Hang Ten!

For about 6 months Kristin has opened her home for an hour a week for some super-concentrated interceding for our community. During those meetings we've prayed, wept, rejoiced, pleaded and laid on the floor while God poured out visions and prophecies. Last week, we really felt like we made some big strides in recognizing and acknowledging errors in our (the church, both global and local) ways.
I saw a picture of a tsunami. The first thing that happens isn't the flooding, it's the receding of the tide. With a tsunami, the water recedes so far out to sea, and some are actually drawn to that receding... almost as a curiosity, not recognizing that the tides will turn instantly and they will drown. There's another group - those who recognize the receding tide for the danger that it is, they run. They run, as fast and hard, inland as they can - they scream and shout and alert anyone else who will listen. These are the people who live through the tsunami - and are able to bring others to safety as well.
This picture of desperation and urgency, is one that has really been sticking with me. We cannot walk out to the lowest tide, and stand around talking about how low the tide is, "wow, what a dry season", "church has been bla bla bla" etc. We've got to move - move fast, and tell as many people as possible that they too can be safe, on higher ground. Lord, give us the tools to speak your truth! Allow us to see the errors of our ways, and turn on our heel - walk away from those deadly things, and bring others with us!

*Update 6-7-07* - This week, this picture has been continuing in my head... over and over I see the same picture, but it's been sort of slow-motion on a very important part. As we recognize the danger, we turn - we turn on our heel. This "turning" to me is the exact definition of repentance. Repentance isn't just the recognition that there is danger in our actions, it is the changing part - the part where we turn and run from the thing that is causing us to fail. Wow, could this be any more timely? Have you been to thecall.com ? Well, K is participating in this fast, which is about repenting for the sexual immorality in our nation and it's destructive path - it's impact on our world and the church. Do you think, maybe, this is part of the turning? I do. I think that there are other sins we need to call out, but this is definitely one of them - and perhaps one of the most destructive and parasitic. So, thecall fast/walk, etc. take place on 7-7-07 and we are being asked to fast and pray along with them - if you're interested, or feel the pull in that direction, I encourage you to do the same. I know there will be other sins revealed, and we are going to need to step up to the plate and call them out!
Father, make us ready for when your tide turns - give us the courage to break off these errors and sins that are holding us in the sticky mud... help us to see the things that are holding us back from running.

What are you waiting for?

This week I have had this phrase going through my head "What are you waiting for?". I know this isn't just for me, so I'll let you in on a secret... you can't sit around and wait for all your ducks to be in a row! Think about how many times you've said something like "When I [insert excuse here] - then I will [insert ministry here]."
Excuses sound something like this: When I: "finish this training" "find a spouse" "have kids" "am financially stable" "sell my house" "buy a house" "clean my house" "have a perfect marriage" "feel better" "am healed" "have more time" , etc.
Ministries sound something like this: I will: "feed the hungry" "preach the gospel" "give financial support to missions" "become a missionary" "serve my local church" "reach out to my neighbors" "exercise my spiritual giftings" ...

All those "excuses" are valid - they fill up our lives. They can be fulfilled, but let's just say that they don't. Let's say you are broke for the next 50 years - does that mean that you aren't meant to support missions? no. If you are only "kinda" healed, and still have more ailments, waiting in queue to be healed too. What if you are never fully healed here on earth - does that mean that you can't move forward and preach the gospel? no. Now, I believe wholeheartedly that we are called to pray that all those things happen. We can be healed, we can have a healthy marriage, we can be financially stable, we can sell our homes, etc. but we cannot afford to wait around for our "stuff" to be taken care of before we move forward in the things we know we have been called to do. See, if God has called you to something, he already knows your imperfections, and called you to it anyway.

I was thinking of one of those Ironman races - you know the ones that last FOREVER? Swimming, biking and running? And people train for years for one race. Even people in seemingly great shape, barely crawl across the finishline. Then you'll see that one guy - that lost his leg in some horrible incident - and he's in this race with a prosthetic leg! And he's finishing it! Why? Because he wasn't going to let something like "not having both legs" stop him from the goal that was set before him.

So, here's my point that deserves some pondering... What are YOU waiting for? I say, do it! Now is the time! Silence the excuses and make your God-given goal your priority. Let's see what happens!!