A Prayer for Revival
A thousand thanksgivings for a thousand eternities would not be enough to express our joy for freeing us! You paid more than what has ever been paid before to set me free. No longer am I a slave to sin, but by your grace a bondservant to you, O King.
And now I think of so many still enslaved. Won’t you free them too? Your grace is enough, your death paid the debt we owe, won’t you take them too?
Lauren is in Nigeria, Kara and Chloe in Tanzania, Rachel in Germany, and the ME team in the Middle East, preaching the gospel to sinners like us. Use them and speak through them. Won’t you take those whom you deserve? What about Kalyn, Linda and the Kids, Jenny, Aimee, Randy, Nando, Glen, AJ, Johann, Danny, Ewasko, and my family? Take them, please!
I don’t want your name to be forsaken in their lives. I don’t want your name to be blasphemed in their hearts. I don’t want your grace to be untasted by their souls. I ask and hope that it is your will that they be saved. I beg that they will become accountable to you now, before your majesty forces them to bow in the end. I beg you for their salvation. Do great things amongst the nations; redeem your tarnished name! Bring back the lost, take the throne, Jesus!
Victory is yours, how can we be in denial of it? You are Savior. You are Lord. You are Sovereign. How can we ignore it? Wickedness and perverseness is this generation. Our culture mixes souls with one another by cheap words and cheaper sex. We belittle every gift you give. We murder children and sacrifice them to the god of convenience. We sell the ideals of fiction and forsake reality. We are blinded and deafened by the sights and sounds of our iniquities.
And your children are spoiled by their rebellion. We wait for heaven but forget the One who will take us there. We sit in our big new buildings with Playstations, Pipe organs, and coffee shops, shaking each other’s hands for being saved. How many of us watch instead of worship? Who is genuinely contrite for their sins and desperate for the refreshing breath of grace, which only you can provide?
Revive us O Lord. Revive the dead and dieing in the great halls of your bride. Command us and give us what you command. Let us seek your righteousness and authentically seek your face, instead of just listening to a song about it.
Angola
New York Times: African Crucible
I have recently read this article in the New York Times about the horrors some children have to go through in Angola (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/world/africa/15witches.html?ex=1352782800&en=6a6aec7a1b5f2977&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss ).
I cant believe how broken we are. How far we have run from the Father. Surly, Surly He will see how the wickedness of man is great and our every intent and thought is on evil continuously. Surly He shall see how depraved we are, how enslaved we are, and set us free. Will we ever taste freedom?
What sort of generation buys clothes and pampers dogs but murders their children in the womb? What sort of generation worships celebrity and every hedonistic desire for sex, pleasure and vain-glory yet ignores that a father pumped battery acid into his son’s stomach for fear that the son was a witch?
What sort of wickedness dwells in us that we would see the Creator displayed by the heavens and all of creation yet we worship the corrupt instead of the incorruptible God? How long until the Lord King opens the seals and pours out judgment on this earth?
When, Oh Holy God will You return? You have set us free from our bondage by the death of Your Son! You have set us free and now we can bow and pay fealty to You instead of the darkness! Why do we commit such atrocities against Your Holiness?
Forgive us Lord King, forgive your people, and spare us a little longer so that we may wake up from our stupor of nightmares and apathy! Let us see Your face and call upon the name of the Father to love on the nations, lost in culture and sin! Embolden your people and send us out so that we may seek Your will and bring glory to Your name!
Father forgive us.
Stoned in our day, and loving thy enemies.
“They won the crowds over to their side, stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, thinking that he was dead. But when the brothers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town.” Acts 14:19-20.
Paul and is boys are preaching, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, healing folk and causing a riot amongst the peoples of Lystra, Antioch, and Iconium. Gentiles and Jews alike rise up, win over the crowds, and throw big freaking rocks at Paul until they presume he is dead. Then they drag his tattered body outside the city and dump him on the dirt road.
I can see his disciples standing around his body. Some are crying, some are in shock and probably scared. I’m sure Barnabas is praying fervently. And then Paul opens his eyes. He stands up and dusts off his tunic, and then to the astonishment of all normal men, he turns toward the gate of the city and walks back in.
And you know what the Bible says Paul does next? ”Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, [Paul said], ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.’” (Acts 14:22).
PAUL! You just go boulders dumped on your body, man! Are you okay? WHERE ARE YOU GOING!? Those people just killed you! “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
Have you ever heard of such a thing? Did Paul reject those people, pray for a mighty smiting of the town, or forsake God? No. He “preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples.” (v.21).
Does this happen today? Yes.
Here is the URL to an article from the SBC about a man named Jameel in the Middle East. Read it and be encouraged, for even his trials did not turn him from the faith and his love is still strong for his enemies. http://www.sbc.net/redirect.asp?url=http://www.imb.org/. Praise Jesus for witnesses like Jameel! May we never have to be in a similar situation, but if we are, may we react the same way Paul, Stephen (Acts 7:54-60), Jameel, and Jesus did. May we pray on their behalf to God for their salvation out of love and a passion for their very souls.
I once dated a hippy and her social justice rubbed off on me…
“The poor is hated even by his neighbor, but those who love the rich are many. He who despises his neighbor sins, but happy is he who is gracious to the poor.” (Proverbs 14:20-21 NASB)
I will give some background information but will try to get to the point as quick as possible.
I currently work at a church across the street from Texas A&M. I am their maintenance guy and on Sundays after I open the doors and clean up the trash from the bars left over from the night before, I sit at the secretary’s desk and provide help when needed.
I have had several opportunities to try to minister to some people: victims of addiction, poverty, themselves, and enablement. This past Sunday I was picking up trash around the perimeter of the church and came upon a man reclining on a bench with his hat over his eyes. He looked dirty, homeless, and different from my white-bread, middle-class culture. I’ve named him Stephen.
He looked up and said “Good morning,”
“Good Morning. How are you doing, sir?” I asked automatically as I swept up some trash.
“Oh, not too good. I’ve been up all night crying.”
What? Most people just say fine and move on.
“You’ve been up all night crying? Why?” I ask.
He told me a story about being married for four days, having two boys in the 11th-grade, and no money to buy food. By a quick examination of his eyes I could see that they were indeed red and irritated, but from tears or chemicals I could not ascertain, and praise Jesus, I ceased to care. His story was typical of most stories I heard: I couldn’t tell if this one was true or not. I remember James 2:16 condemning those who say “Go in peace, be warmed, and be filled” and yet don’t give them what is necessary for their body, so I looked into my wallet to prove I wouldn’t be lying if I said I had no money.
“Nah, Man. I don’t want to ask you for any money,” Stephen objected.
“Well, that’s cool. Nobody likes to ask for charity, but love should be freely given.”
With more talk, I discovered that Stephen does get a check from somebody but he had to spend it to get his woman out of jail, who is a lawyer. There is no way the lawyer part is true.
However cynical I sound now, I wanted to help him so much because I knew what he really wanted, but didn’t know it himself, was Jesus. I told him I have a friend, whom he has probably heard of, and I wanted him to meet. My friend doesn’t promise all the problems will be taken care of or even happiness. However, He does promise Joy and Peace. (I sort of mumbled something similar. I wish I had been that concise.)
Of course, Stephen had heard of my friend named Jesus and said that he reads the Bible everyday. So I misreferenced Matthew 6:33 about seeking first Jesus and His righteousness and all these things will be made unto you (If he had known Matthew 5:32, the place I said, he would wonder why I was referencing a verse on divorce). I absolutely bumbled through the Gospel with this man because, contrary to scripture’s teaching, I wasn’t ready with it.
After a few more words with Stephen, listening to him and trying to offer some kind words, I went on my way with work. I turned around and looked at the Starbucks two feet away in which walked many a Sunday-dressed family, including myself, on their way to church. The dichotomy brought me to shame.
And as I sat down at my desk I began to think of everything else I wished I had said to Stephen. I wish I had gotten close and sat with him on the bench, and not four feet away as if I was afraid he would reach out and steal my credit card. I wished I had told him more about Him who is the bread of life and the living water and through whom whoever would drink of it, would never thirst again. I wish I had invested my heart with him and told him to praise God for the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord. But instead I sat down and drank my coffee.
Some people get stuck in a victim attitude where they see all the harm done to them and none of their own responsibility. Some people are plagued with demons of alcoholism, drug addiction, and disease for the wages of sin truly is death. Some people find others they can manipulate and victimize (I know two separate people who have been victims of the same con man).
And yet they still need Jesus. They are seeking for Him, they want Him, but they just don’t know it yet. I wish I had the power to touch the lame, heal the sick and give them what their heart desires; it is the charismatic in me. We can only do so much before the other person has to come the rest of the way. God conquerors our hearts, he certainly conquered mine. Yet some have hardened their hearts against Him who offers peace and love.
I praise Jesus that I have parents that provide for me and have taught me a work ethic! I Praise Him for the circumstances in which I live and get a world-class education. I don’t feel guilty that I don’t live in a cardboard box. I work and earn my money, even the bit my Uncle Sam steals from me. But that doesn’t give us an excuse; we still have the power to help.
Programs will not work. It is not a matter of mere sacrifices and aid, but a matter of the heart. Welfare enables a slothful lifestyle of taking advantage of the system. Social Security doesn’t benefit everybody anymore, and I don’t think I’ll ever see what was taken from my check. Give your love, dear heart. Give your finances and/or support with your precious time to the church, missions, and honest charities that work to disciple and show Christ’s healing to those that have never tasted of it. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you” (Proverbs 3:27-28 NASB).
Shall we not put to death our selfishness and stay in our comfort zones? Shall we live in our brick houses and ignore the shanties down the street? Thank you Jesus I live in Bryan where I am exposed to reality instead of Rock Prairie in College Station, surrounded by frats and peers of my socio-economic class. I am disgusted that for so long I have passed my eyes over the half of this community that has nothing compared to us.
I am disgusted that I can read an article on CNN about General Taylor’s armies of 15-year-old rapist soldiers in Sierra Leon and then have the next headline be about how “Knocked-Up” did at the box office.
We need to go.
In Revelation, Jesus says He will spit out the lukewarm for not being hot nor cold. I would vomit too if I had to taste our apathy.
–Matt
We Have At Least 11 New Family Members
This is from the blog of the mission team in Guatemala my mother is on. (It is public on Internet so I dont think anything is information sensitive). See http://www.outboundguatemala.com/ for more info.
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MEDICAL REPORT
June 9th, 2007
I have found it quite humbling to see the conditions, poverty and health of a people so close to home with so very little. It makes me feel embarassed to have so much when these folks have so little. I wish everyone could see the precious faces of the children. That is what gets me the most are the eyes and smiles of these little children. The older women almost always want to hug and kiss you in pure respect and thanks for the very little we have done for them. And when I say ´´little´´ I mean little. We are only able to do bandaid medicine here. It is not possible to have all of the medicine we need to help every problem these people have. We are able to throw maybe a months worth of drugs at them but you know that that will not be enough to make a long term difference. But the caveat to that frustration is that they are hearing the word of God, we are showing them the love of God and hopefully they will know we love them and Gods people truly care about them. Eleven people accepted Christ as their Savior yesterday and I am not sure how many from the day before. So we know that we are making an eternal difference.
On a personal note, I have not once had to use an outhouse or a hole in the ground as I was prepared to do. Thank the Lord for that. One member of our team did see three boys go out into a field with a roll of toilet paper and cop a squat, one boy on each side holding the other middle boy up. What a site that must have been| I will never take for granted new underwear, or any underwear for that matter ever again.
We have fed the mountain villagers two days in a row. They are so appreciative. There are so many of them.
Today a dentist will be at the clinic with us. I was so afraid I would not have the skills to triage and assess these patients because my skills are labor and delivery related. God has given me confidence and I am working with a great medical team of two other nurses, a fantastic physician, translators and pharmacy personnel. The entire team that is here has a purpose for being here. Each person performs a job God has ordained. We are led by Chris Halvorson who has orchestrated every detail with perfection. What a nice role for me to be a follower and not a decision maker. I feel so close to God down here and among people who love him and are serving him, some with great personal sacrifice.
The entire team helped us bag vitamins and other drugs in individual bags on our first day here. We are well equipped with what God has provided, but it just isn´t enough. I have a vision for more. I have a hope for next year. Can you believe I am already talking about next year¡
Off to the mountain we go for another day of looking in ears and mouths, praying we can make a lifetime and eternal difference in the lives of many.
Andrea Robertson, registered nurse
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Lets go.
