Praying from the heart

I took this prayer, and response from God, out of a book i’m reading now entitled “At the Masters Feet” by Sadhu Sundar Singh. Sundar had 2 visions, in the first he saw a beggar and not having anything to give him, he advised the beggar to go to the next town, only to realize that it was the Lord who wanted to bless him. In the 2de vision Sundar saw a good looking “devote” believer, but in his eyes he saw an evil “craft and cunning”. The man offered him kingdoms if Sundar only renounce his love for God. Sundar chased him away and then proceeded to pray this prayer. 

I love it because it’s so true! God has created our hearts with a longing that only He can satisfy. Sometimes if i feel restless and i feel “out of sync” with life, that’s the times i realize now that i’m longing for my Friend, my God. For fellowship with Him. And then was is so cool is God’s response to Sundar... He shows up and proceeds to fill Sundars heart with the presence that He longed for, that actually came from God. It’s like God creates opportunities, so that we can respond, so that He can meet with us. That is love. :-) Enjoy. 

“And I, in tears, thus poured out my soul to God in prayer, “My Lord God, my all in all, life of my life, and spirit of my spirit, look in mercy upon me and so fill me with Thy Holy Spirit that my heart shall have no room for love of aught but Thee. I seek from Thee no other gift but Thyself, who art the Giver of life and all its blessings. From Thee I ask not for the world or its treasures, nor yet for heaven even make request, but Thee alone do I desire and long for, and where Thou art there is Heaven. The hunger and the thirst of this heart of mine can be satisfied only with Thee who hast given it birth. O Creator mine! Thou hast created my heart for Thyself alone, and not for another, therefore this my heart can find no rest or ease save in Thee, in Thee who hast both created it and set in it this very longing for rest. Take away then from my heart all that is opposed to Thee, and enter and abide and rule for ever. Amen.”

When I rose up from this prayer I beheld a glowing Being, arrayed in light and beauty, standing before me. Though He spoke not a word, and because my eyes were suffused with tears I saw Him not too clearly, there poured from Him lightning-like rays of life-giving love with such power that they entered in and bathed my very soul. At once I knew that my dear Saviour stood before me. I rose at once from the rock where I was seated and fell at His feet. He held in His hand the key of my heart. Opening the inner chamber of my heart with His key of love, He filled it with His presence, and wherever I looked, inside or out, I saw but Him.”

Becoming Silent

by Soren Kierkegaard

As a person becomes more earnest in prayer, he has less and less to say, and in the end he is quite silent. He become silent. Indeed he becomes a hearer. He thoughts that to pray was to speak. He learned that prayer is not only to keep silence, but to listen. 

And so it is. Prayer is not to hear oneself speak, but to arrive at silence, and continue being silent; to wait till one hears God speak. 

Hence it is that the word of Gospel, “Seek ye first God’s kingdom,” not only says “No” to every question as to whether it is this we must do, but says, “You shall begin by praying.” Not as though prayer always begins in silence, but because when prayer really has become prayer, then is has become silence, and that is to seek first God’s kingdom. 

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From meditations from Kierkegaard, translated and edited by T.H. Croxall (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1955).

Quote: John G Lake's Ministry

"Dr. Lake came to Spokane. He found us in sin. He found us in sickness. He found us in poverty of spirit. He found us in despair, but he revealed to us such a Christ as we had never dreamed of knowing this side of heaven. We thought victory was over there, but Dr. Lake revealed to us that victory was here, a present and possible reality. We regarded death almost as a friend, but Dr. Lake came and revealed to us the Christ, all-glorious and all-powerful, that is triumphant, compassionate, and lovely, and our night was turned into day and despair was turned into laughter. A light shone in the darkness and we, who found Christ at last as He really is, only have words as the words of Thomas, who said, "My Lord and My God." John G Lake Biography

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions

“I have quitted all forms of devotion and set prayers but those to which my state obliges me. And i make it my business only to persevere in His holy presence, wherein i keep myself by a simple attention, and a general fond regard to God... which often causes me joys and raptures inwardly, and sometimes also outwardly, so great, that i am forced to use means to moderate them, and prevent their appearance to others. ... At other times, when i apply myself to prayer, i feel all my spirit and all my soul lift itself up without any care or effort of mine, and it continues as it were suspended and firmly fixed in GOD, as in its centre and place of rest.”

Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of a Holy Life (New York: Flemming H. Revell Co., 1895) 25-26

Demonstrate the Kingdom

"Most of us would never buy a car without test-driving it. Without a demonstration, it is virtually impossible to experience all of the benefits of the car you intend to buy. Interestingly, statistics show that if a customer test-drives a car, he is much more likely to buy it. Similarly, people tend to respond much better to a demonstration of the power than a detailed "sales pitch" on the features and benefits of Heaven." Kevin Dedmon, The Ultimate Treasure Hunt

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Cor 2:4

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Drunk with faith

“May we forget about ourselves. When we are intoxicated with His presence, we will feel that we can do miracles, that we can pass through fire and water, and that we can remain unafraid when thousands of swords are drawn against us. By His grace, we won’t fear anymore - neither life nor death, joy nor sorrow. We will be drunk with faith.” St. John of the Cross

The feeling of happiness

"I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which i ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much i might serve the Lord, how i might glorify the Lord; but how i might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished." George Mueller 

Book Push: The Grace Outpouring by Roy Godwin

“Imagine a House of Prayer in every town. Imagine churches filled with Christians who want to bless others; who want to pray and then stand back and watch God at work, changing lives before their very eyes.” 

“Roy has a vision to see houses of prayer established throughout Britain and Europe. This has out of the reality of what has happened at Ffald-y-Brenin as the community there has committed to a rhythm of prayer, thankfulness and blessing... 

We hope that what you read will help paint pictures on the canvas of your imagination that will allow you to be provoked by the Holy Spirit to prayer, compassion and a mindset that desires to bless others.” Dave Roberts

http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Outpouring-Blessing-Others-through/dp/1842914049

Stand firm through the power of your words

I have felt so strongly that we are in a season when God wants to bless us beyond our wildest imagination. I have no idea what that really means. I just sense that He is “on the way” to right some wrong or difficult situations, resolve conflicts, break us out of very narrow places, heal all kinds of things from physical to emotional to whatever, solve financial conundrums, etc.

With that awareness has also been the sense that I must carefully watch what I say and guard my expectations.

Most of us are in situations that speak something very contrary to blessing. They evoke feelings like worry, anxiety, despair, hopelessness, confusion, depression, oppression, even outright anger. I don’t know what you are experiencing but I am aware of my own situations. It is very easy to let the wave of feelings overtake emotions and then suddenly, out my mouth pops a perfectly wrong string of pronouncements. Those words set the stage for the enemy of our soul to overtake us.

However, in the midst of these tough situations I have found a strange sense of hope, expectation arising in spite of the impossibility of circumstances. I have heard that still small voice say, “Guard your words and carefully craft your future.” I expect God to come through and rearrange some situations. I don’t know how, I just believe He is going to do it. When? I’m not sure about the timetable; I just know He is coming. He is looking to me simply to believe.

And to all of you I say, I BELIEVE!

Because of God’s incredible love for me, it forms a threefold cord that binds me to the plans of God for me. Faith, hope and charity or love. I know God loves me. Therefore I have faith in Him and that faith forms the substance of things hoped for, those things I have been expecting God to come through on. That faith also is my evidence for things that are coming but not yet seen (see Heb 11:1).

In the midst of thinking all these things for at least the last couple months, my assistant, Natasha, sent me an e-mail. This word so witnessed with me that I am including it so all of you can be encouraged by it.

This word was given on Dec. 2, 2010.

Angels Will now Be Sent to Guard Your Mouth!
A Prophecy from Chuck Pierce, Barbara Wentroble and Keith Pierce

“I have blessings that like the sea can cover you. Because these blessings can cover you, enter in! For if you will seat yourself with Me and have a cup of tea and talk with Me, then you will taste and you will see. Taste and see for the blessings greater than the sea can overtake you.”

“We are entering a season where you need to watch your mouth and project your voice. I will watch the way you use your mouth this season. I will watch how you celebrate. I am sending angels to guard your mouth to assist you in what to say and proclaim! I will watch how you look for your provision. Will you look for provision by faith? Will you look for provision out of a heart of worship? Or will you strive to get what you need? I will watch how you speak for your provision to come. I am changing the administration of your provision. So this week be not distraught, but this week speak and watch the honey and the water come forth.”

“I AM saying: Speak! I am not saying: Strike. Beware, beware to speak and not strike! In your striking there will be a drying. But in your speaking there will be a watering. Arise and put your hand over your mouth and let Me say, ‘I am One who will speak clearly to see what needs to be broken; come forth in My name.’”

“Be not angry, but rejoice, for your emotions must be displayed properly. Allow your emotions to rise up in the midst of your circumstances and speak to the rock and tell that mountain you’re coming through.”

“I’m raising up a Caleb generation in this hour. Even Caleb was one who said, ‘Give me my mountain!’ He spoke and commanded the mountain to come into his possession. I am raising a Caleb generation who will speak, who will take that which God said they could have—even a generation that murmured and complained and never came into the fulfillment of the promise of the Lord in the last season, and say, ‘Now!’ In this hour I raise up a Caleb generation, a people who will possess that which I say they can have. Even as Caleb, speak and declare that you have your mountain, your possession. This generation must arise and must speak the provision of the Lord.”

This is me speaking again, Barbara Yoder. Remember that we have entered Hanukah, the Festival of Lights, a season of unusual light, revelation, miracles and love. Expect largely, even in your darkest night. There is not one type of darkness that can extinguish God’s light.

About the author: Barbara J. Yoder is the founder and senior pastor of Shekinah Christian Church (shekinahchurch.org) in Ann Arbor, Mich., and is known for her apostolic and prophetic breakthrough ministry. She travels nationally and internationally ministering in churches, conferences and seminars. She is the author of several books, including Taking on Goliath. To order a copy of the book, click here. Visit her blog page at barbarayoderblog.com.

Read more: http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/prophetic-insight/29769-stand-firm-through-the-power-of-your-words

Brother Andrew sharing Jesus with the Taliban

"Peace is not the end of conflict and war, nor the result of so called 'peace talks'. It's rooted more deeply in inner peace with God and people around us," says Anne van der Bijl, the Dutchman who's better known as Brother Andrew. Now in his eighties, he still serves the persecuted church and preaches the Gospel to her persecutors. "Peace is a fruit of justice, as the prophet Isaiah says, not of prayer. That's why Jesus said: 'Blessed are the peacemakers'; He didn't say: 'Blessed are the peacetalkers'."

"The main thing that's preventing peace today is our own 'enemy mindset'," says Van der Bijl. "We build defenses and send out troops all over the world to 'bring peace', but everyone knows that we're not able to establish peace. As the Church of Jesus Christ we've lost the art of bringing the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to our enemies. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches that we don't really have enemies: 'Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you'. This is followed by: 'Blessed are the peacemakers.' I can't love my enemy if he remains my enemy, so I first have to clear the barrier that makes me think there is an enemy."

"What makes us unique as the Church of Jesus Christ is our call to the 'ministry of reconciliation', to be peacemakers in our time. Where do we make peace? Wherever there's conflict and war. When we become friends with those who are considered our enemies, we become effective fighters against terrorism. You will see that the doors and hearts of people are wide open, and if we do what Jesus commands us, there will be supernatural results as well. That's how I got entrance to the Hizbollah, the Hamas and the Taliban."

How did you get access to the Taliban?

"I just go there. I find out where they live and show up at the door step. They ask what I come for and I tell them about Jesus. We've become way too diplomatic and careful in our approach. Next week I hope to visit the Taliban again. They now say: 'Anne, this is your second home'."

"One day I visited a large, notorious Quran school where 90% of the graduates immediately join the ranks of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. A war factory of human weapons, targeted to wage war against the infidels, which is the Americans and NATO. I arrived at a square where hundreds of these students waited in line for military exercise. There was a microphone in the front. The head of the school and a minister of the government gave a short talk, and suddenly the microphone was handed to me: 'Anne, it's your turn'."

"I was surprised as I only came to visit. So I went to the microphone, pulled out my Bible and said: 'This is the only book in the world that tells us that God loves us, that our sins can be forgiven, and how we can go to Heaven when we die.' I told them about Jesus. I believe every Christian should be able to speak about his faith in Jesus unprepared for at least 15 minutes. Sometimes you get a chance like this to share the Gospel, and it would be pity to waste such an opportunity."

"After my talk, the leader of the Quran school, who's also a high official in the Taliban and government circles, came up to me and said: 'Anne, would you please come back and tell us more about Jesus, also to our graduate class?' By the time they graduate, they all have a beard and a high degree, and are ready to take on the battle against the 'great satan', America and NATO. I asked the leader how many guys he had in his final class, and he said: 1,300. This is an amazing mission field! They also ask for Bibles, books and computers. Together with the Bible Institute we already brought them hundreds of Bibles, and I believe many more will follow. We want to reach 300 Quran schools!"

"Recently I visited a leader of the Islamic Jihad. I told him that so many Muslims come to Jesus because they've seen Him in a vision, a dream, a revelation. He looked at me with such a hunger, that I stopped talking and prayed with him that the Lord Jesus would give him a fresh revelation of the Peacemaker, the Son of God. At the end of my long evangelical prayer he said: 'Amen!', straight from his heart. I thought: 'Just one more step. Lord, you have to give him a revelation of Yourself. I did what I could do'."

What can we do ourselves?

"The solution is to make Jesus Christ king of our lives. To ask Him: 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' To submit our whole life as a voluntary service to Jesus Christ. This gives incredible peace, where-ever we go."

Source: Anne van der Bijl
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(c) JOEL NEWS, 2010 | republication only with full credit line www.joelnews.org

Decisions that define us by Graham Cooke

What is Jesus wearing today?

“However, as it is written: 

   "No eye has seen, 

      no ear has heard, 

   no mind has conceived 

   what God has prepared for those who love him" - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” 1 Cor 2:9-10

What has God prepared for me today? For me, it’s been that He loves being around me. You know the feeling - like someone is watching you, following you? Sometimes i know it’s just paranoia, other times i know that He is near. My Brother, my King, is here somewhere, watching me, looking at what i’m doing. It used to freak me out, now, I sometimes look around to see where He is and what He is doing, and it is kinda fun.  

One of my mentors said that she looks at what Jesus is wearing each day. I don’t know if He really dresses up, but being in a prophetic culture, He is always talking, and different clothing or “war paint” may mean something particular for the day. 

Today, He seemed dressed in fine linen, with gold buttons. I feel at peace when i look at Him dressed like that. And i think that He is reading something. He looks captivated by what He is reading. So i asked Him what does this mean? And what is He reading? He’s clothing represents cleanliness, purity, holiness, and the gold speaks of royalty. The book He is reading represents learning and growth. How does this all apply to me and for this day? What He is, I am too, what He wears, I wear too. And today will be a learning day, easy no pressure learning. I am growing. 

I am growing. That makes me almost want to cry. I don’t know about you, but sometimes i feel so much pressure to grow, perform, be all that i am called to be. So much expectation to live up too. It that just drains me. Usually, the last thing on my mind is peace when i think about growth. I think about having to be more disciplined and getting in routines and having to do more to be more. And to be honest i hate that. It makes me feel like crap. I feel like I'm never good enough. 

So as I’m writing this, and looking at what I felt Jesus was saying... for once, i feel at peace with growing. See according to Him, I am royalty, no need to perform to get my way there, no expectations, I am because He is. And seeing how much He enjoys learning, and how peaceful it is, I can do the same now because He is my Teacher, not the world. 

May you have a great day today, and know that Jesus loves you. Why don’t you ask Him today, tomorrow, what He is wearing and what He is doing. Lining up our lives with His plans always bears fruit. Peace. 

God's stamp of approval

Last week Joseph and I had lunch in Atlanta with a new friend. We were just hanging out, getting to know each other over lunch. After that we went to little 5 points, which is known for being a more “spiritual” area. There’s a bunch of unique shops, from coffee to tattoo. I even found a little hookah store! 

Some of the students from the ministry school i go to, have an outreach there each week, going into the different shops, starting up conversations and blessing the locals. It’s a very creative area, maybe not too every ones taste if you know what i mean...

Joseph had something that he wanted to talk to one of the shops owners about and that’s where we went. This guy had the emo look with a ton of rings (some of you reading this may know him). His store had everything from a black cat, some live bunnies, Christian crosses to hindu deities. 

We walked around and i was quiet surprised at how connected i felt with God in there. From what i was taught in Church we’re supposed to stay away from places like that. “It’s dangerous” to go there... My thoughts: they’re just people, and they are so hungry for true love! 

I was just starting to enjoy being there and releasing the Kingdom when Joseph picked up a little box - to buy. Everything inside of me went all crazy. “Don’t buy that, it will give a demon an open door into your soul” - that’s what i was thinking. And then almost as if Pappa took my head in His hands tilting it up and down, i found myself thinking... “this guy, that looks like he is from the dark side, is now going to experience the love of God through a Christian buying something from him that carries a lot of worth.” Does that make sense? Think about what is most precious to you. Now imagine God, who you previously thought to be quiet distant and disappointed in your line of work, coming into your store and buying that thing that is so precious to you. Wouldn’t that just melt your heart? God, Love, just came to me, and told me that what i do, what i have, is important to Him. That would rock my world right there. I matter to God. 

I was pleasantly surprised at the turn of events and i’ll finish with a quote along the same lines... 

“All of creation begins and ends with the Father longing for relationship with you as His beloved child. He created you to live your life as if you have a home. Did you wake up this morning and hear the loving voice of your Father say, “Don’t worry that you don’t have everything together; it’s OK. I don’t expect you to get it perfect. I love you so much just the way you are. You are the son/daughter i love and in whom i am well pleased”?

Or did you get up thinking, Nobody loves me. Nobody cares about me. I’ve got to have devotions today, and pray enough, and get my three Bible chapters a day in, and do all the right Christian stuff, just so i can get a crumb from the Master’s table today? You will treat yourself and others according to the way you think God feels about you. If you know you are loved unconditionally, you will love yourself and others with the same kind of love. But if you feel you have to perform in order to be of value to God, then you will portray the thought to others that they need to perform in order to be of value to you. Either you live your life as if you have a home, or you live your life as if you don’t have a home. Fear... or Father’s embrace!”

(Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship, Jack Frost, P26,27)

Jesus Feast - Feast on His Miracles

Wondering what to feast on over the next 40 days? Check this out!

www.JesusFeast.org 

Read and meditate through the Miracles Jesus did over the next 40 days. Want your daily scripture emailed to you - sign up here...

Also check out their Facebook group!

A better way to pray

I’m the guy who used to believe that i needed to get up at 6am, read my Bible for and hour, and then pray for an hour. :-) I don’t think there is essentially something wrong with that, it’s Pappa, and spending time with Him is amazing... But i used to get up because i felt like i needed too, in order to feel like i did my Christian duties. Andrew Wommack put it best: "That's religious!" 

May we all have a fresh outlook on our prayer lives, and have some fun with our God of Joy. 

The Great Commission

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Mat 28:16-20

Oxford American Dictionary explains “commission” as “a group of people officially charged with a particular function” and “the authority to perform a task or certain duties”. I’d say we have done quiet well with the first part of the commission. We have gone to the nations, discipled them, baptized them, and taught them everything Jesus taught us. But I think for various reasons we have skipped the second part - how we were actually supposed to go and disciple the nations, baptize and teach them. 

I have 2 questions i’d like to answer

• How did Jesus teach 
• How did Jesus tell the disciples to teach

How did Jesus teach

“You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Acts 10:37,38

In Matthew 3 we find Jesus being baptized by John in the Jordan. Until then i believe baptism was more of a outward sign, a confession of faith so to say. But when Jesus was baptized something deeper happened, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God came on Jesus and then His earthly ministry began, one of teaching and power. It’s this same power that Jesus told His disciples to wait for in Jerusalem before they could start their “great commission”. (Acts 1:4,5,8)

In Luke 4 we find Jesus Himself saying what this power, anointing, Spirit was for:

“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 

 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, 

      because he has anointed me 

      to preach good news to the poor. 

   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners 

      and recovery of sight for the blind, 

   to release the oppressed, 

    to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:14-21

Jesus then went on preaching the good news of a God who loved the world so much, a God who wasn’t going to hold anything back. (John 3:16,17) He confirmed this teaching with opening up salvation to anyone who would believe. In Mark 16 Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Lets look for a second at the word “saved”, Greek word 4982, Sozo. 

Sozo (salvation) touches 3 areas. 

• Salvation for the Spirit (Mat 1:21, Rom 10:13)
• Deliverance for the Soul (Luke 8:36)
• Healing for the Body (Mark 5:34, James 5:15)

The Good News, salvation, has a lot more to offer than just being baptized in the names of God, and being taught how to live in righteousness. The Good News is really a Gospel of Power, the power to save and effect every area of our lives. Without power, without the Holy Spirit, aren’t we just going back to the law? (Rom 8) Jesus taught in the power of the Holy Spirit. He demonstrated this power through healing all who was sick (Mark 6:56), casting out demons (Mat 8:16) and forgiving sins (Luke 5:24).

How did Jesus tell his disciples to teach

The first time Jesus sends out His disciples, He sends out 72 and gives them these instructions: “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.’” (Luke 10:9) When they got back they report with joy, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." And then Jesus replied: 

"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”” Luke 10:18-24

Notice the joy for both Jesus and His disciples? Notice how Jesus praises Father for what He was doing according to His good pleasure? And then He how Jesus blessed His disciples for what they have seen? That is the way missions should be done! That is the results that we should be expecting! Jesus sent out His disciples in power and they continued the same ministry of Words and Wonders as Him. According to Acts 2:4, we now have that same power! 

We easily quote Mat 28’s “Great commission” because it doesn’t require a lot of us, and to be frank, it’s easier. But i think the reason we see Christianity impact so little of the world, is because we don’t in the same breath and with the same enthusiasm quote the rest of the Great Commission found in Mark 16:

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Home Groups

We have a family that goes to another Church, yet comes out our home group when we have it. For me it’s a picture of the unity that can come from Love. Our home group leaders washed our feet and prophesied over us a couple of weeks ago and it was so ridiculously special. And then this family invited us to their home group to do the same there. 

I went over quite excited until i realized that their youth were between 10 and 16 years old - i’ve never prophesied over such young people! For a moment there i forgot that God actually has as much plans with their lives as He does with mine at 26. And it became real apparent from the first greeting that He was there Love them, and draw then closer to His heart through our words and actions. 

We kicked off by giving some testimonies about Jesus Culture and my wife and I’s trip to the Middle East in May. The one where a girl had metal in her wrist from a accident and after prayer and God’s divine awesomeness, the metal was gone. Completely gone. I touched her wrist, i know. That got them going... And then we explained some on prophesy before we broke up into boy and girl groups. 

And then God was there. We had a great evening with them, and one girl who had dislocated her knee, after being prayed for said that all the pain she had had up to that point - was gone. She’ll go back to the doc today and so we wait for a full conformation of the depths of God’s grace. 

Last night we had home group again and even before we started Love was there. The wife of this same family, shared with me how she had hurt her ankle and that her achilles was too long or something? There was a term she gave which was way above my IQ. I called her husband and had him gently lift up her ankle, focus on God’s love and releasing it through his spirit, and then he prayed after me. The moment we stopped praying she got The Touch. She got real excited as her ankle got really hot, and then her whole body started tingling. She got up and walked around without any pain. She rolled her feet in perfect circles (something she couldn’t do over the last 6 months) and put pressure on it for the first time. God healed her! 

Then she asked me why is her whole body tingling and not just her ankle? It’s only her ankle that needed healing. And i just said that God loves all of you and He is here to show that to you. It was so precious for me to see a husband and wife encounter God like this for the first time. 

Home group blew up with amazing worship, encouraging words and some creative miracles. I love physical healings, but when I see my friends and family get a emotional breakthrough everything inside of me goes My God Did That, He Is Awesome!!!

For me being a missionary means that I’m sent out by God, doesn’t really matter where I go or to whom I go, I am going in His power and love. 

Hovering over the Gulf

With so many emails and prayer requests going out about the oil spill, about God judging the Gulf even the US, this painting from a friend came as a refreshing reminder of Father’s positive redemptive purposes for the Gulf. 

“I had the picture in my mind for a couple of weeks, but I wasn't real sure of the full meaning. I kept seeing Father waving His arms over the face of the deep. His glory shown all about Him and the ocean was very dark. As I began painting it, I remembered the prayer sent out from Mahesh. I had already been praying about the blood of Jesus redeeming the Gulf and it dawned on me the painting was our prayers.  With each stroke I could see the oil and the blood in the water. I felt the Father's breath on the water breathing life...until finally the water was redeemed to it's original state. The painting became a prophetic act of my...our agreement with the Father for His redemption of the Gulf.”

**Painting and story used with permission of artist. 

Leonard Ravenhill

“Such praying men are always our national benefactors. Elijah was such. He had heard a voice, seen a vision, tasted a power, measured an enemy, and with God as partner, wrought a victory. He knew the mind of God. Therefore he, one man, strangled a nation and altered the course of nature. By the key of faith, which fits every lock, Elijah locked heaven, pocketed the key, and made Ahab tremble. Though it is wonderful indeed when God lays hold of a man, earth can know one greater wonder—when a man lays hold of God.” Leonard Ravenhill

Pete Craig

“For 30 years the church has been meeting to say 'Come Holy Spirit'. Maybe the Holy Spirit is now saying, 'Come holy people'. He's inviting us to a thousand new meeting places, where new sounds and sights burn the eyes and break the heart! Could it be that the Holy Spirit is weary of attending our meetings and hungers for our presence at His? Are you coming?"