Thursday, June 25, 2009

Exactly How the Lord Wanted It - Baltimore BurnWagon09


The BurnWagon...wow...I feel as though I could barely put it into language. : ) But here it goes...

It was AMAZING! I would definitely consider it a success. No flashy lights or huge crowds, but people on the streets of my city were reached with the Gospel & His goodness in the midst of their desperate situations. People were encouraged by our prayers & asked us to continue to do what we were doing that night - worshiping in the streets. : )

Something new has begun in this city. I don't even know what that's going to look like or what my part in it will be.

The team that was traveling didn't even make it to the night for worship in the streets. They got a flat tire on their way to our city, which held them up an entire day. But we went through with the program anyways. : P And I think that's exactly how the Lord wanted it - pushing us to the forefront, a place we probably never would have went without His firm nudge.

I stepped out in faith, from the concealment of my secret place of leading worship for an audience of 1 to a public ministry to that same Person. I definitely stumbled through a few songs, but it didn't matter. God was lifted up. I was amazed at some of the compliments too. Scars still remain from times in the past when I've stepped out & been criticized for my lack of professional quality guitar playing. : / I don't even care any more now though. God's given me an assignment, and I'm going to fulfill it. By His grace, He will equip me to do it.

What is that assignment? The faintest glimpse I have of it in this moment is to continue to contend through worship for Baltimore. Going to the parks & playing my guitar, singing my heart out & proclaiming His promises to the land-and the people.

A large picture was painted for us during the service the traveling team did make it to. It was scheduled to be a Prophetic Worship Workshop. More than having a teaching, I think it was beautiful that any agenda for that service was thrown out. But prophetic worship ensued. And rather than taking notes on the "how-to's" of prophetic worshp, we engaged as they lead us in 4 hours of the beautiful, sweet, and yet militant cries of worshipers who know who their God is and know their authority in the spirit realm as His sons & daughters.

I'm excited to head into Baltimore again tonight (because I live in the suburbs right now-40 minutes away) to really pray out all the Lord decreed over us through the BurnWagon team on Monday night. Oh, it was so beautiful! So so beautiful!

Revival is coming! A small remnant has formed who have already taken hold of it. The Lord has a strategy and an army will form. People get ready.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Partnering With The BurnWagon

A few weeks have gone by since my last post and a few ideas have gone through my mind as to what I could write, but then I had to turn around to focus on the task at hand. Letting those thoughts sit on the back burner while I etch away at all the things already loading my plate.

The thing that has tyrannized my time for the last few weeks has been my role as event coordinator for the BurnWagon’s Baltimore event.

Burn [bern], vt. (burning, burnt or burned). to undergo rapid combustion or consume fuel in such a way as to give off heat, gases, and, usually, light; be on fire.

Wagon [wag-uh n], n. any of various kinds of four-wheeled vehicles designed to be pulled or having its own motor and ranging from a child's toy to
a commercial vehicle for the transport of heavy loads, delivery, etc.
Four teams of worshipers in association with Burn24-7, an international prayer and worship ministry, have embarked on a tour of the four corners of the United States. Their purpose: to carry the light of Christ Jesus throughout this nation. They are on fire with a passion for Him and His passion for His people.





These are the kind of people I want to partner with. And so, I’ve connected with them and they want to come to my city (and many of your's) - Baltimore!

The amazing thing is that God has used this whole thing to open me up to a whirlwind of firy individuals who are crying out for Maryland to be transformed by the Gospel. The Baltimore BurnWagon is just one small part of a bigger picture of what the Lord so strongly desires to do in this region. I feel so honored to be a part of it. : )

So as I continue spinning my wheels to get all the logistics figured out for this thing, please check out the Facebook event page I’ve set up (click here).

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Oh, Those Gentle Whispers!

His name was David, an elderly man quietly sitting on a park bench in the suburban city of Columbia, Maryland. I turned my car around the corner and got a quick glimpse of him as I headed home on a route I had not taken before. Ever wonder what God has planned when He gently whispers for you to do something seemingly insignificant? Well, in the moments as I turned out of my office’s parking lot, I can honestly say I didn’t think a thing of it. I just felt stirred in my spirit to go left instead of right, and so I did. Following that voice made my commute home turn into a deeper understanding of the heart of Jesus.

For in the moment David began to reach out towards the shopping cart he kept nearby, my heart leapt outside my chest. This was his poor man’s walker that he would snatch up along his walk from his apartment, past Giant, to the lake and park nearby. Quickly I became aware of the fact that I was to go and love on this man the way Jesus would if He were the one in my being at that moment (of which, He actually was).

When I reached David, I began a conversation, but a look of perplexity came over his face. “No speak English. I Russian,” came out of his mouth. And I sighed in my heart, wishing I had the words to communicate with Him the love of His heavenly Father up above. But what I lacked in language, I resolved to not lack in action. For, as Saint Francis of Assisi’s famous quote alludes, the Gospel should be mainly preached through the way we live our lives in acts of compassion and mercy, and not merely in the words we speak.

That afternoon I spent my time walking beside this man, and the bright smile on his face told me that listening to that still small voice inside was worth it. As I walked with him, engaged with him as he tried to converse with the maybe 10-15 English words he knew, and sang to him, I was silently praying over Him. Wouldn’t the Lord bring a Russian speaking messenger across his path? I believe He will. He sent me David’s way that beautiful summer day. I only pray that whoever is meant to share the Gospel to him with Russian words would be sensitive to that still small voice inside.

As I reflect on these events with you, I don’t want to gloat about how great I am at listening to that voice – for I can admit to many times that I haven’t done so. But in those times we do listen, we’re thankful we did. And the stories are worth telling! I’d love to hear yours!

The world could seriously be changed if we purposed our hearts towards listening to what God has to say to us in each and every moment. I know EVERY moment seems like a tall order, but let me encourage you – most the time what the Spirit is saying simply points to the way Paul encouraged us to live-doing exactly what you’re doing “to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).” – to live the Gospel out in your actions.



“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
St. Francis of Assisi

Related scriptures: Colossians 3:22-24; Galatians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:22-26