If I don’t quit, I win.

Below is a email I wrote to my mom on Sunday concerning Haiti.

Mom, last week when the earthquake happened in Haiti, I didn’t really answer you question too well. I wanted to email you a more thorough response.

While Haiti is known for being the poorest country on our planet, there has been a lot of talk for it also being a nation that sold itself to the devil to be free from the French enslaving them.  You can check out Bois Caiman for what was documented for what took place in 1791.

Also, Government is set in place as leadership over a nation and country. When the government or Leader(s) of a country set certain laws or allows certain things to occur on its soil, the responsibility is on their sholders.  If the Government/leaders set the tone for a nation, they reap the rewards(positive or negative) of their decissions. In the US we pray that Godly laws are established and vote according to our convictions, but the majority vote wins, and this can either be good for those living in  a city, state, country, or have a negative effect for the people who live in the affected area.

I say all this because in Haiti, the government allows vodou to be practiced in that country and as Christians we are praying that they would become a nation and country that Fears Lord Almighty, and desires to joined to Jesus. But According to Wikipedia, While it is said that the  Haitian popultation is 80% Chrisitan, (Haiti population is 10 million, 8 million say  they are Christian), it is recognized that half of the haitian population practices Vodou, that’s 5 million men, women, and children, which does not recognize Jesus, Father or Holy Spirit.

We have prayed for Haiti the last two weeks, and continue to pray for the country and nation, in every way possible. Many people say this is a consequence for their actions many years ago. Some say this is judgment from  God.

As for what I believe and what I feel like the Lord is doing, I feel like natural disasters are a wake-up call to a city, nation, country. A quote I have heard said is “God will uses the least severe means to reach the greatest number of people, at the deepest level of love without violating anyone’s free will”.
God longs for relationship with people-every single one of them. And throughout the Bible God would create and allow natural disasters, as well as war, to grab the attention of Israel, and other people (Gentiles), and His message was clear, “repent from your wicked ways, turn to me with all your heart, and you will be saved”.

So if you apply these things to Haiti, they are suffering from an earthquake that has left hundreds of thousands people without food, water, and life. The question isn’t “Why did this happen God? Are you judging a country/nation?” But ask Him “What are you saying through this? What are you wanting to do through this?”

I believe there is a spiritual battle going on, and the Lord’s Eyes are on Haiti, and He is wanting them to accept Jesus as their Savior and let Him be their Leader in every aspect of their lives.

I also believe that the earthquake in Haiti was the Mercy of the Lord (He actually withholds judgment even though we deserve it). There were many people who died- moms, dads, children, government leaders, politicians, waitresses, taxi drivers, etc. BUT some people who died were evil men who sold women and children in to prostitution/human trafficking. Some were politicians were corrupt and allowed illegal things to happen to keep that country in poverty. Some women died who enslaved orphans… we have no idea what was going on down there.

 But His Mercy is that many people were spared, and Jesus is sitting next to the Father interceding for peoples hearts to turn to God in their weakness. His mercy is that many people will come to know Jesus through this terrible experience.

This is also a wake-up call to everyone. In Isaiah 40, it  talks about how life is but a vapor-a moment- a blip; average of 70 years. It is short, and to Christians, God has asked that we live our lives under the LIfestyle He gave us in the Bible, and our human body to live out those 70 yrs and then spend eternity, forever, with Him. And to non-christians, 70 years is just a life lived, wondering what they are to do with themselves and filling it with surface-leveled, meaningless things thinking it makes them happy.

Natural Disasters help humans check their hearts and see what it is we really believe. Haiti is on the Lord’s heart right now, and it is a time to pray and ask the Lord to move in that place, and that revival would break out in that land. It’s also a time for the Church, Believers in Jesus, to step up and live out what  God called us to do- spread the Gospel, feed the poor, love on the unloved. 

So, these are my thoughts on Haiti. And these are the things that we are praying for, as a community, at IHOP.  We are praying for relief workers, orphanages, supplies, drs, the government… check out www.criout.com for some updates if you can. IHOP Has partnered with CRI and are committed to help in the midst of crisis.

end email.____________________

There is nothing impossible for God Almighty. He is the Creator of all things, knowing the motivations of men and women, and knowing the movement of the Earth. Nothing is hidden from Him and He is not surprised by any of this. God is not an Angry God, who punishes us every time we mess up. But He opens up His hands to receive anyone who will call upon His name for salvation.

Today I was ministering in the prophecy rooms. This blog is my journey throught he prophetic and so if a reader doesn’t understand, ask the Lord and He will give you ears to hear.

We brought the first three people in. Some mornings are hard and you have to “warm-up” (it’s kind of funny to think we need to be warmed-up to hear God). This was one of those mornings. As I was asking the Lord about a lady in the room, I felt a specific scripture impressed on my heart. I read it and thought, “how am I supposed to tell her that?!” As I asked some questions to Holy Spirit, He gently guided me to the thought of, “She isn’t supposed to do what her fathers did, because like Jeremiah’s day, they didn’t obey the Lord. She is to follow the Lord and obey Him as He directs her path.”

Jesus told some people at one point to forsake your mother and father, and let the dead bury the dead. And I felt like the Lord was saying the same thing to her; to not let her circumstances dictate her future. In a round -about way, I said the idea of what God gave me, but I didn’t say the strong impression that I had at first.

So, “What am I doing?” My delima in delivering a word is, do we have to say all that we hear, or do we just say part? I got the revelation, but my interpretation and application of the word, to me and my knowledge, was terrible. I fumbled over my words to try and convey what I was feeling/seeing and couldn’t get it out without thinking this woman could think I was correcting and directing her, which is what I told them we don’t do.

So, I am left with a humbled heart, that God would want to speak to me about someone, and when we are off, how much he loves us and desires for us to draw closer to Him, not feel ashamed. Today helped me to cling to Him more because I didn’t want to get in the way of what He was doing.

A time has come for me to step back out into serving. A few years ago, I stopped serving because I was burnt out. I had nothing to give, nor was I receiving anything to fill me up. Much was being asked, but bitterness was setting in and serving was too much. I took my hand out and decided to sit back until I felt it was safe. Well, three years later, the doors of my heart are being opened.

I was asked by a previous pastor, “If you could do anything in the church, what would it be?” I said “Pray“.

I was newly introduced to a prayer movement, and signed up for prayer and believed that it was just as effective as serving in any other ministry.

The Lord showed me a picture the other night of my “Prayer Branch“. I devoted myself to prayer and withdrew from all other ministries. I didn’t even want to go to church gatherings or potlucks, or volunteer in any way to set up before church or greet at church. I was so tired of doing things and serving others. But serving God with prayer was just up my ally. I essentially “pruned” some areas, and thus my “Prayer Branch”.

The Lord spoke to my heart this past Sunday about being in a place of laboring. Shelley had a fantastic sermon that stirred up some old emotions. The past three years I have been serving through prayer, and it’s been awesome; I am learning who I am and my identity in Christ, and my confidence is boosted through communing with God, which allows me to pray for others as they labor and serve the Church.

But there is something about serving. When I humble myself and I start to consider others greater than me, my heart becomes alive, because it is no longer I who live, but it’s Christ living within me, and serves others. As Jesus washed our feet and let us partner with Him, we are to also follow His example and serve in what ever capacity that means. Jesus knew the Word of God, He labored in the place of prayer, and contended for righteousness, strength, wisdom… First for His Disciples, and second, for everyone.

John 17 is Jesus’ greatest prayer ever!He prayed for those whom He was given.

With that said, I felt like the Lord was inviting me to serve again, saying it’s time to work on other parts of my “tree” or “shrubbery” or whatever we have that bears fruit of the Spirit.We will see what is in store. I am contending to be an Oak or Righteousness and to be unmovable and unshakable, having roots in the Love of God and able to withstand what ever the enemy may throw my way or my own self my fight against, so that I can be found faithful when Christ returns, ( Luke 18.8).

It’s a good life. I have to learn to live with a contending heart for more of God.

Well, It’s been a few weeks.

David-Andrew and I are in a class called “Song of Solomon” taught by Matt & Dana Candler. It’s been good. As we have been at IHOP, we have heard many things, but they usually are based on one of three themes: Intimacy, Forerunner message, and end-times. I am excited about learning end-times, and the Forerunner message (John the Baptist model), but I don’t really get Intimacy. You would think that being newly married would give me a greater idea of God’s affections for me, but it’s different. I have always view SoS between me and the Lord and cannot really grasp that book between a man and a wife. 

With that said, I was really excited to audit this class. It is hard because I don’t really get it, but I am excited about how the Lord will reveal more as we ask for increase of Him and what He thinks and feels. 

So when you read/sing the Song of All Songs, ask God how He feels about you and how He is maturing you. His removal of His presence is more for us that we would seek him and not a disapproval of us. He is drawing us away.