To put in words what the Lord has done on the PRESENCE88 journey so far is almost impossible! Direction, Provision, Protection, Favor, Strength, Grace upon grace, Joy, new friends and Kingdom relationships.... you name it, we experienced it all and more in the last six weeks since we left on this journey on July 6th but what I want to focus on through this blog is what the Lord did in our hearts this past weekend in Chillicothe.
Ever since we set sail on this tour, I'd been looking forward for the day we would get to worship in Chillicothe (Ross County). That day finally arrived on Aug 15th. We had three counties to cover on this day - Pickaway, Fayette and last but not the least, the much awaited Ross county! With shouts of Joy and excitement, Cindy and I left Fayette County after an amazing time of Worship around 6:30PM. As we got to the Ross county courthouse, we couldn't believe what we were seeing! There were about 25-30 people gathered around ready to worship Jesus! Let me tell you about these folks before I go any further. For the last 2 years, my wife and I have had the privilege of knowing and becoming friends with some fiery burning hearts from the wonderful FREEDOM HOUSE church (http://freedomhousechillicothe.com). I remember Pastor JC Collins walking up to me and give a prophetic word from the Lord on my first visit to Freedom House in Nov 2011. I didn't know who he was and he didn't know me either. Freedom House also hosts a BURN furnace every monday and they've been contending for Revival and releasing Worship day and night for the last 5 years or more. My wife and I love this community for their radical, nazirite, set-apart, consecrated lifestyle and the impact it has on the city and region! So as we rolled in, we knew that this was going to be another special night of worship & breakthrough just like we had experienced on our last visit in March earlier this year. And it was just that. May be more.
We sat on the courthouse steps and sang our love songs to Jesus. We prophesied and proclaimed over the city what we heard the Lord speak through that time of worship. It was an amazing time.
4 guitars, 2 djembes, 1 ukulele, 2 new born babies, little kids, teenagers, young ladies and a bunch of nazirite guys with long hair and beards.... it was quite the scene !!!! I believe as we sang and worshipped, the Lord set ambushes in the city.... just like HE did for Jehoshaphat and his crew in 2 Chron 20. The Father released prophetic words and visions and a teenage girl saw an angel standing next to a tree before us as we worshipped. Later on Pastor Lynn Collins saw a beautiful white feather fall out of nowhere and land right where the angel was standing. All this to say that Jesus was exalted above everything else that night and we were once again marked by HIS Presence, Voice and Fire! Thank you for coming out and supporting us guys!
The next day was our rest day and I got to hang out with my Chillicothe brothers and we went fishing. Despite the fact that we didn't catch a single fish, we ended up having a great time. We didn't have an emotional breakdown or whatever you call it. We left the spot all happy for some ice cream as if we had caught a ton of fish :) Later that night our host Theresa Damron from Freedom House took Cindy and I out for dinner and to catch up on the tour and get to know each other more. Theresa and her husband are wonderful people and they took great care of us. Theresa is an intercessor and carries revival in her heart ! As we sat around the dinner table listening to Theresa's story on how she encountered the Presence of God at many revivals, we felt the Presence of God getting stronger around us. As the tears rolled down, we felt a blanket of Spirit of Intercession come over us and knew that the Lord was up to something. Cindy and I had just entered the last lap of the Presence88 tour and we were looking forward to finish strong in the next two weeks but didn't know exactly how. I felt like the Lord was saying that HE wanted us to finish strong by having a deeper, stronger love and heart for Ohio again! We asked Theresa if we could go home and worship and have her pray over us and release the heart of the Father for Ohio and she was more than happy to do it. As we worshipped and prayed, we all started weeping. The sweet sweet sweet presence of Jesus flooded the room and filled our hearts with fresh fire and zeal once again. How I love and long for these moments! There is nothing like encountering the tangible presence of Yeshua. Cindy and I knew that the Lord had strategically scheduled to have us stay with Theresa for this purpose. Let me tell ya...dinner with an intercessory revivalist can do you good and revive and inspire your heart a lot! What a special night in HIS presence! We wept and prayed and worshipped some more. The next morning as we left Chillicothe, we knew that our hearts were not the same but more in love with Ohio and what the Father was doing and releasing all over the state now!
So as we ride this final lap of this tour, we are praying and seeking the Lord more than we have in the last 6 weeks. Our hearts are being encountered by His presence daily. His voice is overtaking and breaking through the ugliest lies and nasty tricks of the evil one. There is much ahead and this is only the beginning. We have completed 70 counties and have 18 more to go! All glory to the Lamb! As we release worship and lift up Ohio before the Father and seek HIS will and direction we request all you Ohio-ans to join us in doing the same. The Lord has you where you are for a reason. Let us continue in discerning what our Father's plan is and be obedient and faithful in executing it. Above all, may we encounter HIS Presence and voice every day and walk closer with HIM, no matter what that will cost us.
Fire & Glory,
Joseph
P.S: If you are led by the Holy Spirit to sow a seed and support us for the final lap of this tour, you can do so by clicking on this link:
http://www.youcaring.com/mission-trip-fundraiser/presence-88-ohio-tour/67047
More details on the PRESENCE88 FINALE WORSHIP NIGHT :
https://www.facebook.com/events/614478181930542/
Ever since we set sail on this tour, I'd been looking forward for the day we would get to worship in Chillicothe (Ross County). That day finally arrived on Aug 15th. We had three counties to cover on this day - Pickaway, Fayette and last but not the least, the much awaited Ross county! With shouts of Joy and excitement, Cindy and I left Fayette County after an amazing time of Worship around 6:30PM. As we got to the Ross county courthouse, we couldn't believe what we were seeing! There were about 25-30 people gathered around ready to worship Jesus! Let me tell you about these folks before I go any further. For the last 2 years, my wife and I have had the privilege of knowing and becoming friends with some fiery burning hearts from the wonderful FREEDOM HOUSE church (http://freedomhousechillicothe.com). I remember Pastor JC Collins walking up to me and give a prophetic word from the Lord on my first visit to Freedom House in Nov 2011. I didn't know who he was and he didn't know me either. Freedom House also hosts a BURN furnace every monday and they've been contending for Revival and releasing Worship day and night for the last 5 years or more. My wife and I love this community for their radical, nazirite, set-apart, consecrated lifestyle and the impact it has on the city and region! So as we rolled in, we knew that this was going to be another special night of worship & breakthrough just like we had experienced on our last visit in March earlier this year. And it was just that. May be more.
We sat on the courthouse steps and sang our love songs to Jesus. We prophesied and proclaimed over the city what we heard the Lord speak through that time of worship. It was an amazing time.
4 guitars, 2 djembes, 1 ukulele, 2 new born babies, little kids, teenagers, young ladies and a bunch of nazirite guys with long hair and beards.... it was quite the scene !!!! I believe as we sang and worshipped, the Lord set ambushes in the city.... just like HE did for Jehoshaphat and his crew in 2 Chron 20. The Father released prophetic words and visions and a teenage girl saw an angel standing next to a tree before us as we worshipped. Later on Pastor Lynn Collins saw a beautiful white feather fall out of nowhere and land right where the angel was standing. All this to say that Jesus was exalted above everything else that night and we were once again marked by HIS Presence, Voice and Fire! Thank you for coming out and supporting us guys!
The next day was our rest day and I got to hang out with my Chillicothe brothers and we went fishing. Despite the fact that we didn't catch a single fish, we ended up having a great time. We didn't have an emotional breakdown or whatever you call it. We left the spot all happy for some ice cream as if we had caught a ton of fish :) Later that night our host Theresa Damron from Freedom House took Cindy and I out for dinner and to catch up on the tour and get to know each other more. Theresa and her husband are wonderful people and they took great care of us. Theresa is an intercessor and carries revival in her heart ! As we sat around the dinner table listening to Theresa's story on how she encountered the Presence of God at many revivals, we felt the Presence of God getting stronger around us. As the tears rolled down, we felt a blanket of Spirit of Intercession come over us and knew that the Lord was up to something. Cindy and I had just entered the last lap of the Presence88 tour and we were looking forward to finish strong in the next two weeks but didn't know exactly how. I felt like the Lord was saying that HE wanted us to finish strong by having a deeper, stronger love and heart for Ohio again! We asked Theresa if we could go home and worship and have her pray over us and release the heart of the Father for Ohio and she was more than happy to do it. As we worshipped and prayed, we all started weeping. The sweet sweet sweet presence of Jesus flooded the room and filled our hearts with fresh fire and zeal once again. How I love and long for these moments! There is nothing like encountering the tangible presence of Yeshua. Cindy and I knew that the Lord had strategically scheduled to have us stay with Theresa for this purpose. Let me tell ya...dinner with an intercessory revivalist can do you good and revive and inspire your heart a lot! What a special night in HIS presence! We wept and prayed and worshipped some more. The next morning as we left Chillicothe, we knew that our hearts were not the same but more in love with Ohio and what the Father was doing and releasing all over the state now!
So as we ride this final lap of this tour, we are praying and seeking the Lord more than we have in the last 6 weeks. Our hearts are being encountered by His presence daily. His voice is overtaking and breaking through the ugliest lies and nasty tricks of the evil one. There is much ahead and this is only the beginning. We have completed 70 counties and have 18 more to go! All glory to the Lamb! As we release worship and lift up Ohio before the Father and seek HIS will and direction we request all you Ohio-ans to join us in doing the same. The Lord has you where you are for a reason. Let us continue in discerning what our Father's plan is and be obedient and faithful in executing it. Above all, may we encounter HIS Presence and voice every day and walk closer with HIM, no matter what that will cost us.
Fire & Glory,
Joseph
P.S: If you are led by the Holy Spirit to sow a seed and support us for the final lap of this tour, you can do so by clicking on this link:
http://www.youcaring.com/mission-trip-fundraiser/presence-88-ohio-tour/67047
More details on the PRESENCE88 FINALE WORSHIP NIGHT :
https://www.facebook.com/events/614478181930542/