Posted in The ever-increasing glory of God by Cameron Caviness on 6/2/2010
what do you wanna know? I'm off the race, and God's brought me to this group of people. Why Kentucky? He obviously's brought me here because this is where I can experience Him the most. What's in-between you and that place you can experience God the most? What'll it take to get you to that place where you can be in God's truth that contrasts your reality of truth? What'll it take Abraham, (YOU) to put your son on the altar and sacrifice everything you got going for you, even if its stopping the Things God has told you is gonna happen? There's a place of surrender that we gotta be at if we're willing to be under Lordship, under his authority. It's learning to be in Agreement with the Word, the Spirit, Jesus and the Father.
Let's just be honest... we haven't even scratched the surface of God. But to be on the Altar; where things die before God, somethings for sure: You're never gonna be the same. It's not easy, it sure isn't appealing a lot of times, but it's where He's called you to be.
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Posted in The ever-increasing glory of God by Cameron Caviness on 5/4/2010
Seeking the presence of God; Turning your affection towards him; putting all your attention on him; Meeting God in the secret, quiet place in the garden of your heart...
Despite my sin, my attention that I have given to lovers less wild than my Love, I fight each day to accept and receive grace. I choose to recognize myself on the cross (where I should be) and then see a brutal image of love paid at the highest cost by my brother, Jesus the Christ. I accept Him and choose to glorify him, by not trying to do the work of sanctification; I accept the grace of Jesus and the power of the cross by not trying to clean up my act and THEN come to Jesus.
The story of the prodigal son that Jesus tells, is so beautiful. I am the prodigal son that takes my inheritance and spends it on lovers less wild and then ashamed, I still find my way home to my Papa... What would I expect at the least? Shame? Disgrace? I'd just as soon choose death over myself, than return home. But when the Father sees the son, what does he do?
He puts a ring on his finger and Robe on his back and kills the fattest cow and has a feast! What the heaven is going here? No way! Yahweh... I just imagine my Papa saying I don't care what you did, I'm just glad you're back! Glory! My son has returned home! You know what? I can relate to that story.
But its like I said earlier, I fight each day to accept and receive the grace of Jesus and the love of the my Papa. I choose to receive the love of God; to be filled and overwhelmed by the very Spirit of God.
Maranatha: Lord, come soon; Our Lord has come; Come, O' Lord
Amen
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Posted in General Articles by Cameron Caviness on 2/27/2010
As humans, our hearts are led and filled by the promises of God or the lies of the enemy; in other words, you can only pour out what you're filled with; Life, confirmation and hope; or death, deception and lies.
Jesus Christ was a great teacher, and most of the world would agree. A great example of his teaching can be found in the gospels of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) where Jesus is walking with his disciples. He looks over while he's walking by a vineyard and says "I am the vine, and you are the branches."
Now, he is describing himself. as a vine.
A vine, if grown with careful care can produce up to 400 barrels of wine.
Then, Jesus describes us as the branches... Jesus wants to pour into us, his precious nature.
Now these people who followed Jesus, didn't really get Jesus all the time. Even his closest followers and friends sometimes got it wrong, but they made some big decisions during their life that cost them everything we'd consider costly. Whether it was leaving the position of running the family business or being right in the middle of life. Now these closest of followers who became friends to God, literally dropped everything they were doing and followed him.
These particular followers I'm talking about, sacrificed everything. Comfort in every way, (no question about it) they sacrificed time; they made time; they saw what was the most important to them and reacted out of love and passion, real passion.
These followers made their history with God. Now, sharing your History with God, is not something most people get at all (That means, you probably are one of the most people I'm talking about). They may have an understanding, but no measure of the gravity or magnitude of their story or testimony I guess; ;like when these disciples would share their history with people or write letters to them. What I'm getting at, is that you cannot transfer your history with God to someone else. It's impossible for people to understand where you're coming from, because making your history with God, comes at a cost. Are you hearing me? It costs you everything to know him for yourself.
One of the greatest struggles for me, is when and often I share my story and even my friends don't understand where I'm coming from... and that's just it! I've come from a long road filled with history; filled with cost and experience. And both the cost and experience are great. Count the cost. Take a real measure of what it's going to cost you to really understand God and his ways, (which are different than your own... just recognize that.) because it is going to require COURAGE to follow God. It is going to REQUIRE that you have confidence or faith in God over yourself and shaken reasoning.
Will you give Jesus permission to pour directly into you?
"I am the Vine, you are the branches."
God, I pray that you would burden our hearts to have a history with you. That we would learn to sit and listen to you. I ask that you help quiet our thoughts and emotions, that we may hear your voice, Papa. I love you. I pray in your name Jesus, Amen.
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Posted in General Articles by Cameron Caviness on 1/6/2010
You know in Hebrews 11, there's talk of the faithful ones who saw the promises of God from a distance... It says if they could go to their country they would've gone back, but they were looking for a country they could call their own. A heavenly homeland.
The kingdom is spread like wildfire when we live in harmony with God's supernatural ways. He speaks, and when he does, it is O' so powerful!
I remember reading in Ezekiel 37 about the "valley of the dry bones". God speaks to Ezekiel and tells him what to say to this valley of dry bones. So, Ezekiel says exactly what God told him to say. Word for word, and these bones took upon flesh and muscle and all the goods we got going on in our healthy bodies. Then, the four winds come across these bodies now, and they start breathing and now they're living! Not just bodies anymore.
There was a time in Haiti when God prompted me to speak in a hospital where I was surrounded by very sick people. God told me something very scary (for me) to say... By scary, I mean fearful. My definition of fear, is of how God won't come through. God told me to call attention to the deaf, mute, blind, wounded, sick, & dead and in the name of Jesus Christ to be healed and to go home... I didn't say this. I instead hid behind a guitar I had and played songs around this hospital. Now, no doubt that God despite, my fears did amazing things that day. But there was an opportunity to witness God do his wonderful work, and I passed that up unlike Ezekiel. I was Jonah, fearful of what might happen to me or what might NOT happen to the people around me.
He speaks, and when he does, it is O' so powerful! How often does God call you to speak and act on behalf of your relationship with him?
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Posted in Racing by Cameron Caviness on 10/16/2009
Things are good, folks! I'm living near Lugansk, Ukraine about an hour away from the border of Russia. The weather hasn't been the typical weather you'd think of in Russia (I think of lots of fog, rain, winter and goofy fur hats) although, yesterday, me and some of the guys from H-squad got together to go bowling and ice skate in Lugansk and it was exactly this kind of weather... but, its been 80's and 70's here. It's nice here.
The people of the Ukraine of been good to me though. They're much more patient than the people of Romania... I hate to bash on Romania, but my last month was a stretch for me. However, this month in the Ukraine, I've not only enjoyed my stay, but am absolutely encouraged by this country. Its very easy to engage in conversations with people, even though they stuggle to speak English to me... Pretty ironic, huh? I've lived in Oklahoma where many illegal, homeless immigrants have come in and now I'm the homeless immigrant missionary speaking a language I thought eveyone knew... How ignorant.
But like I said, there is a lot of warmth in the Ukraine with the spirit of these hungry people... and that's it, right there; they're hungry. There's a few Greek Orthodox churches that have religion running it like a machine, few people interested, but they feel obligated to go to church... Man that sucks. Why go to church??? That's a real good question, and I wonder if these zombie-faced church-goers have asked themselves that one question for real, to themselves, because I've gone to church a few times, and I wonder why these people have come at all. I think people do need the church Paul talks about, I want to go there and attend regularly! But what is "the church" that the world has been consumed, misled, and dare I say raped by religion? What is that church all about? I've been to it. Stood up from those pews and sat down 20 times a service and slept through nearly all of them for 6 or 7 years until the church finally split up, and divided. I attended a church of dead religion; no Spirit; no truth; no revelation of any sort... No Freedom! Isn't that what non-believers come to church for anyways? They come to get freedom, right?
"16- But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17- Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. 18- And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transfromed into HIS LIKENESS with EVER-INCREASING glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2nd Corinthians 3:16-18
A lot of the churches here are corrupt, like many around the world, with money and politics. For instance, here, the priest will bless your vodka before you drink it, so you can drink without conviction...??? (Keep in mind that if you're ten years old and you haven't drank Vodka or any kind of clear liquor... you're not from inside the Ukraine.) But why on earth should I feel convicted about drinking either?! "True Holiness" is not us "cleaning up our act." It is the recognition that we are utterely powerless to "clean up our act", forcing us to come to Christ in complete brokenness.
And remember that Brokenness is a choice.
You have to choose to be broken before God. Being a living sacrifice, means that I never leave that BURNING altar...
That's all I have for now. Thanks for all your prayers, comments and support. Blessings to you all and give thanks to God! He Reigns now and Forever! Amen!
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Posted in Racing by Cameron Caviness on 9/19/2009
I'm still in Romania, I leave tomorrow for a conference which will take place for 5 days... you might've heard of it, THE AWAKENING!
It's gonna be amazing, and I'm ready to be re-acquainted with my mate, Nick Derington and seeing this beautiful part of Romania! This month has been no doubt, different from any other before this race...
I've felt at times, spread; sort of like butter over too much bread. I've felt scattered, and I think that this month has been a month of rest in my Savior... Not just for me, but others as well. God is doing something in our lives this month. I feel like something is brewing in us all. Like we're on the brink of something truly marvelous and life-defining. I'm not quite sure if it has to do with this upcoming "Awakening" that beholds us in only a few days... I feel God's love and Spirit pursuing deep inside of me- inside of all of us. God has revealed many things to me this month about my life, and its amazing, not to mention exciting and I don't know if all of these things can be done in one lifetime! Hmph, it sure is amazing when God reveals himself to me in such huge and simple ways. I'm so hungry for God's words and Oh, do I hunger for the Holy Spirit! Luke 11:13 "...if you sinful people know how to give good gifts, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him  | |
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Posted in Racing by Cameron Caviness on 9/7/2009
So, I am in Bistrota, Romania or I guess a village nearby... but I can't recall the name of it. I slept the whole busride here from the airport (which consited of about 7 hours) and many remarked on how beautiful the scenery was. Being here in this village, though, is like walkng in Hobbiton or something out of a JRR Tolkein book. Besides the absurd highway not ten feet from our house, everyone rides in carriges carted by horses carrying large loads of hay and children kicking their little feet of the back. It's a far green country with tall, wide-ranging hills. I am immediately brought back to all the WW II movies and epics and how the houses looked then in that particular time-frame, and while at the same time, am completely blown away because the houses and all look the same!
Two days ago, Team Koinonia and I hiked up a path (or rather made our own) and spent the late morning at the top of a large hill that overlooked our village and revealed the marveling lakes veiled on the otherside. Miles, Nick and me after awhile, each approached one of the three Koinonia girls and Miles started "We have some bad news..." and the girls all sat up and pulled out their headphones, wide-eyed with deep concern upon their faces. "...You're turning us into gentlemen." and with that, we all pulled out our own little medly of wildflowers for the Koinonia Ladies. So, it's true... we are changing. But then again, so is this village!
Yesterday we left for church and only after one song had been played, John, (our ministry contact for Romania) infromed us that God wanted us to go outside, march around town (musicians in-front), and parade two by two singing praise to God and invite everyone to the late night service... It was amazing. Tiring too, I still fee like I ran a marathon yesterday. Amanda and Teri kept me hyrdrated while I was playing the guitar, marching from one end of the village to the other end and back. Then, the service that night... 15-20 men arrived along with about 20 children and many women... and One man gave his life to Christ!
That's all for now, until my next update, God bless and Chow!
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Posted in Racing by Cameron Caviness on 8/31/2009
I don't have much time! Gahh! So I've been in the mountains of a country called Lesotho (Leh-sew-too) and this country is like the Badlands of Montana mixed with the Regal Mass of the Grand Canyon! It was Snowing when we crossed the border and once we reached our destination, the Mt. Moorosi Chalets, we were still cold. Haha, well things were quite different for me this month, as I was not with my team, Koinonia in Gordon's Bay this month, but I was blessd to be with 8 GENTLE WARRIORS! We ministered to a nearby village at the top of the mountain pass (which we hiked most days) and we found out how badly out of shape we were all in pretty quick! But that all changed as we got acclimated to the climate. It was an intense month with the GW's and quite different too! At times, I felt like and alien with antennas and big ol' eyes around these 8 amazing girls as they prayed and pursued both each other and our Savior; and all of this pursuit was in the power of the Holy Spirit, which means basically, there was no idle talk and baseless words to be said to one another and definitely no emptiness to be found in their powerful prayers and praises to our God.
It was a growing month for sure for me! I grew in spiritual gifts, (like prophetic worship, authority in my prayers for healing or commanding evil spirits to leave, and other things my mind isn't thinking of (at least 1 or 2 things ;) )) I also grew in maturity! It's true I am one of the youngest and being the only guy/man (within our fellowship) God revealed a good ton of experience to guard my mouth/tongue from speaking death, discouragement, and division over the people I'd been growing close to and God helped me see that my words, or rather THE WAY I AM, should be a result of nothing but my relationship with Jesus and the Spirit and my Father God. All God, and all in relationship with each other. A lot of this month was learing to live in Unity with my Triune God and really understanding who God really is; let me make that clearer, This month was me not having an understanding of who "I" think God is, but a time of God telling me who he is... and there's a big difference!
Okay, unfortunately, I've gotta get some other things done! But please pray for me individually, pray for me uniting back with my team, Koinonia and pray for this time right now, as this is my debrief and I will be leaving along with "H-SQUAD" from Africa to Romania this Thursday! Pray, pray, pray! Thank you all for your' patience and prayers, I know its hard waiting for me to update, but there will be a time for grand testimonies of what Jesus has done in me, others around me, and other stories of the crazy experiences I've had this year! And they are stinkin' crazy ya'll! Love you, Cheers, and God Bless you all!
I Praise and thank you God for all of my Supporters and my prayer warriors, my friends and family, my supporters! Thank you God for them and bless them in great abundance with provision, protection, blessings of spiritual gifts, and fellowship! Give them a greater Revelation of who you are, GOD! I love you and praise your name, Holy JESUS! Thank you~Cameron
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Posted in Racing by Cameron Caviness on 7/7/2009
So I'm excited to talk about all that's happened this last month in Mozambique! It was a wild ride for sure, I spent a lot of time travelling, and spent about 10 days staying at a house that acted as a middle-ground between our designated ministry sites. Jaco (or "Yako") was the ministry contact for SKIM Squad, (Teams: Spectacle, Koinonia (MY TEAM), Indelible, and Mana) and Jaco was with us all the time! He took us in like his own family, and helped us to enjoy ourselves in the small comforts like coffee, tea (Jaco didn't care for) and Biltong! (That's what they call beef jerky)
Jaco definitely lived extreme in the most casual way. Jaco is about 56, I should say, and could be everyone's favorite uncle. This guy's done it all! He told me a story about lions when he was on the police force years back, and how 13 lions were between him an this 2-inch thick bamboo reed wall... (a 5 year old could get through easily) and neither he nor his friend were near their guns which were in the car where the lions were all congregating. So after an hour of Jaco trying to be as quiet as possible, I imagine, the lions left and Jaco and his friend got their guns and chased after them for two days and Jaco's friend killed his buck, and Jaco killed a lioness! Crazy, crazy stories from Jaco...
I got some crazy stories of my own, however! My story's called "A GIVING GROUND" and has to do with a 15 foot hole in the ground that acted as my bathroom for this last month... I got the DIE and ree-uh for about two weeks and on the last day in this village, I definitely squatted down to do my business, and this thought comes into your mind everytime anyone goes into an outdoor bathroom out camping and we all know this thought... "How bad would it suck to fall down into that heap of nastiness!?"
Well, this particular time, it passed me by, and I totally forgot about that thought until I felt the ground give. I've never moved so fast. I'm still terrified. I did NOT fall in, and I'm here to say that God loves this guy. I got some special angels.
On a serious note, this month was a stretch for me. The villages I lived in while in Mozambique, were pretty challenging as far as the normal way of living goes. There were worms in the water and that made me skiddish about drinking my' nalgene and so I didn't drink a full nalgene a day because I didn't want my system to get janked. So now, I'm dehydrated and my system is jacked anyways, because my life source is on an all-time low. God, in his great wisdom, knows how to bring me close to him, and to depend on him. So, when I had the ree-uuh!... That definitely dehydrated me even more, and so I grew pretty miserable. It didn't take me long at all to pray to God with my whole heart that I wouldn't poop my pants in my sleeping bag or something awful like that... But, guess what nothing was happening! What the duece, God? I'm a nasty, miserable, death-mess! And I'm exhausted from pooping! I really do need you!
Well, as it turns out, I'm as stubborn as a donkey... God wanted me to ask for prayer, as in, he wanted me to ask someone around me for prayer. Sounds easy enough, except I'm stubborn, remember? Yup, so two, really horrible weeks later... I ask for prayer and God answers.
"OH! Now I get it! I'm supposed to ask for prayer!" ... <----This guy has a little issue with pride...
It sounds silly and maybe even stupid, but it was a tough thing to ask for prayer, and an even harder task to choose to receive that prayer prayed over me to Jesus.
I'm alive and well though, and I'm about to head out to Swaziland with my team, Koinonia and the GW's (Gentle Warriors) where I'll have an opportunity to work with orphans and maybe even do some MANLY Manual LABOR! I think its definitely something God made Man able to enjoy... and just about no woman understands me when I say however many times it takes to get the shovel in my hands, "Can I dig please?" Or whatever the task is... It's amazing. Dirt under my fingernails, then take a bath in the lake, what could be a better day, ya'll? God is good to me. I'm excited to work in Swaziland with Koinonia and the GW's. It'll be awesome. I'm having the best time of my life, and I'm fighting to empty myself so I can just get filled with all that God wants to fill me with!
Pray for:
discipline
surrender of ownership (what I think I have a right to, and also what I think my name belongs on, instead of the my God's name, Jesus' name)
obedience
protection from deception, pray for discernment
Love you all and it's good to hear from all you guys, so thanks for the comments! Take careful care and get over yourself and receive all the love that the Lord wants to fill you with! He wants to give it all to us, but we can't even handle it, so make room and be filled with the things of the Lord! Take heart and joy and be Enthusiastic!
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Posted in Racing by Cameron Caviness on 6/8/2009
Yes, its a new season for me and H Squad and we're in Africa! I'm about to head out with my team Koinonia to Mozambique to Share about Jesus and to heal the blind, mute, sick, dead, or whomever God calls me to! This is gonna be an incredible month for me. God has poured so much into me within the last 5 days! I feel like I've matured in an intense way and I know I'm in the right place. This month no doubt is gonna be an intense one, but I am stinkin' excited about it! I'm getting molded by the potter and being nurtured to grow the way the Lord wants me to. It's been a great time spend here in Nelspruit, South Africa and I'm so excited to tell you all about what I've been through! It'll probably be awhile til I post something, but the Lord will provide, RIght? Booyah, God is makes me wanna do radical things and I'm so in love with him. Jesus's got my back and I know he rises to stand at the Right Hand of God as I stand in his Name! That's some hype me up knowledge right there! Anyways, I hope God is speaking to you and disturbing the stagnant waters! Just try standing still when the tide rolls in, get outta these ponds and move to big waters! You'll like what you see and the Lord's going to work wonders and speak in power! I guess what I mean is, live radically. It's funny how sketchy I can get when I'm livin' the pond life, but out here in the Ocean, so to speak, God opening my eyes all the time to bigger things and well just more than what I try and satisfy myself with... It's been life-changing, and eye-opening, and I'm really trusting the Lord for everything now. It's a good place for me. And God is good to me, and he is truely my beloved. Anyways, I love you all and to new readers, it helps me out when you post something or anything at all. Oh and pray about supporting me and my racers on this squad! Noah and Kathy Zelvis, Melissa Bets, Matt Williams, and I need 15 bucks. Spread the word and be blessed! You're a part of this thing now. I know the Lord's gonna speak powerfully through this. Trust Him, you really can. Aright I gotta go! God bless and pray for us! We want your prayers, it's real power when you do! God is faithful! See ya~Cam
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