- YoUtH -

Tonight, we had another awesome meeting with our Youth, only three pitched up, but we see these three as our leadership.

What was most exciting was what they discussed happened this week:

Irene had couldn't sleep, and she felt God wanted her to read Revelation 10:18 and to sum the whole journey up, in the end she prayed for boldness to speak God's truth to those who do not know Him. The story behind the story: she and her mom works at the same company, they started a Biblestudy group where they all discuss a short passage, pray and then start the day. Irene wanted to share something specific, but was a little afraid to share it. And then she ended with this prayer for boldness to share God's love with those who don't know Him!

Reinhard is going through an amazing journey to trust God for a DIVINE revelation. (He's going to have a day of solitude tomorrow to spend time with God! What a guy!)

This morning as he was brushing his teeth, he felt he needs to fast. During his lunch break, he sat in his car, started talking to God and could literally felt God's presence filling the teeny-tiny spaces of his Mini (car). He had such an amazing "lunch" with God, how Father sang a love song over him....and knowing the wrestling Reinhard is going through at the moment, it is truly amazing to hear!

This is really just a small post, but I really had to post on how God is revealing Himself in AWESOME ways and how God can talk to the Youth in (sometimes) unconventional ways. Please keep praying for them, they're a great bunch, and God is busy with great stuff in their lives. Also know that you guys have a part in this, if it wasn't for your support, we wouldn't have been here!

(Picture: from left to right: Louis, Reinhard, Lilli, Jurie, Irene)

Some thoughts on prayer

I'm busy reading a book by E.M Bounds, Purpose in Prayer. And this one thought jumped out of the page for me:

"Prayer in its highest form and its grandest success, assumes the attitude of a wrestler with God."

I'm not saying it is the only form, but something stuck in my head: Do we give up too soon in prayer? Or do we wrestle with God like Jacob did until daybreak?

Bounds go further to say: "Prayer is the contest, trial, and victory of faith - a victory not secured from an enemy, but from Him who tries our faith that He may enlarge it. He tests our strength to make us stronger..."

Thus, God is not an "evil" god for sometimes making us wrestle with Him, but He wants us to grow stronger. Think about a coach, he will test your boundaries, drive you further than what you think is possible, because he knows it will make you stronger for the race, building stamina.

Why then do we question God when He delays an answer?

So, in conclusion, when you wrestle with God do not think it's because He is angry, or doesn't care about your position or situation...think about God preparing you for the race, building your spiritual stamina. Wrestle until daybreak, do not let Him go until He blesses you.

And remember, you won't wrestle every day with God...

Speak Blessings Over Your Family

Psalm 5:12
12For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

What do you believe and say to your loved ones every day? For orthodox Jews, on Friday evenings in their homes, the father lays his hands on his children and pronounces God’s blessings over them. No wonder Jewish children grow up to be winners in the fight of life! They become some of the world’s greatest inventors, bankers, musicians and entertainers.

Although a minority race, the Jews have produced the most number of Nobel Prize winners. I believe that it is because they bless their children in the same way the patriarchs of the Old Testament did. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob released God’s blessings upon their children by laying hands on them and speaking forth the blessings. (Genesis 27:27–29, 38–40; 48:14–16)

In the New Testament, the apostles pronounced blessings over the churches they were preaching to. To the church in Philippi, Paul declared, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) John released a powerful blessing upon Gaius when he said, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2)

Even Jesus pronounced a blessing of deliverance on the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman — “go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter”. (Mark 7:29) This was a blessing of deliverance by proxy. The woman took it by faith and found that her daughter was well when she reached home. (Mark 7:30) Likewise, the centurion took the blessing by faith and healing came upon his servant back home. (Matthew 8:8–13)

The parents of a little girl did the same thing while worshiping in our church. Their daughter was in hospital in the final stages of cancer. When I pronounced the blessing of healing that Sunday, they received it and pronounced it over their daughter. She was soon discharged from the hospital healed!

My friend, bless your loved ones. Declare over them, “The Lord blesses you and surrounds you with His favor as with a shield.” Speak forth your own blessings by declaring, “Thank You Lord, You prosper me and I am in excellent health!”

YOUTH ON A MISSION FOR A MISSION

The youth came up with this on their own.

We started talking about how Jesus told us to go out into all of the nations. One thing led to the next, and they as youth decided that we need to go on a mission.
We decided to paint a banner,

that will remind us of what we are busy doing and focusing on.
The fascinating thing is that we do not know where or how we are going, BUT we are trusting God that we will be going in April of 2012.

The painting of our vision was so awesome, and we bonded. I think the saying that a common vision binds one together is actually true.
May God be glorified.