And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. ( Esther 2:15b)

Will you set aside 7 minutes today to read Pastor Mark Arnold’s complete God story?

I didn’t plan to send any message today, but after just reading an email my father forwarded to me titled “Sarah is an Esther!!!” and researching this more online, I knew with absolute certainty that this message must go out TODAY!

After spending 30 minutes reading the Bible this morning in my secret place and then praying through my written prayer list for an hour, I went for a mile walk with my wife on this gorgeous Fall morning.

When we got back home, I retrieved the Culpeper Star Exponent (daily newspaper) in my mailbox. What caught my attention was the front page article about a record number of registered voters for the November 4 election.

Like many other people, I have never been more passionate about an election than this one. And what made me most passionate was John McCain’s vice presidential nomination of Governor Sarah Palin. When I watched Sarah’s Republican National Convention speech on YouTube that lit a fire within me.

Pastor Mark Arnold’s testimony of his encounter with Senator John McCain and Sarah Palin is by far the most riveting one I have heard during the entire presidential campaign. Here is just an excerpt of what he wrote:

When McCain came to hug her… he immediately shook my hand and following his moment with her, I shook his hand as he grabbed my hand, now for the second time, and I said, “God wants you to know that I’m praying for you, Sir!” He thanked me and kept smiling.  I repeated that phrase to him five times.  He grabbed my hands and looked right into my eyes and said, “I won’t make it without prayer.  Sir, Thank You for praying for me, and don’t let one day go by that you don’t pray for me.  I need all the prayers that I can get. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!”

As he moved to my right, Sarah Palin, came over to my left side…standing over the crowd and  then looking at the little lady who had lost the son.  It took a moment for her to shake some hands and people were pushing in all around.  Sarah came and got on her hands and knees on that side of the stage and hugged that little Mom, telling her, “…it was not in vain.”  She promised her support. 

It was at this moment Sarah Palin, reached out for me to help her up and as I was assisting her to stand was now face to face with her and GOD said, “Open up your Mouth and I will fill it.”

Here is what came out…
 
[She immediately began to cry]!
“God wants to tell you that you are Chosen for such a time as this!”
“You are called, and chosen to be a leader.”
“Don’t lose heart and don’t fear man.”

I encourage each and every one of you to read Pastor Mark Arnold’s entire message at today’s Link of the Day. Read it with an open mind and open spirit. Then pass the message along to others as the Holy Spirit guides you.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your great favor that is upon Governor Sarah Palin. May You use her to rescue our nation from the utter chaos that besets us just as You used Esther to save the Jewish people from being completely exterminated thousands of years ago. May You grace this message to spread like wild fire through the social networks. Thank You Jesus! It’s in Your holy and precious name, we humble ourselves and pray believing! Amen and Hallelujah!

Link of the Day
Pastor Gives Message To John McCain, Todd & Sarah Palin  [www.agreeinprayer.com]

Blessings to Governor Sarah Palin from the great Commonwealth of Virginia!

Historic speech by Governor Sarah Palin at RNC on September 3

What does it mean to you to be alert and ready?
What does it mean to you that the time is now?

I share today’s message because I believe it contains a prophetic word for each of us. I’ve mentioned before that each Tuesday afternoon Virginia Morton facilitates a prayer conference for Marching Through Culpeper and that our team is praying and working to have this Civil War novel turned into a TV mini-series and major motion picture to heal deep wounds of our nation.

I’ve also mentioned before that each week Virginia begins our prayer call by sharing a key word and relevant scriptures. On April 15, Virginia told our team the two key words the LORD gave her for that meeting were “alert” and “ready.” Virginia told us we need to be alert and ready. She explained that the dictionary says “alert” means being watchful and vigilantly ready. She then went on to share these 5 scriptures:

1 Cor 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

John 4:34-35 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”

Luke 12:37,38,40 “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants… Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Virginia then began praying. First Virginia praised and thanked God, which is the protocol for entering His presence. Then she prayed, “Father, we want to be spiritually alert for what You are sending us each day. The time is now. We are not going to continue to wait for the harvest. Rather, we are going to listen to what Jesus tells us, namely that the harvest is ready.”

Virginia’s message resonated very positively with my spirit and the spirits of everyone else on the phone call. It spurred me into action and in the next two days I had my web team design a new website and blog for Marching Through Culpeper to help Virginia communicate her messages to the world. The time is now.

Later in our call, Bob Sims told our team “The root of all awakening is the family.” He commented about my devotional sent earlier that morning about American Idol titled “Shout to the LORD.” Bob said when we use the arts (e.g. music, movies, paintings, books, etc) to share about Jesus, young people will listen. They won’t listen to just our words or talking. Bob prayed that the LORD will bring the generations back together. Shortly after that, Kay Dunkley shared some phenomenal stories of how God is using her to unite 3 generations of a very influential family with its original pre-Civil War home near Virginia Tech.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, we praise You as the God of vigilance, not missing anything that’s going on. Thank You for Your warning to be alert and ready. Help each of us to understand and apply that to our lives. May we step into action as You reveal Your next steps to us. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
www.PrayCulpeper.org: A Light to the World – major updates to this website were made this past weekend, including new content, photo gallery, and blog

Blessings to be alert and ready for what God is about to do!

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

What will be the ultimate legacy of Jeri Bradley in the future of Culpeper and Virginia?

On January 15, I was very sad to discover that Jeri Bradley had died the day before. Not only did Jeri have a profound and positive impact on Culpeper, but on me as well. Thanks to Jeri and her husband Al Gaige, I was able to host “A Life of Blessing” on their local B&G TV station from Nov 2004 thru Nov 2005. The interviews I did on that show opened many doors of opportunity. Pray Culpeper and this devotional are just some of the fruit from that.

In her Jan 15 front page article titled “Jeri Bradley dies of cancer,” Allison Brophy Champion wrote:

“She (Jeri) was a respected public figure who led a mostly private life. It was other people’s stories that she wanted to tell and she did it with style and professionalism. Jeri Bradley did it her way. The dark-haired local TV personality and broadcaster died from cancer Monday in her Culpeper home. Bradley was diagnosed with the illness in September. She would have turned 60 next week.

To the very end, Bradley was dedicated to her work. It was what she loved. A mother of two daughters and grandmother of four, Bradley also deeply loved her family; her parents were living with her when she died. Bradley and her husband, Al Gaige – the man behind the camera – celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary January 2.

In August, even as she was preparing for surgery, they launched an educational television station in partnership with the George Washington Carver Training Center on U.S. 15. ‘Now is the fun part,’ she said at the time of the station’s unveiling. ‘We want to make this the heartbeat of our community.’”

When I learned Jeri’s funeral was going to be a private one, I emailed Al Gaige to ask for permission to attend. He gladly invited me. The thought that went through my mind is that a grain of wheat must first die to yield 100 grains of wheat. Jeri sowed so many positive seeds into our community while co-managing Culpeper’s first local TV station, that we will see an abundant harvest from those in the next few years. I believe her final legacy in the future of Culpeper and Virginia will be much greater than while she lived.

This morning I had the privilege to attend Jeri’s memorial service at the Clore-English Funeral Home. Al told me he had received more than 1,000 emails from friends of Jeri this week. I was deeply moved by the many personal testimonies of people richly blessed by Jeri. Chris Lindsey moderated this service. I learned that he married Al and Jeri 8 years ago. Chris told Jeri’s family and friends we were here for a “celebration.”

After David Gilmore played his guitar and sang a touching song, we watched Al’s short DVD titled “Celebration of a Life … Jeri Bradley.” One person on that DVD described Jeri as a voice of reason. Another person said Jeri used to say a child needs 3 things – love, time, and respect.

Next, Bob Beard honored Jeri. He told how Al and Jeri adopted his family when they first moved to Culpeper 9 years ago. He read a letter from Dr. David Cox, superintendent of Culpeper School Public Schools. Dr. Cox described Jeri as always focused on quality, both the interviews and the TV set. He said his own life has been richer because he knew her and she was his friend.

Next came testimonies from Emily and Nancy Beard (Bob’s daughters), Michael Antoletti, (Jeri’s son-in-law), and Gary Close (Culpeper Commonwealth Attorney). Gary began by using simple words to describe Jeri such as infectious laugh, adventurous, honest. He said Jeri loved life and lived her life to the fullest. She did that by investing in family, friends, and community. Gary said, “Jeri had a profound and positive impact on Culpeper.” She asked tough questions, but allowed you to say what you wanted. She helped establish a quality local TV station.

David Martin told “The story behind the story” – how he had helped the Culpeper Town Council approve the new cable TV station in 1996. Allison Brophy Champion shared how Jeri had made a big difference in her life. On the last day that Allison saw Jeri in December 2007, Jeri told her, “I miss people having a voice.” Next, Pam Jenkins, former Culpeper Town Councilwoman, paid a great tribute to Jeri.

Finally, Erica, Jeri’s oldest daughter, read a stirring letter she had written about her mother when Erica was only 18 years old. From that letter I learned that Jeri had been a wonderful stay-at-home mom during the entire time both her daughters were growing up and that she made family meals every day.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for the profound and positive impact that Jeri Bradley had on me and the Culpeper community. I pray that you will keep alive Jeri’s dream to make the educational television station at the George Washington Carver Training Center the heartbeat of our community. May we see a 100 fold return on all the good seeds that Jeri and Al have sown in the past decade. Thank You Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

Links of the Day
Photos from memorial service for Jeri Bradley

“Jeri Bradley dies of cancer” – Culpeper Star Exponent newspaper article on Jan 15, 2008 – see below

The dark-haired local TV personality and broadcaster died from cancer Monday in her Culpeper home. Bradley was diagnosed with the illness in September. She would have turned 60 next week.

To the very end, Bradley was dedicated to her work. It was what she loved.

A mother of two daughters and grandmother of four, Bradley also deeply loved her family; her parents were living with her when she died.

Bradley and her husband, Al Gaige – the man behind the camera – celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary January 2.

In August, even as she was preparing for surgery, they launched an educational television station in partnership with the George Washington Carver Training Center on U.S. 15.

“Now is the fun part,” she said at the time of the station’s unveiling. “We want to make this the heartbeat of our community.”

Indeed, Bradley knew how to get people to open up.
She began her on-air career in local radio – today’s WJMA of Orange – in 1994. Bradley was Gaige’s news director and the two did a morning show together.

In 1996, the couple took over as station managers at Culpeper Channel 21, the government-run cable access station.

Here, she and Gaige coined the phrase, “That Culpeper Feeling,” and made it into a slice-of-life program – the station’s flagship show for many years.

“To us, ‘That Culpeper Feeling’ is the essence of Culpeper, where friends take care of friends. It’s a wonderful community spirit,” Bradley said in an April 2006 interview.

In 2002, Bradley and Gaige left Channel 21, branching out into their own television enterprise with the creation of B>V and Channel 23. Broadcasting from a new, home-based studio, they went on the air in April 2003, ever devoted to sharing Culpeper’s stories.

Bradley never shied from asking the tough questions either, and many a local, state and national politician passed through her studio, perhaps sweating a bit under the bright lights. By mid-2006, B>V had produced more than 250 original shows. It went off the air in May of that year as the production end of the business took off – creating documentaries, corporate videos, interpretative historic videos, etc.

Bradley always did the talking. Gaige preferred to stay behind the camera.

As she reflected on the 10-year anniversary of “That Culpeper Feeling” in 2006, Bradley talked about Brandy, a little girl she had met a decade prior at Camp Fantastic, a summer retreat for children with cancer.

“It took every ounce of my being not to cry because here you have this 15-year-old struggling with cancer and yet she’s so wise,” Bradley said. “The next year we went back and she was gone.”

Wayne English, funeral director at Clore-English Funeral Home of Culpeper, considered her a friend. He is handling her final arrangements though the funeral will be private.

“Her vitality,” English said when asked for what Bradley would be remembered.

Gaige agreed.
“Kicking up her cowboy boots and walking in the wind with her beautiful black mane just flowing,” he said of how he’d remember her. “That and the love she had for her kids, her family.”

Jeri was a great friend, said Chip Coleman, head of Culpeper Human Services, and not just because, “She was always right on top of the issues.”

“One of my most fun things to do was have lunch at her house; she was a great cook,” he said Monday night. “She would fix steak salad, bleu cheese dressing, and a group of us would just talk politics. For hours.”
That was her style.

Allison Brophy Champion can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 101 or abrophy@starexponent.com
 

“Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally RESTORE, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. To Him be the dominion forever. Amen.  (1 Peter 5:10-11)

In what areas of your life do you need restoration?
How might Life Focus coaching help in that process?

Yesterday morning I completed and posted my devotional titled “New Beginnings in 2008″ shortly after 9 AM. In less than an hour, I had confirmation from the Holy Spirit that  two key words for 2008 are convergence and restoration. Here is what Virginia Morton, the quarterback for our Pray Culpeper team, shared in her email to me:

Dear Randy,

I was just out walking and praying, and came inside to discover your devotional. Bingo! I’ve been seeking the Lord’s word for 2008. Just before Christmas I was walking on a clear day and jet trails were all across the sky. Normally they run parallel. But that day two bold steams of white converged over my head. It was in the secluded spot where I hear the Lord most clearly. I knew this was a message of convergence. I kept studying the sky and I counted at least 8 convergences of these jet trails, which is very unusual. Therefore I felt convergence was the key word for 2008.

But I’ve also been hearing restoration a lot. This morning I was reading my Bible and the passage that jumped out for me was:

“Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally RESTORE, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. To Him be the dominion forever. Amen.  (1 Peter 5:10-11)

Therefore I feel my two key words for 2008 are convergence and restoration. Then God confirmed it by giving you the same words! His wisdom is infinite and all glory to Him! Perhaps He is telling us that through convergence He will restore that which the enemy has stolen.

Thank you for your support and blessing for Sam Reeves (Operation Rescue Liberia). He is so excited at what the Lord is doing.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, I praise You as the God of restoration. I gladly submit my plans and goals to You this year and ask You to restore all that has been lost. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in my life, my family, my home, my work, my ministry, and in Culpeper. Raise a new standard of excellence and obedience to change the world. Thank You Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

Link of the Day
The Inner Change Freedom Initiative – by Dr. Henry Brandt

Blessings to gladly submit your plans and goals to the LORD to experience His restoration in 2008!

In the beginning, God … (Genesis 1:1)

Are you better or worse off spiritually than you were 12 months ago?
What new daily habit will provide the most spiritual growth in your life in 2008?
What current daily habit most needs to be eliminated in 2008?
What new beginnings is God offering you in 2008?

It seems quite obvious that the Bible uses numbers in patterns.  Who can deny that 40 is significant? In Biblical numerology, “8″ is the number of “new beginnings” – 8 people on Noah’s Ark (2 Pet. 2:5); circumcision on 8th day (Gen. 17:12); God made 8 covenants with Abraham.

Numerous modern day prophets have declared that 2008 is a year of new beginnings. The very first book of the Torah and the Bible is Genesis, which means “beginning.” I have decided to listen to the entire Bible during January using The Bible Experience on CD. My children gave that to me as a Christmas gift last week. Today I am listening to all of Genesis.

The word I have received for 2008 is “convergence” – a year in which God is going to supernaturally accelerate connections between people, ideas, and resources. God is putting together many pieces of the puzzle to make sense out of pieces in our lives that we know are somehow related, but not how.

On November 26, Michael Stay shared with me this prophetic word, “2008 is going to be a year of action – running forward, but not in a hurry. Every step that we take is going to be fruitful, multiplied – exponentially. We are going to work together, not just one client at a time, but one enterprise at the time, one industry at a time, one community at a time, one nation at a time. We are going to see this start popping in 2008.”

It’s interesting that October 2007 began the Year of Jubilee in the Hebrew calendar – a year of complete restoration.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for new beginnings. Thank You that 2008 is both a year of new beginnings and the Year of Jubilee  – a year of complete restoration for those who choose to follow You and Your ways. May we prepare the way for Your second coming, Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

Link of the Day
Overview of the book of Genesis

Blessings to seek God as the source of your new beginnings!

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)

What was the Fulton Street Revival?
Will you BE THE ONE to lead the way to gather people in the marketplace to pray together?

The last Great Awakening or the Layman’s Revival began on September 23, 1857 with one man praying.

In 1857 there were 30,000 men idle in the streets of New York. Drunkenness was rampant, church attendance was declining, and financial panic swept the nation following a stock market crash.

Jeremiah Lanphier of the Dutch Reform Church started praying, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” And the Lord spoke to him and said, “Prayer.” And so he distributed flyers for a prayer meeting to be held from noon to 1 p.m. on September 23, 1857 at a church on Fulton Street near the financial heart of the city—Wall Street. He hoped to minister to the spiritual needs of businessmen. For the first half hour he prayed alone. Then six men finally showed up. The next week 14 came, and attendance steadily rose and then literally exploded.

Within a few months, over 10,000 people were getting saved a week in New York City. Noon time all over the city, every building that could hold people housed prayer meetings. Then the movement began spreading across America.

That first prayer time kicked off a movement leading to salvation for some two million people before it was over.

What made this revival unique was that there was no preaching involved. It was actually the presence of God. People from ALL DENOMINATIONS and social classes just showed up and prayed together.

Today God moves the same way when the same conditions are met. All revivals are ignited by prayer. In the first, second, and third Great Awakenings, people prayed. God moved. Are you willing to pray for unity in our community, our leaders, and the igniting of a wave of revival?

Come to the heart of Culpeper County – the Board of Supervisor’s Meeting Room – at noon on Sep 24 and watch God’s handiworks unfold. For more information on The Fulton Street Revival watch the short and extraordinary video at today’s Link of the Day.

Help spread the word across America through email. No matter where you live, it’s not too late to plan your own revival meeting in the heart of your community during this upcoming week.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, in 1853 one man started a prayer movement that quickly led to the salvation of more than 1 million people in the United States. That led to a massive outflow of missionaries to the world from America. If a similar prayer revival were to happen today, that would be equivalent to 10 million people getting saved. May we be the kind of people You can do this through. Bring revival to nation after nation. In Jesus name, we pray and give You glory. Amen.

Link of the Day
The Fulton Street Revival – extraordinary video

Blessings for us to experience a modern day awakening in America in 2007!
Blessings to lead the way in your community!

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-6)

What will be your role in the 2nd Great Awakening coming in 2007?

My recent emails about Israel and then Awaken the Dawn have generated a flurry of encouraging replies.  On February 5, I received an email reply from Dorothy Slaga who forwarded a great message that came out earlier that morning titled “Intercessory Prayer Initiative.”

Who is Dorothy Slaga? How did I meet her? What impact has she had on me and our community? In February 2005, I interviewed Liz Danielsen, founder of Spiritual Care Support Ministries [www.scsm.tv] (SCSM), on a local Christian TV show. When I realized SCSM did not have a website, I offered to make one before the TV show aired. Liz then connected me with Dorothy, the humble media specialist for SCSM.

When Dorothy heard my assignment was to be a catalyst to make Culpeper and Virginia a bright light for the world by 2007, she told me about “The Elk River Story” book by Rick Heeren. After reading that, I desired to order 24 more copies to distribute in Culpeper. That connected me with the author, Rick Heeren. In late 2005, Rick first came to Culpeper and spoke about prayer evangelism. Two weeks later, Pray Culpeper was birthed.

Here is what the recent email titled “Intercessory Prayer Initiative” states:

“Prophets are predicting 2007 to be the year of a 2nd Great Awakening with more power and anointing than we have ever previously seen in the history of our nation. God is calling for a worldwide harvest, but He is now also sending laborers into our own country. So strong is this sense of revival that some have been led of God to cancel international engagements to focus on our own cities and regions. It is a time to reap the harvest we have sown in tears [see Psalm 126:5-6].”

The email then continues with some excellent prayer points. One of the those states: “Pray that the United States would stand with Israel in its right to exist and not give in to the deceptive influences of those calling for Israel to give land for false peace.” To read the other prayer points, be sure to visit the wonderful link below.

Prayer Power
Father, I do hear the alarm sound. It’s time for God’s people to pray. Our nation faces a serious crossroads. It is our most crucial hour. Christians throughout the world need to join forces to ask for divine intervention. Call forth an army of prayer warriors who are willing to go to the front lines of today’s spiritual battle. Lord, rend the heavens! Thank You Jesus! Amen.

Link of the Day
Intercessory Prayer Initiative [www.prayerinitiative.com]

Blessings to know and fulfill your role in the 2nd Great Awakening coming in 2007!

——————————————————————————–
www.prayerinitiative.com
Lord … Rend the heavens!

Do you hear the alarm sounding? It’s time for God’s people to pray.

Our nation faces a serious crossroads. It is our most crucial hour. Please join us as we join forces with Christians throughout the world to ask for divine intervention.

The Intercessory Prayer Initiative was born out of a desire to recruit an army of prayer warriors who are willing to go to the front lines of today’s spiritual battle. Christians from various streams and denominational backgrounds are putting aside their differences to unite around the agenda of Jesus Christ.

We are asking the Lord to bring His kingdom on earth, establish His government, empower His church, mobilize His people and scatter His enemies.

Will you join us in the battle?

Intercessory Prayer Initiative
PRAYER ALERT – 2/05/2007
 
Dear Prayer Warriors:
 
Prophets are predicting 2007 to be the year of a 2nd Great Awakening with more power and anointing than we have ever previously seen in the history of our nation. God is calling for a worldwide harvest, but He is now also sending laborers into our own country. So strong is this sense of revival that some have been led of God to cancel international engagements to focus on our own cities and regions. It is a time to reap the harvest we have sown in tears [see Psalm 126:5-6].

Prayer Points
• Pray that the Lord would visit His church with an outpouring of His Spirit that ignites her into passionate abandon for Him and His purposes.
• Pray that the love of Christ would constrain us to persuade men [see 2 Cor. 5:14].
• Pray that the word preached would be followed by demonstrations of power.
• Pray for revival fires to sweep across the nation from the west to the east coast, across our schools and universities, and into strategic regions and cities. 
• We are admonished in the scriptures to pray for our government leaders and all in authority over us so that we can live peaceable lives and all men may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved [see I Timothy 2:1-4]. Also, it is important to begin to pray for the next Presidential election as many are coming forward to run for the office. Our effectual fervent prayers will avail much and we must continue to bombard heaven in obedience to this command.

Prayer Points
• Pray that God would bring forth the one(s) He has been preparing in hidden places that know His heart, do His will and would establish righteous government again.
• Pray that God would expose all hidden agendas, plots, subversion and treachery within our government and remove the unrighteous from positions of authority.
• Pray that President Bush would accomplish, without hindrance, what God intended for him to establish during his remaining term of office. 
• Israel and the Middle East continue to be a focal point for our prayers. Satan hates Israel as he hates anything and anyone that represents the plans and purposes of God. His deception causes men to believe lies as truth and Israel is seen as the enemy of the world that needs to be wiped off the face of the earth. These demonic strongholds over the Middle East exert their influence over those nations and continue to stir up hatred and violence.

Prayer Points
• Pray that the United States would stand with Israel in its right to exist and not give in to the deceptive influences of those calling for Israel to give land for false peace.
• Pray for freedom to spread the gospel throughout Israel and the Middle East.
• Pray that God will reveal strategies to President Bush, our military leaders and to Iraqi leaders that will expedite the expulsion of insurgents, the end of this war and the establishment of a peaceful democracy in the region.
• Pray that God would deal with the demonic powers and principalities influencing Iran and other nations toward destroying Israel and all mankind. 
• Feel free to forward this notice to anyone who will join us in prayer. Strategies for prayer are not made for public announcement but for the purpose of intercession. To sign up and receive the ALERTS, go to our website and join forces with us for His kingdom to be advanced!

Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. (Psalm 57:8)

Who can you bless by letting them know about Awaken the Dawn on Feb 18-21, 2007?

Yesterday, I shared about the email I received from Bowie Curry, the prayer coordinator for the Greater Fredericksburg area. Bowie informed me about the 21 days of 24/7 prayer, fasting, and worship taking place at Grace Church of Fredericksburg from Jan 26 through Feb 15. Ultimately this leads up to Awaken the Dawn on February 15-18.

What is Awaken the Dawn 2007? It is a prophetic event being held in Fredericksburg Virginia for the third consecutive year. Prophecy is God speaking to His people. Through the speakers, attendees have the opportunity to receive personal and practical messages.

God is awakening this generation. In the midst of a drifting post-modern culture. A grass-roots movement is emerging that will be satisfied with nothing less than Jesus. He is our magnificent obsession and our exceedingly great reward. 

This event is not simply a conference, but a ‘solemn assembly’ to turn our generation to the Lord. Our purpose is to call post-moderns to an authentic encounter with God resulting in burning hearts for Jesus and a lifestyle of radical obedience.

Our goal at this event is not entertainment. Our goal is to shift culture as we encounter Jesus together. We are asking God for something authentic, to see a weak, broken postmodern culture fascinated with one thing, Jesus alone.

Prayer Power
Father, we want to see Your glory awake here in Virginia. It is You who is awakening the dawn. Thank You for the team in Fredericksburg preparing the way with 21 days of community-wide prayer, fasting, and worship. Bless those who come to Awaken the Dawn with authentic encounters with You resulting in burning hearts for Jesus and a lifestyle of radical obedience. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
Listen to a podcast for Awaken the Dawn [www.awakenthedawn.net/group/group.aspx?id=1000008825]

Blessings to see people from many communities come to Awaken the Dawn!

But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:7)

What might happen if you participated in Awaken the Dawn on Feb 15-18?

On the night of January 15, 2007, the same day that Bob Griffin first came to Culpeper to prophesy Culpeper into its destiny, I received an email out-of-the-blue from Bowie Curry, the prayer coordinator for the Greater Fredericksburg area. Bowie and I had never corresponded before. Here is what his email stated:

Hi Brother! I received an e-mail from Sharon Jacobs encouraging me to contact you. She feels we are kindred spirits! We would love to have a contingent from Culpeper participate in the following. Let me know as soon as possible if you all are available to minister with us. Blessings to you!

You might be interested in “Awaken the Dawn” February 15-18 (www.awakenthedawn.net). January 26 will mark the beginning of 21 days of continuous night and day prayer, fasting and worship for spiritual breakthrough in our community. Grace Church has offered their worship center to be set up as a prayer furnace for the entire period. The prayer event vision has three major goals: 1) To earnestly and persistently petition God for breakthrough and spiritual awakening in this Greater Fredericksburg region. 2) To proclaim our unity in Christ by celebrating through worship and intercession the diversity of worship styles within the Church. 3) To pray that the emerging generation of youth will be awakened to fulfill their destiny to serve God’s purpose. We have felt that for this event to spiritually impact our region it must have the active participation of a significant cultural, racial and denominational representation of the Church in this area.

Then on the morning of January 22, the same day that Bob Griffin came to Culpeper for the second time, I received my first phone call (out-of-the-blue) from Bowie Curry. When I told Bowie that Bob Griffin was speaking in Culpeper two hours later, Bowie decided to make the 45 minute drive to come. This opened the door for Bowie to share with our Pray Culpeper team about the 21 days of 24/7 prayer, fasting, and worship in Fredericksburg, concluding with Awaken the Day.

Tomorrow, this story continues with another devotional titled “What is Awaken the Dawn?” Don’t miss it. God is doing something huge in Central Virginia to prepare the way for the rededication of America back to God on April 27-29, 2007 at Virginia Beach.

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for the exciting privilege to have a front row seat to see what You are doing to prepare the way for the second coming of Jesus. Thank You for Bowie Curry and his entire team who planned and prepared for this 21 days of prayer, fasting, and worship. Bless everyone who participates. This is a new day. Awaken the dawn! May Virginia bless God and Israel, the apple of Your eye. Thank You Jesus!!!!!!! Hallelujah and Amen!

Link of the Day
Awaken the Dawn [www.awakenthedawn.net]

Blessings to play an active role to Awaken the Dawn!