Image by Stephen_AU via FlickrGot back from Reykjavik yesterday morning at 1:30AM as the flight out of JFK was delayed. It was one of those literal 24 hour days that can happen when flying internationally. Wednesday I was up at 7AM but that was 2AM EST, and so it rolled on from there.
We had dinner at Kolbeinn's house our last night there, kind of a debriefing from the weekend. It was an occasion of reflection and thankfulness. If you think back over your life you easily remember points of breakthrough. I remember in high school, when running on the cross country team, one specific afternoon when I found I could keep up with the top 2 runners on our team. It was an incredible moment because it felt so easy but they could not shake me and I kept pace without a problem. There were many, many hours that led up to that efficiency that others did not see. Sadly, I developed tendonitius and never was able to showcase my running at that level and even see what might happen in higher competition. But still it was a day I never forgot. This time with those saints in Iceland will be a day like that for many of us who participated: an awareness of what you can do in a way you did not think was possible.
We led in worship and prayer session during Friday and Saturday and the first half of Sunday. Outside of those times they had organized 24 hour worship and prayer through the weekend. It was just a snapshot of the potential, to be sure. Not yet fully understanding the cost of entering a lifestyle that is required for night and day prayer. But it was a real taste, and they are liking it.
Tim and Sam were incredible, being poured out and being examples of worship and prayer both on and off the platform. They carried a ton of weight during the event and never groaned, complained or hesitated though the days were long. It was a joy to be part of such a team.
As for me, I still sense God wants me to continue to "pay attention to your friendships in Iceland". Not exactly sure what the walking out of that looks like. But I want to be found faithful, I want to be found ready. I don't know exactly when I'll go back so for now they are a major focus for me in regards to prayer and responding to questions they fire back.
Here are some pictures from the day out of Reykjavik the team went on, I was tending to things elsewhere that day but you can see the beauty of the country from Sam's and Mark's pictures they took on Tuesday:
We had dinner at Kolbeinn's house our last night there, kind of a debriefing from the weekend. It was an occasion of reflection and thankfulness. If you think back over your life you easily remember points of breakthrough. I remember in high school, when running on the cross country team, one specific afternoon when I found I could keep up with the top 2 runners on our team. It was an incredible moment because it felt so easy but they could not shake me and I kept pace without a problem. There were many, many hours that led up to that efficiency that others did not see. Sadly, I developed tendonitius and never was able to showcase my running at that level and even see what might happen in higher competition. But still it was a day I never forgot. This time with those saints in Iceland will be a day like that for many of us who participated: an awareness of what you can do in a way you did not think was possible.
We led in worship and prayer session during Friday and Saturday and the first half of Sunday. Outside of those times they had organized 24 hour worship and prayer through the weekend. It was just a snapshot of the potential, to be sure. Not yet fully understanding the cost of entering a lifestyle that is required for night and day prayer. But it was a real taste, and they are liking it.
Tim and Sam were incredible, being poured out and being examples of worship and prayer both on and off the platform. They carried a ton of weight during the event and never groaned, complained or hesitated though the days were long. It was a joy to be part of such a team.
As for me, I still sense God wants me to continue to "pay attention to your friendships in Iceland". Not exactly sure what the walking out of that looks like. But I want to be found faithful, I want to be found ready. I don't know exactly when I'll go back so for now they are a major focus for me in regards to prayer and responding to questions they fire back.
Here are some pictures from the day out of Reykjavik the team went on, I was tending to things elsewhere that day but you can see the beauty of the country from Sam's and Mark's pictures they took on Tuesday:
Oh, and one last thought. When asked about Iceland I heard Bob Jones make an observation that is helpful to us all. He said that there is a "portal over Iceland" which spoke to me of a significant role in intercession that Iceland will play out in coming months and years before Jesus returns. In regards to that portal he said, "It is closed through ambition and opened through humility." By ambition, it means that its not a platform for personal gain. (Nor should any ministry platform be used in such a manner). Humility is manifest not through self-depreciation, but through obedience. To those God is sending out (from Iceland and from elsewhere) to embrace the calling, stepping forward when its right as well as waiting when God is not doing something.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain to build it," - Psalm 127:1
There is a leadership standard God is insisting upon in our day: not pursuing the privileges of leadership (though there are some, rightfully so) per se, but this... embracing pain and suffering so those following you don't have to.
God wants intercession and worship blazing in Iceland and even now He is blowing on the coals of spiritual awakening both inside and outside of His church.
"The Lamb has conquered, let us follow!" Yes and amen. Yes, and amen.
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