Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
I knew the River of God was going to be one of the best or the worst thing that has ever happened to our church. The problem was I didn’t know which way it would go. I just knew there was no in-between, no gray area for me. No holding back. I was jumping in with both feet at the deep end. If faith is spelled risk, then I was in the full faith mode. 
I ignored all the voices of fear, reason and caution. I stilled my heart and waited on God. Then it began. The spiritual atmosphere within my heart and around me became electrified. It was like going from old color TV to HD color and clarity. Once you do that you don’t want to ever go back.
One evening I saw precious stones in the River. I knew they were for me. I began to gather them. They were truths about the River that God wanted me to have so I could flow with what He was doing.
Here are a few of the gems the Lord gave me.
Acceleration. I asked God, “What is the purpose of the River?” He told me, “You should be way further down the road spiritually than you are. The River is accelerating you to catch up to where you should already be.” Wow, that was a divine reprimand, but one I love. I have never seen so much fruit being borne as I did during the first couple of years of the River flowing. We would have never been able to walk through the tragedy and times of testing, we would face apart from the acceleration the River gave us.
Get low and stay low. Humility does not have a bottom as grace has no end. If I wanted more grace, I had to go lower. Humility is not something we grow out of. The River brings both blessings and reproach. Humility is the way to keep either from disqualifying you.
Be Still and Know. In the midst of the Lord moving there is a subtle pressure to get into the Martha mindset, which is working hard for Jesus. This mindset is futility. What the Father is looking for are His sons and daughters to join Him in the family business. Resting in the River is a wonderful way to be renewed, healed and freshly launched into our purpose and calling. Martha’s sister Mary is a role model for all who desire to be still and know Him.
Team Work. Spiritual authority and anointing are multiplied by people working together in unity (Psalm 133). The New Testament model for ministry is built upon a team of people ministering and working together for a common goal. That is how Jesus did it and that is how they did it in the book of Acts. When the Holy Spirit moves on people the work of God will be limited if you do not make room for them to minister and release what He is doing in them. It is so much more fun when a team of people is going after God together.
Be the local church. I heard stories of revivals destroying churches. I was concerned about that. I wondered if putting too much focus on the phenomena of what the Holy Spirit was doing, rather than focusing on Him, strengthening the spiritual life of the church could actually be our undoing. I determined we would continue to teach, equip, counsel and provide an atmosphere for a healthy community life and evangelize those who don’t yet know Jesus. I believe that God wants revival to make a local church grow strong in the community where He has planted it.
Many Blessings, BW