like players on the same football team. When one player (e.g. the quarterback) does very well, that’s good for the entire team and all the players regardless of their role or notoriety. In response to that Jerry said, “Everyone gets the Super Bowl ring when the team wins.”

This led Jerry to highly recommend that we all watch a 16 minute movie about validation that he wrote about in one of his Daily Gram blog posts on December 5. Jerry said that is one of his favorite short videos in the past several years. Jerry reminded all of us that validating others is part of our DNA as coaches.

So after our meeting, I read Jerry’s blog post titled “Power of Validation” and then watched the video on that web page. That was well worth my time and such an encouragement that I decided to make today’s message about that. Enjoy the video at today’s Link of the Day.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, we praise You as the God of encouragement, the greatest Encourager ever, the God who validates us as children of God. I pray that everyone who watches the validation video will feel encouraged and validated, so much so that they will encourage and validate many others whom they meet. Thank You Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

Link of the Day
Power of Validation video

Blessings to feel validated and to validate others!

Randy Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR and The Journal Guy

What is Virginia’s Destiny?

A forest fire always begins somewhere. Culpeper Virginia is the cradle of religious freedom for the world; it’s where the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was birthed. Blessed by Harvest Evangelism, Culpeper has become a detonator city for Virginia. And Virginia will become the prism to focus the light of God’s children around the world to ignite the last Great Awakening before Jesus returns.

In 2007, Virginia and America’s first permanent English settlement (Jamestown) turned 400 years old. The Commonwealth of Virginia invited the WORLD to join us in commemorating America’s 400th anniversary. As the first permanent English settlement in America, Jamestown became the birthplace of our nation. The focus of the world turned toward Virginia in 2007. Queen Elizabeth visited Virginia to commerorate this historic event.

Read about “The Jamestown Quadricentennial: A Celebration of America’s Providential History — 1607 – 2007“.

In April 1607, the settlers who arrived at Cape Henry in Virginia Beach fasted and prayed for 3 days before doing two things that are still blessing Virginia and America today. They planted a large cross and dedicated the land to Jesus Christ. 400 years later, on April 29, 2007, Christians from across America gathered to publically rededicate America to God. Read about The Assembly 2007.

Learn about the “The Spiritual Significance of 400 years”

What is Transformation?
Transformation is the process of changes that comes about when Jesus Christ is lifted up, the power of satan is cast down, and the eyes of the lost are opened so that they press into the Kingdom of God.

Transformation Virginia is a grass roots movement joining pastors and marketplace ministers to advance the Kingdom of God in Virginia.

What does transformation look like?
The atmosphere over a city is changed. Extraordinary miracles are common in the Marketplace and Church. People are prayer walking and blessing their own neighborhoods. This priority ensures our “heads in the clouds, feet on the ground.” We will reclaim what Jesus has already redeemed with His blood.

What is God’s vision?
God’s vision is to transform our cities, our sub-cultures, societies, and institutions until the kingdoms (ethnos) of this world become the “Kingdoms of our God and His Christ!