Tuesday, August 31, 2010
40 Days
I have been challenged to go on a fast for the next 40 days. Fasting from whatever the Lord presses on my heart. I have never attempted a fast for this amount of time. But I feel so convicted to proceed with the 'Daniel Fast' and a total media fast. In the Daniel Fast, I will be only eating fruits, veggies, and beans. For the next 40 days. In the media fast, I will be ridding my life of all secular music, movies, t.v shows and whatever else. So I am humbly begging you to pray for strength. This is a time for me to reflect and remember His Kingdom. Remember how it is not of this earth, but it is our duty to show the Kingdom in my day to day life. So pray that I will have an abundance of grace and let my soul, my hunger, my desire be filled by the only One who can suffice. So here we go. 40 days.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
No Words
Lord, please give me the words. I have sat and thought for past two weeks about how I could possibly share this experience with you. I am truly having difficulty finding the words. So, as I begin to write, I pray that my words are stripped and that you only hear of the power of Christ through this.
Here it is. This is it. My heart aches at the thought of going back. I have fallen completely in love with this ministry; completely in love with this continent. I prepared myself to feel a sense of brokenness for a country, but I didn’t expect to be broken for an entire continent. This work, this journey has been everything I didn’t expect.
I am more than thankful for what God has done in this place, in my heart, in this generation. It is something completely indescribable, but something so very powerful. I wish I could give you a glimpse of what has happened over the past two and a half months. I apologize as I try to paint the picture, but trust me; it still does this no justice.
As I begin processing what just happened, I have felt an overwhelming weight on my shoulders; a weight for this continent, for the youth, for the church. I have found that this is what I will call my ‘holy discontent’. Let me try to explain. This holy discontent stirs inside of me. It is an emotion that cannot be contained, it is physically impossible for me to sit on the side lines. It is spiritually impossible for me to watch from across an ocean. It is something that burdens me to my deepest inner core. And I simply cannot ignore it. Nor do I wish I could. It is a burning desire for these people to experience the love of God; a desire that ignites my being. Let me challenge you, what is your holy discontent?
It is an invigorating feeling when God’s desire is placed in your heart; even more, when that desire is so clearly seen. This is his plan, not mine. I am thankful that God has given me a great peace about returning. Peace, yet also excitement in what is next. A lot has been revealed to me and I am so excited to see where I am lead next. So, this is my confident prayer for this continent:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break froth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, and everlasting sign that shall not be cut off” Isaiah 55:10-13
So as this chapter winds down, a new one begins. I wish I could give detailed explanations of what the Lord did over the past few months.
So, I will continue to update you on what the Lord is pressing on my heart as well as share with you some of the most incredible stories in my life and stories of some beautiful people. For now, here are some prayer requests:
Pray against apathy and complacency.
Pray for strength, as I am already experiencing spiritual warfare back in America
Pray for wisdom and guidance as I follow the Lord in what discipleship looks like.
Pray that it would be a smooth transition; having this ministry here, while picking up the one back in Arkansas.
Pray that the lessons the Lord has taught me here will be applied and remembered.
Pray that I continue to further the areas into which He graciously filled me.
Pray for the church in Rijeka, Croatia.
Pray for clarity for what I am supposed to do next.
Pray for the students; that they remember the feeling they had at camp isn’t just available at camp, or available through Americans. Pray that they might see it as something new, redeeming, and loving. Pray that God provides someone to follow up with those who have something stirring inside of their hearts.
Pray for the believers there; that they might be encouraged in a desolate society.
Excerpts from Psalm 119 are a good picture of my thoughts, my hearts desire. Please lift this up as a prayer:
27”Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.”
33-36”Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statues; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
112 ”I incline my heart to perform your statues forever, to the end.”
123-125”My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statues. I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!”
175 “Let my soul live and praise you…”
I feel so prompted to share some scripture with you all; scripture that sums up these past months, my heart, the heart of the students, and the might of our God. Soak it in.
“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth” Isaiah 12:5
“I saw the Lord always before me, for he sat at my right hand that I might not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope” Act 2:25-26
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ
“As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death” Phil 1:20
"The heavens declare the glory of God..." Ps 19:1
“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you” Ps 63:3
"There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is(B) no rock like our God.: 1 Samuel 2:2
“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come’. And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirty come; let the one who desires take the what of life without price” Revelation 22:17
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap” Galatians 6:9
“And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God
Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God
To receive the glory and honor and power,
For you created all things
And by your will they existed and were created’
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” Revelation 4:6-8,11,13
Here it is. This is it. My heart aches at the thought of going back. I have fallen completely in love with this ministry; completely in love with this continent. I prepared myself to feel a sense of brokenness for a country, but I didn’t expect to be broken for an entire continent. This work, this journey has been everything I didn’t expect.
I am more than thankful for what God has done in this place, in my heart, in this generation. It is something completely indescribable, but something so very powerful. I wish I could give you a glimpse of what has happened over the past two and a half months. I apologize as I try to paint the picture, but trust me; it still does this no justice.
As I begin processing what just happened, I have felt an overwhelming weight on my shoulders; a weight for this continent, for the youth, for the church. I have found that this is what I will call my ‘holy discontent’. Let me try to explain. This holy discontent stirs inside of me. It is an emotion that cannot be contained, it is physically impossible for me to sit on the side lines. It is spiritually impossible for me to watch from across an ocean. It is something that burdens me to my deepest inner core. And I simply cannot ignore it. Nor do I wish I could. It is a burning desire for these people to experience the love of God; a desire that ignites my being. Let me challenge you, what is your holy discontent?
It is an invigorating feeling when God’s desire is placed in your heart; even more, when that desire is so clearly seen. This is his plan, not mine. I am thankful that God has given me a great peace about returning. Peace, yet also excitement in what is next. A lot has been revealed to me and I am so excited to see where I am lead next. So, this is my confident prayer for this continent:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break froth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, and everlasting sign that shall not be cut off” Isaiah 55:10-13
So as this chapter winds down, a new one begins. I wish I could give detailed explanations of what the Lord did over the past few months.
So, I will continue to update you on what the Lord is pressing on my heart as well as share with you some of the most incredible stories in my life and stories of some beautiful people. For now, here are some prayer requests:
Pray against apathy and complacency.
Pray for strength, as I am already experiencing spiritual warfare back in America
Pray for wisdom and guidance as I follow the Lord in what discipleship looks like.
Pray that it would be a smooth transition; having this ministry here, while picking up the one back in Arkansas.
Pray that the lessons the Lord has taught me here will be applied and remembered.
Pray that I continue to further the areas into which He graciously filled me.
Pray for the church in Rijeka, Croatia.
Pray for clarity for what I am supposed to do next.
Pray for the students; that they remember the feeling they had at camp isn’t just available at camp, or available through Americans. Pray that they might see it as something new, redeeming, and loving. Pray that God provides someone to follow up with those who have something stirring inside of their hearts.
Pray for the believers there; that they might be encouraged in a desolate society.
Excerpts from Psalm 119 are a good picture of my thoughts, my hearts desire. Please lift this up as a prayer:
27”Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.”
33-36”Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statues; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
112 ”I incline my heart to perform your statues forever, to the end.”
123-125”My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statues. I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!”
175 “Let my soul live and praise you…”
I feel so prompted to share some scripture with you all; scripture that sums up these past months, my heart, the heart of the students, and the might of our God. Soak it in.
“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth” Isaiah 12:5
“I saw the Lord always before me, for he sat at my right hand that I might not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope” Act 2:25-26
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ
“As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death” Phil 1:20
"The heavens declare the glory of God..." Ps 19:1
“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you” Ps 63:3
"There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is(B) no rock like our God.: 1 Samuel 2:2
“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come’. And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirty come; let the one who desires take the what of life without price” Revelation 22:17
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap” Galatians 6:9
“And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God
Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God
To receive the glory and honor and power,
For you created all things
And by your will they existed and were created’
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” Revelation 4:6-8,11,13
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