PEACE ON EARTH - My first visit to Bethlehem

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."
[Luke 2:8-15 NKJV]

My first trip to Israel - with a Global Celebration mission team of about 35 people, most of them from the U.S. - was originally planned to depart on Friday 2/8/13, but our flights were cancelled due to a snowstorm in the Northeast, and our group rescheduled to depart on February 11.  A good snowstorm sometimes interrupts our human plans, and forces us into that quiet place where God’s voice can be heard and His plans displayed (Job 37:5-7)… With three additional days to re-pack my suitcases and pray, this delay helped me to connect more personally with God’s heart for this mission trip in a way I hadn’t really been able to before.

To be honest, I was a bit nervous about visiting Palestinian territory – after all, U.S. media rarely reports anything but suicide bombers, rockets and hatred for Israel. While in theory I admired Global Celebration’s commitment to show love toward all people, like many American Christians, I love and pray for Israel, and hadn’t heard much of anything positive about Palestinians. So when our trip was delayed for 3 days by the snowstorm, I was a little bit glad we’d have less time in Bethlehem, and needed a few extra days to pray through the hidden fears in my heart.

God is so faithful to answer when we seek Him!  As I prayed for our team, at first I “saw” angels going with us into Palestinian territory, then felt led to read Psalm 34:7 – “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”  So far so good…

On Saturday 2/9, I was praying at home and had a spiritual “vision” – eyes closed, a mental image with profound spiritual meaning that reassured me about our destination.  Here’s what I scribbled in my journal to remember it: “ancient walls crumbling, big boulders, blue skies, both sides (esp. Palestinian) could see common humanity – peace.  rubble, large beings tossing boulders around (angels? playfulness? or secular ‘powers that be’).”  [I decided later that these probably represented political powers, who toss issues back & forth, only occasionally removing any “boulders” of enmity, fear, anger, etc.]  I also had a very strong sense that this was something God was already doing in the region, and that our team was going to be a part of something larger, which was already in motion.  For the first time, I began to feel a personal connection to God’s heart for the mission aspect of our trip.

When we got to Dheisheh, the larger of two camps we visited in the Bethlehem area, we entered into God’s heart immediately by blessing a group of local widows and their fatherless children with groceries, hugs, kisses, and music. (We worship in English, so nobody minded our lyrics, and it created a beautiful atmosphere.)  Global Celebration leader Georgian Banov introduced us with a short explanation that “we’re not politicians, we don’t have all the answers to the situation here, we just want you to know that we love you and we’re with you and we care about you.”  A Dutch couple who work with the deaf at Dheisheh cultural center led a drum performance by their music students, and then we laid out our donated supplies for arts & crafts – crayons, paints, beads, stickers, pipe-cleaners, etc – and enjoyed a gleeful “art camp” with the children of the community.  Afterward, we were invited up to the 3rd floor to eat lunch with the children, and when they dispersed, one of the leaders thanked us (through an Arabic translator) for “changing things” for his young son, who played with us.  He said, “I try to teach my son to look at people – not as Muslims, Jews, or Christians, but as people… Today you have helped me to show him this.”  Then, since we had been playing our worship music on the sound system in the background, he invited us to dance with him and his friends to Arabic music – what an amazing, joyful and lively time that was!

The “sweetness & light” we experienced was still set against the backdrop of harsher realities – murals depicting the Palestinian narrative of Israeli occupation, violence and the sorrows of war were displayed above the windows, and a young man who came to speak with us after our 3rd floor “dance party” implored us to “tell the world that we are refugees!” Palestinian “camps” don’t look like refugee camps in Africa – they reminded me more of the narrow concrete neighborhoods one sees in the cities and towns of Central America. But the psychological impact of having been displaced and restricted by the existence of Israel was evident in this young man’s emotions. Georgian was graceful to come alongside and encourage him to share his heart with us so we could pray with him for solutions to the problems and needs that concerned him – jobs, opportunities, justice and freedom. Through the translator, Georgian asked another young man, “What are your dreams?” He replied, “I want world peace. I want to change the world.” The other fellow teased him, “Oh, he wants to be an angel!”  The one who spoke of peace was a nursing student, and I felt strongly impressed to share what I’d heard missionary Heidi Baker say many times, so I asked the translator to tell him: “Love the person in front of you. This is how we change the world: one person at time.”  Our team prayed with both of them for jobs and places to live and opportunities for their generation to change their world.

On our second day in the Bethlehem area, Abdelfattah Abusrour, PhD – general manager of Alrowwad Cultural and Theatre Center for Children in Aida Camp, where we gave more groceries & hugs to widows and enjoyed art, pizza and soda with the children – walked with us through the neighborhood to visit a widow whose name means “Beautiful.” The streets were relatively calm and peaceful, but he asked us if we could smell the tear gas, as there had been a conflict with Israeli soldiers earlier that day.  It was February 14, so we wished him a Happy Valentine’s Day, and he replied with a smile, “Every day is a good day to love.” (Amen!)  The widow named “Beautiful” had a son in prison and four deaf-mute grandsons, one of whom visited with us while his grandmother served us tea and bananas, and we worshipped and talked with Dr. Abusrour on her patio. He told us about bringing his children’s theater group on tour in the U.S. and France, showing them poor neighborhoods in wealthy nations where the children remarked, “these people are poorer than us!” As I listened to him speak about his philosophy of non-violent, “beautiful resistance,” I told him about my vision of the walls crumbling and people recognizing their common humanity, and shared something else I felt God showed me as we were talking, that his cultural center is “a fountain of love” in this community… Later, when we stopped by his office to donate some quality art supplies for his older students, we noticed pictures of this Palestinian’s “heroes” on the wall: Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King. Dr. Abusrour’s gentle eloquence clearly debunks popular myth (conscious or unconscious) that automatically associates the word “Palestinian” with the word “terrorist!”… Strife, hurt, fear, and enmity can distort perceptions on both sides - yet Dr. Abusrour’s words (quoted here) echoed very obviously the message I felt I’d received from God about walls coming down, and people perceiving their common humanity:

"We do not have the Luxury of Despair, but the Steadfast Hope that we can create a change that we can be proud of, and leave a better heritage for our children and the generations to come, based upon the values that we share as human beings and equal partners".

Continuing this theme of how awareness of our “common humanity” promotes peace, we later visited a rehab center in Tel Aviv which assists patients recovering from traumatic injuries (including a number of Israeli soldiers) and a Jerusalem residence for juvenile heart patients and their families (mostly from the Kurdish region of northern Iraq), with prayers and gifts.  Medical care in Israel (as in many other parts of the world) is offered without regard to politics or nationality.

Then, to top it all off, on the plane home from Tel Aviv to Newark, I sat next to an Israeli-Palestinian youth band called Heartbeat, who were embarking on a U.S. tour, (for more on how this group uses music to promote honest dialogue and peace, see http://www.heartbeat.fm/about/ ) and had an amazing hour-long conversation with one of their leaders, Tamer, who seemed as appreciative of what our group was doing on our trip as I was of his. He confidently asserted that, throughout history, walls (like the physical wall separating Israel and Palestine) have come down, because walls are not ultimately the solution… I said I felt my vision referred first to the walls of enmity, fear and anger in our own hearts and minds.  Later, when I searched the Heartbeat website to attend one of their events, I got tears in my eyes as I read these lyrics to their official music video “Bukra Fi Mishmish” (Arabic for “when pigs fly” or “when the impossible happens” – hello, we're the “Holy Land Miracle Tour” - we love the impossible !!):  “when we understand that we’re all human beings, then forever and ever we’ll be able to live.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xw6NiUb44o&feature=player_embedded#!

I’m not pretending to have all the answers for the complex issues of Israeli-Palestinian relations - I mainly wrote this to describe some of my experiences as honestly as I could, as an American Christian who got to be part of some “walls” coming down – especially in my own heart and mind - as I participated in Global Celebration’s 2013 “Prophetic Journey and Compassion Outreach” to the Holy Land.

For example, when we visited the “Shepherd’s Field” in Bethlehem, I noticed Palestinian colors flying over a flock of sheep grazing below us, and was tempted, for a moment, to regret seeing this Biblical site in the hands of “Israel’s enemies”…but, quickly and clearly, it dawned on me that the shepherds on that famous night in Bethlehem were not necessarily looking for God when He broke in on their lives with the greatest gift of peace and good will humanity has ever known, and His gift of love was not just for the Jews then, either.

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.' ”

[Isaiah 65:1 NIV]

I was reminded of the apostle Paul’s words to Gentile Christians at Ephesus, reminding them how God Himself reached out for them with His salvation. Most of us who claim relationship with God were at one time undeserving wanderers, loved and found by His grace, in spite of ourselves!

In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

[Ephesians 2:12-13 NLT]

May God’s Spirit of Love and Peace again break through for the Palestinians of Bethlehem and everyone in the region. This “good news of great joy” – the message of God’s good will toward humanity - is for all people on the earth.

Postscript:  While I was waiting to depart for Israel, a few members of our team who’d arrived from countries other than U.S. (and were not delayed by snow) posted photos on Facebook of their visit to the Dead Sea. It was fun to see that some of our team were already there, knowing we’d all meet up soon, and I was SO THANKFUL that God spared me from having my photo on internet in a mud-covered bathing suit !!!  ha ha  :)  Still, it’s a great message – PEACE & LOVE – and I’m glad we all got to carry it through the rest of our trip…

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
[Ephesians 2:14-18 NLT]

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
[Matthew 5:43-48 NLT]

For more information about Global Celebration, see www.globalcelebration.com

Israel 2013

Wow.  Wow, wow, wow... there will be no glib summaries from me of Israel 2013 "Holy Land Miracle Tour" with Global Celebration mission team of 35 wonderful-&-wild-for-Jesus best team ever :)  In Tel Aviv airport on Tuesday a.m. Feb 19, as I was reluctantly boarding our plane back to the U.S., I sensed God saying to me that I will be unpacking this trip for years to come. So, no sense being in a hurry!   or trying to write about it all in one blog posting...

So, while I'm working on writing about several different themes from this trip (which could take a while :)), here's a link to my photo album (to read captions, double-click on the first image to "open" the album, then click the arrow on the right side of each photo to "turn the pages"), for those of you who haven't already seen it on Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4284697638575.144898.1320390486&type=1&l=c3f37201c0

  

Wow.   :)   I can hardly wait to go back again next year....

In His love & blessings,

gina

Nicaragua 2013

Wow!  what a great week !!!  Just returned from my 5th annual trip to House of Hope in Nicaragua, and thought I'd try to capture a few highlights while the memories are still fresh...

On Sunday, January 20, I met up with my teammate, Ana Rich, in the Houston airport - I'd met Ana on Global Celebration's "Steps of Paul" mission trip to Bulgaria, Greece & Turkey in 2011 - her flight was delayed, but United got her on another plane in plenty of time, and she arrived full of peace and joy.  I'd had a half-caf mocha while I was waiting for her in Houston, so when we arrived at Quinta Shalom in Managua around midnight, unpacking & organizing our supplies for the week (in our big 4-bunk room) was a breeze... Monday we started our week of classes & activities on multiple but related themes:  Culture of Honor, Supernatural Ways of Royalty, & Restoration of our True Identity in Christ.  House of Hope residents ages 10 and up attended for about 2 to 3 hours of ministry every day, except for Tuesday morning, when I spoke for about 40 minutes on "Identity" to about 350+ women who come to HoH on Tuesdays to make greeting cards & jewelry.  For more information about House of Hope (including testimonies, projects, how to donate or order products), please see their website www.houseofhopenicaragua.com

On Monday, we talked about what it means to "Honor all people" [from I Peter 2:17a] and how unity is not sameness - that God created us all different and He enjoys diversity!  We closed the class by sharing Communion, and asked God to help us see ourselves and one another as He sees us (forgiven, accepted, loved) and to appreciate our God-given differences as unique individuals, created in His image and likeness.  Tuesday's message focused on how our behavior flows from our sense of identity, and asking God to paint HIS picture (of ourselves & one another) on our hearts and minds - I posted this cartoon image of an ordinary cat painting himself as a tiger to illustrate the idea that God's vision for us is more beautiful and powerful than we have yet seen or realized.

On Wednesday, we talked about humility and honor, focusing on the fact that true Biblical humility is not putting ourselves down, but serving one another through being secure in God's Love.  Jesus knew who He was, where He came from and where He was going, and He received glory and honor from the Father by laying down His life for others and setting us free.  We closed this session with footwashing - complicated by the fact that the water was shut off on HoH campus that day (interruptions to water and power can happen unexpectedly at any time in poor countries) - Brittany, my friend and HoH dorm mom, provided us with 3 gallon jugs of water that she & her girls had saved for bathing... Each member of the group took turns both giving and receiving, washing another person's feet and speaking positive encouragement to each other, which continued building our sense of community and willingness to "love your neighbor as yourself." [Lev 19:18, Mt 22:39]

Thursday began with a short skit by two of the dorm girls to illustrate a teaching on conflict resolution, then we did a second session on "royal robes" with scriptures that show how special clothing (including "putting on Christ" and wearing Love) can be an outward expression of the worth and dignity of the person wearing it.  We passed out beautiful fabrics in assorted colors and encouraged each member of the class to use them to dress creatively for our "royal banquet" (chicken dinner).  The girls far surpassed my expectations and looked outstanding in their glamorous "gowns" that evening!   A few of my favorite photos are attached - a beautiful 8 year old, who would barely smile for a picture on Monday, truly stepped into her identity as God's Princess as she paraded her long train of satin butterflies... who doesn't feel more wonderful wearing a necklace, bracelet, crown or tiara?  a few young boys (who live with their mothers or grandmothers at House of Hope) really enjoyed pinning fabric to their shoulders like superhero capes - what a transformation!   :)  

Friday's last class was on "Following Your Favor" - I began by telling a story from last year's trip (see 2/22/12 blog posting "Buttery Steps!" http://holy1fire.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html ) - then explained how, when we follow what God has truly put in our hearts, we find that His grace opens doors and we feel His smile upon us.  Although we will encounter challenges and opposition, we have what it takes to overcome obstacles when we are walking with God in His will for us!  Again we encouraged one another to seek God for how He sees us, and what He wants to do with us in our lives day by day.  Then we invited the younger children to join us for an art activity - each person decorated their piece of a posterboard puzzle with colors & pictures expressing their unique identity & God-given talents or dreams - and celebrated the end of our week together with ice cream for all... :)

"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 NIV

Saturday was a relaxing outing for me and Ana with our "guide" Laura (House of Hope staff member who coordinates team visits, along with many other duties! :)), who drove us about an hour southeast of Managua to Laguna de Apoyo - a small volcanic crater lake just west of Granada (we also visited the Granada marketplace for souvenirs before heading home).  I loved seeing signs declaring "Everyone has a right to relax" and "Please respect others' right to rest" at the lakefront restaurant & guesthouse called "La Abuela," where we enjoyed an hour of sunbathing on the deck after lunch (the water looked refreshing, but we decided not to swim and then have to drive home wet).  It was a beautiful day that allowed us to appreciate a bit more of the Nicaraguan countryside, since the rest of the week we mainly shuttled between House of Hope and our nearby lodging at Quinta Shalom, with a few side trips for supplies & groceries.

My strongest impression and greatest joy on this trip was seeing so many familiar faces and spiritual growth among the residents, staff & women who come on Tuesday mornings - I still find myself rejoicing at their continued progress in faith and life.  After 5 trips since 2009, visiting House of Hope is more than a "short term mission trip" for me - it's a spiritual investment in many lives, and I am privileged to see the rewards of sowing God's Love unfold before me year after year.  As on previous trips, we left behind most of our supplies, clothing, a couple of suitcases and several backpacks as donations to House of Hope.  I was also thrilled to "plant" about 30 copies of my 16-page teaching notes in Spanish in the lives of spiritually hungry women who will study the scriptures, share with their friends, and continue to listen as Holy Spirit speaks to them personally about who they are becoming in Christ.  I know the Lord keeps sending us each year to refresh and encourage the hard-working House of Hope staff as well.  Ana's spiritual sensitivity, sweet spirit & prayers were a great blessing - God was faithful to keep her safe and well in spite of some hip pain and lots of bumpy Nicaraguan roads!  Please keep all of these precious people in your prayers.  As for me, I fell more in love with the place and people than ever - each year, life in Nicaragua seems a little less hard and a lot more beautiful - I can hardly wait to return...


Source books & teaching CD's available at http://store.ibethel.org/
Danny Silk, Culture of Honor & The Practice of Honor
Kris Vallotton, Supernatural Ways of Royalty

For a complete album of photos from this trip, click here:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4106693268577.143393.1320390486&type=1&l=8510884f0a

*lightning! :)

*lightning!  :)   an expression of wonder & delight at all this activity “lightening” heaven & earth… moisture rises from earth to heaven then rains down, electrical energy sparks cloud-to-cloud (75%) & cloud-to-earth (25%) with powerful displays of light & sound...
  
earth longs for heaven and heavenly activity abounds - prayers rise up, glory comes down – a few weeks ago, many of us tasted lack of earthly power & fresh dependence on God, the greatest power source in the universe...

Kingdoms Flash / Clash / Crash, and Hope is Alive, as We Cry Out:
"Let Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On Earth as it is In Heaven..."

I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below…

[Acts 2:19a NIV, also Joel 2:30] 

"The time has come, God's Kingdom is near!"

[Mark 1:15a CJB]

Loving Leaders

“Our job is to love.” – Heidi Baker

Lately I’ve been highly aware of how the pressures of life can war against our kindness and respect for other people, especially when we are in a position of busy leadership or responsibility.  I supervise ordering and distribution for four departments normally staffed by three employees, and for a couple of  months we were short two of those three people (for unexpected reasons beyond our control).  As the pace became more hectic, I saw how easily I can lose patience or fail to communicate how much God values and cares for each individual He allows me to work with – it’s challenging, when we’re focused on accomplishing goals, multi-tasking with all our might, and feeling more than a little stretched and weary ourselves!  

I’m fortunate to work in a corporate culture that encourages respect for all people, as the scripture teaches:

“Show respect for everyone.”  [I Peter 2:17a NLT]

Danny Silk - in his book, Culture of Honor – points out that we are well-schooled in Biblical principles of respect for parents, pastors, elders, governmental leaders, employers, and those whose work merits honor;  but scripture actually tells us to “Honor all people” [I Peter 2:17a NKJV] - not just those we deem worthy.  It’s important – as parents, bosses, or leaders in any situation – to remember that all people are created in God’s image, and He values each one highly, regardless of their accomplishments or situation in life.

It’s also no secret in my office that I am a Christian, so I am compelled – both internally and externally - to grow through this time of pressure into a greater understanding of how to walk in love in all circumstances.  I can’t honestly say I have it all figured out, but the cry of my heart in prayer these days – more than getting all the work done or just managing the stress - is, “God, fill me with more of Your Love & Wisdom!”

After all, God doesn’t exempt any of us - leaders, parents, bosses… even busy, stressed out, or gifted ones – from caring about what’s important to Him, and scripture clearly shows how highly He prioritizes love.

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.  If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.  If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.”

[I Corinthians 13:1-3 MSG]

God confronted Israel’s leaders in Jeremiah 23:1-4 and Ezekiel 34 for protecting their own interests at the expense of His heart for others, especially those who are weak or broken.  Sometimes we may feel that other priorities are so important that we are tempted to redefine love in ways that justify our attitudes or behavior, but God’s Word clearly describes how love behaves:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.

[I Corinthians 13:4-8a NIV]

As I’ve been seeking God for how to “do a good job” without failing to demonstrate His love, I realize that, when I’m stressed or anxious or impatient, I may be operating on a concept of “success” that is not flowing in full harmony with God’s purposes.  Perhaps I’m worried about how I will look to others, or a goal God hasn’t actually given me, or I need to do things His way in order to tap into His empowering grace…

As beloved children of God, I believe we can live in His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… no matter what else is happening.  So, in the midst of “impossible” busy-ness, He’s been showing me a few things that help me to love:

Worship – Heidi & Rolland Baker oversee a network of about 10,000 churches in developing nations, which feed roughly 10,000 children daily, while they also travel and speak around the world approximately 1/3 of their time.  Heidi spends hours in worship each day, and I’m starting to understand a bit more how this helps her to flow in God’s love, even though she is surrounded by overwhelming needs.  There’s nothing like laying down and surrendering everything (all that we are, have, hope for, worry about, etc.) to focus on our Lord Jesus – who is altogether beautiful and worthy of adoration, regardless of additional benefits to us – to also refresh our perspective and renew our energy for any and every area of life.

Prayer opens us up to receive more of His Love and grace – His empowering Presence – His gifts and ability for whatever He has called us to do.  As we pour out our hearts and listen for His response in prayer, we may also receive inspired “heavenly strategies” for dealing with specific situations that challenge us.  In this season, prayer has helped me to know when to ask for help, what to delegate, how to set boundaries and manage competing priorities, etc.  Prayer brings me back to the Prince of Peace [Isaiah 9:6, Ephesians 2:14].  He has promised to provide all I need – including wisdom, strength and love - for anything He gives me to do each day.   [Philippians 4:13, 19; Deut 33:25, 1 Cor 1:30, 2 Peter 1:3]

Value for the Individual

Although we might not admit it, it can be tempting as leaders to see ourselves, our struggles, or the work we are trying to accomplish, as somehow more important than other people and their concerns.  A wise & godly grandmother used to say, “Everyone, if we only knew it, has about all they can stand.”  In other words, there is grace for whatever each one is called to do, and everyone encounters opposition at their own level.  God doesn’t value leaders, “good people,” busy people, or any one person more than anyone else.  Consider the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17), or this revelation of God’s heart:

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.  What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.  [Matthew 18:10-14 NIV]

Healthy Boundaries, Communication & Self-Love

Last but not least, I’ve been learning that “healthy boundaries,” including appropriate self-care, are an important and practical key to fulfilling my responsibilities without sacrificing kindness, patience, and genuine love for others.  (This topic is more thoroughly explored – both scripturally and psychologically - by Drs. Cloud and Townsend in their classic book, Boundaries, which I found helpful and encouraging during this season of “growth under pressure.”)

If I’m feeling impatient or critical toward others (especially those I lead) and how they seem to be “burdening” me, I need to stop & ask myself a few questions like these:

-         Am I getting enough rest and nourishing myself - both spiritually and physically?

-         Have I communicated with others – kindly and respectfully – what I need, how we could interact more effectively or where my limits are?

-         Do I understand clearly what is and what is not my responsibility before God?

-         Do I explain clearly & teach those I lead – making sure they understand instead of judging them?

-         Am I willing to apologize, forgive, and listen in ways that show others I value their concerns?

In order to truly love others, we need to be sure that our own “love tank” is full by spending time in God’s presence and receiving His Love for ourselves.  Jesus summarized all the commands of scripture this way:

“Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?"  Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.'  This is the most important, the first on any list.  But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.'  These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."

[Matthew 22:36-40 MSG]

As I said above, I haven’t fully arrived, but I’m more convinced than ever that our ability to show love in even (especially?) the most difficult situations is key to communicating the true gospel to those around us.  God invites all of us to participate in His ministry of reconciling others to Himself, as He pursues a deep and loving relationship with each and every one of us.  “Success” depends on our ability to communicate and demonstrate what He is really like:  to put that in simple Bible language, God is Love [I John 4: 16]. 

My prayer for myself and all of us – especially in difficult circumstances - is that He would help us to focus on His priorities in every situation, and increase our capacity to love as He Loves.

  “If you’ll value every person, it’s amazing what you’ll receive from them.”

– Bill Johnson

Bonus :)  link to video message by Bill Johnson

Bethel Church in Redding, CA - Sunday 6/24/12 a.m.

http://www.ibethel.tv/watch/1376/sustaining-a-move-of-god/2012/06/24

Opening the Armoire

A few months ago, a visiting minister at my home church concluded his message by offering to pray for the sick.  Since I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in December 2001, I’ve experienced tremendous improvement, but I’ve still dealt with recurring pain, stiffness and fatigue from time to time.  My condition is generally better than many RA patients, so I probably wouldn’t have gone forward for prayer, except that he specifically mentioned arthritis and physical pain several times, and I really would like to be 100% pain-and-symptom-free…

I thought I would slip over to the far side of the room to wait in the prayer line, but the minister walked over to me first, then spent quite a long time with me, even though others were waiting in line and he only ended up praying over 4 people all evening (other altar ministers prayed for the rest).   I am so glad the Holy Spirit led him to take that time to minister to me!  As God gently touched and healed a number of “hidden issues” in my heart – things I was barely aware of day to day, and the even more hidden root causes or earlier experiences behind them – I began to feel more free and more “light” than I had felt in months.

For example, I was not fully aware of when or how disconnected I’d become (from God and other people, especially in church), but chronic pain and fatigue plus a number of disappointments in the past year had let to a vague undercurrent of weariness and lethargy, even though my daily “spiritual disciplines” – established habits of prayer, worship, Bible reading, giving, etc - were all in place.  God also took me back to a moment of anger from childhood, and as I forgave those involved and surrendered the areas of self-protection that resulted from immature attempts to manage my own fear and hurt in an unjust situation, I began to experience the tenderness and light of the Holy Spirit flowing into areas of my heart and life that had been “closed” to Him and others.

As this was happening, I “saw” (a mental image of) an armoire, at first with the doors closed.  Then the door on one side began to open, and light began to enter the cabinet, as I felt God gently touching my heart and softening places that had been hard or “closed.”  I wasn’t crying or shaking or doing much at all - it was a very quiet, gentle experience.  In fact, if God hadn’t basically called me forward (with the arthritis altar call) and brought a minister in front of me who simply wouldn’t move on until God was finished, I wouldn’t even have realized I how much needed His touch in these areas.  It was amazing how peaceful I felt!

The next night I found myself dancing with renewed freedom at a worship service, and the following day I walked outdoors (for exercise) twice as long and twice as fast as I had quite in a while.  I felt great! – so much more healthy and free...

I share this very personal experience, because I think all of us have experienced some degree of “shutting down” or “shutting out” things that bother us, and it’s worth checking with God to see if there might be something we need to surrender to Him in order to open the channels of love & communicaton (with Him and others) – so His healing power can flow not only to our bodies, but in all our relationships and expressions of ministry (loving & living for Him).  It’s not always at a conscious level, or maybe we have lived with certain limitations for so long we don’t even notice them… but He is faithful and unlimited in His ability to heal and free us from anything that hinders His Love and Truth in our lives.

An armoire is a cabinet / closet that is used nowadays for everything from clothing to televisions and computers, but was originally used for tools and weapons.  How many of us have hidden talents or aren’t experiencing the full flow of God’s power to heal ourselves and others (spiritually, emotionally or physically) due to closed doors of self-protection?   Ask God to show you, and let Him in.

Extravagant God!

"Enjoy yourself in the Lord.  Relish His goodness.  Revel in the adventure of walking with Him.  Savor every moment with Him.  Delight in His unconditional love."    - Steve Backlund's expanded version of Psalm 37:4

Just returned from "Catch the Wave 2012," a 7-day Caribbean cruise and conference-at-sea, hosted by Catch The Fire  (http://www.catchthefire.com/), with speakers Reinhard Bonnke, Heidi & Rolland Baker, John & Carol Arnott, Duncan Smith, worship leaders Chris DuPre and Chris McClarney... I wanted to describe some highlights, but how does one choose from so many wonderful experiences?  It was such fun to hear Duncan Smith, son of British missionaries to Africa, doing his impression of childhood hero, Reinhard Bonnke - followed by Bonnke himself a few days later (who joked that Duncan's imitation of his German accent was the best English he'd heard so far :))  Of course, the endless sun and sea and extraordinary food & entertainment options were all delightful... A few thoughts here:

1.  You can have everything.

A startling statement?  While ordering dinner one night, one person at our table said this to another who was having trouble making up her mind between two appetizers.  As soon as the words were out of her mouth, I laughed, because (of course) it sounded prophetic to me  :) 

A week before the cruise departed, I found myself in a prayer circle at church, mentioning that I was about to sail on the biggest cruise ship in the world (Royal Caribbean's fabulous "Oasis of the Seas") and that, during a mission trip to eastern Europe last June, I'd also flown on the world's largest passenger airplane (Air France's Airbus A380).  A prophetic intercessor responded, "Seems like there's a message in that..."

Obviously there is much we could say about the bigness of God, His limitless love and power, His endless blessings... On a Catch the Wave cruise, the enormity of the sea and sky - the beauty of creation, and the extravagant goodness of God who allows us to enjoy the richness of life - are all brought to one's awareness in vibrant living color.

Another message I heard the week before the cruise (via internet) was a remark by Bill Johnson, at a Global Awakening meeting in Florida, that in these last days before the return of Jesus, we (the Church) need to learn how to "access everything" God has for us, due to the size of our assignment as His Body in the earth.

Jesus drew near and said to them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

[Matthew 28:18-20 GNT]

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

[Philippians 4:19 NKJ]

I heard a related message from Heidi Baker on my first Catch the Wave in 2006, that we need to lose this notion that we cannot feed the poor and also enjoy a Starbucks or vacation, as if somehow God's resources are limited or insufficient to do everything He wants to do.  It's a lesson Heidi has had to learn as well - that God loves those with material wealth just as much as He loves the desperate poor - and we need to let go of limited ideas about how God moves and loves a lost and dying world back to Himself & His everlasting Life in every possible way.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

[Romans 8:32 NKJ] 

2.  Joy & Enjoyment

Believe it or not, it took my first 3 cruises with Catch the Wave (this year was my 5th) to loosen a deeply entrenched pattern of "working hard" and really begin to enjoy God's Love and the pleasure we find in His Presence.  We can find Him anywhere in the world - among the poor as well as in relative comfort and ease - but if we do not learn to enJOY Him, we risk burn-out and might well question what we are working so hard to share with the world.  Is it really the gospel, i.e. "good news?"  Do we manifest His love, joy, peace...?  For me, Catch the Wave is an exercise in learning to enjoy His Presence, to accept and be saturated in His abundant and overflowing Love.

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

[Psalm 16:11 NIV]

Again this year, Rolland Baker, 3rd generation missionary and co-founder of Iris Ministries (www.irismin.org), wonderfully demonstrated and communicated God's love & joy while delivering a profound message on this essential power to sustain us through the many serious challenges that confront those who would advance His kingdom around the world.

They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.

[Psalm 36:8 NIV]

Abundance tends to overflow:  although organized outreach events were smaller this year (Abilene TSSM did prophetic evangelism training & outreach in Cozumel), we couldn't help sharing the Love of Jesus every day of the week.  Salvations, healings, even baptisms occurred on a port stop in Jamaica.  Worship leaders from IHOP-KC and Bethel sang in an onboard karaoke contest, and Oasis crew members showed up at our meetings.  And, by the way, this group of 600 "pleasure-seekers" also gave a missions offering of $75,000 to Iris, CFAN & CTF for ministry among the poor in Africa.   :)

"The joy never ends!"

- Pastor Surpresa Sithole, Iris Ministries

3.   Feasting, Exercise & Hunger
It may sound silly to write about "my greatest difficulty" on a luxury cruise but, honestly, this time I struggled a bit with all the food.  And since God can use anything to teach me multiple lessons - spiritual as well as emotional & physical - it's probably worth mentioning...

There are more than 20 different places to eat onboard the Oasis, and most of them are free (no extra charge above the cruise fare).   The Opus dining room serves up sumptuous 3-course dinners, with multiple menu options every evening.  Pizza, hamburgers, french fries & frozen yogurt are available all day long around the pool, and the Windjammer Marketplace buffet curves around the entire aft portion of the ship.  While there are plenty of healthy options - yogurt, fresh fruit, salads, whole grains, grilled fish, etc. - needless to say, temptations to over-indulge abound.

For the first 3 or 4 days of the cruise, I felt overly full and fat from all the meals - it's not hard to see how this could be a picture of North America, where we have so many resources and don't always realize how it's affecting our health when we consume more than we can really digest.  I began to see that the root issue, for me, was that I'd been stressed out and starved for enjoyment - when presented with so many options, at first I wanted to try everything at once.  I've heard Heidi speak about bringing orphans home, and how desperate street kids grab for everything because they lack security that there will always be enough.   Sons & daughters of the King don't have to gobble up everything in sight - we know there will be another lovely meal later on today, and again tomorrow.  Once I realized that I could simply try something new at each meal, I didn't need to "eat it all" in one day - I found it easier to choose, appreciate and enjoy a variety of options (salads, as well as desserts :)) in a healthy way.

I felt God spoke to me in those first few days, "Don't just eat."  When we overeat, our energy and ability to enjoy anything (including good food) is diminished.  We are meant to be so much more than consumers -  we need exercise & activity, as well as nourishment & rest.  Fortunately there is plenty to do onboard the Oasis, including an extensive fitness center (I love looking out at the sea and listening to worship on my iPod while using the treadmills and elliptical machines :)) and lots of other activities - I even went ice skating one afternoon, just because it tickled me that you could do that on a cruise ship in the Caribbean!  We are meant to give out and spend what we take in  (spiritually and physically), then rest and hunger again and receive more...

"...and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."

[Isaiah 58:10 NIV]

Last but certainly not least, it's important to realize that our real hunger is for God Himself.  A luxury cruise with extravagant meals and endless options for entertainment & activity can never fill the depths of our spirits or satisfy our true desires.  Love, joy, peace... God is everything we really want, and the source of all true pleasure.  The word "Eden" literally means "pleasure" - we were created to live in a garden of delights, enjoying God and sharing His joy as a family.  I believe this reminder to pursue His Presence and connect with others in His Love is the best part of Catch the Wave!

"Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink -- even if you have no money!  Come, take your choice of wine or milk -- it's all free!  Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!  Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David.  He displayed my power by being my witness and a leader among the nations.  You also will command the nations, and they will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious."

[Isaiah 55:1-5 NLT]

For information about next year's Catch the Wave conference-at-sea (February 24 to March 3, 2013) - check for updates coming soon to www.catchthewavecruise.com