"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all..."

-Paul the Apostle

(Philippians 1:3-4)

I love the way Paul addresses church bodies and individuals in his letters. There is no doubt that he cared for others and dearly loved his brothers and sisters in Christ.

During this month's ministry we worked in tandem with three other teams: Ignitus, Glo, and Arete. My attitude toward working with so many others during my time in New Zealand was initially terrible. I felt overwhelmed enough trying to bond with my own team members, never mind meeting and investing in other teams.

I am so fortunate that God is the one orchestrating things and that the AIM staff prayerfully considers each placement of the teams. I have been spoiled, and feel incredibly blessed by the men and women I have had the privilege to serve alongside with this month.

Today we said goodbye to two of the teams as they head off for Australia. While I am excited to send them off, knowing they will pour themselves out to whomever they serve next, I selfishly want to hold on to them a little longer.

After living together for three weeks, it feels like a routine was beginning to develop and friendships were starting to get wonderfully comfortable. Now things are getting shaken up and change is happening quickly, leaving me no time to rest in the comfortable. The ironic part is that I joined the World Race in part because I wanted to chase after a discomfort that left me dependent on the Lord. It's a novel idea, but living it out is much harder than talking about the ideal. I trust the Lord; He will be faithful in the uncomfortable and use it to grow me in greater ways than I can understand- He's got it like that.

Some of the women that I've met this month have blown me away with their hearts for serving and knowing the Father intimately. To those ladies I am thankful, more than you know- and I can't wait to watch you grow. I'd encourage readers to look them up and check in on their blogs- they're worth it, I promise.

Annie Rose: Annie Rose is one of those people who humbly radiates joy in all she does. She is vulnerable before the Lord in way that I hope to be.

 Alisa: Alisa and I bonded over some financial responsibility stress. She's got some passion and desire that is just going to explode during this race and God is going to use her in powerful ways.

Michelle: Michelle's testimony brought tears to my eyes. If ever there was a poster child for a compassionate heart- it's her.

 

To those women- thank you for sharing your stories and your lives with me. I am thanking God and remembering you in my prayers with joy.

The Largest Map In The World

As I walked barefoot across the map, I was overwhelmed with praise as I thought about the love of our Father who, as the children's song says, has "the whole world in his hands." Tracing hundreds of footsteps that have gone before me, I pondered the commitments that had been made to share the gospel in certain areas, and the tears that had been poured out for nations who are in desperate need of the truth.

The map represents every country and is broken up into omega zones. Omega zones have to do with population; so even though China is one country, it contains 857 omega zones- that's a ton of people.

Also included on the map is a list of unreached, unengaged people groups.

 

Psalm 67 came to mind:

"God be gracious to us and bless us,

cause His face to shine upon us-

That your way may be known on the earth,

Your salvation among all nations."

The work left to be done on earth to share the gospel seemed impossible when I was standing on the map alone, but as I joined hundreds in a prayer walk across it- I realized the power of intercession as a global body of believers.

We win this fight. Christ ALREADY conquered sin and death, and we are his inheritance. Not only that, but we are partakers in the inheritance! This world is ours- and by God's grace we will see many more come to worship Him.  There is a lot of work to be done though- and it starts in your neighborhood, in your town, and in your community.

 

 

 

 

(above is Danley at the kids worship)

As some team members and I were waiting for our security detail at the conference to end, we sat sharing stories and discussing the things God was teaching us. Time had passed slowly, not much traffic was coming through the gate at the end of the night.

A woman approached us who had been attending the conference and asked if we were with YWAM. After explaining that we were working with them but were from a different organization, she then asked, "but you are people of faith, right?" Nodding our heads in affirmation she then began to cry; "can I ask you to please pray."

Standing up and gathering around her, she told us she had been in the conference and had to leave because her grandson was being a terror. Through tears she explained to us that she was practically raising Danley, and that six months ago he went from being a sweet boy to a rude, foul, and nasty young man. He had been throwing a fit and punching her during the conference and it was so disrupting she finally had to leave.

It was obvious from her emotions that she was at her wits end. She was visibly hurt and disturbed by the fact that her seven-year-old grandson, whom she loved, had taken such a bitter turn for the worse in his attitude and actions.

Compassion fell on my teammates and I as we heard this sweet woman share her pain. Putting our arms around her, we took turns praying right there at the security gate. As we began to pray Danley, who had been off in the background, started yelling for her to hurry up so they could leave. I turned my attention from the prayers in the circle to Danley, and extending my hand toward him I asked God to silence his mouth so that his grandmother could have this undisturbed time of encouragement and prayer. He didn't say a word after that. God is powerful.

We took turns hugging her and promising to keep she and Danley in our prayers- and that's a promise I intend to keep. I'm asking my blogging community that, if even just for a moment, you would lift up Tricie and her grandson. It's obvious that healing needs to happen in that family and that there is some anger issues going on with Danley. My teammate Carl prayed that Danley would recognize God as his King- if you could do that now, just praying for God to be the Lord of Danley's life.

What excites me about this story is that Tricie was a complete stranger to us, but in that moment we were able to rise up and be a family for her- a safe place in the body of Christ for her to cry and to be heard. In a moment when she was too weary to keep going on, we were there to lift her up, and to love her without hesitation.

Even though our service was suppose to be about security and parking cars, God brought Tricie our way so that she could be encouraged.

 God is broadening my view of the church by showing me what it means to be available for one another. I know I am guilty of not stopping to pray with others within my community back home. Instead, I engage in conversations that fuel bitterness, or affirm selfishness within someone, rather than turning to the Father and lifting up praise and request to the One who can bring about true change in people's lives.

I realize small stories like this don't grip our hearts like holding orphans or feeding the homeless, but there is something exciting about being connected with people from around the world and seeing the corporate church as this huge family where we are willing to go to bat for one another.

I want more of that. 

So before I came on this trip, I made a little pact with myself that I would live out this year with no regrets. Meaning that I would try any food and participate in any activity, even if it went against what I would normally do.

Today Team 91, along with the three other teams we're working with this month, got to take a mini day trip to a waterfall after we were done painting at ChangePoint.

It was my first waterfall, and not only that but I went jumping off the cliff right next to it. How many other times in my life will I get to say I went cliff jumping in New Zealand? Probably none.

God has been speaking to me about boldness. Living with no regrets this year needs to apply to the things the Lord is asking of me and not just the exciting adventurous stuff.

So pray for team 91 and that God would work in ways that create situations and opportunities for us to truly step out in faith- because when that happens, if we're obedient, He grows us, and He gets the glory- I call that a win win situation.

(Proof I jumped... Katie, Mike, Carl, and Lindsey jumped as well- although it took Lindsey a little longer... nothin' but love Linds!)

The parable in Luke 18 of the widow and the just Judge begs the question, why does God want prayer?

Luke 18:7-8 reads, "now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

Let me tell you where you can find faith on earth- Tauranga.

The ChangePoint Church that we are working with this week is partnered with the Taraunga house of prayer, and every morning my team has the privilege of sitting in on their four hour prayer meetings. Talented musicians, who love the Lord, lead the entire four hour prayer ministry- creating new songs each day that come from the prayers of the people present. Scripture is read while music plays, new choruses are created, and there is an open forum for intercession on behalf of New Zealand and the youth of New Zealand. One day, a native cried out to the Lord on behalf of the States- that was humbling.

If I have ever encountered a body of believers that truly knew God moved through the power of their prayers, it's here. If ever my heart had been challenged about the justice, healing, and deliverance that can manifest through corporate unceasing prayer- it has been here.

As the phrase shows up in the Luke 18 passage, the Taraunga house of prayer is working towards a "day and night" prayer ministry. The goal is to have constant praise resounding and intercession being made at all hours of the day and night. They are fervent in this endeavor and I believe it'll happen.

If we want to cultivate the power of the Holy Spirit and see the presence of God working in the nations- it's only going to be accomplished with prayer as the fuel. Right now the prayer focus has been on the event coming in just a few days- Call2All. I'll have more information about this ministry in the next blog- but just know that New Zealand is getting ready and taking seriously the mandates of Scripture. I believe, truly, that out of New Zealand we are going to see the birth of something from the event that is going to cause a ripple effect around the world.

Are you ready? My question is, how are we modeling the widow found in Luke 18, and what do we think about God as just judge? My challenge and conviction has come from the question, when the son of man returns will he find that I've been faithful on earth? That goes beyond just making a statement the I believe in Jesus Christ- true faith exudes action. If I can wrap my mind around the fact that God is moved by my prayers... even just a little bit... then I should be driven to my knees. 

"Jesus give me your heart let there be a death in me, I'm making room for all that you are, give me your heart. Jesus give me your heart, break me down, build me up, let the walls keep falling apart, give me your heart..."

-Leeland "Weak Man"

 

My life, for the past year, has been focused on the "getting" here.

Now I'm here.

I've talked a big talk to friends and supporters about dreams and desires of how I want to see God move and be willing to let him move through me. I've explained how this all really started with a simple prayer that I was challenged to pray; "Lord break my heart for what breaks yours."

I believe the past year has been a realization of that prayer. My heart is honestly broken. Now, just as the focus has shifted from the "getting" here to the "being" here, my prayer has also changed direction: "Jesus give me your heart." Being broken only truly has meaning when we're moved into action because of it. I couldn't tell you what having the heart of Christ looks like in all situations or how it's going to play out this year, but my hope is that my life starts to truly reflect Jesus and his ministry.  I want God to be pleased with me, just as he was pleased with his Son.

Please pray for New Zealand. Our team hasn't gone out to begin ministry yet, but it's a country much like the U.S. as it has been entrenched with humanism and materialism. We've been told evangelism is tough here because people have heard the gospel and their hearts are just hard to it now. Pray for our team for wisdom in reflecting true community and relationship with Christ, and also for the opportunity to plant seeds and understand what God wants from us this month in this place.

Just as a quick shout out to Susan in the office at Groton Heights- you were right about the sun here- it burns you real quick.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

-Jesus

At night, I often fall asleep to some sort of media. It used to be criminal minds on television, because that show is so intriguing, and I sort of maybe have a crush on the guy who plays Derek Morgan. 

Unfortunately that show gave me nightmares. Not to mention that every time I pass a van that has no windows, and is painted in all white- I think there is a bomb in it. 

Most of the time I watch a movie or get on hulu.com and watch a million episodes of some gem of a show that was underrated.

Then, as I drift off to sleep I throw some Mark Driscoll or Francis Chan because I like having the noise and I love their preaching.

I asked God a couple of weeks ago to really impress upon my heart the need for prayer. I asked for the Holy Spirit to weigh on my conscience when time being wasted would wisely be used in communication with my Father.

And He did. And I didn't like it.

In fact, if I'm honest- I ignored it.

I think I fill up my nights with stuff like movies and podcasts because I don't want to face the Lord- just me and Him. I'd rather distract my mind then let God reveal to me the truths about my soul and ask me to change.

One night I actually listened to the tugging on my heart where God was asking me to pay attention to Him. He brought me to Matthew 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." I am still trying to wrap my mind around this verse.

So I sold a ton of stuff. I don't know that the direct application of this particular parable of Jesus is to literally sell everything you have, but I've been short on cash and God was asking me about what I valued. So I went a little nuts- sold all my dvds and a bunch of other miscellaneous things.

The point isn't what I was getting rid of though. The point was in what I valued. I want to be like the man who treasured the kingdom so much that his joy was rooted in it.

This is partly what I'm hoping to chase after this year on the world race. My friend Dave (world race January 2009) told me he would be willing to pray bold and dangerous prayers for me this year. I'm asking for those of you who read this blog to do the same- because sometimes I'm not willing to pray them for myself. At the heart of this journey, though, I want to find out a little more about true joy. I want to know what it means to value God's heart, which is His kingdom, more than anything.