Prelude

 Have you watched an old movie that began with a prelude before the movie started? The preludes I've seen were musical anthems building the anticipation of the start of the main feature. The word prelude can be defined as an action or event that serves as the introduction to something more important. 

There is something on the horizon, something coming in the near future, something to anticipate, something very important. I cannot point to the exact starting date. Nor can I even report who the main characters in this upcoming drama will be. I'm not referring to a new movie with a hundred million dollar budget. This is far more significant than a movie. 

I would say it is not so much an event as it is a movement. What I have on my mind, and more importantly deep in my spirit, is the prelude to revival. When I use the word revival, many recall church meetings in days gone by where a guest evangelist and music people came to town to hold a series of evangelistic services. Those meetings are rare today. That is not what I have rumbling deep inside me. 

Revival comes from the root word revive. It means to bring back to life or restore to life. Genuine revival really is not about evangelism initially. Revival is when God moves in such a profound way that the people of God repent of sin and get in right relationship with God. When the people of God are in right standing with Him, it clears the way for Him to work in profound ways. 

Imagine holding a water hose with a kink in it restricting the waterflow. In the same way, sin in the hearts of Christians restricts the power of God from flowing fully in our communities of faith and local community. God uses revival to unkink or unclog the hoses of our hearts, attitudes, and behaviors. 

For some time I have been burdened and convinced that God will send such a revival move to Fritch. I don't know when. I do not know whom He will use to be the catalyst. I believe by faith that a strong move of God is on the horizon. We are in the prelude to revival. What is our role right now you might ask? It is to pray and repent of sin. It is to unclog and unkink the hose. It is to pray and prepare for what God is about to do. We are only in the prelude. The main attraction is coming soon. May we eagerly anticipate what's to come. 

Turning the Page

At the time of this writing, we are about 13 hours and 44 minutes from turning the page on 2025 to the next one of 2026. People are busy making plans for parties this evening. Bowl games with national title implications will be played over the next couple of days. Many will stay up to midnight to watch the ball drop to ring in next year. 

Like turning the page in a book to start a new chapter, so is starting a new year. Very soon gym memberships will skyrockets as people try to turn over a new leaf. They start out with great enthusiasm. Regular gym members know they will face challenges in their workouts with all the newbies. Many resolutions will be made today and tomorrow. People start with such great intentions. Many will not follow through as the hectic pace of life weakens resolve. 

Most people like a new beginning. A fresh start. To reset. To begin again. If we do the same things in 2026 we did in 2025, why would we expect a different outcome. If we want a different outcome, we may have to do some things differently. Save instead of spend. Read instead of watch television. Pray instead of whine. Workout instead of lounging in the Lazy-boy. Practice patience instead of flying off the handle. Reset the attitude in approaching life. 

I like turning the pages in books. There is adventure in the unknown. Plot twists. New information. Inspirational truths. There is also adventure in turning the page on a brand new year. So many possibilities of what can be accomplished. So many opportunities to make a difference. So many chances to encounter God. I fully expect all the serious God seekers will have profound encounters with the living God in  the upcoming year. We may endure months and months of ordinary routine mundane days. Suddenly all that could change with a God encounter. 

It did for Moses watching sheep one day near Mount Horeb. God caused a bush to burn ablaze without being consumed by the flames. Moses drew closer to see what was happening. That is when God spoke to Moses in a way that would change his life and career forever. You can read about this in Ex 3:1-14. You never know when God is going to show up in a powerful way in our lives. Each day as we turn the page on one day after the other, we should anticipate the next day might be the day God shows up and shows off His power. As we turn the pages on the seasons of the year, we inch closer to the next time God reveals Himself and His purposes. 

Go ahead. Turn the page on the old and look forward to the new. Resolve to live differently even if it is just in small ways. Let your spirit soar with God inspired imagination about what could be and not what currently is. God can change us. He can also change our circumstances. Turn the page on the past and look forward to the future. Turn the page on doubt to faith. Turn the page on apathy to passion. Turn the page on regrets and move forward one step at a time into 2026.