Day 28. Now.

In hours many of you will be arriving in Atlanta. But Passion doesn’t start when you get here, Passion begins the instant you become intoxicated by the grace of God and decide to make every breath about the Savior who brought you back to life again. Shake off the fog of lies that suffocate and cling to the voice of the Spirit. In Christ, you are prized, free, alive, new, washed clean, able.

If you’re on the way to Passion 07, we’ll see you soon! If not, know we feel your prayers from a far and will see you by the miracle of technology once the first session is streamed sometime Monday night/Tuesday morning.

Father, what more can we say? 28 days. So many words.
We need You more than ever. You are everything. Be happy at Passion 07. It’s all for You, Jesus. Who else would it be about anyway? I love You.

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12

Day 27. Details.

We shouldn’t be surprised to know that God is a part of every aspect of our lives. He’s not too busy (He doesn’t sleep), uninterested (He’s here with us), high and mighty (He’s a servant-King), overloaded (He knows the names of all the stars) or ambivalent (He gave His best for us) to be connected to the small stuff. While He is a “big picture God,” He’s “intimately acquainted with all our ways.” Psalm 139:3.

God is specific (check out all the genealogies and lists in the Bible). He is into microscopic things. He first split the atom. And there is no detail in your life today too small for Him to know and care about.

That’s good news as many little pieces are assembled into Passion 07 today! So find something small to pray about or rejoice in:
We survived yesterday with only one broken finger (a crew member building the GWCC Arena).
Cheryl is feeling better.
There is no other virus outbreak that we know about.
Thousands of resources are being organized into an amazing store.
Eight interactive Pods (huge) are being built to house Global Awakening and the Do Something Now Campaign.
People are buying towels right now at Walmarts across the nation.
24,000 registration packets are being put together, all with various wristbands, maps, etc..
Our production crew is finishing the GWCC Arena today. They will have to wait until after midnight New Year’s Eve to start on Phillips due to Widespread Panic shows tonight and tomorrow night.
We will pack Phillips Arena 24 hours after two Widespread Panic shows!!!
The Chick-fil-A Bowl is happening next door in the GA Dome tonight (and parade today!).
We are negotiating Widespread Panic and Bowl crowds!
The weather has been semi-mild and dry for load in so far. Maybe rain tonight?
The forecast for next week is mostly dry and mild-cool!
20 Community group settings are being brought to life.
Over 30 Team Leaders are cranking at full speed. (Their pics/names are in a December post).
Volunteers are coming to help for the day.
Over 1000 other volunteers are coming for the week.
Thousands of students are rockin the Omni right now at Crusade’s Impact Conference.
Urbana’s going strong in St, Louis with over 22,000. (Lots more details there!).
More Crusade Conferences are in full swing. (More details).
Other conferences are happening everywhere. (Many more details).

Father, it’s amazing that You see and know us all. Teach us today to pray about the smallest things. For Jesus’ sake, who was the specific answer to hundreds of promises (details), Amen.

“All this” said David, “the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the details of this pattern.” Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.” 1 Chronicles 28:19-20

After an apparent post-Christmas jam (I think the iTunes site almost crashed), two new releases from sixsteps records are now online in the iTunes store for those of you with iTunes gift cards burning holes in your pockets. Also available everywhere!

Day 26. Prepare.

That’s the word of the day as our Passion Team moves into downtown Atlanta and begins the weekend process of loading in everything we need for Passion 07. Team Leaders have arrived from California, Minnesota, Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee and all across Atlanta to prepare the way for you. These are the days of long hours and hard work that will make your experience at Passion 07 possible and, we hope, life-changing.

Please continue to pray for our staff/team and volunteers today. Cheryl Bell, our Passion Event Director, is under the weather and germs of all kinds seem to be flying around trying to take our team down. As well, one of our Community Group leaders (T.S.) was just diagnosed with cancer this week. He’s still on the way to Atlanta, but will be facing treatment options and further prognosis after Passion 07.

Father, prepare us as we prepare the way for You. Be present in the little things–packing, last minute changes, flight connections- -as well as the major ones. We know Passion is more than an event, but Your Kingdom coming to push back the darkness. We are in a struggle, yet You are mighty to save. Today, while the building begins, we are confident that You, Jesus, will lead us through victoriously as our eyes are on You. Amen.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.” Psalm 127:1-2

[Enjoy the pic from the Omni Hotel, across Centennial Olympic Park to downtown!]

Day 25. Wind.

Jesus is a movement. He’s not into monuments, systems or external structures. He is a river of life, “And everywhere the river flows, everything lives.” Movements are fluid. Movements move. Movements are not always predictable.

Passion began 11 years ago with a desire to spark a movement among this collegiate generation. We’re not the first to have this desire and won’t be the last. We’re just one grain of sand in the Sahara Desert-sized work God is doing around the globe. And, more than anything, we want to fight the tendency to settle and conform. Our brand must be more than catchy phrases and events. Passion will only be a movement when one altered life shines His light in the darkness for all to see. Movement = many lights making a mighty wave for His fame.

The external stuff of Passion07 is not what we’re after, not what we need. Some will be fooled because they fill an arena and sing the songs, deceived because they feel the emotion and shed the tears. Yet without a heart that is honest and open before Him, no Spirit-birthed river can flow. If we’re going to be part of a movement, Jesus must have the freedom to break and reshape every heart.

Lord, we will not be satisfied by outward signs of spirituality, outward expressions alone. Help us. Assist us. We desire to move beyond outward layers that deceive and impress, but do not revive the soul. I’m raising my life to you. Wind of the Spirit, come. Don’t let me stagnate. Blow me onward. Wildly. Forward. Powerfully. Godward.
For Jesus sake, Amen.

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

Day 24. Honestly.

It’s OK to come to God just like you are. While it won’t be His plan to leave you that way for long, God is in touch with our true condition…He sees our hearts as plain as day and knows our motives as well as our words.

He understands our humanity. Our struggle. Our dark hearts. Our failing. Jesus didn’t make the journey from heaven to the manger for people who needed a tiny bit of assistance. He came for the sick (the really sick), the crushed, the lost (like sheep with no shepherd) and the criminal among us. He came for the worst. And He came to raise the dead and touch those who were decaying from the inside out.

So as we come to Passion 07, let’s come honestly and deal with things as they are. Let’s lay down the need to impress each other, for that route leaves us looking good in their eyes but missing the healing power of His. Let’s come to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ and seek mercy and grace in our time of need. Let’s be real… and transparent. Let’s stop faking it, and fall into the arms of the One who sees night and noonday the same. Let’s not try to hide from the One who can put us back together again. And let’s ask Him to shine His light into our reality, however dark, and bring life again.

Father, You see me like I am…as I am, yet You are still here. Still loving. Still waiting for me to step from the shadows and run into Your arms again. Meet me at the depths of me and do what only You can. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.” Psalm 103:8-14

Day 23. Humbly.

If it’s true that God spoke the Universe into existence, and then sent His Son into that world on a rescue mission of love–a mission He knew would cost Him His life and purchase ours–then let’s come to Passion 07 carrying a hefty does of humility in our hearts…that attitude that says “You are God and we are not.”

Humility, by the way, is simply seeing God. Pride, on the other hand, is seeing ourselves. No one has ever had a true glimpse of God and not ended up closer to the floor. He is glorious and massive and radiant and holy and imposing and awe-inspiring and intimidating. Yet, God somehow wedged all that into a Bethlehem manger in Christ so He could wrap us in His arms. Sin continually and deceptively puffs us up, making us think we’re larger than life, while shrinking our ability to live in the fulness of His.

So, arriving at Passion 07 let’s let the re-sizing begin.
Loved and treasured by God, let’s insist less and say “yes” more.
Let’s not stiffen our necks, rather let’s soften our hearts.
Why act like we know it all already, let’s come open to whatever He has to say.
Let’s lay down our agendas and figure our where we fit in His.
Let’s confess the shortcomings of “us” and embrace the sureness of Him.
Let’s tread gently.
Come reverently.
Let’s surrender first, before He even asks.
Let’s stop assuming.
And demanding.
And ignoring.
And running.
Let’s bow.
And bend.
And pause.
And honor.
Let’s lift Him high and bow down low.

Down low, on our knees, is where the mighty river flows…the raging current of His love and power and peace.

Father, with one week until Passion 07, please soften our hearts so they can easily fit into Your hands and into Your plans. We are making a mess of our lives without You. We need You more than ever. Help us down to our knees where surrender ushers in Your marvelous rescue. We love You Jesus, Amen.

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” Psalm 95:6-7

Looks like a few of you found a trip to Passion 07 under the tree!
Among those who registered on Christmas day, welcome to:
Kimberly – University of Arkansas
Jeff – Ga Tech
Simon – Not in school from Louisiana
Jacinda, Michelle and Allison – Samford
Kathryn – UGA
Logan – John Brown U
Brandon – University of Central Florida
Thomas – North Greenville U
Janet – Clemson
Rebecca – Bob Jones U
Courtney – U of Texas

There’s no telling how many others are scrapping their Christmas money together, working feverishly, still trying to convice the parents, praying it will work out and hoping for a Passion 07 miracle. We’re praying you all make it…and there is still time to bring someone along.

Stay tuned for the 28 Day Prayer Journey!

Day 22. All over the world.

Gesëende Kersfeest

Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan

Feliz Navidad

Zalig Kerstfeast

Ruumsaid juulup|hi

Joyeux Noel

Sung Tan Chuk Ha

Maligayan Pasko!

Happy Christmas

Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia

Selamat Hari Natal

Srozhdestvom Kristovym

Feliz Natal

Vesele Vianoce

Buone Feste Natalizie

Merry Christmas.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” Galatians 4:4-6

Day 21. The Day Before Jesus.

Waiting.
Clinging to distant hope.
Looking heavenward.
Are the promises true?
Religion’s not enough.
So weary of all the sacrifice.
Time after time.
Year after year.

We’ve heard of a coming Savior.
Can it be?
A God-sent one.
For us.
Here?

Darkness growing.
Joy fading.
Wandering.
Aimless.
Time wasting.
Purposeless.
Questions.
Hunger.
Forgetting.
Stumbling.
Lost.

Heavy weight.
So tired.
Little chance.
Is there something more?
Will He ever come?
What are we supposed to do?

400 years without a word.
Nothing.
Zip.
No prophet.
No message.
Not one syllable.
Silence.
Are we finished?
Forgotten?
Doomed?

Shepherd less.
Doing our best.
Life goes on.
Bustling.
Busy.
Trying.
Taxing.
So crowded tonight.
No vacancy.

Oh, you’re expecting?
So sorry.
We’re slammed.
No room for you.
A cave will have to do.