Brazil is a beautiful country that expands almost the entire east side of South America. It became an independent nation in 1822 that borders nine out of eleven countries. It is known world-wide for it's beautiful beaches and women.
But what many don't know about this seemingly prospering country is that the slave trade wasn't abolished until 1889, over eighty years since Wilberforce's day. This country was the very last stronghold of slavery.
An over-sexualized culture that prides itself with Carnival, the infamous four day celebration of equality between the rich and poor. It is a masked event that has roots in African voodoo. The American equivalent, Mardi Gras, is tame compared to this festival. It is also the second largest consumer of cocaine in the world. A common saying in Brazil is, 'Deus a Brasileiro' which in Portuguese means God is Brazilian.
There is a dark side to the veneer of excitement and casual sex. Experts estimate about 15% of 15-20 year olds have contracted a venereal disease. Eighty to ninety percent of all Victoria's Secret models are Brazilian. Prostitution is legal, sex tourism is rampant as men from affluent countries prey on vulnerable women and children. In 2010 the youngest 'Carnival Queen,' a sexualized, samba-dancing role, a was seven year old Julia Lira. She was the youngest ever and was backed by troops of topless dancers.
The 2014 World Cup will be held in fourteen cities in Brazil, it will bring in hundreds of thousands of tourists. This influx increases the demand for fast and flirty women. More often than not, international sporting events in any major city, increase trafficking of women eighty percent.
Brazil will also host the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Exodus Cry has chosen to point the cannon of prayer over this nation for the next few years. Desiring to raise awareness to tourists as well as inform nationals, women and children alike, of the dangerous of prostitution and sexual abuse. The prayer and hope is to see the Church in Brazil take a stand against this leader of promiscuous sex in the world and watch the strongholds be taken down.
The Brazilian Federal Police estimate there are about 250,000 child prostitutes on the streets.The age of consent is fourteen. But eighteen is the permitted age of prostitution. Drug and poverty play a very important role in the fates of these women and children. Even young boys partake in transvestite prostitution, it's been reported they are more popular than the women.
All that being said, there is a critical need to strengthen the hands that are already laboring faithfully in the place of outreach to women and children and prayer. I get the chance to do just that!
I have the opportunity to travel with Exodus Cry to the northeast part of Brazil this fall.
First we'll go to the city of Fortaleza from October 18th through the 29th strengthening Iris Ministries who were given a building in the darkest favella (slum) that was formally a drug den turned house of prayer. In the mornings we will be praying with their teams and in the evenings participating in outreach on the streets and in the clubs. Also, we will be teaching local children sexual abuse prevention. From October 30th through November 8th we'll be in Recife. A city the farthest east, the place where the morning light hits first. We'll reach out to those in the Red Light Districts there where children prostitute themselves.
Please prayerfully consider partnering with me on this endeavor. This trip cost $3,300. I need $1,500 by August 30th and the rest by the end of September. So far I've had nine donations totaling to $700.
For more information on partnership you can visit my Go Fund Me page with real time updates:
http://www.gofundme.com/BrazilTrip12
Visit Exodus Cry's website for more information on the prayer movement to end slavery or click on:
http://exoduscry.com/philanthropy/international-field-work/
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
While He May Be Found
I went to Forerunner Christian Fellowship last night, Corey Russell was preaching. He began and didn't even name off what his sermon was even about, he jumped right in.
And it was exactly what I need to hear.
Over and over again, for last four or five weeks, the Lord has been questioning me, probing my mind to reveal my heart on why I chose to live in Kansas City and be involved with the International House of Prayer. It seemed like everywhere I turned in the pages of my Bible, God was speaking and asking the question. It bothered me. I felt I shouldn't have to give a reason for why I'm here.
But truthfully, the Lord knew that I had become apathetic, bored, jaded and out of touch. The rhetoric of night and day prayer, Song of Solomon, the Bridegroom God, fasting and what it means to be a forerunner messenger truly became just that to me: mere words. Mere lip-service with a disconnected heart. I was sincere, but I lacked hunger for growth. I lacked authenticity for that which I intellectually knew.
Thankfully, the Lord truly does know how to grab my attention and let me respond, shaking me from the norms of the wilderness and into seeing His purposes and plans. He reunited my heart with the truths of why I give myself to prayer. Why I give up on what the world calls "success" and choose the success that Jesus has for me. This is why I love Him. This is why I moved to the Midwest to find Him in this tiny little prayer room with sincere, earnest and lovesick worshipers. Somehow, after being in the daily routine of prayer for two years, I lost perspective.
Corey spoke about having a heart connection with new revelation from the same stuff we've heard over and over again. He declared the harsh, but real reality that God calls, commissions and crucifies His servants so that we may become the very embodiment of the message. I know that my last couple of months of just going through the motions wasn't backsliding, it was a signing back up and realigning of my heart for the next few decades of serving the Lord in a focused and dedicated way, whether I'm in Kansas City or elsewhere.
Another take home point for me was this phrase, "If they (forerunners) never said anything, their lives prophesied." Amen and amen! I want this. Even if I end up being a stay at home mom and never preach in front of thousands or never publish a book, my life is a prophetic signpost pointing others to the beauty of Jesus and the reality that this life is but a vapor, fading fast and that the Lord of glory, Jesus Christ, is coming back to the earth to vindicate the poor, the needy, the saints and all who call upon His name because of the prevailing injustice, oppression and wickedness of our time. This is what my life is unto, the proclamation of the truth of this Man - Jesus.
"God's methodology is humans," is another phrase that reached into my heart. This caused me to feel like I haven't been disobedient or rebellious towards God the last couple months. For the Creator knew when He dreamed of a family for Himself that we would in fact rebel and have a fallen nature, but He wanted partnership. He knows the weakness of my frame. He knows this, He's well-acquainted with my weak ways. Yet God chose me, He chose you. It's the way He runs His perfect kingdom of love.
-God uses eschatology to fuel present day labor
To me, this solidified that my blessed hope, the anchor of my soul, is to see Jesus return at the sounding of that seventh trumpet, with a shout. This is why I live. Everything flows from a place of voluntary love to see the sick healed, the lame walk, the dead in spirit come alive by His goodness and grace, to see widespread repentance and the Holy Spirit poured out on all flesh. I live so that Jesus would be glorified on this earth, in every human heart that accepts who He is and what it actually means to follow Him.
- Swim against American culture that tells you to "chill out"
The American dream, ugh, what a sad story. What a deception, a fraud. The American dream is a lie. It's all about attaining wealth, status, possessions and the approval of man. It's all about self. And this American culture loves tolerance. It hates the truth. It hates anything that bucks up against someone else's false notions that they got off the internet and MTV. It's true. I know this because I fell prey to this, it's a complete deception that gets you nowhere. Truly, social media has robbed us of real community, real significance in our lives and genuine relationships with people. The American culture wants everyone to just relax, work hard, but not too hard and just enjoy your happy life and don't bother anyone with the truth of where their abject sin is going to land them for all of eternity. Forever. Eternity is a long time. This life is only the beginnings, the internship of forever. This determines that.
- Get urgency
Feel the weight of God's real wrath being poured upon the unrepentant who shake their fists at God and say He is a liar. I want to have a ready spirit. I want to be able to stand and minister to the hurting who do not understand who God is. He is love, but He is jealous. I must know His word, I must have experiential knowledge of Him, I must.
It's a new season for me. A season of encounter. A new season to sit at His feet and hear His Word. To spend hours in His presence, to say no to things that are permissible but not beneficial. I want to be a voice for this generation. I want to stand out. By conforming and waving the colorful flag of tolerance, I will not be able to confront the sins of my generation.
I'm a forerunner, declaring the soon coming return of Jesus. I'm a forerunner, displaying the knowledge of God by my lifestyle. I'm a forerunner, dedicating the strength of my youth to fall in love with the Word made flesh.
To have a spirit of burning that will not subside with the cares and worries of this life. To not be swayed by man's opinions. But to listen to the wisdom of God and of other believers, to gain ground and seek the Lord while He may be found.
And it was exactly what I need to hear.
Over and over again, for last four or five weeks, the Lord has been questioning me, probing my mind to reveal my heart on why I chose to live in Kansas City and be involved with the International House of Prayer. It seemed like everywhere I turned in the pages of my Bible, God was speaking and asking the question. It bothered me. I felt I shouldn't have to give a reason for why I'm here.
But truthfully, the Lord knew that I had become apathetic, bored, jaded and out of touch. The rhetoric of night and day prayer, Song of Solomon, the Bridegroom God, fasting and what it means to be a forerunner messenger truly became just that to me: mere words. Mere lip-service with a disconnected heart. I was sincere, but I lacked hunger for growth. I lacked authenticity for that which I intellectually knew.
Thankfully, the Lord truly does know how to grab my attention and let me respond, shaking me from the norms of the wilderness and into seeing His purposes and plans. He reunited my heart with the truths of why I give myself to prayer. Why I give up on what the world calls "success" and choose the success that Jesus has for me. This is why I love Him. This is why I moved to the Midwest to find Him in this tiny little prayer room with sincere, earnest and lovesick worshipers. Somehow, after being in the daily routine of prayer for two years, I lost perspective.
Corey spoke about having a heart connection with new revelation from the same stuff we've heard over and over again. He declared the harsh, but real reality that God calls, commissions and crucifies His servants so that we may become the very embodiment of the message. I know that my last couple of months of just going through the motions wasn't backsliding, it was a signing back up and realigning of my heart for the next few decades of serving the Lord in a focused and dedicated way, whether I'm in Kansas City or elsewhere.
Another take home point for me was this phrase, "If they (forerunners) never said anything, their lives prophesied." Amen and amen! I want this. Even if I end up being a stay at home mom and never preach in front of thousands or never publish a book, my life is a prophetic signpost pointing others to the beauty of Jesus and the reality that this life is but a vapor, fading fast and that the Lord of glory, Jesus Christ, is coming back to the earth to vindicate the poor, the needy, the saints and all who call upon His name because of the prevailing injustice, oppression and wickedness of our time. This is what my life is unto, the proclamation of the truth of this Man - Jesus.
"God's methodology is humans," is another phrase that reached into my heart. This caused me to feel like I haven't been disobedient or rebellious towards God the last couple months. For the Creator knew when He dreamed of a family for Himself that we would in fact rebel and have a fallen nature, but He wanted partnership. He knows the weakness of my frame. He knows this, He's well-acquainted with my weak ways. Yet God chose me, He chose you. It's the way He runs His perfect kingdom of love.
-God uses eschatology to fuel present day labor
To me, this solidified that my blessed hope, the anchor of my soul, is to see Jesus return at the sounding of that seventh trumpet, with a shout. This is why I live. Everything flows from a place of voluntary love to see the sick healed, the lame walk, the dead in spirit come alive by His goodness and grace, to see widespread repentance and the Holy Spirit poured out on all flesh. I live so that Jesus would be glorified on this earth, in every human heart that accepts who He is and what it actually means to follow Him.
- Swim against American culture that tells you to "chill out"
The American dream, ugh, what a sad story. What a deception, a fraud. The American dream is a lie. It's all about attaining wealth, status, possessions and the approval of man. It's all about self. And this American culture loves tolerance. It hates the truth. It hates anything that bucks up against someone else's false notions that they got off the internet and MTV. It's true. I know this because I fell prey to this, it's a complete deception that gets you nowhere. Truly, social media has robbed us of real community, real significance in our lives and genuine relationships with people. The American culture wants everyone to just relax, work hard, but not too hard and just enjoy your happy life and don't bother anyone with the truth of where their abject sin is going to land them for all of eternity. Forever. Eternity is a long time. This life is only the beginnings, the internship of forever. This determines that.
- Get urgency
Feel the weight of God's real wrath being poured upon the unrepentant who shake their fists at God and say He is a liar. I want to have a ready spirit. I want to be able to stand and minister to the hurting who do not understand who God is. He is love, but He is jealous. I must know His word, I must have experiential knowledge of Him, I must.
It's a new season for me. A season of encounter. A new season to sit at His feet and hear His Word. To spend hours in His presence, to say no to things that are permissible but not beneficial. I want to be a voice for this generation. I want to stand out. By conforming and waving the colorful flag of tolerance, I will not be able to confront the sins of my generation.
I'm a forerunner, declaring the soon coming return of Jesus. I'm a forerunner, displaying the knowledge of God by my lifestyle. I'm a forerunner, dedicating the strength of my youth to fall in love with the Word made flesh.
To have a spirit of burning that will not subside with the cares and worries of this life. To not be swayed by man's opinions. But to listen to the wisdom of God and of other believers, to gain ground and seek the Lord while He may be found.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The Search
My soul is like a harp, calling out to my Maker. To declare His beauty, majesty and mercy. My soul is made as a sacred space to commune with that which has no end, no words to describe, no limits.
In all of creation- from mountain scapes vast to the tiniest worker ant- my soul, my human soul, reflects and calls out to YHWH. The I Am that I Am made me for a purpose: to enjoy Him enjoying me fully and forever. This is a great treasure and a marvelous mystery.
Somehow man knows there's a lack. Within, there is an obvious break in this space. That's why man stumbles around in the dark, groping for affirmation, pleasure, thrills, money, admiration and the like. It isn't wrong to desire greatness and love, but its real source, the real fountain of life, is missing from the search.
The searching proves the lack.
The inherent need to be wanted and loved.
Soul scurrying to figure out what is lost and how to get it back. All this busyness presupposes a once unbroken communion with One greater, pure and bright.
Luckily, a solution came two thousand years ago.
But we're in denial.
In all of creation- from mountain scapes vast to the tiniest worker ant- my soul, my human soul, reflects and calls out to YHWH. The I Am that I Am made me for a purpose: to enjoy Him enjoying me fully and forever. This is a great treasure and a marvelous mystery.
Somehow man knows there's a lack. Within, there is an obvious break in this space. That's why man stumbles around in the dark, groping for affirmation, pleasure, thrills, money, admiration and the like. It isn't wrong to desire greatness and love, but its real source, the real fountain of life, is missing from the search.
The searching proves the lack.
The inherent need to be wanted and loved.
Soul scurrying to figure out what is lost and how to get it back. All this busyness presupposes a once unbroken communion with One greater, pure and bright.
Luckily, a solution came two thousand years ago.
But we're in denial.
Made for God
Reading Tozer's Purpose of Man I can rid myself of doubt and insecurity. For despite my age, lack of education and experience, I have purpose. I can say to the one with degree upon degree and a bank account full of money that I know the chief end to man's purpose. I was created for God. No longer must I wander in spiritual amnesia, forgetting why I exist on this earth. For God made me for Him. I reflect His glory. I am made in His image. God created man so man may worship Him.
So many search the depths of their mind, wallet, emotions and time just to find the purpose and meaning of human existence. It is the greatest question posed throughout the years: why? Why am I here? What is my purpose?
See here, so many reject the idea of creation for the glory and worship of a holy God because of sin and the shame associated. Not to mention, there is a great deceiver whose own self-appointed purpose is to defame that noble Name by which we were called. So you tell a Buddhist, an atheist, an artist, an athlete: you were made to worship God! They'll scoff and ridicule, but tonight while lying on their bed one solitary, scary and exciting, life-altering thought will not be abated from the mind, what if that Christian was right? For their defenses shot up so fast, almost instinctively because as good 21st century humans, we reject anything that bases its whole hope on that which is unseen, intangible and can't be put into a bottle to sell later. Yet our deep cries out to deep, towards something that may enlighten the veiled truths of time.
The gaping wound of most is stuffed to the full with lust, lies and religious liturgies. The hole, the space inside man that is seemingly unsolvable, hinges upon an uncreated, pure, holy, merciful and and full of love for you and me, God.
This is who you were made for. Don't draw back, don't hide. Don't put it off for tomorrow to choose. Don't wait until perfection has been reached, and the "bad years" far behind. Now. Now is the time. Now is the hour of salvation. Now, at the dawning of a new and merciful morning, last night's transgressions forgiven.
Jesus came for the sick, not for the well. Come. Even if you have no money. Come if you're thirsty for purpose in this life.
Seek the Lord while He may be found. While your heart races and the intuition in your spirit cries yes. Call upon Him while He is near, for God will have mercy and He will abundantly pardon you.
This is the straight and narrow road, to leave behind the baggage of the past, for now. The Lord will take them and gently bring you to rememberance and deliverance of such things later. Lay it down and run forward. Even now, push forward, say yes to your purpose as an heir of the kingdom of love.
Say yes to the beautiful, perfect Man who took on your shame and sin. Say yes to His resurrection from the dead. To crucify all of your fleshly lusts with Him on that cross. Though the path is at times stricken with disease, doubt and trials. There is a hope everlasting. There is a purpose: to worship God. To know and be known, fully, in the age to come where there's no more death, no sorrow, no crying. There will be no more pain and the former things will pass away.
It's a real day, dawning and bright, right on the other side of this life.
All this you can have if you just say yes. If you keep saying yes to where God's Spirit leads you.
So many search the depths of their mind, wallet, emotions and time just to find the purpose and meaning of human existence. It is the greatest question posed throughout the years: why? Why am I here? What is my purpose?
See here, so many reject the idea of creation for the glory and worship of a holy God because of sin and the shame associated. Not to mention, there is a great deceiver whose own self-appointed purpose is to defame that noble Name by which we were called. So you tell a Buddhist, an atheist, an artist, an athlete: you were made to worship God! They'll scoff and ridicule, but tonight while lying on their bed one solitary, scary and exciting, life-altering thought will not be abated from the mind, what if that Christian was right? For their defenses shot up so fast, almost instinctively because as good 21st century humans, we reject anything that bases its whole hope on that which is unseen, intangible and can't be put into a bottle to sell later. Yet our deep cries out to deep, towards something that may enlighten the veiled truths of time.
The gaping wound of most is stuffed to the full with lust, lies and religious liturgies. The hole, the space inside man that is seemingly unsolvable, hinges upon an uncreated, pure, holy, merciful and and full of love for you and me, God.
This is who you were made for. Don't draw back, don't hide. Don't put it off for tomorrow to choose. Don't wait until perfection has been reached, and the "bad years" far behind. Now. Now is the time. Now is the hour of salvation. Now, at the dawning of a new and merciful morning, last night's transgressions forgiven.
Jesus came for the sick, not for the well. Come. Even if you have no money. Come if you're thirsty for purpose in this life.
Seek the Lord while He may be found. While your heart races and the intuition in your spirit cries yes. Call upon Him while He is near, for God will have mercy and He will abundantly pardon you.
This is the straight and narrow road, to leave behind the baggage of the past, for now. The Lord will take them and gently bring you to rememberance and deliverance of such things later. Lay it down and run forward. Even now, push forward, say yes to your purpose as an heir of the kingdom of love.
Say yes to the beautiful, perfect Man who took on your shame and sin. Say yes to His resurrection from the dead. To crucify all of your fleshly lusts with Him on that cross. Though the path is at times stricken with disease, doubt and trials. There is a hope everlasting. There is a purpose: to worship God. To know and be known, fully, in the age to come where there's no more death, no sorrow, no crying. There will be no more pain and the former things will pass away.
It's a real day, dawning and bright, right on the other side of this life.
All this you can have if you just say yes. If you keep saying yes to where God's Spirit leads you.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Practical Faith
What does it profit...if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? If a ... sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say to [her], 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but do not give [her] the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? James 2.14-16
I read this verse and can't help but think of the prostitute; of her plight and all who talk about her and give pity, but don't do the practical. They don't take her in, clothe and feed her or listen to her story. So many promote her injustice. They use her testimony to remind us the 'less fortunate' need our help. But never do anything to help rescue her from her destruction through the power of Jesus.
What does it profit to simply 'understand' and 'sympathize' but never pray for her soul and safety?
What is it to continually buy cup after cup of coffee, but never give money or donate clothing to give her?
Why do we talk in circles about her, but never talk to her?
Mercy is not given through lip service among men, but with the hands and wallet. To continually lift up intercession on her behalf, knowing she's a daughter of God, just as much as I.
To be counted as the friend of God, like Abraham, and offer up my 'Isaac' of insecurity, selfishness and comfort for the sake of doing - not just thinking or remembering.
For what is faith? Is it believing there is a God in heaven? Or could it be the believing and trusting that God sees, hears and cares?
Maybe this is earth's test of faith, that through every emotion, circumstance and action, choosing to believe that the only begotten of the Father humbled Himself and died my death. That He has felt and lived through every single pain and joy as I have.
This is faith: knowing that despite man's shortcomings, God does not lie in His jealous, burning and relentless love for humanity.
I must be like Him! I must reciprocate my feelings of gratitude for Him. So I'll do as He did. I can't live my faith only in my mind, void of actions. I must give the naked clothing. I must take her into my home, give her my bed to sleep in and food to eat. I must tell her of the love of Christ. I must! I want to!
This is faith.
For it is wrong to look into the perfect law of liberty then simply forget that which it has instructed.
God needs more friends like Abraham. I want to be like Abraham.
I read this verse and can't help but think of the prostitute; of her plight and all who talk about her and give pity, but don't do the practical. They don't take her in, clothe and feed her or listen to her story. So many promote her injustice. They use her testimony to remind us the 'less fortunate' need our help. But never do anything to help rescue her from her destruction through the power of Jesus.
What does it profit to simply 'understand' and 'sympathize' but never pray for her soul and safety?
What is it to continually buy cup after cup of coffee, but never give money or donate clothing to give her?
Why do we talk in circles about her, but never talk to her?
Mercy is not given through lip service among men, but with the hands and wallet. To continually lift up intercession on her behalf, knowing she's a daughter of God, just as much as I.
To be counted as the friend of God, like Abraham, and offer up my 'Isaac' of insecurity, selfishness and comfort for the sake of doing - not just thinking or remembering.
For what is faith? Is it believing there is a God in heaven? Or could it be the believing and trusting that God sees, hears and cares?
Maybe this is earth's test of faith, that through every emotion, circumstance and action, choosing to believe that the only begotten of the Father humbled Himself and died my death. That He has felt and lived through every single pain and joy as I have.
This is faith: knowing that despite man's shortcomings, God does not lie in His jealous, burning and relentless love for humanity.
I must be like Him! I must reciprocate my feelings of gratitude for Him. So I'll do as He did. I can't live my faith only in my mind, void of actions. I must give the naked clothing. I must take her into my home, give her my bed to sleep in and food to eat. I must tell her of the love of Christ. I must! I want to!
This is faith.
For it is wrong to look into the perfect law of liberty then simply forget that which it has instructed.
God needs more friends like Abraham. I want to be like Abraham.
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