Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
God of the second chance!
We first read of Mark in Acts, when Peter went to “the house of Mary the mother of John also called Mark” after Peter’s miraculous release from prison he goes to the house of Mary the mother of Mark. Mark must have shown some useful abilities and gifting as well a servant spirit and he accompanied them Acts 12:25. When Paul and Barnabas left on their first missionary journey and he took Mark with them as their assistant. This was a great opportunity for Mark, to work with Barnabas his cousin (Colossians 4:10) and also with the great apostle Paul. But not too long after that Mark returned to Jerusalem Acts 13:13.
There is no explanation for his return but maybe could be that things got too hard for him, and he tough he couldn’t endure. When Paul decided to take another missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance but Paul didn’t think was a good decision, Paul and Barnabas had such a big disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. But Paul chooses Silas and went to Syria and Cylia strengthening the churches (Acts 15:36-41). Barnabas became Mark’s mentor and encourager.
Mark’s confidence in Barnabas eventually paid off! During Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome He wrote a letter to timothy and asked him to “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11). Paul become so confident in Mark that he asked for his assistance.
Barnabas second chance, and God restoring work and Mark faithful response led Paul to regain the confidence in Mark. The apostle Peter gave a strong indication that that Mark did indeed make that journey to Rome to be with Paul during his final days.
What a great change, a beautiful thing. I have learned trough really hard situations that some things can never be redone or undone, but we pick up where we failed and move forward.
Mark proves that failure isn’t final. Jesus touched Mark’ life forever with a second chance. And Mark finished his race as a faithful and reliable servant. Love truly never fails…
kelry Green
There is no explanation for his return but maybe could be that things got too hard for him, and he tough he couldn’t endure. When Paul decided to take another missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance but Paul didn’t think was a good decision, Paul and Barnabas had such a big disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. But Paul chooses Silas and went to Syria and Cylia strengthening the churches (Acts 15:36-41). Barnabas became Mark’s mentor and encourager.
Mark’s confidence in Barnabas eventually paid off! During Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome He wrote a letter to timothy and asked him to “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11). Paul become so confident in Mark that he asked for his assistance.
Barnabas second chance, and God restoring work and Mark faithful response led Paul to regain the confidence in Mark. The apostle Peter gave a strong indication that that Mark did indeed make that journey to Rome to be with Paul during his final days.
What a great change, a beautiful thing. I have learned trough really hard situations that some things can never be redone or undone, but we pick up where we failed and move forward.
Mark proves that failure isn’t final. Jesus touched Mark’ life forever with a second chance. And Mark finished his race as a faithful and reliable servant. Love truly never fails…
kelry Green
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Urgent Call to Prayer: Signs of the Times
Convergence
It is critical that the church in America understands the times and what needs to be done now. The natural things speak of the invisible. Natural happenings on the earth are revealing something that is going on in the spiritual realm. There is a great spiritual conflict with a rising tide of Islamic boldness being manifested. Several happenings are converging this week. First of all, our President has recently proclaimed, honored, encouraged the Muslim holy days of prayer and fasting called Ramadan. He was very silent on the National Day of Prayer but very vocal on the support of Ramadan. Interestingly at the same time a major Christian leader of the Emergent Church called for forty days of fasting and prayer in the same Ramadan period with the goal that the church will better understand our Muslim friends. We are all for understanding but we must have spiritual discernment as to the spiritual dark powers that are being invoked into our nation.
Cause for Concern
At the same time, on the 25th of September, Muslims are calling for a Muslim Day of Prayer in Washington DC (http://www.islamoncapitolhill.com/). They are calling for 50,000 Muslims to gather and pray on the DC Mall. This is the exact word of one of the Sheikhs who is leading this historic gathering, “Muslims should march on the White House. We are going to the White House so that Islam will be victorious, Allah willing, and the White House will become into a Muslim house.” These are not empty words. They speak of a dark spiritual intent and a coming day of great trouble to America.
A Divine Moment
Now one of these events is enough to awaken us to this significant throbbing moment, but when they all converge it becomes a massive spiritual alarm that must be responded to by the praying Church. However, I believe in this moment of divine providence God has raised up on the stage of history a little “Esther” that if we pray and fast for her she could be a major voice to expose the dark under-belly of Islam and radiate a bright hope for a day of salvation for Muslims in America.
Headlines
On Monday, Rifqa Bary, a young 17-year-old woman, will be in the headlines of US news. Four years ago, while living in a very devout and radical Muslim home, Rifqa met Jesus in a powerful way as her savior. She hid her conversion, began praying secretly, and began hiding her bible from her parents. Then, on Facebook, her love for Jesus was exposed to the radical Muslim community in Ohio. Rifqa’s father demanded that she renounce Jesus or he would kill her as is commanded by the Koran. As a radiant believer in Jesus she refused to renounce her Lord and fled to Orlando where she was taken in and cared for by a Christian Church and family. Now, the father is appealing to the courts to bring her back under his custody. Major television networks have already covered her story. How must the Church of America respond in this moment for our sister who is a part of the Body of Christ?
A Major Sign
This convergence, I believe, is urgently summoning us in the midst of the rising tide of Islamic influence in America to recognize that our God is above every god and that if we return to Him with all of our hearts and call upon Him with fasting and prayer then God could use what the enemy meant for evil to bring about a great day of salvation for Muslims in America, of which Rifqa is but a major sign.
Here is The Call
First of all, we cannot be passive as a Church to let these kinds of developments go on without being challenged in the spirit. Our fight is not against Muslims, it is against principalities, powers, and forces of darkness. We are calling the Church of America at the end of Ramadan, from September 21st through 25th, to five days of concerted prayer. On Monday, we must pray that God would grant supernatural wisdom to the courts so that the testimony of Jesus would be proclaimed and that the best situation for Rifqa and her family would take place. We must pray for Rifqa to be bold in proclaiming Jesus that even thousands of Muslims would hear and be awakened to the love of Christ. She has already said that this is not about her but about many Muslims coming to Jesus. We must pray for her lawyers who are being bullied, threatened, and challenged on every side. On Friday, September 25th, the Muslim Day of Prayer, we are calling the Church of America to fast and pray that Muslims would be moved by the Holy Spirit, convicted by the testimony of Christ, and even be visited by Jesus in dreams. We must pray that God would restrain the spiritual powers behind Islam and grant us the great awakening that we desperately need for America.
Let us hear the call to prayer and not miss this moment,
Lou Engle
The Call
It is critical that the church in America understands the times and what needs to be done now. The natural things speak of the invisible. Natural happenings on the earth are revealing something that is going on in the spiritual realm. There is a great spiritual conflict with a rising tide of Islamic boldness being manifested. Several happenings are converging this week. First of all, our President has recently proclaimed, honored, encouraged the Muslim holy days of prayer and fasting called Ramadan. He was very silent on the National Day of Prayer but very vocal on the support of Ramadan. Interestingly at the same time a major Christian leader of the Emergent Church called for forty days of fasting and prayer in the same Ramadan period with the goal that the church will better understand our Muslim friends. We are all for understanding but we must have spiritual discernment as to the spiritual dark powers that are being invoked into our nation.
Cause for Concern
At the same time, on the 25th of September, Muslims are calling for a Muslim Day of Prayer in Washington DC (http://www.islamoncapitolhill.com/). They are calling for 50,000 Muslims to gather and pray on the DC Mall. This is the exact word of one of the Sheikhs who is leading this historic gathering, “Muslims should march on the White House. We are going to the White House so that Islam will be victorious, Allah willing, and the White House will become into a Muslim house.” These are not empty words. They speak of a dark spiritual intent and a coming day of great trouble to America.
A Divine Moment
Now one of these events is enough to awaken us to this significant throbbing moment, but when they all converge it becomes a massive spiritual alarm that must be responded to by the praying Church. However, I believe in this moment of divine providence God has raised up on the stage of history a little “Esther” that if we pray and fast for her she could be a major voice to expose the dark under-belly of Islam and radiate a bright hope for a day of salvation for Muslims in America.
Headlines
On Monday, Rifqa Bary, a young 17-year-old woman, will be in the headlines of US news. Four years ago, while living in a very devout and radical Muslim home, Rifqa met Jesus in a powerful way as her savior. She hid her conversion, began praying secretly, and began hiding her bible from her parents. Then, on Facebook, her love for Jesus was exposed to the radical Muslim community in Ohio. Rifqa’s father demanded that she renounce Jesus or he would kill her as is commanded by the Koran. As a radiant believer in Jesus she refused to renounce her Lord and fled to Orlando where she was taken in and cared for by a Christian Church and family. Now, the father is appealing to the courts to bring her back under his custody. Major television networks have already covered her story. How must the Church of America respond in this moment for our sister who is a part of the Body of Christ?
A Major Sign
This convergence, I believe, is urgently summoning us in the midst of the rising tide of Islamic influence in America to recognize that our God is above every god and that if we return to Him with all of our hearts and call upon Him with fasting and prayer then God could use what the enemy meant for evil to bring about a great day of salvation for Muslims in America, of which Rifqa is but a major sign.
Here is The Call
First of all, we cannot be passive as a Church to let these kinds of developments go on without being challenged in the spirit. Our fight is not against Muslims, it is against principalities, powers, and forces of darkness. We are calling the Church of America at the end of Ramadan, from September 21st through 25th, to five days of concerted prayer. On Monday, we must pray that God would grant supernatural wisdom to the courts so that the testimony of Jesus would be proclaimed and that the best situation for Rifqa and her family would take place. We must pray for Rifqa to be bold in proclaiming Jesus that even thousands of Muslims would hear and be awakened to the love of Christ. She has already said that this is not about her but about many Muslims coming to Jesus. We must pray for her lawyers who are being bullied, threatened, and challenged on every side. On Friday, September 25th, the Muslim Day of Prayer, we are calling the Church of America to fast and pray that Muslims would be moved by the Holy Spirit, convicted by the testimony of Christ, and even be visited by Jesus in dreams. We must pray that God would restrain the spiritual powers behind Islam and grant us the great awakening that we desperately need for America.
Let us hear the call to prayer and not miss this moment,
Lou Engle
The Call
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
ARISE Nazarites !
Matthew 7:14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."
God is raising up a generation that has an extreme passion to walk the path of righteousness — a generation that understands that the way is narrow, but is willing to live life in complete abandonment to Him regardless.
God is raising up Nazarites throughout the nations of the earth. He is giving them keys of fasting and prayer to shift the course of world history. The Nazarites are people with burning hearts and a mandate from heaven. Their very lifestyle shouts to the world who God is. The fire inside them never goes out. It burns day and night, the overflow of an undivided heart and a single eye (Col 3:2).
The root-meaning of Nazarite in Hebrew indicates that a Nazarite was "a consecrated one" or "a devotee." Ordinarily, when people took a vow they consecrated a material possession to God, but if a person took a Nazarite vow, he/she consecratedhimself/herself to God.
We believe that God is raising up people completely consecrated to Him across the earth. Such people will walk in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers wherever they go. They have God's seal upon their hearts and an understanding that nothing in this world will satisfy. They live for His face alone.
When the nation of Israel turned away from God to walk in the ways of other gods, God used the lives of the sold out men and women to bring reform. These men and women changed culture by standing for righteousness even in the face of death. It was the Nazarites who God chose to do that which was in His heart and mind (Ie: Samuel in I Sam 2:35.) Nazarites also emerged at times when Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord (Ie: Samson in Judges 13:1) and when the priesthood was in disarray (Ie: John the Baptist in Matt 3:7.) The political and spiritual climate in all of these settings was filled with bondage and oppression. The parents of these men made a sacrifice unto the Lord prior to their births, and they lived lives of sacrifice from birth unto death. Samson brought protection, Samuel priestly reformation, and John preparation for a coming King.
Once again, God is blowing the trumpet and a new breed of fiery prophets are arising. God is raising up Nazarites, whose voices will shake the nations and prepare the Bride for the return of Jesus to the earth!
If you are reading this article and you are feeling a fire burning in your heart and you are saying “I want be a Nazarite,” then pray this prayer: “God, put a fire in my heart that will burn day and night. I want be a burning one. I will give up the pleasures of this life for the pleasures of heaven. Lord put a seal of Nazarite consecration upon my heart so that my heart may burn like John the Baptist’s heart burned . . . for You alone!”
k.G.
God is raising up a generation that has an extreme passion to walk the path of righteousness — a generation that understands that the way is narrow, but is willing to live life in complete abandonment to Him regardless.
God is raising up Nazarites throughout the nations of the earth. He is giving them keys of fasting and prayer to shift the course of world history. The Nazarites are people with burning hearts and a mandate from heaven. Their very lifestyle shouts to the world who God is. The fire inside them never goes out. It burns day and night, the overflow of an undivided heart and a single eye (Col 3:2).
The root-meaning of Nazarite in Hebrew indicates that a Nazarite was "a consecrated one" or "a devotee." Ordinarily, when people took a vow they consecrated a material possession to God, but if a person took a Nazarite vow, he/she consecratedhimself/herself to God.
We believe that God is raising up people completely consecrated to Him across the earth. Such people will walk in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers wherever they go. They have God's seal upon their hearts and an understanding that nothing in this world will satisfy. They live for His face alone.
When the nation of Israel turned away from God to walk in the ways of other gods, God used the lives of the sold out men and women to bring reform. These men and women changed culture by standing for righteousness even in the face of death. It was the Nazarites who God chose to do that which was in His heart and mind (Ie: Samuel in I Sam 2:35.) Nazarites also emerged at times when Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord (Ie: Samson in Judges 13:1) and when the priesthood was in disarray (Ie: John the Baptist in Matt 3:7.) The political and spiritual climate in all of these settings was filled with bondage and oppression. The parents of these men made a sacrifice unto the Lord prior to their births, and they lived lives of sacrifice from birth unto death. Samson brought protection, Samuel priestly reformation, and John preparation for a coming King.
Once again, God is blowing the trumpet and a new breed of fiery prophets are arising. God is raising up Nazarites, whose voices will shake the nations and prepare the Bride for the return of Jesus to the earth!
If you are reading this article and you are feeling a fire burning in your heart and you are saying “I want be a Nazarite,” then pray this prayer: “God, put a fire in my heart that will burn day and night. I want be a burning one. I will give up the pleasures of this life for the pleasures of heaven. Lord put a seal of Nazarite consecration upon my heart so that my heart may burn like John the Baptist’s heart burned . . . for You alone!”
k.G.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Intimacy restores destiny...
I believe that we are in a time of history that when we look back at it in the pages of eternity we will identify it as a time of a clear shift in human history... As we enter more into the times that Haggai 2:6-9 describes, I believe that even Christians who are not established on Matthew 7, the solid foundation, are going to be shaken with everybody else...
I think the shaking is really God's love and grace over our lives... This time last year I was going through a great time of trial. It was probably the most painful time I have ever had, but now when I look back I'm so grateful for what that time has produced in my heart. Through that season God taught me so much and He has drawn me into a level of intimacy that I've not known before.
He matured me in a lot ways and really brought me back to the center (intimacy).
During the shaking he called me for a year just to be with Him. It was for sure the most foundational year of my life :).
He brought things into order in my life, my time with Him, my husband ( family), friends and then in ministry. He filled me with joy and gave me the greatest gift, a child.
Intimacy with Him has restored my life and my destiny.
In this last year I realize more and more that my primary calling is to pray.
The movement in Brazil is growing so much. It is incredible what God is doing. It is amazing how prayer changes the spiritual atmosphere over cities and nations (Matthew 6:10, Psalm 149).
In 2007 God gave us a vision for reformation in every sphere of society, and He has already opened the doors with the government, education, media and etc... We feel the time is now for putting people in place so they can carrie the mission forward too.
Now with the baby on the way, I want to spend all the time I can at home in prayer, in the word with Trevis and her.
I want to encourage you to give this year to intimacy, and if you are going through a season of fire and shaking, embrace it with humility and you will see beautiful fruit come out of it.
He really knows how to make beauty out of our ashes. We just need to be willing to give Him our ashes.
Love you all,
kelry
I think the shaking is really God's love and grace over our lives... This time last year I was going through a great time of trial. It was probably the most painful time I have ever had, but now when I look back I'm so grateful for what that time has produced in my heart. Through that season God taught me so much and He has drawn me into a level of intimacy that I've not known before.
He matured me in a lot ways and really brought me back to the center (intimacy).
During the shaking he called me for a year just to be with Him. It was for sure the most foundational year of my life :).
He brought things into order in my life, my time with Him, my husband ( family), friends and then in ministry. He filled me with joy and gave me the greatest gift, a child.
Intimacy with Him has restored my life and my destiny.
In this last year I realize more and more that my primary calling is to pray.
The movement in Brazil is growing so much. It is incredible what God is doing. It is amazing how prayer changes the spiritual atmosphere over cities and nations (Matthew 6:10, Psalm 149).
In 2007 God gave us a vision for reformation in every sphere of society, and He has already opened the doors with the government, education, media and etc... We feel the time is now for putting people in place so they can carrie the mission forward too.
Now with the baby on the way, I want to spend all the time I can at home in prayer, in the word with Trevis and her.
I want to encourage you to give this year to intimacy, and if you are going through a season of fire and shaking, embrace it with humility and you will see beautiful fruit come out of it.
He really knows how to make beauty out of our ashes. We just need to be willing to give Him our ashes.
Love you all,
kelry
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Finishing Well
I was reading 1 Kings tonight and have been thinking about David and Solomon and about how many people start off well but didn't finish well.
1 kings 11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. "
David had a really hard start that resulted in years of preparation for the day that he would become king. On the other hand, Solomon had a quick start that unfortunately ended poorly affecting his whole lineage in a negative way(11:11)
David went through so much before he become a King, but Instead of becoming bitter because of everything that he went through he used the opportunities to grow in love for God and people and also to develop a tremendous level of humility. His focus was more on his heart than in his role...
I think the main difference between David and Solomon was that when David sinned he turned his heart towards God, repented, and got back on track. Solomon, however, stayed on the wrong track. When he sinned he sinned more.
Sin became a way of life to Solomon, but to David sin was an awful thing.
Two men; one remembered as a man after God's own heart, the other was a man who [did evil in the sight of Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David]. 1 kings 11:6
Races are truly not won in the first lap but at the finishing line. May we all have passion to not just finish the race but to finish well!
Kelry G.
1 kings 11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. "
David had a really hard start that resulted in years of preparation for the day that he would become king. On the other hand, Solomon had a quick start that unfortunately ended poorly affecting his whole lineage in a negative way(11:11)
David went through so much before he become a King, but Instead of becoming bitter because of everything that he went through he used the opportunities to grow in love for God and people and also to develop a tremendous level of humility. His focus was more on his heart than in his role...
I think the main difference between David and Solomon was that when David sinned he turned his heart towards God, repented, and got back on track. Solomon, however, stayed on the wrong track. When he sinned he sinned more.
Sin became a way of life to Solomon, but to David sin was an awful thing.
Two men; one remembered as a man after God's own heart, the other was a man who [did evil in the sight of Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David]. 1 kings 11:6
Races are truly not won in the first lap but at the finishing line. May we all have passion to not just finish the race but to finish well!
Kelry G.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Today I woke up with my husband singing and praying over me. My beautiful friend Dee singing and releasing the fire on my answer machine :).
Stacey's b-day flowers for me on the table :). Sunny outside and friends calling. It is good turning 30. I love life, I love been married and love that my baby girl will be here with me in a few months.
I'm 6 months pregnant. Time goes by so fast.... Tonight b-day party.
Kelry G.
Stacey's b-day flowers for me on the table :). Sunny outside and friends calling. It is good turning 30. I love life, I love been married and love that my baby girl will be here with me in a few months.
I'm 6 months pregnant. Time goes by so fast.... Tonight b-day party.
Kelry G.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
This week as I have been going through the book of John, I have been meditating on His love for Jesus. It is beautiful to me how Jesus gave the revelation of the End to the one that loved Him the most and also to the one that He loved in a special way. Though He loved all the apostles, including Judas, He had a special love for John. It was John that sat next to Jesus during the passover meal. It was John who was called the "disciple whom Jesus loved" John 13:23
It was John who "leaned back against Jesus" and asked which one of them would betrayed him. John 13:25.
Jesus looked past John's self centered personality, pride and ambitions (Mark 10:35-38) . He could see past all of that; knowing that John could become a very loving and humble man.
There was a great process that John went through until his emotions and ambitions were purified. John went through the purifying fire of God's love...
Eventually he was so transformed that he no longer needed to always be first. He didn't seek the power and prestige of man. He had only one goal to be like Jesus.
John changed from wanting to be known by what he accomplished before men to being known by his relationship with Jesus. His identity was based on his love for Jesus and Jesus' love for Him .
John never mentions his own name in the gospel he wrote but refers to himself five times as "the disciple whom the Lord loved" (Jn. 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20).
He went from being The apostle of pride to an apostle of love...
What a beautiful and inspiring transformation.... May we all be consumed with the understanding of His amazing love for us. "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine." (Song 6:3)
That is true success to love and to be loved by Him!!!
Living to love
kelry G.
It was John who "leaned back against Jesus" and asked which one of them would betrayed him. John 13:25.
Jesus looked past John's self centered personality, pride and ambitions (Mark 10:35-38) . He could see past all of that; knowing that John could become a very loving and humble man.
There was a great process that John went through until his emotions and ambitions were purified. John went through the purifying fire of God's love...
Eventually he was so transformed that he no longer needed to always be first. He didn't seek the power and prestige of man. He had only one goal to be like Jesus.
John changed from wanting to be known by what he accomplished before men to being known by his relationship with Jesus. His identity was based on his love for Jesus and Jesus' love for Him .
John never mentions his own name in the gospel he wrote but refers to himself five times as "the disciple whom the Lord loved" (Jn. 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20).
He went from being The apostle of pride to an apostle of love...
What a beautiful and inspiring transformation.... May we all be consumed with the understanding of His amazing love for us. "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine." (Song 6:3)
That is true success to love and to be loved by Him!!!
Living to love
kelry G.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
He has set eternity in our hearts.
I have been meditating on Revelation 21 and Hebrews 11. My soul is longing...
That is a longing in my heart that continues to tell me that I'm not made for this place. I'm not made for this realm. There is a constant aching in me that is saying that I'm made for something more, made for something supernatural. Surely there is something more.
God has set eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Our hearts long for what is eternal. There is another age coming, there is a city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10).
There is a city where the streets are like pure gold, where there is a beautiful river of water of life. No moon or sun is needed there for the Glory of God illuminates everything.The Lamb is its light.. In that day we will communion with Him face to face and justice and righteousness will endure for all of eternity. How I long for my home...
I love you Jesus with all of my heart, mind, soul and strength.
kelry
That is a longing in my heart that continues to tell me that I'm not made for this place. I'm not made for this realm. There is a constant aching in me that is saying that I'm made for something more, made for something supernatural. Surely there is something more.
God has set eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Our hearts long for what is eternal. There is another age coming, there is a city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10).
There is a city where the streets are like pure gold, where there is a beautiful river of water of life. No moon or sun is needed there for the Glory of God illuminates everything.The Lamb is its light.. In that day we will communion with Him face to face and justice and righteousness will endure for all of eternity. How I long for my home...
I love you Jesus with all of my heart, mind, soul and strength.
kelry
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
You have ravished my heart, My sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes,
with one link of your necklace.” Song of songs 4:9
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9
“And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You (the Father) loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26
with one link of your necklace.” Song of songs 4:9
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9
“And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You (the Father) loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A PROPHET OF THE PEOPLE...
Jill Austin went to be with her Beloved Jesus in heaven at 7:48pm Pacific Time today, 1/9/09.
Below was written by a friend Sarah Yang as a tribute to Jill Austin... Jill you will be greatly missed by many...
A Seed Falling To The Ground...
I had the privilege of spending the final week of Jill's life on earth with her. I am so grateful that God divinely orchestrated such precious time with my spiritual mama though we both didn't know it at the time.
We had many meals together, shared lots of smiles and stories, but more importantly shared with such vibrancy our hopes and dreams for seeing the arts and creativity once again restored to our Beloved Creator.
I shared with her a dream I had a couple months ago that got her excited about doing dramas again. In the dream, Jill was just getting off a plane in California from Kansas City. As she arrived, she handed me a flyer with characters such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty all over it. She wanted to put on a conference where each of these stories would be told prophetically to the church through drama, film, music, and the arts. It was to call the Bride of Christ to come out of bondage into our rightful place as His royal sons and daughters through creativity.
I think that is why it's been so difficult to let her go. I've had to wrestle with the thought that her destiny was somehow aborted. But I was reminded of the Scripture:
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24)
As she poured out her heart and vision for the arts to be restored this final week, she was surrounded by young people. She would share stories of her "Empty Cradle" drama about abortion that used to be seen by 8000 people in one weekend during the 70's and 80's. Jill would tell us that people would flood and weep in the altars during her performances because the heart of God was so vividly displayed.
We couldn't keep our mouths shut as she spoke as we were filled with excitement, screaming, "YES, THIS IS WHAT WE BURN FOR. THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO. YOU'RE PUTTING LANGUAGE TO OUR DREAMS!!!! DRAMA, ART, MUSICALS, FILMS, TV, DANCES, SONGS THAT DISPLAY GOD'S HEART." Her dreams came alive within us as she spoke and we left every meal with a passionate resolve in our hearts that said, "Let's do this!"
I believe that her destiny is far from being aborted but is now being handed over to a generation to be multiplied as we honor this steadfast forerunner.
A Prophet of the People
Another moment that lives on in my memories of Jill happened just a few days ago on January 2nd, 2009. Jill and I were having dinner at Higher Grounds Cafe when a young man out of nowhere bowed down to introduce himself to Jill. He raved at how much she has blessed him and his friend through her ministry.
Jill was clearly embarrassed by his gushing remarks but she continued to ask his name, where he's from, and genuinely took interest in getting to know him and his friend. We even rode over to the Luke 18 Conference with them.
When I asked her about that whole experience and if it's hard to stay humble, she said, "Going through everyday life keeps you humble." She later whispered in my ear during worship, "You know how Princess Diana was known as the people's princess, I want to be known as a prophet of the people. I want to be with the people."
I believe that desire came to pass in such an unexpected way just a few days later. As she fought for her life, literally thousands in the body of Christ throughout the world stopped what they were doing to intercede and cry out on her behalf. People were glued to their iPhones and laptops, awaiting news of their beloved Jill. Day and night, their hearts went out to her, full of love towards a woman who they encountered once in their lives but it changed them forever.
Although the loss of Jill is sudden and tragic, I believe it happened the way she would've wanted it to be... dramatic. In her finale, she once again gripped the hearts of the people, made us weep, and ultimately led us to gaze upon the one that she loves, Jesus Christ, who's arms she rests in both now and forevermore.
Take a bow, Jill, from the balcony of heaven, and know you've moved us once again with a story about you and your beloved Master Potter.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
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