Be still…

I keep hearing this verse. I especially love the NET Bible’s translation. New and refreshing.
And I keep thinking what a good idea.
Prayer was so varied and drawing-in for me this summer, at my internship. I’ve lost some of that, partly because I’ve been spending the majority of my time in prayer… praying for others. There are so many people in my life right now who need people to stand with them in prayer. But that doesn’t mean I need to sit/lie down and list of prayer requests. So, I miss Virginia, where my team and I would gather as a small group and teach each other about prayer styles and we’d be encouraged as others shared their experiences of blessing. I miss Africa, where we’d gather as a team and pray aloud, all at once. When you and every one around you are praying aloud, the energy in the room is electrifying. I also miss Israel, where we’d say Shabbat blessings as a group, reading the Hebrew words from the page, because we never quite memorized them entirely. And, I miss my youth group days – the prayer chair. If I can take any piece of furniture from home to my new home this summer, I’ll take it. Laying hands on others and lifting up their concerns and sickness to the Lord is so empowering. So refreshing.
I can’t wait to be in a place where I can participate in prayer again – with others alongside me. I love this place, but it sometimes feels… stifling.
But, I’m looking forward. Looking upward. And, for now, I’m going to be spicing up my prayer life. Anyone want to join?

TU Men and Women Stand Up

Last night at the evening service for Spiritual Renewal week on TU’s campus, a revival started. After a sermon from pastor Chris Williamson on “Gideon’s 300 dogs,” one Taylor man stood up, took the mic from the podium, and said, “I want to do something beautiful.” What followed could be the very definition of beauty on this campus.
Person after person walked the aisles of the chapel to the front and climbed onto the stage to confess sin… after sin… after sin.
One denounced fear of demonic control over his and his girlfriend’s lives.
One confessed his sexual sins (of various natures) for the very first time. Many more followed suit, males and females alike confessing addictions, abuse, and much more. Gender was no boundary, and the resounding cry from these dozens of students remaining in the chapel was for change, accountability, and love.
Many confessed image issues, eating disorders.
One stood and called about half of the people remaining in the chapel to go back to their dorms and call their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to pray with and for those who had and continued to speak in the chapel.
Another woman, two and a half hours after the service was scheduled to end, sat at the piano and played and sang a song of God’s forgiveness and neverending love.
I could continue to list the sins confessed, the encouragements pronounced, tears and hugs shared, prayers uttered from the depths of hearts.
Freedom.
Healing.
Redemption.
Power.
Revival.
In the name of our living savior, Jesus Christ, who reigns on high at the right hand of God the Father.
Campus Pastor Randy Gruendyke closed with 2 Peter 1:3-4. The clock read 2:34 AM. 15 September, 2009. Five hours after the scheduled ending of the service, students dispersed to separate parts of campus, and continued to pray.

[edit:]
Today around campus, the buzz is “revival.” Students (including myself) are pulling professors aside, sharing the story of last night. To all you Taylor students, keep this going. To those of you who do not attend, consider what was said last night, “God wants to move us, to use us. We can’t do that without confessing the sins in our lives.” Now is always the time to “get right” with God and those around us. There is something powerful in confessing to others our sins.
God be praised.

TU men standing up against sexual sin in their lives

Taylor women standing up against sexual sin in their lives

He who has begun a new work…

There is a time to sleep

Is there!?
I’m in the last stretch. Last week at work, last everything… it feels like it, anyway!
Tired doesn’t even begin to describe the way my brain feels right now. I’m working on a project that is way over my head, and somehow still making progress. Good progress. I’m even pleased with what I’ve written. It is amazing, and exhausting.
I’m headed to spend some refreshing time with G.
Any suggestions on “fill-me-up” verses for this week?

Hope and praise

I sometimes struggle to remember to do both of these thing.  It’s when I’m having a hard time that I start to mutter this under my breath:

Moya wa ka o hlorelang, o nyarohetseng?  Ka hare ho nna?  O itshepele Modimo.  Ke sa tla o roka, sefahleho sa wona ke poloko.

Dipesaleme 42:5

National Cathedral

Oh my goodness.
The place was beautiful.
I loved every minute of my time today. Right after intern devotions (which went great!), we left for Panera. There, we (Phil, Dave, and I) met my supervisor, Donna, and I got an iced caramel. With the big straws, ya know? Mmmmm.
We spent an hour in prayer on our own, and then met outside to talk about our time. Wow. I mean, wow. I was so impacted by my time of prayer. God kept bringing Scriptures to mind, reminding me of Jesus’ humility – in every.aspect.of.His.life. In His birth, in His death, in His teaching. It was just astounding. I was also reminded of a verse in James 3:13-18 that talks about true wisdom. Something I needed a reminder of was that my wisdom needs to be selfless and humble. It all just flowed. I worshipped God, I felt His presence.
Beautiful. Humbling. Filling. Fulfilling. Fellowship.
It was a breath of fresh air, a drink of cool water from the depths of God’s satisfying Spirit.
Thank you – to all who have been praying for me lately.
God truly is my breath of life, my living water.
Thank you.