Burdened to Prayer…
Once again I find myself back in the good ‘ol U.S.A. and am reacquainted with familiarity and fond memories of the past. I guess you can say that Michigan was the launch pad for me to sing out prophetically for the first time. Although it meant being pushed out on a limb and truly stepping outside my comfort zone, I am very thankful for being given that huge opportunity. That opportunity had definitely played an important role for me to grow into the worshiper that I am today.
Now my actual post…
As I made the journey from Winnipeg to Grand Rapids, via through Chicago, my heart began to ache for bride of Christ. Seeing all the abandoned foreclosed homes, the shut down businesses, the abundance of hardships financially, relationally, and spiritually all over. There were no different classifications or categories of people that I ran into. Everybody was hurt and broken. They are looking for glimpses of hope, a second chance, an better opportunity, a new way of living, just anything to move forward in a positive manner to some degree. Having first hand witnessed the weary, the hurt, and the broken in many different levels in just a couple of days, I needed to do something. At previous times, I would have taken it upon myself, look for man-made solutions, and carry the burden upon my own shoulders. But that left me exhausted, distraught, and stressed to the max, because I could not find the solution or the answer that I was looking for.
This time, I will bring the hurt, the broken, the weary, etc. before the Lord in prayer. That is the best solution or response that I can do to partner on their behalf. There is nothing that I can do beyond my own strength, ability, time, money, energy, etc. except to bring it before the Lord and release the burden to Him. It is not mine to carry onto, but my responsibility to partner with the Lord is to affectionately, joyfully agree that He is the only solution, the hope, the answer, the open door for His kingdom to be brought down here on earth and He will have His way. I trust You Jesus for You are perfect in how You lead and You are never lacking in Your loving kindness and Your goodness!
Words From An Old Email…
Monday, June 05, 2006
Those that battle with boredom are called entertainers,
And their reward is the quick passage of time.
Those who battle with causes are called activists,
And their reward is a measure of justice on earth, here and now.
Those who do battle with spirits and principalities,
Partnering with the God of heaven for the good of man
And magnification of the one thing Holy, those kind are called intercessors,
And their ultimate reward is the fullness of God.
Heaven coming to earth and bringing justice down with it for eternity.
“Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary. In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines. Summon your power, O God. Show us your strength, as you have done before…” Psalms 68:24, 25 & 28
It’s fascinating to me that the ultimate procession of the King of Glory
is not made up of heavily armed guards, but rather singers, musicians and dancers.
What other warring clan goes forward this way? Surely He knows how to do battle better than we do.
Longing: Why is this relevant to us?
A. Kingdom Way
The realm of longing and waiting for God is the way of God’s Kingdom. Longing and the process of cultivating intimacy with God is God’s way. The farmer waits for the harvest – desiring it to come. The Word of God is a seed that grows in us. The merchant seeks the pearl of great price. The bride waits for the Bridegroom with longing in her heart. Longing is the method by which God’s kingdom is transferred – Heaven to earth. It’s the means by which we are empowered for intimacy and ministry. We are empowered in intimacy with Jesus through this lovesickness. We receive power for ministry in the progression of hunger and desire.
B. Vulnerable to Attack
One of the most common attacks of the enemy comes in this process where we are desiring God and experiencing delay in His coming to us. We have to know and recognize the accusations of the enemy in these times.
C. Response in the Delay
1. How do we respond when our heart bursts with longing and no answer comes forth from Heaven? First we must seek to keep a right view of Jesus and to remember it is always greater love He is after. This keeps our hearts tender and not offended or unnecessarily wounded.
2. It is so necessary to know the Divine motivation behind these seasons. He is not leaving us in the pains of love with any other incentive than love itself. Instead of whining, “O God, I have this tiny hunger, why aren’t You filling it?” Let us say, “O God! What kind of hunger are You worth? Give me more! Yet sustain me I pray in the process.”
3. He does not take pleasure in inflicting meaningless heart-ache upon us. Far from meaningless, these times are as Divine agents leading to greater love. When we can connect the present pain to the future depth of love, our hearts are sustained for the duration.
4. We must remember that longing is a preparatory work that expands our souls. He will fill us according to our capacity. We cannot enter into the fullness of love without these very essential enlargings of our hearts. We have tiny capacities and impatient souls. We have to learn God’s way.
5. We must drink deeply of these seasons of lovesick desire. Our responsibility is to let longing have its way within us. These times are rare gifts and we should seize them for their fullness rather than try to get by on as little as necessary. When we know that our current experience of heart ache is in the ultimate Divine plan, we can embrace them as they were meant to be embraced and allow love to have its comprehensive way within.
**All excerpts are by Dana Candler**
Goodbye 28, Hello 29…
Hello 29! I am now officially 29 years old…what can I say? I am excited to see where the Lord takes me this year. Despite the many trials and testing that I had endured during my 28th year, I am very thankful for that season of being found in the wilderness. I remember receiving a specific word about being invited into this past season of deeper communion with the Lord. A season where I was to be pulled aside and have that one-on-one conversation with the Lord, definitely in the secret place where His voice can be heard loud and clear. My first thought when I heard that specific word was that I did not want it to be this particular season as there were many other things happening in my life all at the same time. But looking back at those moments of frustration, fear, anxiety, sadness, and discouragement, the Lord spoke a promise to me before I entered that season…
Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
That was one of the promises spoken over me in this past season, that His hope will never disappoint me. But that I will glory in my tribulations. I will bless His name in the highest of times and the lowest of times, for He is the Good Shepherd, the Perfect Leader, and He knows what He’s doing in my life. My goal is for the joy and assurance of God to be evident in all areas of my life. It’s not fully there yet, but by His mercy and grace, I am definitely gaining some ground. A new year awaits for me with uncertainty all around, but I know that the Lord will see me through it, for He is good and He leads me perfectly. Thank you Jesus.
The Cat Came Back…
There once was a cat named Baby
Who’s grumpy, but also a pain
Her hobby is to to run amok
And even hiss at Shane
Somehow my parents adore her
And spoil her with snacks
Sleeping the hours of the day
But planning her many attacks
Playing games with my head
I am slowly catching on
The next time that she runs away
I won’t be too sad she’s gone
Alas, oh Baby, you’re still here
Meowing all through the night
I wish I threw my shoe at her
But that wouldn’t be too nice
But the cat came back the very next day.
The cat came back. I thought she was a gonner,
But the cat came back. She just couldn’t stay away. Meow.
