Michael Carr // personal blog of ponders & travels

The last few weeks have been a steady pace up- up- up- at UNCW here in Wilmington. As you [should] know, I co-lead a prayer group/student organization called “Campus Wide Prayer”. (No, I’m not a student of UNCW but my heart is deeply attached to what the Lord is doing on campus and in the students!) We’ve been praying weekly since the beginning of the school year focusing on awaking in student’s hearts, encounters with Jesus, exalting the Kingdom in the face of humanism and that Isa. 61 justice would be established. When IHOP-KC first got touched back in November of last year, we began to experience an increased presence, breakthrough, hunger and movement across campus. A few months later, it seems like God is really putting the pedal down. Last week I attended a student led event called “Revival 2010″. Their sole purpose was to pray, worship and encourage as many believers on campus to press in and go for a deeper relationship with Jesus. Almost 400 students showed up. There is an increased momentum and fresh energy to pray, worship and fast.

I know this is not exclusive to Wilmington. Far from it! Campus America has called 2010 the year of prayer. Less than a week ago they organized the national Collegiate Day of Prayer where they called young believers across America’s college campuses to gather and pray for revival. You probably saw the letter Lou Engle (TheCall) released the other day on Boston and the 40-day university Daniel fast that started March 1st. Lou and the team from IHOPU believe we are at a critical juncture in our nation’s capitol. I agree!

I feel the excitement in the air and I am even more excited to fast, pray, and cry out for my city & campus. Campus Wide Prayer here at UNCW is hosting a day of prayer & worship called Wellspring. Our heart is to gather not only students but also the church body leaders from the city of Wilmington and exalt Jesus together. If you live in the region, come on out!

I want to encourage you to recognize how the Father is drawing His bride to unity, purity and maturity. Even if you don’t know it already, there are prayer gatherings taking place in your city right now that are shaping, changing and making way for God’s righteous rulership. He’s already agreed on who you are, His royal son or daughter, now agree with Him and see your life, your home, your city, your nation turn to the King’s dominion of life-abundant.

Some friends of ours put on conference called “Vehement”- which will be a traveling conference up & down the east coast this month- down here in Florida. My dad wanted to go so I decided to jump in and come along for the ride.
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I’ll be leaving Knoxville tomorrow to make my way home by Saturday. This week shifted things into place and I know it’s time to head back to Wilmington and the family. Andrea will be staying in Knoxville for awhile longer while Jadon and I trek home. The last three weeks have cause incredible growth in both me and my brother & sister. I feel like my heart has been stretched in so many directions at once!
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The song goes through the earth like a river with healing! The full expression of the Bride is a representation of the Father’s heart, and of His Kingdom.

The “mechanical” creation of Andrea’s album, although important, is almost a side-note in my heart. The spiritual awaking that is happing in the Bride is what I’m being struck by. It’s not just this album or this particular style, it’s a generation of people being transformed at a heart level.

Go read Ezek. 47. This river is the river in Revelation, flowing from the throne of God transforming everything it touches! We are the trees on it’s banks (Psalm 1:3) and our leaves are for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2). The fruit of our labors willl go into the earth and heal the broken hearted!

This is Isa. 61 Jesus justice released through the hands of you and me! The Kingdom of God realized in our midst and the song a healing river that runs through the earth!

Ah! Sweet breakthrough. Today starts week two of recording with Andrea (Marie Carr) at the Banks House (United Pursuit) studio in Knoxville. The morning was full of sunshine and the sweet presence of Jesus. I’ve had this wonderful expectation that creativity is about overflow and change the earth. The picture of the radiance of Jesus shining through His bride overwhelms me. I wrote in my journal this morning while thinking about the rising song in the earth: [...]