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This morning its coffee at the Texas French Bread cafe at 2900 Rio Grande Street here in Austin.  Its where, circa 1993-4 after coming out of YWAM and in transition to California, I first read Rick Joyner's The Harvest.  It was riveting, and helpful on many levels.  I have personally witnessed a number of those things either starting or even entering a state beyond embryonic vision or the Holy Spirit's stirring, (cf. Argentina).  This week is proving to be a profound revisiting of personal wells and touchstones of spiritual significance.  Today, for the 3rd time in my life, the Lord is speaking Isa. 40:5 over me again. Overflow Your banks into my life, O God.

I am poor and needy;
Yet the LORD thinks upon me.
You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.  - Psalm 40:17

 

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I flew into Austin Saturday, went to the Austin House of Prayer fundraiser that night.  The next couple of days will also involve some meetings with them and Fr. Peter Hocken which I am very much looking forward to.

I'd guesstimate its been at least 5 years since I've been here... maybe more.  Its a city of tremendous light and darkness.  I literally believe this city is one of the frontlines for the fight for our culture against spiritual darkness.  In that regard, the HOP is a critical expression of grace and truth both to the Church at large as well as to those outside of communion with Christ.

The commitments we are to make as we finish the closing months of our transition which began something like a year ago (including the closing of ZHOP) are getting clearer.  Its been significant to come here and honor our relationships within the HOP especially while we are in transition.

I'm acutely aware of my inadequacy of what the Lord is putting before me.  Its my version of Jesus telling me 'You give them something to eat' (cf. Matthew chapter 14).  I'm not intimidated by my shortcomings nor am I intoxicated by 'big vision' (which so plagues American Christianity in particular).  What I will do is get as close to Jesus as I can and wait for Him to "bless the bread" and break it with His peerlessly capable hands.

Let it be, according to everything You have told Your servant.  Amen

 

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VOM-USA Prayer Update for March 5, 2010
On Wed. Mar 03 2010 at 06:54 AM Moderator wrote:
MOROCCO — Officials Raid Christian Meeting — VOM Contacts

On Feb. 4, Moroccan military authorities raided a Christian meeting and arrested 18 people. The authorities also confiscated Bibles and personal belongings, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. “We were surprised by more than 60 Moroccan Gendarmes attacking the house where we had just started our Bible study,” a VOM contact said. “Eleven believers (including an American), two non-believers and five children … were by the Moroccan government for 14 hours.” After 14 hours in detention, the American was deported and the others were released. “It’s the first time in our current Moroccan church history that the Moroccan government used this size of a legion to attack a small Christian meeting,” VOM contacts added. “All the time they kept repeating that this was ordered personally by the new Moroccan Justice Minister [Mohamed Naciri] and by the highest level General of the Gendarmerie [Housni Benslimane].” Pray for believers in Morocco. Pray that God will protect these believers and grant them peace as they face these new challenges. Also pray that the authorities will return their confiscated belongings. Ask God to draw the persecutors into fellowship with him.

Psalm 23: 1–6

CHINA — Christians Arrested, Church Leader Imprisoned — ChinaAid

On Oct. 19, Neixiang police officials arrested 60 Christians attending a worship service, according to ChinaAid Association. After charging them with “disturbing social orders under the name of religious activities,” police fined the believers and put five brothers in 10 days administrative detention. On Oct. 30, police decided to increase the sentence of the church’s leader, Guo Quanyou, to one year re-education through labor in addition to an exorbitant fine. “When the police came to brother Guo’s home to arrest him, they brutally pushed Guo’s wife, Chen Hailan, to the floor,” ChinaAid reported. “The impact caused a concussion and broke her 12th vertebra. Chen Hailan continues to suffer from severe migraines and can barely move her back from the pain.” Pray that Guo Quanyou will be released and that the exorbitant fines will be dropped. Ask God to heal Hailan, and pray that the faithfulness of these believers will draw non-believers to Christ.

Romans 8:34–36

EGYPT — Update: Christian Youths Tortured — VOM Canada, Assyrian International News agency

Christian youths who were arrested in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, on Christmas Eve have been severely tortured, according to VOM Canada and Assyrian International News Agency. The youths were among dozens of Christians arrested on Christmas Eve after an attack on believers leaving a midnight mass, and 15 remain in detention. They have been charged with “rioting and resisting the authorities.” Several youths who were released said they were severely tortured and were ordered to falsely testify that Bishop Kyrollos, the Coptic Bishop of Nag Hammadi, had encouraged them to make demonstrations. “We had to take our clothes off, and we were with electrodes … for eight hours. Electric shocks only stopped when we could take it no longer,” one of the believers said. Pray that God will heal these young men physically and emotionally and that all these believers will remain steadfast in their faith. Pray that God will protect the 15 who remain in detention. Finally, pray for justice in this case, and pray that those who tortured the youths will repent and come to know Christ.

1 Peter 5:8–10

 

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Interesting days, these are proving to be.  Bad grammar, forgive me for going 'Yoda' on you, dear reader.  Good things, God's pursuit of people completely.  Me and Him.  You and Him.  His people with Him.

I've been reflecting on the 3 kisses between God and humanity which Bernard of Clairvaux articulated. 

First, there is the kiss of Christ's feet.  This is the repentance and right response to our sin... and to Him.  To acknowledge our absolute need for His forgiveness and our utter dependency on Him.

The second is the kiss of His hand.  To begin to gain real fellowship with Him and receive more than the merits of His forgiveness... but to have His very image growing in us.

The third is the kiss of His mouth.  Not a physical engagement, certainly, but the reality of the deep pleasure of fellowship with the Divine.  Its the desire of the Shulamite maiden in Song of Solomon 1:2.  Moving beyond servanthood into loyalty and spiritual betrothal.  Its the "face time" of the inner man with the God of all creation, who calls us to His side and into partnership with Him forever.

Oh, to be a million miles closer to Him!  As the poet has said:  Where the broken man is mended - and never despised.

 

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VOM-USA Prayer Update for February 26, 2010

IRAQ — Christians Martyred — Agence France-Presse

Three Christians have been killed in Mosul recently, and community leaders warn that violence will increase leading to the March 7 parliamentary election, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). On Feb. 16, unidentified gunmen shot two Christian students with an automatic weapon. Police told AFP that Zia Toma, a 21-year-old engineering student, was killed in the shooting and Ramsin Shmael, a 22-year-old pharmacy student, was wounded. Both men were Assyrian Christians, according to police. The violence is thought to be related to the upcoming parliamentary election, in which the vote of minority Christians could be a factor between Arab-Kurd rivals. “We don’t want elections, we don’t want representatives, we don’t want our rights, we just want to be alive,” said Baasil Abdul Noor, a priest at Mar Behnam church in Al-Arabi neighborhood, where the shooting occurred. The student’s murder occurred one day after gunmen killed shop owner Fatukhi Munir, an Assyrian Catholic, in his business. On Feb. 14, another shop owner, Rayan Salem Elias, was shot to death outside his home; Elias was a Chaldean Christian. Pray for those who mourn these murdered believers. Pray that the killers might come to know Christ as their savior. Ask God to embolden the Christian community in Mosul to proclaim the gospel even while being persecuted, and pray that they will be filled with Christ’s peace during these difficult times.

Psalm 23

IRAN — Arrests Continue — Middle East Concern / VOM Canada

On Jan. 11, seven Christians were detained in the city of Shiraz, Iran. A court reportedly set bail for each of the believers at the US equivalent of $25,000. Six of the Christians are converts from Islam. Meanwhile, three Iranian Christians remain in detention after their arrest by security forces in Pakdasht on Dec. 24. A sister of one of the three detained Christians was arrested in the city of Isfahan a few days later, along with another Christian convert from Islam. All of those detained are reportedly being denied family visits and access to legal representation. Pray for the release of these Christians. Pray that they will grow into a deeper relationship with Christ as they embrace the fellowship of his sufferings. Pray that the Lord will give strength and encouragement to their families. 

Philippians 3:7–10

INDIA — Church Burned — VOM Contacts

On Feb. 18, a church in Chittor district, Andhra Pradesh, was burned by an unknown arson, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Damage to the church is so extensive that a new church will have to be built in its place. The incident occurred at dawn, when a person or group of people broke into the church, doused it with kerosene and set it on fire, burning the thatched-roof church to the ground. The incident is under investigation. Pray for peace in Andhra Pradesh. Ask God to encourage the pastor and members of this church. Pray that God will provide a way for this church to be rebuilt. 

Psalm 91:1–5  

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February 23!  It was on this date 16 years ago I was commissioned to build the house of prayer, when I had a supernatural experience of being taken up and stood before God, the Creator and Judge and Redeemer of all the universe.  It was one of the most astonishing things I have experienced and descriptions of the experience defy words in a very clear way.  Hearing from friends in Austin they are having a significant snowfall today... most in 2 decades plus, possibly.  (More Lord!)  I did blog briefly about the date before, read it here.

 

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