July 3, 2008 ~ Revive Us
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Psalms 85:6
Tomorrow is our country’s birthday. That shining city upon a hill. That beacon of hope and liberty. She’s still a youngster at 232!
I am unapologetically patriotic. Rarely can I listen to the National Anthem, or to the other great songs of our country 
without a lump forming in my throat and tears coming to my eyes. America truly is unique in her welcome of strangers, in her big-heartedness, and in her courage and bravery. Yet, if I were able to close my eyes and blow out a candle on the birthday cake of this great land, it would accompany a wish that the Lord would send revival. Oh, how we need to know Him afresh – to grasp the majesty of His great love for us, and to see His power at work, transforming people through revelation, healing and salvation.
When I first began treatment at MD Anderson Hospital (MDA), the numbers of patients there astounded me. Each one, just like me, were battling the same disease – a dreadful thing to have in common. Perhaps the cancer was at a different stage of advancement, perhaps the treatments were different, perhaps it was in a different location in the body – but it was the same disease nevertheless. Thousands of people coming to this place for treatment from all
over the country and from all over the world – and we in Houston are so fortunate to have it! I thank God every day for MDA and the people that work there. But I soon began to pray for the people that I sat with as we waited together for treatment, or tests, or appointments. Then I shifted to praying that the Lord would come into that place and heal in a big way – heal us all! I know it’s a big prayer, but He’s a big God!!
Yes, we need revival! We need a freshening, or at least I do! And strange as it may seem, this journey through the shadowlands has been a freshening for me because God has drawn me to Him, and I have found a new kind of rest there. Still, I long to see this country that I love become drawn in once again by God’s power and love. We need spiritual resuscitation so that we come out of our strongholds of bitterness, anger, decay and apathy, and truly grasp the newness of life in Christ.
This is my birthday prayer for America.
Listen Here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=BmBCudTMQV8
As sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet,
So you love this city and you love these streets.
Every child out playing by their own front door
Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.
Every dreamer dreaming in her dead-end job
Every driver driving through the rush hour mob
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You’re going to send revival, bring them all back home
I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
“Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down”.
From the Preacher preaching when the well is dry
To the lost soul reaching for a higher high
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
To the widow walking through the veil of tears
Every man and woman, every old and young
Every fathers daughter, every mothers son.
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You’re going to send revival, bring them all back home
I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
“Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down”.
Revive us, Revive us,
Revive us with your fire!
You are an awsone inspiration to us all. We love you more than we can express and I know God’s LOVE is so much greater.
Lori,
I saw John at the convention a few weeks ago and he updated me on your “Journey.” I want you to know that I am praying for you both!
Blessings to you and yours,
Gary V.