The counties around the area where I live in Redding, California, are plagued by destructive fires…..over 1200 of them, and some still raging!  In the Midwest floods are destroying homes and communities as well.

 Wouldn’t it be great if we could use the flood waters to put out the fires?

While in Florida, for the last 86 days God has poured out blessings unthinkable during what is being called ‘the Lakeland Revival’.  It is being televised by God TV for some by television and for others on the Internet at www.god.tv or www.freshfire.ca.com  nightly–available in 218 countries of the world.

It starts daily with praise and worship–calling in the Glory of God–and then the leaders proceed with the Holy Spirit to teaching, healing or testimonies.  Some miracles happen as we watch; others come to testify what God is doing while they are there, or what He has done while they watched from their own home.

This is a picture of the ‘fallen’ world we live in, and the faithfulness of God to the outcry of prayer for healing, signs and wonders that all point to the finished work of Jesus as Savior!  

The facility holds 10,000 and sometimes there is not enough room.  People are flying in from all over the world for a touch from God.  The tragedy of destruction in the rest of the country and the world cannot diminish the splendor of God’s presence in this unpretentious place.  While we enjoy these blessings we never want to forget to pray for those who are in the midst of tremendous loss. 

The media has been welcomed and miracles are being verified by doctors and hospitals.  Critics of Todd Bentley, the man God used to set off this spiritual wild fire, are not surprising.  As he is not a typical ‘man of God’ or ‘man of the cloth’ as we say.  Isn’t it just like God to use someone who stirs up controversy just with his presence.

I have had the privilege of being prayed for some months ago by Todd.  I recognized in him a deep abiding unswerving relentless love for Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, and also such a strong sacrificial love for God’s people,  (always enjoy throwing this in–God’s love is not sentimental goo but wanting the best for everyone).  And that is Todd as he spends untold hours of prayer for and over the people.

It is almost July 4th and we can all thank God for our country, for God’s blessings in Florida, and His comfort and help through people, for all those in the midst of crisis.   My prayer is that those who have lost so much will be able to watch some of these proceedings to give them hope and faith for the future!