As I was cleaning my room last night, I stumbled upon a folder from our first ever Healing and Revival Retreat at the Home of Peace the summer of 2012. Inside was a copy of an article by Carrie Judd Montgomery that is exactly what I have been hungering for in my life and for our community at Destiny House. The article recounts a corporate encounter they had with just twelve people and “Jesus in the midst” at the Home of Peace, the first ever healing home on the West Coast in Oakland, California. This happened years before the Azusa Street Revival of 1906.

Carrie was out preaching in another town when she received a letter from her husband George about the powerful time he and the others experienced. His letter provides insight into a powerful revivalist’s couple’s inner lives and relationship. The Montgomerys remained married their whole lives and also finished well. From this tender letter, it appears that the focus of their relationship was learning to live in the glory of God’s great love together.

I pray this article releases inspiration and impartation to dwell in even greater measures of God’s glory together as family. May this letter also inspire us to pray for or enjoy a marriage centered in God’s glory. May you be blessed today with a great wave of God’s peace and love sweeping over you and your community.

Jen

Pentecostal Blessing

by Carrie Judd Montgomery, March 1885 in Triumphs of Faith 15:3

“Our Home of Peace keeps full most of the time with those who need help either in soul or body. It has proved to be the very gate of heaven to many weary souls; tired Christian workers have here renewed their strength, sick bodies have been healed and hungry hearts have been filled with waves of peace for which they were longing.

While I was absent from Home during the past week holding special meetings in the Salvation Army, an unusual wave of glory visited the Home of Peace and a description of this blessed meeting was sent me in a private letter which I received from my dear husband. I feel constrained to take extracts from this letter for the benefit of my readers as I believe they will be interested to know of the blessings that the Lord is pouring upon this sweet Home so given up to His service. I quote from my husband’s letter as follows:

‘Hallelujah! Last night we had the most wonderful time ever known in Beulah, in fact, ever experienced by any one present. God opened the flood gates of Heaven and poured us out such a blessing that there was not room enough to contain it. He filled us with the joy of Heaven. The Holy Ghost was so noticeably present that we could not stand much more of the glory. We asked, what must Heaven be if God could give us so much of it down here on this earth. It came very unexpectedly upon us; we were not going to have much of a meeting. Miss B--- read the lesson and prayed, and then left us and took Mrs. H--- the sick lady up to bed, but while some of the others were praying the Holy Ghost descended in mighty power melting all of us down under His incoming presence. Such a meeting could not be described and will never be forgotten by any present either here or throughout Eternity, for God so manifestly revealed Himself unto us.

We had wonderful liberty in prayer not only for all Beulah, but for all the people in this neighborhood, and then praying for one and another as the Holy Spirit brought different ones to our remembrance. Special liberty was given in prayer for your mission in Napa Valley, we believe that the Holy Ghost will use you as the channel through which He shall pour the living waters. Keep low; keep out of sight. The Holy Ghost wants clean and mighty vessels. He will do the work, not you. Not by might or by power, but by His Spirit. Oh, how this was realized last night! As we counted up the number present we found that there were just twelve and Jesus in the midst. When it would seem as though the blessing were passing another still mightier wave would come over us, and the exultation and praise that went up to Heaven was wonderful and beautiful.

When I went up to my room I saw it was half past one this morning, and then I felt as though I could not bear to go to sleep. Jesus was so manifestly present. He talked with me and I could see Him in a wonderful, real way, as never before. The Word was illuminated under this might baptism of the Holy Spirit, and I understood it better than ever before. Oh, I am sure that it is our privilege not to be half full, but to be filled to overflowing, and that all the time, and the overflowing rivers will then be poured out to a thirsty, lost world. Well, I can never get through telling you so I will have to wait till you return, if we do not meet in the air before the week is over. Last night many of us felt that a little more of this glory in our souls would have translated us. We were all like a lot of people drunk with new wine of the Kingdom. Hallelujah! Hallelujah.’”

*If you want to learn more about Carrie Judd Montgomery and her husband, and the first ever healing home on the West Coast, the Home of Peace, see Life on Wings.

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

As Thanksgiving is upon us, I have been reflecting upon the topic of giving thanks and have been overwhelmed with gratitude for all that the Lord has done through the years. I have been reminded of the Lord’s grace, kindness, and provision. I have recognized that I am usually a lot happier and more peaceful when I’m thankful and when I focus on what the Lord is doing rather than on what He’s not.

I have discovered that some of the rewards of practicing gratitude are a fresh perspective of Heaven and a peace that passes understanding. I pray that my thoughts on of stewarding peace impart great courage to remain in Him no matter what comes your way.

In Psalm 100, the Psalmist talks about entering His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

Give thanks to him and praise his name

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations.

              Psalm 100:4-5

Thanksgiving and praise usher us into His presence with a sweet invitation to take hold of more of Him. These two pairs are significant attributes that help us better cultivate a lifestyle of intimacy with Jesus and peace that passes understanding.

Thankfulness

Let’s start with Thankfulness. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, it says

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

This verse says be joyful always. It doesn’t say just to be joyful when we feel like it or when God has done something marvelous on our behalf but to be full of joy always. We can choose to be full of joy as we meditate on Him. This verse also says to give thanks in all circumstances. In the most horrible of circumstances, might there be one small seed of hope remaining that we can recognize and praise Him for? He is not saying that we should celebrate and give thanks for bad things that happen to us. We know in Romans 8:28, He will turn bad things around for our good but that doesn’t make these bad circumstances any less painful. He says in the midst of them however, that we should give thanks to Him regardless of what is going on around us.

No matter what storms may come or go in our life, surrounding circumstances don’t change the fact that God is good and worthy of our praise. He is always faithful, He always remains, He will never leave nor forsake us, and He has already given His one and only Son for us. We have already been invited to partake of an eternity with Him in Heaven. Many of us have a roof over our heads and people around us that love us. There is always something to be thankful for despite the circumstances. It’s our job to keep our eyes on what God is doing, not on what He is not doing. What positive things can you give thanks for today regardless of the state of your present circumstances?

Philippians 4:4-7 says

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Here we see it said again, to rejoice in the Lord always! Here we also discover that one of the secrets to stewarding peace in every situation is through surrendering our heavy hearts to the Lord, trusting Him with our requests, and by giving Him an offering of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving frees up our mind from all the weights and concerns we carry and repositions us in a place of trusting Him to carry us. It reminds us that He is always faithful and just as He has come through in the past, He will come through again. It shifts our focus off of our problems and onto His goodness.

Praise

As we saw earlier in Psalm 100, praise also goes before us into His inner courts. Praise is a magnet for God’s presence. He loves it when we praise Him. The circumstances around us should never dictate the measure of praise we pour out to our faithful King. In those moments of great pain where everything is against us and we feel like there’s no hope, we have a choice. We can sink deeper down into depression or we can put our hope in God and praise Him anyway. Despite our situations, we can offer Him a sacrifice of praise. It’s easy to praise Him when things go our way, but to praise Him when our world is falling apart is one of the most sacred offerings of love we can give.

Praise not only precedes us entering deeper into the Secret Place but also precedes many breakthroughs. In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat was about to face one of the largest armies he had ever seen. He and his people’s death were imminent. He responded by gathering his community together to seek the Lord. In that meeting, a prophet spoke up saying that God would deliver them. When the king heard this, he bowed down with his face to the ground and all of the people of Judah and Jerusalem also fell down and worshipped the Lord. Then the Levites stood up and praised the Lord with a very loud voice. This all happened before there was any victory at all.

Then the next morning, they geared up for battle and got in formation. The King positioned the worshippers in the front line of the army to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness. They were to sing

           Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.

                      2 Chronicles 20:21

Here we see it again, the giving of thanks. Why would anyone sing praises to God and songs of thanksgiving right before they were about to face the largest army they had ever seen before? It is because they trusted in the word of the Lord and they understood the power of praise and thanksgiving. It was as they began to sing praises to God that the Lord set ambushes against the invading army. By the time Jehoshaphat’s army came to the place that overlooks the desert, they looked towards the vast army and only saw dead bodies. In the midst of their thanksgiving and praise to God in the face of great danger, He worked behind the scenes to fight on their behalf and to bring them into great victory.

We do not give God thanks and praise so that we can get some massive breakthrough but simply because we love and adore Him. We thank and praise Him because of all that He has done for us. However, in that heart stance, we don’t know what God is doing behind the scenes on our behalf as we engage in thanksgiving and praise. I can guarantee you that no matter what your current situation is right now, if you begin to turn your eyes upon Jesus, thank Him for all He has done, and praise Him for His faithfulness, you will experience a new measure of peace. Though your circumstances may remain the same, your perspective will shift. New hope will arise and a peace that passes understanding will guard your heart and your mind. You will begin to walk in a place of victory like never before.

3 Keys to Stewarding Peace

In my life, when I am struggling with some issue, whenever I turn my affection towards Jesus and worship Him even more fiercely, something shifts. Sometimes it takes a little while before I can break into peace, but if I set my heart to get my eyes off of myself and onto Him, He fills me with peace and grace to stand. I encourage you to steward peace in your life by making it a pattern to

·      Rejoice in the Lord always

·      Give thanks in all circumstances

·      Keep Your eyes on Jesus

Activating a Thankful Heart

In light of thanksgiving, I want to encourage you to think of five people in your life who have impacted you, loved you well, or played a key role in your life. Who are a few of the people God is highlighting right now that you are truly grateful for? Now I want to challenge you to write an email, send a text message, call them up on the phone, or have coffee with them and express your gratitude for the gift of God they have been in your life.

Blessing you with a spirit of thanksgiving, a refined focus on Jesus and on what He is doing all around you, and a peace that passes understanding as you rejoice in Him today.

For more, see also Hold onto Hope: Finding Jesus in the Storms

By Jennifer A. Miskov, PhD

October 31st, A Day Pregnant with Destiny

October 31st is pregnant with world changing opportunities to be catalyzed as we fiercely decide to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit even in unusual ways.

In my personal research, I recently discovered that there is rich redemption hidden in this date in history that we can pull from. October 31st is a powerful date in revival history that was catalytic for Reformation and Revival movements.  On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther lit a flame that reformed the Christianity of his day, breaking people out of religious cycles that had entrapped them for hundreds of years. Nearly 200 years later in 1904, this date was an important spark for the Welsh Revival. The revival’s primary leader, Evan Roberts, followed the leading of the Holy Spirit back to his hometown to conduct a catalytic meeting this very day. This day was also significant in 1918 in the life of Aimee Semple McPherson. She was 28 years old at the time and on her journey to the land of her destiny when she got to meet healing evangelist Mariah Woodworth-Etter in Indianapolis.[1]

In light of the wells of revival that emerged, there is something about how we respond immediately to the leading of the Spirit on this day that has the potential to impact not only our generation but generations to come. There is freedom from religious bondage and the breaking of generational curses. Do not be afraid to face opposing spirits head on. There is victory as we walk through the fire and through our fears (Isaiah 43). October 31st is a day to step into brave communication with others, to confront injustices around us, to no longer partner with lies that once held us back, and to declare truth all around us.

It is a day of religious freedom and freedom from the religious spirit. It is also a day that is waiting to be set aflame with the fire of God. It is a day to hunger and seek after God with everything inside of us, to take risks, to step out of our comfort zones and to push the envelope just a little more. It is a day of stepping out in faith into the unknown, following even the smallest sign of the Holy Spirit wherever that might lead. It is a day of being led by the Spirit and by our hearts immediately. It is not a time to process and think over decisions and weigh them. It is a day to take action immediately and to act on the whispers of God in the moment as we align ourselves with Heaven’s best. It is a shift into a new season. It is a time where dreams come true, where significant life-giving connections for our destiny will be released. It is a day when one generation rises up in the midst of those who came before in order to run alongside them.

October 31st is a day of breakthrough and of revolution. It is a day of new paradigms being released, where old wine skins are challenged and abolished and where new wine skins are filled to overflowing with the wine from Heaven. Be sharply in tune with the Holy Spirit October 31st and don’t hesitate on responding to His impulses. There are significant parts of our destiny that will be catalyzed and released this day that have the potential to not only impact the rest of our lives but also impact those around us for generations to come.

Halloween Roots

Let me give you a little background on this special date in history. Halloween is an interesting holiday that I never thought much about until I recently discovered the significance of the date it falls on. Originating in the early Middle Ages with roots in an Ancient Celtic pagan festival of Samhain (summer’s end), some believe that this is the time when the physical and spiritual world’s are the closest. October 31st is also a celebration of the end of harvest and beginning of winter. In the year 609, Pope Gregory III introduced May 13 as a Catholic holiday to honor saints and martyrs. This was called All Saints’ or All Hallows Day. In 835, the date was changed to November 1, the same day as the Samhain. The evening before “All Hallows Day” became known as All Hallows’ Eve which was later changed to Halloween. I love that in tradition, this day is believed to be one where Heaven invades earth in a greater measure than other days. It is also a day to honor saints and those who have come before which is what we will now do.

Reformation (1517)

Even though he was mid-semester at law school in a nearby town, Martin Luther (1483-1546) decided to journey home to visit his family. It was on July 2, 1505 when he got caught in a thunder storm and nearly was hit by a bolt of lightning. Fearful of his life, he called out, “Help me, St. Anne. I will become a monk!”[2] His life was spared. Two weeks later, true to his word, he joined the Augustinian order. In November 1510 - April 1511, he journeyed to Rome and was disillusioned by the hypocrisy going on within the Catholic Church. This seed of discontent with the church would later grow. In 1512, Luther received his doctorate and then moved to Wittenberg to become a theology professor. In 1515 when he studied Romans 1:17, he understood that he was justified by faith. For the first time he began to realize his freedom and salvation in Christ in a whole new way. He gave lectures to his students on Romans from April 1515 - September 1516.

About a year later, Dominican priest Johann Tetzel came to his town to sell indulgences. Luther was outraged at his approach and disagreed with certain premises behind this in a similar way that Jesus was upset by the way the people were selling items in the temple courts of the Lord. The same night Fredrick the Wise was due to offer indulgences on All Saints Day on October 31, 1517, Luther posted his 95 Theses (also known as the Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) written in Latin on Castle Church door. These were translated into German, printed on the newly invented Gutenberg printing press, then quickly spread. Originally, this was an act of inviting people to debate over these issues within the Catholic Church. Luther’s 95 Theses were not initially intended to be a refined amendment to the pope. However, God breathed on his declaration for justice and it served to be the catalyst to set things in motion for the Protestant Reformation which freed people from the religious spirit at the time.

Catalytic Fire in the Welsh Revival (1904)

On October 29, 1904, both Evan Roberts (1878-1951) and his friend Sidney Evans had a vision of an arm stretched out from the moon towards them. They believed this was a sign that revival was coming to Wales. Roberts was then stirred to believe God for 100,000 souls to be saved.[3] On October 30, 1904, Roberts got caught up in a vision when he heard a preacher speak on the text, “Father, the hour is come.” His body shook and all he could see was the people of his hometown sitting and waiting for someone to speak to them. He felt this was God calling him to go to them. When he finally yielded, he felt the light of the glory of God fill the whole chapel in a marvelous way.

The next day on Monday October 31, Roberts immediately responded to the leading of the Holy Spirit and left for Loughor by train. He originally only planned to be in his hometown for a week. While on the train, he also wrote a sermon and practiced preaching it to the other passengers. The same night he arrived home, he was able to arrange a small meeting following a main session. There were 17 people present (16 adults and 1 little girl) at this first meeting. After much encouragement from Roberts, the reserved Welsh all stood up and publicly confessed Christ. He continued to lead meetings in his hometown each night at nearby churches and saw a total of 65 conversions that week.

Some of the meetings in the early weeks of the revival started at 7:00 p.m. and continued on without any breaks until 4:30 a.m. the next morning. As these meetings continued and testimonies were released, increasing numbers of people began to confess Christ. While there were already a few pockets of revival breaking out in Wales, especially in New Quay, after Roberts released the Holy Spirit flame in Loughor, in just two months (from November 8 to December 31, 1904), there were over 34,000 conversions recorded. Two months after that, by February 28, 1905, there were over 84,000 conversions recorded. That is an average of over 5,000 conversions a week! From Wales, the revival began to spread to scattered cities in England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. It also spread as far as New Zealand, Madagascar, India, North America, Mexico, Australia, and several countries within Europe, Asia, and Africa. The revival was also a pre-cursor and believed to be a catalyst for future Holy Spirit movements like the Azusa Street Revival.

There was great cultural transformation as the revival spread. Shops closed down early so the workers could get a seat at the revival meetings. Bibles flew off the shelves in bookstores. Longstanding debts were paid off, drunkenness and crime drastically declined, and relationships were reconciled. Some people characterized the movement “by the most remarkable confession of sin, confessions that must be costly.” The mining workhorses did not know how to respond to the absence of profanity and abuse they were so accustomed to. The revival even spilled into places of leisure. One night at a football game, the whole crowd broke out singing one of the revival worship songs.

This was truly a revival founded on cultivating God’s presence. Transformation was released as a result of people worshipping God. The spontaneous flow of the Holy Spirit in worship, testimony, and prayer was the rhythm of the Welsh Revival. It was a revival led by the Holy Spirit, the conductor to a symphony of surrendered hearts.

Redemption

The Protestant Reformation transformed a religious system and freed people to worship God in spirit and in truth. The Welsh Revival ignited a flame that inspired and gave birth to future Holy Spirit movements. October 31st is pregnant with potential to once again be a powerful day of ignition for reformation and revival movements. There is an inheritance waiting to be tapped into for those who are brave enough to step out in faith to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit on this special date in history. October 31st is an anointed day, filled with opportunities for new revival flames to be ignited and spread around the world.

Evan Roberts asked that the children in the towns he was going to visit would learn and pray the following prayer to prepare for the revival.

I encourage you to pray this out loud as a declaration over your life today. As you pray this catalytic prayer again today and take risks to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit into new territories, may you see the Holy Spirit move in greater power than ever before.

Send the Spirit now, for Jesus Christ's sake

Send the Spirit now powerfully, for Jesus Christ's sake

Send the Spirit now more powerfully for Jesus Christ's sake

Send the Spirit now still more powerfully for Jesus Christ's sake

-Evan Roberts 1904

To Learn More

Watch Jen share about the Welsh Revival.

Listen to Jen share about the significance of this day at a Destiny House meeting on October 31, 2013.

• The night Destiny House Community redeemed this day in history through worship and recounting testimonies of old October 31, 2013.

Read Jen's article on Charisma Magazine

*Destiny House community does a worship night each year on or around this day, releasing further testimonies to shift and redeem this day back into the kingdom. Wherever you are, feel free to join together in the same spirit by doing a meeting in your city with friends and family to share Holy Ghost stories, pray, and worship on this significant day in revival history. Please send us any testimonies from what happens this day or as a result of reading this article to info@silvertogold.com.

The following artwork was released by Jenny Schoensiegel October 31st, 2013 at one of our Reformation Day events at Destiny House.

On October 31, 2015, we launched Jen's book Writing in the Glory: Living from Your Heart to Release a Book that will Impact the World so that we could pull from the wells of Reformation and Welsh Revival glory and sow that revival fire into this catalytic project as we launched revivalist writers around the world. We had a great time October 31st together at Destiny House worshipping and tapping into such deep wells together as we sought God for an even greater Reformation and Love Revolution to arise in our day.

On October 31, 2018, our Destiny House family around the world hosted a worship night in Redding, CA, in Maui, and one in Australia.

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Footnotes

[1] Wayne Warner, Maria Woodworth-Etter: For Such a Time as This (Gainsville, FL: Bridge-Logos, 2004), 316-317 and Edith L. Blumhofer, Aimee Semple McPherson: Everybody's Sister (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993. reprinted 1998), 140. [2] Roberts Liardon, God’s Generals: The Roaring Reformers (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 2003), 122. [3] Much of the section on Evan Roberts comes from Defining Moments by Bill Johnson and Jennifer A. Miskov (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 2016).

by Jennifer A. Miskov, PhD. (July 9, 2016)

Hi, my name is Jen, and I am a recovering Facebook addict. I confess that I have checked Facebook regularly throughout the day and even into the evening in excessive measures.

I’ve successfully been off of FB for over a month now after deactivating my account. I admit, the first week coming off of FB, I had withdrawals. Since I’m usually all or nothing, I felt I needed to completely unplug to break this addiction. Deactivating FB made me realize that every time I woke up or was stressed out, or went to the bathroom and got away from the crowds or even when I was with people, there was a compulsion to check FB, even if just out of habit.

Instant gratification, immediate response time, and scrolling through other people’s newsfeeds on FB has helped make me even more impulsive than ever. Rather than have deep conversations and connect with people in real time, I would regularly be distracted and want to check my FB. It began to change the way I think. I began to think shorter thoughts.

In the beginning of my FB fast, I had to restructure the way I thought. I was living life and enjoying the moment but then stuck with how to share these experiences with my friends. Where would I post pictures of my epic surfing adventures in Bali or of my new baby nephew I met for the first time in Thailand last month? Once I deactivated FB, I wasn’t sure how to share on a more personal level with people. Rather than posting a picture for the masses, I had to redefine how and who I would want to share these experiences with. I texted a few people pictures of my trip since I could no longer post pictures for the masses on FB and assume there was an exchange of life because they saw my post. It helped me to redefine and focus.

One thing I have learned so far on my FB fast is that it is very liberating to not have to check FB every five minutes after I’ve posted something to see who liked it or commented. It’s wonderful being out to dinner with a friend and being able to be fully present in the conversation with the person in front of me rather than checking to see which one of my 4,000 + FB friends responded to one of my posts.

On this fast, I also noticed when I’m out in public that a lot of people are tied to their mobile devices. Countless times I have gone out to dinner with a friend only to notice people around us literally sitting in front of each other at the table and focused on their devices rather than engaging in conversation with the one sitting in front of them.

One of the reasons I got off of FB was so that I could unplug, re-set, and begin dreaming about what God has for me in the upcoming season without any distractions. I wanted to go back to my mystic roots and become a minimalist once again in this season. Silence is one of my love languages and I love to sit at the lake for hours and just think. With FB in my life however, I was regularly distracted and torn between the beauty in front of me and the false sense of connection I felt by looking down at my phone. I wanted my thoughts to be pure, refined, and deeper than what FB required from me. I was also getting ready to dive into writing my next book and I wanted it to come from a deep well, not something fragmented, impulsive, shallow, or flashy. I was reflecting on what it must have been like for someone like Jane Austin to write a book. Long days with lots of silence, quiet space, and time to think deep thoughts. I felt that there might be a deep place in my heart I could explore more fully. I knew that to get to the depths of that journey inward, I would need to be unhindered from any distractions.

The problem was that my addiction to FB owned me rather than me using it for purposes that would align with my values. So now, into the second month of my FB fast, I am continuing to enjoy a simpler and more focused life. I’m journaling more, spending more time outside enjoying the summer with friends, climbing mountains, and having deeper conversations without being distracted. I’m reading more books, spending more time with family, and letting my heart feel at a deeper level. I’m deep cleaning and purging my house and my life it seems. I’m getting more focused on the Lord and praying more often. I’m learning to grow in vulnerability, be uncomfortable, and remain with the people in front of me rather than escape by looking down at my phone all of the time.

I’m also praying about what my relationship with FB will be like in the future. If we ever do get back together, I want to set some good boundaries so that I can limit myself to the constant infiltration of words, videos, pictures of others’ lives and begin to live my life more fully in the present. I want my relationship with FB to be life-giving to myself and to all of my “friends.” I think social media and FB can be a wonderful tool to release the power of the testimony, change lives, and share my heart with the world. So if or when I do ever return to FB, I want there to be purpose in this relationship. I want to utilize FB so it becomes a blessing rather than let it control and take over my life.

So that’s my story in case some of you wondered where I disappeared to. Hope you enjoyed the journey. Life is too short to waste it looking down all the time, unless of course, it's something special like this...

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If you feel the need to cut back on your FB use, one way is to remove the FB ap from your phone. Another is to only check FB one day a week or whatever you feel works well with you. If you feel like you might be in a similar position with FB where it has taken more of your time than you realized, I encourage you to take a week off to see how it changes your thinking and to allow deeper heart issues to emerge. Agreat way to do this is to deactivate your account by going to Settings (Account Settings), Security, Account (Deactivate), Temporary, enter your password. By deactivating rather than deleting your account, everything (photos, posts, etc.) will be saved until you sign in again to reactivate your account. You can do this for a week at a time and you can also keep your messenger account active even while off of FB. Would love to hear your thoughts, tips, best practices, or awakenings that occurred especially by those who took the week challenge. Please post comments below.

Blessings, grace, and greater focus on your life in this season for all that God wants to pour out. Thanks for listening, Jen

by Jessika Tate, Destiny House alumni 2015-2016

On October 24, 2014, I walked into Friday morning worship at Destiny House, still battling anxiety and still having nightmares. I was still trying to pretend like I was okay and that I was strong even though I had no hope and was unsure if I would ever be “healed” and have my life back. That morning a woman I had only talked to a couple of times before came over and asked if she could put me in the middle of the crowd and dance over me. Having anxiety, depression, post-traumatic issues, and deep heartache, the thought of being the center of attention sounded miserable. Unsure of what was going to happen and way less than confident that this would help me at all, I reluctantly moved to the middle, mainly because I didn't want to be rude.

As she began to dance, I put my head down, shut my eyes, and pleaded with God for it to be over. Then I felt it. I felt something physical begin to fall off my shoulders; it felt as though heavy weights were being knocked off with a sledgehammer. Then I felt the "foggy" head I had for months clear up. I felt anxiety leave the pit of my stomach for the first time in months. I physically felt a release of pain and tension in my heart. As this happened, I crumpled into a heap in the floor and began to weep uncontrollably. When I did, I was soon surrounded by people praying and prophesying over me.

That day has forever changed my life. I have not battled that consistent anxiety one day since then, nor had another nightmare. My hope has been restored. My joy is overflowing. My complete healing has been a process, but that process began with this miracle. God used dance to break off what nothing else had managed to do. I'm still overwhelmed by His mercy, His creative healing, and His kindness. I found out later that I was the first person she had ever danced over. I am so thankful to Katharina Welt for being obedient to dance over me even when it seemed crazy. God is so good and there is always hope. Whatever your struggle has been, GOD will see you through it and He will use it not only for your good but to help others! Don't quit, there is HOPE!

To learn more about Jessika's story and heart to take Jesus into War Zones, go HERE

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

I’ve been diving into community at Destiny House for over four years now where God sends incredible people into my life for a season but then many return to their home countries after the season is over. At times it’s heartbreaking because I have come to love these with my whole heart and then they leave. I always have a choice. I can fully engage, be all in, enjoy every moment and be fully present during the time we are together. Or, I can live guarded, protected, and pull back because they are going to leave anyway. I can choose to realize that God has intersected our lives for such a time as this and that there are keys of destiny hidden inside of us for each other. Or, I can remain in relationship with them at an arm’s distance so they can’t access my heart and then I won’t have to feel pain when they leave. This would be a very sad story if I chose the latter. The abundant life Jesus died for us to have in John 10:10 is full of joy and sorrow, tears and miracles.

It’s important to be all in and fully engaged with the people God has surrounded us with in each present season. It’s not wise to pull back just before someone moves away because of fear they will be gone forever and the relationship will end. This action will sabotage great treasures that might still need to be discovered in the present with that person.

God has destined us to live and be fully alive in each and every season of life. With all of the incredible people coming and going in our lives, I want to share something that one of my spiritual father’s, Bob Fulton, taught me that will help in this transition. Being the surfer that I am, he explained it to me this way.

Imagine you are sitting at a lifeguard tower and there are people playing in the sand and in the water just in front of your tower. These are the ones God has brought into your life for such a time as this. It is important to be present with these in the moment. Some of these will stay in your life forever and that is a beautiful thing, but some also will be there only for a season and then they will move on. That is also something to celebrate and thank God for the gift of that season of time together.

Looking to the left up the beach, you can see people playing in the water and you can’t wait to do life with them. However, they are not in front of your lifeguard tower and it’s not time to give them your full attention yet. Eventually, the current will bring them to you and then you can dive in together. When they arrive, some of these will stay with you for a season and some for life. It is all worth celebrating.

Then there are those who enjoy the beach in front of your lifeguard tower who go out swimming and the current takes them to the right and further down the beach. They no longer play in front of your lifeguard tower. They have now moved on. As you look down the beach, your heart swells with so many memories. It’s a bittersweet moment but you realize this is their path. You try your best to celebrate the moments and memories you’ve had with them. You do your best to let go and trust them to God because you know if you don’t, you won’t be able to be fully present for the ones God has positioned right in front of you for the this new season.

It’s important to celebrate and thank God for every moment you have with the people you love and also to live open handedly, fully surrendering these gifts to Him. He is their Father and loves them even more than you do. He will provide other spiritual mothers, fathers, and friends, down the beach in front of other lifeguard towers. Some may even come back later on in life and visit you again, recounting memories of old.

Every moment is worth living wholeheartedly. Every season is something to celebrate no matter how short or long it may be. Every relationship is a gift from God.

Celebrate those God has positioned in front of you for such a time as this. You will never have the same dynamics and synergy of people together like what’s in front of you today. Some may transition out of your daily life but as we live wholeheartedly, pieces of our heart will carry on within each other far and wide. May God give you the grace to dive in with those He’s brought to you now. May you have a fresh perspective to celebrate, bless, and live wholeheartedly until the end of each season, thanking God for the gift of life and friendship He has brought into your life today.

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D. and author of Ignite Azusa: Positioning for a New Jesus Revolution

Can thousands of people gathered together for one purpose shift a generation into the next Great Awakening? What if the date and location of this gathering tapped into one of the deepest wells of revival we’ve experienced over the last century?

On April 9, 2016, which was also the 110th anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival, our generation was inaugurated into a new era. Lou Engle and TheCall, in partnership with Bethel Church in Redding, California, hosted over 60,000 people in an event called Azusa Now. People from all around the world gathered together in the rain at the Los Angeles Coliseum to make the name of Jesus famous once again. The day was filled with worship, prayer, healing, miracles, prophetic acts, and signs and wonders. During the week preceding this event, Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, Circuit Riders, Youth With A Mission, Iris Global, and many other ministries sent out armies of Jesus lovers to flood L.A. with the love and power of God. Deaf ears were opened, people got up out of wheelchairs, many were welcomed into the family of God, and signs and wonders were released.

Because of the prophetic words and impossibilities connected to the Azusa Now story, it is important to pay attention. This was not just another Christian worship event. Deep wells of the Azusa Street Revival (1906), which birthed over half a billion Christians and has spread to nearly every country in the world over the past century, were accessed on Saturday. At Azusa Now, many different streams of Christianity came together in unity for one purpose. Profound reconciliation occurred. Worship filled the stadium. Ripple effects that will impact the world and eternity will result from what was poured out at Azusa Now.

We Walk by Faith Not Sight

Something powerful and profound happened at Azusa Now whether we see and understand it now or not. Many stepped out in great faith to see God’s kingdom come to this generation. If all of this was done and only one person got saved or healed, it would have been worth it. What if that one person will later become the next D.L. Moody or Billy Graham we may never know. However, we do know that many entered into God’s kingdom and many others were restored, healed, and set free that day. We don’t know how many lives these ones will touch in the future but these will be the inheritance of what was poured out at Azusa Now.

In the evening session at Azusa Now, evangelist Daniel Kolenda shared how God marked him at TheCall D.C. over ten years ago. He was impregnated with a hunger and passion to see souls saved. He’s since brought thousands into the kingdom of God. The impact of what was released when he attended TheCall D.C. might not have become visible the next week or even the next year, but something significant happened that later contributed to the momentum of hundreds of thousands being led to the Lord. Whether we see profound results today or in the next ten years from what happened at Azusa Now, we said yes to what God asked of us. That is something to celebrate. We need to trust Him with the results as we continue to dive even deeper into His presence.

Healing on the Streets

When I was doing my Ph.D. on revival history while living in England, I helped my church set up Healing on the Streets in the city square where many youth gathered. We set up chairs in the middle of the square and put up a flag that said Healing. Anyone walking by who wanted prayer would sit in a chair and we would pray for him or her right out in the open. We did this every month and saw many miracles take place: legs grew, depression lifted, cigarettes disappeared, and people even grew taller. However, there’s one story I want to share that will help demonstrate the unseen impact Azusa Now will have in the future.

One time when we were out on the streets, we met a teenager named Ben. He had been hit by a car and his leg was in a cast. He was a rough looking kid but had allowed us to pray for him. As our team laid hands and prayed for him in the middle of the town square, the presence of God fell on him powerfully. However, when he left, he hobbled away, still on crutches with no visible sign of healing. Did we fail? Did we not have enough faith to bring him into his healing? I think not. I believe that every Holy Spirit-led act of faith is something to celebrate. Our job is to obey God. He is in charge of the results.

The next month we went back to the same spot and saw Ben running out to greet us. He shared how a week after we prayed, he was totally healed and even went out jogging!!! We hadn’t seen the effects in the moment we prayed, but God was working behind the scenes. Furthermore, one year after Ben got healed, we were all drinking coffee in a Starbucks and sharing testimonies after our ministry time on the streets. I noticed the Holy Spirit was doing something in Ben so I asked him what was going on. His grandmother had just passed away and he heard her favorite song come on which made him emotional. We prayed for him right there in the Starbucks and he began to weep. Then he said to me, “Jen, I never told you this before but a year ago when you all prayed for me, I had so much anger and rage inside of me that I was going to beat someone up that day. After you all prayed for me, that anger left and I have never been the same.” We found this out one year later!

We don’t always know or see the results of stepping out in faith, worshipping in unity, or doing prophetic acts led by the Spirit, however, in due time, these will surface. Azusa Now may or may not have been what we all imagined. We may have seen incredible miracles and salvations or we may not have seen what we were hoping for. However, something powerful was released either way that will impact generations. We must be content knowing that heaven is celebrating us each and every time we step out in faith to follow the leading of the Spirit. Yes, many people got saved, healed, and delivered which is incredible. However, Azusa Now was just the beginning of more to come.

The Rudder of Our Ship Has Shifted

The prophetic act of thousands of people worshipping together in one place, in one city, and on the anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival synergized and shifted us into a new era. What we did that day is like shifting the direction of a rudder on a large ship. Our generation may or may not recognize the radical change and the momentum that will carry on for generations from now from what was released at Azusa Now. However, even the slightest of changes on a rudder will re-direct the course of that ship. Over time, that ship will arrive at a completely different destination.

We are now going in a new direction, even if ever so slightly. This change will take us to a greater reality than any could ever have hoped, dreamed, or imagined. The New Jesus Revolution has already begun. Sometimes this happens in the smallest of ways. Never underestimate the power of Jesus working even in one small shift, one great decision made, or one person saved. Remember and record what happened in your life on Saturday April 9, 2016 and celebrate each seed of hope that was released. This is only the beginning. These seeds will one day grow and emerge into giants as they are saturated by more of the Holy Spirit.

I close by quoting a song by Bob Dylan. I encourage you to imagine God singing it over you and our generation:

“The storms are raging on the rolling seas

And on the highway of regret

The winds of change are blowing wild and free

You ain’t seen nothing like Me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true

Nothing that I wouldn’t do

Go to the ends of the earth for you

To make you feel My love”

God has already gone to the ends of the earth to make you feel His love when He sent His Son Jesus. I pray that in this new era, your eyes are opened more than ever before to see and to receive a fresh revelation of the Father’s great love. I pray that you become a target for His blessing, favor, and presence. May your heart increase in capacity to be able to receive the great love God is pouring out and to overflow it to others. May you be apprehended by God’s extravagant and unceasing love like never before. Hang on tight, we’re in for the wildest ride of our lives! 

*See book Ignite Azusa: Positioning for a New Jesus Revolution by Jennifer A. Miskov with Heidi Baker, Bill Johnson, and Lou Engle to learn more about the Azusa Street Revival and the new move of God in our day.

by Jennifer A. Miskov, PhD and author of Ignite Azusa: Positioning for a New Jesus Revolution with Heidi Baker, Lou Engle, and Bill Johnson

Remember what life is like today because after Saturday, everything changes. At the 110th anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival to be held at the Coliseum in Los Angeles April 9, 2016, we take our first steps into a new era. The Call Azusa, where over 100,000 people will gather for one purpose, to worship Jesus and make His name great, will shift us into the next Great Awakening and a New Jesus Revolution. The name of Jesus will be celebrated once again. Being a Christian will be the coolest thing one can do. People will experience and receive Jesus for the gift He truly is without all the excess and baggage people place on Him.

Where two or three are gathered, God hears and acts on their behalf (Matthew 18:19). When the disciples and their friends were gathered together in unity to wait upon the Lord, the Holy Spirit fell mightily (Acts 2). When a handful of passionate saints met in a little home on Bonnie Brae Street April 9, 1906 for a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their time, God crashed in and birthed a movement that is still having ripple effects to this day, over 100 years later. The flame that was ignited that day has brought more than half a billion people to Jesus and has spread the gospel to nearly every country in the world.

It only takes a few people to start a fire.

So if God poured out His Spirit in a powerful way through His twelve disciples and the others gathered on the day of Pentecost and also through those at Bonnie Brae Street, what might happen when not just a small handful of people gather for one purpose, but 100,000?  The prophetic act alone of worshipping in Spirit and truth with 100,000 other believers is sure to have ripple effects for eternity that will long surpass Saturday. God is awakening this generation once again.

The gathering at the Coliseum this weekend is no small thing. Make no mistake. Azusa Now will be something we will tell our grandkids and great grandkids about years from now. It will mark the beginning of a new era.

Do whatever you have to get there or to watch on live streaming. This is a once in the lifetime opportunity to be a part of something greater than we could ever dream of.

In June 1906, just months after the fire at Azusa Street was ignited, participant Frank Bartleman wrote the following:

Opportunity once passed, is lost forever. There is a time when the tide is sweeping by our door. We may then plunge in and be carried to glorious blessing, success and victory. To stand shivering on the bank, timid, or paralyzed with stupor, at such a time, is to miss all, and most miserably fail, both for time and for eternity. Oh, our responsibility! The mighty tide of God’s grace and favor is even now sweeping by us, in its prayer-directed course…It is time to ‘get together,’ and plunge in, individually and collectively. We are baptized ‘in one Spirit, into one body,’ - I Cor. 12:13. Let us lay aside all carnal contentions and divisions, that separate us from each other and from God. If we are of His body, we are ‘one body.’ The opportunity of a lifetime, of centuries, is at our door, to be eternally gained or lost. There is no time to hesitate. Act quickly, lest another take thy crown. Oh, church of Christ, awake! Be baptized with power. Then fly to rescue others. And to meet your Lord.

May a New Jesus Revolution emerge where the name of Jesus becomes famous once again and where being in love with Him is our one desire.

*Excerpts and inspiration from new book Ignite Azusa available here. See also Heidi Baker, Lou Engle, and Bill Johnson in video clip below where Lou also releases a blessing in the very end over Ignite Azusa.

*The following is an excerpt of Lou Engle from new book Ignite Azusa: Positioning for a New Jesus Revolution by Jennifer A. Miskov also including Heidi Baker and Bill Johnson. This excerpt is followed by a prayer of impartation by Lou over all who read.

A few years back, I visited Carrie Judd Montgomery’s healing home in Oakland, California, called the Home of Peace. When I was at this historic revival well, the host showed me the guest book from 1908 with an entry by Azusa Street Revival participant Frank Bartleman. Although I have never met Bartleman, he has always been like a spiritual father for me because of his deep passion for intercession to see revival. I feel he is up there in the great cloud of witnesses encouraging me on in these days. I discovered that he wrote out his own modified version of Isaiah 59:16 in the guest book: “And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercession.” I felt the Lord say to me, “Let San Francisco and California have an intercessor right now.” Not long after, my team and I decided to spend our forty-day fast for TheCall Berkeley at the Home of Peace in 2014.

Just as Bartleman interceded before the birth of the Azusa Street Revival because he could sense a historic shift, so I believe that we are also at a tipping point in our generation. It will be important to draw from the well at Azusa Street to gain insights on how we can better partner with what God wants to do in our day and go even further. When California seeks God like they sought for gold in the early days, God’s glory will return.

I pray for each one reading Ignite Azusa that you would have encounters and open heaven visitations. I pray for revival days to explode and that God would restore the breech, and repair the fallen down walls and city streets’ dwellings. I pray that God would pour out His Spirit like He did during Lonnie Frisbee’s time and that there would be another wave of revival in California, a new Jesus Movement. I pray that each one reading this book would have an encounter with God that will set the next stage of history in California, in America, and beyond.

Thirty-one years ago I read a book called Azusa Street by Frank Bartleman. It imparted fire into my being. A book can shift your life and can shift history. My friend Jen Miskov just wrote a book called Ignite Azusa. We believe this little book will light fires and prepare a people for another great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. So receive this book and as we put our blessing on this book, I want to pray you that you would receive an Impartation of a spirit of revival as you read it. I pray right now that the spirit that was on Azusa, that was on William J. Seymour and on Frank Bartleman would be released on those who read. Even now create hunger in their souls, desire and make them instruments of revival. In the name of Jesus, I bless you. Amen.

I want to introduce you to a burning one in our generation who is hungry to see Jesus poured out to this generation at all costs. I met Mary when she took my Azusa class at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. She is a BSSM students from England and carries a fire inside that is sure to fan your flame. Blessings and fire as you read her recent word.

Jen Miskov

Facing the Wave

Standing at the precipice of Azusa, I have mixed emotions: excitement, anticipation, hope, and fear. Hope of what could be, and fear that everything I have hoped for will come to nothing. As I talked to God, I felt Him speak to me about “facing the wave.” He encouraged me to stand strong and to trust in Him. What He is about to do is not about me, or what I can achieve; it is all about Him. All He is asking from me is my yes, and my courage to stand and to be led by His voice. I am His daughter. There is nothing I need to prove to Him or to anyone else. I need to remain in His love, follow His voice, hold fast to His promises, and expect HIM to move. This is what I wrote whilst “facing the wave”:

We are standing in front of a wave. We are watching it rise. We are holding our breath. We are waiting for the tipping point. We have called out, we have hungered, and now we face the very answer. We will not run; we will stand.

Now is the time for courage. Now is the time to stand. Now is the time to press forward. The call to advance has been sounded. Do not flee; do not break the battle lines. The enemy is putting out a counterfeit sound, the sound of retreat. Pay no heed; remain steadfast. The sound of heaven is the call to advance. The angelic armies are stationed and ready. Go forth and join the ranks.

We are ready. We are ready together. We are standing as one; we have moved into formation, we do not advance alone. Taking ground, step after step, walking in step, only looking forward, and never looking back. Our spirits will not flinch. We will not be intimidated or confused. We will move in one accord. We have one commander, and we have heard the call to arms. We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the angelic hosts and the armies of man; positioned to advance.

And who is our Commander? He is King of Love, Prince of Peace, Miracle Worker, and Compassionate Healer. He is Wall Builder, Prison Breaker, and Hope Bringer. He is Truth Teller, Radical Restorer, Freedom Fighter, Passionate Pursuer, and Burden Bearer. He is the Still Small Voice and the Roaring Waters. We have met Him under the trysting tree and have sat on His knee. Now we will go to meet Him in the field. We are His. No pressure, no burdens; the battle belongs to the Lord. We will not be overwhelmed. We will face the wave and let it crash over us, abandoned to grace, and holding the promise. We know that our God is mighty and He is also good, relentlessly good. And as this wave crashes, it’s His goodness that covers us.  

*To learn more about this move of God see azusanow2016.com and Ignite Azusa.