The Lakeland Revival

In hearing about how God was moving in Florida, I began watching the revival every day to see for myself what was happening. As soon as I turned it on I felt a stirring in my spirit. Almost like an internal earthquake that hasn't stopped. Every day I feel this excitement as if something incredible could happen at any second. I even find myself looking around more to notice what is going on around me.

God is moving. Something is happening. Who is Todd Bentley? Does it matter? I don't believe it does. When people are being healed, saved, and delivered then why would anyone want to come against something that is having a life changing effect on people.

As the month of May went on, I knew I was going to have to go to Florida myself and see first hand what was taking place there. Boy, was I shocked at how I would end up going.

The month started out busy as I attended the "Awake Deborah" conference in Lynden Washington. That was awesome to see the passion for God these women have. I enjoyed the guest speakers (Patricia King, Heather Clark, and Stacy Campbell)and the messages they gave challenged my spirit. During the conference someone generously gave money for my father (who had bone cancer at the time and was in the final stages of the disease) to go to Lakeland Florida. I believe God provided the money and felt honored to be able to go with my dad.

The flight to Florida was tough on my dad and the preparation to go took an entire week filled with doctor visits and locating the oxygen equipment needed to get him there. It was not an easy task, yet God provided every step of the way. Once we arrived it looked like my dad was so exhausted he would not be able to attend the evening session. This was heart wrenching. My father is an amazing man who has a faith that really does move mountains. He has inspired me so much in life and we came all the way from Washington state so he could see this move of God he had been praying for.

When it looked as if he would not be able to go that night we (my sister, my brother, and my dad's brother) contacted the church (Ignited Church)where the revival had started in hopes of reaching someone who could help us. To our surprise we did reach a lady who just happened to be part of the churches healing team. Within 45 minutes of talking with us on the phone she brought some prayer warriors with her to our hotel to pray for our dad. This sweet lady arrived with a few children who were passionate about seeing God demonstrate healing and they prayed for our dad and us three kids as well. It was a very special demonstration of God's love working through others. After they left we began to get our father ready to go. In his weakened state along with the medication we didn't know if he would be able to make it. Once we got to the civic center where the revival was being held at that time, it was definite we were going to have to leave early due to my father not feeling well. As we pulled into the parking area at the civic center I immediately began getting a picture in my mind. I saw a great horse. The rider of the horse appeared to be coming back from battle and was carrying the flag of victory through the city streets. The people were cheering on both sides. When the rider turned, he lifted his helmet and I could see it was my father. I was deeply moved by this picture that the Lord had given me but was not sure what it meant. I did share it with the others as we looked for a parking spot. Once inside we found the lady who had prayed for our dad earlier in the hotel room. We told her we were going to have to leave soon. She went and found another lady who was part of Todd Bentley's prayer team. She spoke with my father and prayed with us as well before we left to go back to our hotel. It was difficult to leave the meeting when you saw people being healed and we wanted our father to be to be touched so badly.

The next day we decided to approach God boldly and join together as a small team praying and interceding for our dad. That evening our father was ready to go and you could sense excitement in the spirit. We got to the meeting late and found a spot in the very back of the arena. A young man offered his seat to me and I thanked him but refused the seat. I wanted to stay close to my dad. I noticed the young man kept staring at my father. My brother, Jordan who was the one standing behind my fathers wheelchair was talking to the man. Then, I saw the man praying for my father. Before I knew it, my father was out of his wheelchair and jumping up and down. I began to panic. I thought what on earth is happening. My father was so fragile I didn't think he should be doing that. My dad, suddenly passed out and they put a pillow from the hotel underneath his head. I tried to relax inside and give it all to God. This young man obviously had a desire to pray earnestly for my father and so I should let him do so. My brother and the man got my dad back into his wheelchair. The man continued to pray for my father. As Todd preached I felt such faith. The air around us was different and the spirit of God was moving. You could feel God's presence. Then before I knew It, Todd commanded people to get out of their wheelchairs. I watched as my father who usually needed help to even go to the bathroom, take off his oxygen, get up out of his wheelchair and begin to walk to the front where Todd was preaching. That was a long walk. People begin cheering on both sides of the aisle and it made me think of the picture God had given me the night before as we were pulling into the civic center. I will never forget that moment. The glory of God surrounded my father. In that precious moment under the anointing I watched my father do things he couldn't do since the last stage of the cancer had taken affect. It rocked my very being. There was about a 25 minute period from the time my dad had walked up there to the time he actually got up on stage with Todd Bentley. It was incredible. My sister, Melody asked the name of the man who prayed for our dad. He said his name was Emmanuel. I knew, then that God is ever surprising us.

When we returned home from Florida I believed my dad was free from bone cancer. It was a faith challenging moment for me when he died just six days later. It was hard to understand. Even with all the prophecies spoken of him. As I looked at my dad one last time I told God that even though it was hard, I knew he loved me and had a plan. No matter what anyone says or what the situation looks like to others. I choose to trust God. God has the best plan and I look forward to it. It was an honor to stand and testify at my fathers celebration of life service. He would have been proud that I was standing firm in the faith as he had done after being diagnosed two years ago. What an awesome testimony my father had and what an honor to witness his faith. The kind of faith Jesus exhibited when he walked the earth.

In God's plan you can't lose for winning. I believe my father would agree with me as he looks down on the bigger picture from Heaven.

In Lakeland I became forever changed. As God spoke through the young man Emmanuel to me saying, "Go now and do as I did". I felt something deposit into my spirit that accelerated me into the destiny God has planned for my life. I plan on visiting the revival again. I want to see and be anywhere that God is moving. To take up the cross and preach the gospel, lay hands on the sick, raise the dead, and do as Jesus did.

My hunger for God has continued to increase. I encourage others to open themselves up to God's plan and never put limits on what God can do.