Greetings Reader!

Last week was the commissioning of the Outpouring that enveloped and overran our tiny two-stoplight town of Wilmore, KY. I'd like to share a few reflections while they are fresh which I hope you'll find edifying.

What happened?

It is estimated that 50,000+ people came from everywhere to taste and see the goodness and glory of God. That's not hyperbole -- see this map made by Eliza Crawford of where pilgrims traveled from over the last two weeks:

Here are a few photos that capture what words cannot about what the experience was like:

If you'd like to see more of what happened, I'd recommend:

• ​www.asbury.edu/outpouring (link to watch some of the services);
• ​facebook and instagram I shared a few testimonies and reflections; and
• ​this 8-minute documentary is also good.​

What I'm hoping to take away...

While people of good faith have legitimate questions and concerns, I confess that if I had not been an eye witness to this movement of God in our midst but rather seen it pop up on my social media feed, I would be skeptical. Even though I would not have doubted if I had read this story in the Book of Acts or the lives of the saints. But it happened here, and it happened now, and that just doesn't happen...

I believe that one of the reasons that it happened here is because the people of my community have prayed for this. The line between the digitial world and the material world is growing more and more blurred. It is easy to believe that place is immaterial. But matter matters. And people sowed abundant prayers for revival here in this community and people came here to experience it.

When the daffodils bloomed last Friday everyone was delighted but no one was surprised. Someone planted daffodils bulbs here and at the right time they bloomed. This movement of God is the same--people planted abundantly in prayer and at the right time those prayers bloomed.

I'm walking away from this experience convicted that I need to sow abundantly in prayer for the burdens God has planted in my heart.

What I hope others will take away...

At the transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, Peter says to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents.” Then Mark adds this wonderful commentary: "He did not know what to say, for they were terrified." (Mark 9:2-9). The transfiguration ends as surprising as it began and the disciples followed Jesus down into the valley. They quickly slam into hardship--the other disciples, impotent to cast out a demon for lack of prayer and fasting have resorted to arguing with the crowd. Jesus laments, "You faithless generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me." (Mark 9: 14-29).

In our life in Christ, we are blessed to receive these moments of grace, like our town just received. In my own life and in the lives of those in ministry I walk with, such moments almost always strengthen us for hardships to come. Early in my faith, I grew despondent when these moments of grace passed--like it hadn't 'stuck' this time. Now I see them for the grace they are and for the ways they turn our life toward being gently conformed to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit for the Glory of God our father.

I pray for those who go back to their friends. I pray that the flame they received, they will find the unhurried rhythms of grace to nurture so that they can continue to pass it on to others.

What I hope you will take away...

In God's perfect timing, everyone has now entered into the season of Great Lent. We can receive this time of preparation as a type of pilgrimage if we recognize our deep need for an authentic encounter with the goodness and glory of God and leave the 'home' of what is familiar and set out in faith and hope and love toward the Kingdom of God.

The labors of repentance and of lament that we offer now have a way of tilling the soil of our heart to receive the abundant sowing that will come at Easter and Pascha.

Like the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23), each of us have places in our hearts that are:

• concerned with the cares of this life--the seeds of the Kingdom that sprout here will be smothered by our distractions.
• callous from the traumas and resentments and unforgivness of life--the seeds of the Kingdom that sprout here will not withstand the scorching heat of this life and will wither.
• too close to the ways of the world--the seeds of the kindgom that are sown here will quickly be snatched up by the evil one.
• By God's grace, some of the soil in our heart has been well tilled. It is humble and lowly and ready to receive the King. The seeds of the Kingdom sown here will bear an abundant harvest in due season.

The pilgrimage of Great Lent is our chance to offer more of our heart to God to be tilled and ready to receive the sowing that will come as we enter into the passion, death, rest, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Church in her wisdom gives us the tools of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to accompany this work of grace.

With Expectant Hope,

​ 🔗Geoff Whiteman, ThM, LMFT​ ​🎁 access my promised resources. 💌 Read and share my latest updates. 🤝 How can I help you or your community?​ ​ “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (excerpt from Ephesians 3:14-21)

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​P.S. If it would aid your lenten pilgrimage, here is a link to purchase prayer ropes I made (kid and adult sizes in four colors) (all profits will support local ministries in our community who continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus long after the crowds have left).

A few years ago, as I was researching missional resilience among global worker in Christ, a prayer to join God's mission welled up in my heart. If you'd like to get a copy of this prayer and receive our family / ministry updates, the form to subscribe is at the bottom of my bio at www.valeo.global/geoff​

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