tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32786409364719726282024-02-02T01:30:59.543-05:00We Need RevelationRevelation - we need a reality of God! May these words be used to spark something in you and give you a glimpse into the simple road I've chosen towards the revelation of Jesus Christ.Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-56011887040521167702011-05-16T00:11:00.001-04:002011-05-16T00:11:09.377-04:00The Eve Before My Grandpa's Memorial Service<p>Playing some Youtube videos (see one link I shared on facebook) and being prayerful as I close out my day. Thanking God for rest today and for family. We're having a memorial service for my grandpa tomorrow at 11am in Marion, IA. My cousin Meghan will be leading our newly formed choral group of cousins (special for grandpa-I think he would be delighted) in singing his favorite hymn, "How Great Thou Art." There's several prices of the service I'm not quite aware of, but they've asked me to read a scripture too. I've chosen Ecclesiastes 3, which my grandma thought was very fitting. I'm anticipating a beautiful day as we put my dear dear grandpa to rest - celebrating his life, saying goodbye, and resting in the fact we know he's in a better place now and no longer suffering, as he has been towards the end of his time here on earth.</p> <p> Psalm 116:15 KJV "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."</p> Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-33581836733537533462011-05-06T12:18:00.001-04:002011-05-06T12:18:43.784-04:00Reflections from the Prayer Room at the Baltimore Prayer House<p>Keeping the fire burning on the altar here at the Prayer House. :-) </p> <p>During time in prayer & saturating in the Word today, I read some awesome stuff from the Christian Growth Study Bible by YWAM in partnership with Zondervan. Here's a quote from the introduction they give to the book of Habakkuk, "Habakkuk begins with despondency but ends with powerful nor grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD, I WILL BE JOYFUL IN GOD MY SAVIOR.' (3:17-18, emphasis added). Consider how you too might look beyond the circumstances of life to the character of God. As you come to know the One who will establish his perfect justice on earth, you will find reasons for worshipping Him.</p> <p>****</p> <p>Special thanks to David & Christine Hamilton for giving this Bible to my mom & dad years ago, and now it's found it's way into my hands! It's been such a huge blessing and has really opened up the scriptures to me. As I'm reading, part of me longs to be a part of YWAM's School of the Bible and sit under your teaching, David! ;-) I have my mind set to come visit you with my mom & dad if you make it back to Harrisburg, PA again this year. That's only a couple hours from us in Baltimore! And if you want to come by Baltimore while you're in the area, we'll totally put you up and provide some opportunities for you to minister, fundraise, or just enjoy our company - however the Spirit leads. I'd love to have you connect with my ministry the Prayer House and the move God's doing here. Why I can't really do a School of the Bible right now - God's telling me to stay & work here for the time being. And I do love the work here oh so much! I'm blessed to know that I'm in good company with the Disciples who were "untrained ordinary men". :-) Yet, I've had some real great training over the years with Teen Mania Ministries in '07-'09 & World Trumpet Mission who I now work a lot with in Baltimore ('09-present). God is good. And of course, the Holy Spirit is the best teacher of all, & i get His classroom most of the time in-between times of training with others He provides every now and again. I trust His leadership and only want to do what He says when He says it!!! :-)</p> <p>Well, there it is...a lot of stuff that just welled up in my heart as I spent time in the prayer room this morning, and some other things that have just come out...lol. Praise God!</p> <p> :-)</p> Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-20201507857217476342011-05-05T20:31:00.001-04:002011-05-05T20:47:38.605-04:00The National Day of Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">Thursday, May 5th, 2011. The first Thursday of May. The day that has been recognized as the National Day of Prayer for 60 years now.</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">I dressed in my patriotic attire and headed out the door to a glorious spring day. Enjoying the 10 minute stroll down the road to the bus stop, breathed in the fresh air and smiled, thanking God for a beautiful day and all that He had in store. The bus, of course, was late, but having gotten used to the system, I planned on some extra time. I boarded the 15 with no problem. I feel very cultured for having the skills which I definitely did not hold in bus riding several months ago. The bus was full of people - people God loves - people who need to hear of His love. As I sat down I prayed and asked God to move. He urged me to just be quiet before Him along the bus ride and read my Bible, so that is what I did. He was preparing my heart for the things to come.</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">Disembarking from the bus, I had a good 15 minutes before the National Day of Prayer Convocation would begin on the plaza outside of City Hall. So, I took a walk around the area, praying, and asking God to prepare the ground. Just one block south of City Hall, I found myself at The Block. My stomach churned and my heart ached as I saw the ads for Club Lust and etc. I won't even go into more details than that. But, I walked the full length of the block and prayed and cried out to the Lord to tear down the human trafficking that went on there. I looked into the eyes of some of the woman, pimps, and all your every day Joe's that strolled along the street. I began to proclaim the Lord's name over the street and cry out against the strongholds of darkness. Keeyanna came to my mind as I remembered her and all the other women and their families we ministered to around Christmas time. She, along with many of the others we had gathered, worked at The Block.</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">I kept walking and praying. As I approached the War Memorial Park leading up to the plaza in front of City Hall, my heart went out to all the people scattered across the park. I walked past several of them and invited them to join us in prayer. My eye caught one woman in particular, who I ended up sitting down and chatting with a bit. Frances. I praise God for her! Please join me in prayer for her. I was able to share the Gospel message with her and the hope that we have in Jesus for an assurance of eternal life after death, and the power of the Holy Spirit while we are still here on the earth. She repeated the words of a prayer that poured from my heart, and I believe she was truly saved on this day. She didn't want to come to the gathering on the plaza, so I left after giving her a huge hug and telling how much of a pleasure it was to meet her.</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">The worshippers were drawing the presence of God and I joined right in, as the time of prayer had already begun. I joined in and delighted in joining hands with those from the street, and those from their workplaces, and those from various ministries in the city, came together to pray. We pressed into the presence of God and worshipped Him. Then, partnered with His heart regarding 7 key sectors of our society: Government (praying out of 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Church (praying out of John 17:23), Military (praying out of Psalm 91:5-6), Family (praying out of Mark 3:25), Education (praying out of Proverbs2:3-5), Media (praying out of Philippians 4:8), and Business (praying out of Deuteronomy 25:15). For more on the national day of Prayer go to <a href="http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/">www.nationaldayofprayer.org</a>. </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">As the time of prayer continued, it was wonderful to join with some of the others in the gathering to witness to the men and woman off the street, some without any shelter of their own, and give them the hope of the Gospel.</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">God did a great work in connecting some of us after the gathering dispersed as well. I'm excited for some of the people that I meet and the relationships we are going to build to further the Lord's Kingdom and His heart to see His Name lifted high in our city through prayer and service.</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">Only 5 weeks and a few days we will be convening another gathering for 24 hours of non-stop worship and prayer called the BurnWagon. And it will all be on the cusp of 21 days of fasting an prayer to prepare an atmosphere in our hearts and in the land for a God encounter. I am excited and ready to get some of these things off the ground! : ) I've posted a blog (which this article will probably be posted on) at <a href="http://burnbaltimore.blogspot.com/">http://burnbaltimore.blogspot.com</a>. Check that out for all the latest updates. Not much is up at this moment, but more will come soon! Thank you for your prayers!</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">For more on the movement of prayer God is stirring in Baltimore, visit <a href="http://www.partnersfortransformation.net/">www.partnersfortransformation.net</a>. They are stewarding a big part of what God is doing here and it has been a blessing to work with them as part of my mission in Baltimore!</div></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore City Hall, 100 Holliday St, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA39.2908022 -76.610911100000016.1244767000000024 -136.3765361 72.4571277 -16.84528610000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-33663978365144540572011-04-27T02:48:00.001-04:002011-04-27T02:48:54.182-04:00A Call to Prayer for Baltimore City<p>Tonight I want to put out a call to prayer for Baltimore City, MD. One of the nations murder & drug capitals. My Pastor is out tonight with the police ministering. And God has been keeping me awake to intercede . Please join me in prayer for this city. Call or text me if you want to pray together. My cell is on my facebook page.</p> <p>We could even do a prayer conference call if anyone is interested. I can't sleep tonight. Lives are on the line. Our prayers must go up. Even when I was sleeping, I was dreaming that I was with a gathering of people interceding. So let's gather. Let's intercede. Check out my blog at <a href="http://weneedrevelation.blogspot.com/2011/02/baltimore-stats-message-from-major.html">http://weneedrevelation.blogspot.com/2011/02/baltimore-stats-message-from-major.html</a> for some stats on Baltimore & ways to pray.</p> <p>Luke 18:1-8 *vs. 7: "Will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to him day & night?"</p> Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-58527949796503530692011-02-25T22:45:00.001-05:002011-02-25T22:49:19.008-05:00Baltimore Stats: A Message from Major Russell of the Eastern District from January 5, 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpzmCFneOp_tdS0GmrMXV8chjVNUenqRTigontpIfh_283eO1NF_ikQbG4cfQesPgjiKtI6qD6PIG0h79c9p0yGlS8h38MEjnhIIkGZSGO0yx9vzpJKu6nUVOSbqNU9cf2-qjYQbRKVY/s1600/Major+Russell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpzmCFneOp_tdS0GmrMXV8chjVNUenqRTigontpIfh_283eO1NF_ikQbG4cfQesPgjiKtI6qD6PIG0h79c9p0yGlS8h38MEjnhIIkGZSGO0yx9vzpJKu6nUVOSbqNU9cf2-qjYQbRKVY/s200/Major+Russell.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><div class="MsoPlainText">HAPPY NEW YEAR FAMILY!!! </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">COLLECTIVELY WE HAD A GREAT 2010 WITH JUST A FEW INITIATIVES AND SCATTERED ENGAGEMENT. WITH THAT THE EASTERN DISTRICT STILL NETTED GREAT SUCCESS. THE DIFFERENCE FROM BEING ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY HAS ONCE AGAIN HAS PROVEN TO BE DOING JUST A LITTLE EXTRA! </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THE YEAR IN SUMMARY:</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">CITYWIDE THE CITY OF BALTIMORE HAD ANOTHER STELLAR YEAR WITH ANOTHER 4% DROP IN VIOLENT CRIME AND 3% DROP IN PROPERTY CRIME AND 3% OVERALL CRIME DROP COMPARED TO LAST YEARS HISTORICAL NUMBERS! BIG UPS TO BPD AND ITS LEADERSHIP!</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">LET'S SEE WHO LED THE WAY:</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">FACT - EAST BALTIMORE HAS ALWAYS WORN THE CROWN OF BEING THE MOST VIOLENT AREA OF THE CITY LEADING IN HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS. OUT OF 9 DISTRICTS THE EASTERN DISTRICT HAD THE 2ND BEST DROP IN VIOLENT CRIMES - 14%, 2ND BEST DROP IN PROPERTY CRIME - 8% AND 2ND BEST WITH OVERALL CRIME REDUCTION - 10%! WE ARE ONE OF ONLY 2 DISTRICTS TO HAVE A DOUBLE DIGIT OVERALL CRIME REDUCTION. </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THIS IS IMPRESSIVE WHEN YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT EAST BALTIMORE HAS THE REPUTATION OF BEING THE WORSE PART OF THE CITY. </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">EVEN THOUGH THE WESTERN DISTRICT HAD A 1% GREATER VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION THAN THE EASTERN DISTRICT IN 2010 THEY HAD 14 MORE HOMICIDE/SHOOTING VICTIMS THAN THE EASTERN DISTRICT! </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">EVEN THOUGH THE SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT HAD A 6% GREATER PROPERTY CRIME REDUCTION THAN THE EASTERN DISTRICT THEY HAD 1,843 MORE BURGLARIES AND THEFTS! </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THE BREAKDOWN: </div><div class="MsoPlainText"> </div><div class="MsoPlainText">HOMICIDES</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THE FINAL NUMBER IS 39 PEOPLE MURDERED IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT IN 2010.</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THIS WAS 3 MORE THAN 2009, BUT NOTE THAT 3 MURDERS WERE CHARGES TO 2010 WHERE THE VICTIMS WERE SHOT YEARS BEFORE BUT SUCCUMBED TO COMPLICATIONS OF THE INITIAL INJURIES. WITH THE 3 ADDED VICTIMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT GAVE THE EASTERN DISTRICT 3 MORE THAN LAST YEARS 36 PEOPLE MURDERED WHICH EQUATES TO A 8% INCREASE. </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">I KNOW 39 LIVES LOST IS UNACCEPTABLE AND WE ARE HARDLY REJOICING OVER IT, BUT PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPRESENTS A LOW NUMBER FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT WHICH WAS RECORDING A MINIMUM OF 50 PLUS PEOPLE YEARLY BEING MURDERED FOR THE PAST DECADES! </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THE EASTERN DISTRICT FELL OUT OF IT'S 8TH PLACING LAST YEAR AND BACK TO LAST WITH THOSE 39 HOMICIDES. THE WESTERN AND NORTHEASTERN DISTRICTS WERE CLOSE WITH 38 AND 37 RESPECTIVELY.</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"> </div><div class="MsoPlainText">SHOOTINGS</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THE FINAL NUMBER IS 60 PEOPLE SHOOT IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT IN 2010.</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THIS WAS 26 LESS THAN OUR 2009 STELLAR YEAR! 26 LESS PEOPLE SHOT IN 2010 THAN 2009 EQUATES TO A 30% DECREASE! </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THE EASTERN DISTRICT FINALLY FELL OUT OF LAST PLACE IN THIS CATEGORY AND MOVED UP TO 7TH! THIS IS QUITE A FEAT CONSIDERING THE EASTERN DISTRICT HAD THE MOST SHOOTINGS (AND HOMICIDES) YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR DECADES. 2010 HAS THE WESTERN AND NORTHEASTERN DISTRICTS COMING IN LAST AND 8TH RESPECTIVELY WITH 78 AND 61 SHOOTINGS. </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">I ASKED GOD FOR LESS THAN 100 PEOPLE SHOT OR KILLED IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT THIS PAST YEAR AND HE ANSWERED MY PRAYER! THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A SILLY PRAYER, BUT NOTE THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE EASTERN DISTRICT HAD LESS THAN 100 PEOPLE (99 TOTAL) MURDERED/SHOT IN WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE WELL OVER 20 YEARS! WITH THAT I AM ASKING FOR AN EVEN LOWER NUMBER THIS YEAR. THIS WILL HAPPEN AS LONG AS THE POLICE AND TTT DON'T GROW WEARY AND CONTINUES TO FIGHT BACK!!!</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"> </div><div class="MsoPlainText">ROBBERIES</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THE EASTERN DISTRICT HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ROBBERIES IN THE CITY WITH 250 COMPARED TO THE OTHER 9 DISTRICTS THAT HAD AS MANY AS 586 ROBBERIES.</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THE SOUTHWESTERN AND WESTERN DISTRICTS CAME CLOSE WITH 260 AND 290 RESPECTIVELY (ONLY TWO OTHER DISTRICTS UNDER 300). </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"> </div><div class="MsoPlainText">BURGLARIES</div><div class="MsoPlainText">THE EASTERN DISTRICT HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF BURGLARIES IN THE CITY WITH 393 COMPARED TO THE OTHER 9 DISTRICTS THAT HAD AS MANY AS 1348 BURGLARIES! THE CENTRAL DISTRICT WAS THE CLOSEST WITH 498 BURGLARIES.</div><div class="MsoPlainText">MOST DISTRICTS HAD DOUBLE AND TRIPLE THE NUMBERS OF BURGLARIES THAN THE EASTERN DISTRICT!</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"> THEFTS AND STOLEN CARS THE EASTERN DISTRICT HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF THEFTS/STOLEN CARS IN THE CITY WITH 1367 INCIDENTS COMPARED TO THE OTHER 9 DISTRICTS THAT HAD AS MANY AS 3146 INCIDENTS. THE WESTERN, SOUTHWESTERN AND NORTHWESTERN DISTRICTS WERE THE ONLY OTHER DISTRICTS WITH NUMBERS UNDER 2000 AS THEY HAD 1427, 1595 AND 1902 RESPECTIVELY.</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"> </div><div class="MsoPlainText">ARRESTS</div><div class="MsoPlainText">CITYWIDE ARRESTS DROPPED BY 13.4% WITH 71,288 ARRESTS MADE.</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">EVERY DISTRICT DROPPED IN ARRESTS AND THE EASTERN DISTRICT HAD THE 3RD HIGHEST ARREST DROP RATE OF 24.4% WITH 7,529 ARREST MADE. EVEN WITH THAT THE EASTERN DISTRICT STILL GOT THE MOST CRIMINALS OFF OF THE STREET COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE CITY. THE CENTRAL DISTRICT CAME CLOSEST IN ARRESTS WITH THE GREATEST DROP PERCENTAGE OF 28.4% NETTING 5,087 CRIMINALS ARRESTED.</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">PLEASE KNOW THAT THE EASTERN DISTRICT STAYED AT OR NEAR THE BOTTOM IN ALL THE CATEGORIES I'VE SHARED WITH YOU IN PAST YEARS, SO TO SEE WHERE WE ARE NOW ... BUT GOD!</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">I'VE SHARED THESE NUMBERS WITH YOU SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOUR LABORING IS NOT IN VAIN. OUR PARTNERSHIP THROUGH TTT IS HAVING A GREAT IMPACT ON OUR CRIME AND IT'S REDUCTION. I GET EXCITED WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW IT WILL LOOK WHEN WE HAVE JUST 20% OF ALL TTT'S PARTNERS FULLY ENGAGED AND IN THIS BATTLE OF TRANSFORMATION. LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF WHAT A FEW BELIEVERS DID! YOUR PRAYER WALKS, COMMUNITY WALKS, OUTREACHING, AND MANY SORTS OF ENGAGEMENT TRULY MADE THE DIFFERENCE!</div><div class="MsoPlainText">TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. LET'S STAY TOGETHER!</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">HERE'S WHAT I BELIEVE IN MY HEART ... IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT WE HAVE ROUGHLY 120 CHURCHES, 18 SCHOOLS, 26 COMMUNITIES, HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES, DOZENS OF BUSINESSMEN, MANY NON PROFITS, 130 POLICE, JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL AND MORE. LET BUT 20% STEP FORWARD, ROLL THEIR SLEEVES UP AND GO TO WORK AND BY FAITH THE CRIME RATE WILL PLUMMET INTO OBSCURITY. THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL YOU CAPTURE THE HEART OF THIS CITY, STATE AND THE NATION. THIS CITY NEEDS YOU FOR YOU ARE THAT GREAT TTT AND I LOVE YOU ALL. SEE YOU MONDAY.</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">MAJOR </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"> ALL EVIL NEEDS TO PREVAIL IS FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING </div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">-------------------------------------------------</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText">For more information on Baltimore City's Eastern District's Transformation Team, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Risk-2-Reality-Team-4-TTT/131894440181936?v=info&sk=info">click here</a> or <a href="http://www.somebodycares.org/articles_view.asp?columnid=2206&articleid=71534">click here</a>.</div></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-19666580524361704502010-09-06T16:07:00.001-04:002010-09-06T16:17:23.435-04:00The Far-reaching Rivers of Life<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged" style="clear: both; float: none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CapilanoRiverRegPark-river.jpg" rel="nofollow" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Capilano River." height="225" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/CapilanoRiverRegPark-river.jpg/300px-CapilanoRiverRegPark-river.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CapilanoRiverRegPark-river.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></span></div><br />
<br />
Oswald Chambers' <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Utmost-His-Highest-Oswald-Chambers/dp/0916441830%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0916441830" rel="amazon nofollow" title="My Utmost for His Highest">My Utmost for His Highest</a> amazes me with how relevant it is still today, after almost 100 years of time passing by. As a friend and I discussed today, truly "there is nothing new under the sun. (Eccl. 1:9)" So today, I simply want to share an excerpt from that book and pray it blesses your heart as much as it did mine.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </div><blockquote>The Far-reaching Rivers of Life </blockquote><blockquote>September 6 </blockquote><br />
<blockquote>He who believes in Me, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:33)<br />
</blockquote><blockquote>A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, "rivers of living water" will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even "to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow--"This is the work of God, that you <i>believe</i>..." (John 6:29). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others. </blockquote><blockquote>A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever. do you see god using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God? Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ--not emotion nor experience--nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source. </blockquote><blockquote>Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.</blockquote><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=89a23f3f-686d-48cd-99d0-91dd8184b545" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></span></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-11179837637782465802010-06-04T19:14:00.003-04:002010-09-06T16:19:38.632-04:00Excerpt from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald ChambersWow, this is crazy how much this speaks to where I'm walking right now. Help me follow these Kingdom principles, God! <br />
I found this on the <a href="http://sacredcharge.com/">sacredcharge.com</a> website. They have some really awesome resources for people going after a lifestyle of prayer and fasting - you should check it out! : )<br />
<blockquote>"Beware of any work for God which enables you to evade concentration on Him. A great many Christian workers worship their work. The one concern of a worker should be concentration on God, and this will mean that all the other margins of life, mental, moral and spiritual, are free with the freedom of a child, a worshipping child, not a wayward child.<br />
…. There is no responsibility on you for the work; the only responsibility you have is to keep in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your cooperation with Him. The freedom after sanctification is the freedom of a child, the things that used to keep the life pinned down are gone. But be careful to remember that you are freed for one thing only- to be absolutely devoted to your co-Worker.<br />
…. God engineers everything; wherever He puts us our one great aim is to pour out a whole-hearted devotion to Him in that particular work.<br />
(O. Chambers, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Utmost-His-Highest-Oswald-Chambers/dp/0916441830%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0916441830" rel="amazon nofollow" title="My Utmost for His Highest">My Utmost for His Highest</a>; April 23rd selection) </blockquote><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=0bb817c8-bd96-4d35-8fea-957f05112b2e" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></span></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-75268017857283053632010-05-24T16:40:00.000-04:002010-05-24T16:40:56.369-04:00Pain is temporary, while growth is permanent<div class="zemanta-img" style="display: block; float: right; margin: 1em; width: 250px;"><a href="http://www.teen-beauty-tips.com/images/emerging-butterfly.jpg"><img alt="New Year's Prayer!" src="http://www.teen-beauty-tips.com/images/emerging-butterfly.jpg" style="border: medium none; display: block;" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.teen-beauty-tips.com/self-esteem-issues.html">teen-beauty-tips.com</a></span></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span style="font-weight: normal;">..."pain is temporary, while growth is permanent"...</span></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="UIStory_Message" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">These words resound in my mind today as I face another day - waiting, praying, asking a lot of questions, reminding myself of simple little promises from God like this, and trying to keep my chin up amidst the pain.</span></span></h3><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Migraines. 7 straight days of migraines. I praise God for giving me some lucidity right now to even write about it.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Tomorrow I go to the neurologist to try to get some answers.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">So, for the last 7 days I've been staying with my parents and have focused on trying to keep my mind off th</span><span style="font-size: small;">e pain.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I've been reminded of how much I love what I do, and I really miss being in the Prayer House, spending time with the Father on behalf of people in need-on behalf of a city in need. I've realized how much I truly cherish the people I've been walking with thi</span><span style="font-size: small;">s past year. They've been such a strength to me, and I've learned so much from their devotion to the Lord. I can't wait to get back and walk out this journey - this lifestyle of prayer. I can't wait to move forward in the organic, relation-based ministry God's given me.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">There's so many beautiful people - so many stories. Perhaps one day I'll be putting </span><span style="font-size: small;">it all together in a book? Who knows.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">But one thing I do know - there's treasure in Baltimore. There's s</span><span style="font-size: small;">o much purpose </span><span style="font-size: small;">- so much potential. And I get to be a part of it.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">So right now I'm continuing to take it easy. The other night I pushed myself to get back for the Thursday night prayer meeting I lead, and ended up not sleeping at all that night because the nautia and pain was so bad.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">God knows what is best & I will follow Him. I just praise God for the beauty that I'm seeing right now in the things He's doing. Please keep praying for my health. It's been a continual struggle this year - if it's not one thing it seems to be another. But God is faithful. I have no doubt about that. And He's come through in some awesome ways.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Do it again, oh God!</span></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span style="font-weight: normal;">..."pain is temporary, while growth is permanent"...</span></span></span></h3><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/440dee69-1e09-4a5e-a6cf-f9a4cbc6da33/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=440dee69-1e09-4a5e-a6cf-f9a4cbc6da33" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></span></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-56338101867035770182010-04-10T21:18:00.002-04:002010-04-10T21:38:06.593-04:00God Belongs in My City – Baltimore<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It was a beautiful spring day in </span><st1:city style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Baltimore</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The air was fresh and crisp and the sky perfectly clear, giving the </span><st1:place style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" st="on"><st1:placename st="on">War</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Memorial</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Plaza</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> right in front of City Hall a very peaceful and calm atmosphere.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">To those passing by nothing seemed strange or unusual.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Yet for some reason a pleasant serenity abounded, rather than the constant hustle, bustle, and crowded streets of the city.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Something was different about this day. </span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Then, about mid afternoon, hundreds of people started pouring in from all corners of the city, each humbly clad with a t-shirt resounding their heart cry, “<a href="http://www.godbelongsinmycity.com">God Belongs in My City</a>.” <span style=""> </span>They flooded into the plaza not with chants or shouting, course gestures or angry fists, but only a silent prayer on their hearts – for God to end the violence that has pillaged their city year after year.</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Baltimore</st1:city></st1:place> </a>– one of the top murdertroplises of the nation, with a high percentage of those crimes involving teens and young adults.<span style=""> </span>But the news on this day will ring of not another young person dying on the streets, but of hundreds of young people standing up for their God, believing in His power to turn the tide of the violence in their generation.</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs434.snc3/24973_430024939898_821249898_5448900_2465762_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 401px; height: 300px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs434.snc3/24973_430024939898_821249898_5448900_2465762_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">The beauty of the moment reached its climax as nearly no one was left standing on the plaza.<span style=""> </span>Everyone had fallen to their knees in desperate prayer for their city.<span style=""> </span>Could God really move in a city like this?<span style=""> </span>Their answer would be a unanimous, “yes.”<span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">And He is moving-even now, as they each left that plaza changed, on fire, and excited about taking this prayer back to their homes, schools, churches, and places of work.<span style=""> </span>While they begin to lay hold of their newfound call to prayer, a tide will shift and the prayers will become greater than the violence in this city.</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/group.php?gid=187837351861">God belongs in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Baltimore</st1:place></st1:city></a> and He will come in response to our <a href="http://www.baltimoreprays.com/">prayers</a>.<span style=""> </span>Join the movement and see a city known for its violence become a city known for its <a href="http://www.partnersfortransformation.net/">change</a>.</p> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/3ebbbb35-82c4-43a7-b517-c1deddbcca2b/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=3ebbbb35-82c4-43a7-b517-c1deddbcca2b" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-59100506796170062782009-12-10T15:00:00.003-05:002009-12-10T15:19:12.186-05:00From the Pages of My Journal<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 250px;"><a href="http://pkp.sfu.ca/ojs/demo/present/"><img src="http://pkp.sfu.ca/ojs/demo/present/public/journals/9/homepageImage.jpg" alt="homepageImage.jpg" style="border: medium none ; display: block; width: 214px; height: 163px;" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://pkp.sfu.ca/ojs/demo/present/">Open Journal Systems</a></span></p>Today I’m filled with so much inspiration. God truly is faithful to bring joy to those who are in the house of prayer (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2056:7&version=NIV">Isaiah 56:7</a>). There’s so many words that are brimming on my lips to express in this moment. Yet only so many can come out. So in asking God to help me choose them, I’m led to just copy the prayer that poured out from my heart and into my journal at the end of my time of soaking in His presence in the prayer room of my beloved Prayer House in Baltimore. Here it goes:<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">Oh, my soul delights in You alone, my God! I just praise Your Name! Wow, how much Your Word and the power of praise have given me life even during this time where my body’s so weak. You alone are faithful, oh God!<br /><br /><blockquote>Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,<br /> whose hope is in the LORD their God.<br /><br />He is the Maker of heaven and earth,<br /> the sea, and everything in them—<br /> he remains faithful forever.<br /><br />He upholds the cause of the oppressed<br /> and gives food to the hungry.<br /> The LORD sets prisoners free,<br /><br />the LORD gives sight to the blind,<br /> the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,<br /> the LORD loves the righteous.<br /><br />The LORD watches over the foreigner<br /> and sustains the fatherless and the widow,<br /> but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.<br /><div style="text-align: right;">Psalm 146:5-9 (TNIV)<br /></div></blockquote><br />Thank You, God! You’re the best company there is. Even when I grown deep within as I’m daily being hidden in You – going against every natural instinct I have to surround myself with people and just be in that “go, go, go” mode, You’ve placed me here to be with You as an <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%202:36-38&version=NIV">Anna</a>, dwelling in Your courts, with no regard to who may or may not be around me. My place is here, and it’s so evident that this is where I belong.<br /><br />Oh God, continue to strengthen me even as the enemy tries to always bring something else along to steal my time away from this precious place of being with You, hearing Your voice, receiving Your heart, and standing in the gap for those who are in need.<br /><br />Jesus, thank You for this call. I pray You would have Your way today. May my eyes not turn to the right or to the left, but only stare straight into Yours, for I know You’re looking at me with Your loving gaze. Oh, I feel the warmth of the fire in Your eyes. It’s beautiful, and yet terrible – for Your passion is so consuming.<br /><br />So consume me, God, and burn up anything that’s not of You. Strengthen me to watch and pray.<br /><br />I love You.</blockquote> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/86961ead-269b-4c71-8f96-5bc886bc3cb1/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=86961ead-269b-4c71-8f96-5bc886bc3cb1" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-73660036011073567202009-12-05T01:42:00.005-05:002009-12-05T01:55:59.591-05:00Quick Thoughts about a Long WalkThe ministry I've been getting plugged into in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.baltimorecity.gov/" title="Baltimore" rel="homepage">Baltimore City, Maryland</a> has a monthly routine of prayer walking on <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Avenue_%28Baltimore%29" title="North Avenue (Baltimore)" rel="wikipedia">North Avenue</a> on the last Saturday of each month. I haven't missed a single one since I've started coming up to the city to join them in prayer and intercession for God to turn things around and make this city beautiful again. We're believing for a complete transformation in the hearts and lives of every individual, and in return a massive overhaul in the atmosphere of this city.<br /><br /><p class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="margin: 1em; display: block; width: 310px;"><a href="http://www.copinthehood.com/2007_12_01_archive.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwnsEQpRw285SFwhlq0oAYHhfZiTBIqhRq4n9779yUTWgf6E55SJLLpbIkJlngz0zLUQ1B1CSiCNhn3-f7nAd2t5bqNiBDw8N22IbiEqP6xYXVWOAdTP-KhbVONiNQ0Dh6WZ0etEnJMpD/s400/Baltimore+Eastern+District+095.jpg" alt="Baltimore Eastern District Image" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" width="300" height="225" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://www.copinthehood.com/2007_12_01_archive.html">www.copinthehood.com</a></span></p><br /><br />A perfect picture of the desolation of this city can be seen as you walk down North Avenue. Many blocks of the street still show the painful scars of the riots that took place in 1968 following the death of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King%2C_Jr." title="Martin Luther King, Jr." rel="wikipedia">Martin Luther King, Jr.</a> At that time, the combine efforts of the city, state, and federal government with their police and military forces, could not bring peace. The solution they finally came up with was to ask the drug lord of that day for help in getting peace in the land.<br /><br />On that day, the authority over the land was transferred – and we still see the effects of that dark leadership. At one community meeting a young person made the comment that they respect their neighborhood drug dealer more than their neighborhood police officer. Something is definitely wrong with that mindset. But sadly, it’s the reality the majority of our city’s young people live in.<br /><br />As we ventured out on Saturday, November 28, 2009, we proclaimed the same word God gave Joshua before he crossed the Jordan river to take the land that was ruled by evil men:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">“I will give you every place where you set your foot…”</span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Joshua 1:3</span></div></blockquote>The weather was a bit blustery for us that day, but we pressed on. Then, a beautiful thing happened about ¾ of the way down our 5 mile trek of the entire length of North Avenue. I was in the midst of one of my general approaches to prayer – simply asking God what He wanted me to pray and praying it. A simple chorus came to my mind from Misty Edward’s song “Light of Your Face” (that you can download for free by clicking here). I allowed the melody to pour over me, “Let the light of your face shine down on my heart, and let me feel it.”<br /><br />No sooner did I finish that line did we crest a hill and the sun came shining brilliantly down upon us. My heart was filled with so much joy. I have no doubt that God has a unique destiny for this city. He only asks that we partner with Him in bringing it to pass.<br /><br /><div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/b9b2abf5-15bd-40f4-8b61-5f7e30ea9cc1/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=b9b2abf5-15bd-40f4-8b61-5f7e30ea9cc1" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-83925661693727512562009-11-19T23:27:00.007-05:002009-11-19T23:37:23.369-05:00Teatime Reflections, part 1<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 190px;"><a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/michael-m-simpson/72-27217/"><img src="http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/3817/424309-img_6619copy_super.jpg" alt="Tea and Biscuits" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/michael-m-simpson/72-27217/">giantbomb.com</a></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Memories of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-41.2833333333,174.45&spn=10.0,10.0&q=-41.2833333333,174.45%20%28New%20Zealand%29&t=h" title="New Zealand" rel="geolocation">New Zealand</a> st</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ream through my mind as I sit down tonight over a </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">nice hot cup of milk and tea, alongside some nice, crisp cookies—or shall I say, “Biscuits?” This evening is much different than those we Teen Maniac </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">missionaries had on that beautiful island nation. I’m finding myself, yet ag</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ain, holding the status of a missionary, only now I have a completely new context in which to embody that role.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Oh, how beautiful the path God has brought me on over the last two and a half years. I recall a journal entry I wrote on that first day following my high school graduation ceremony. While on the plane traveling to the missions field, I wrote something along these lines:</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wow! It’s really beginning. No more normality for me. My life in ministry has begun and I’m so excited to have every moment be completely unto God.</span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">Each step I’ve taken since that day has been a step into destiny. After spending a month in New Zealand, I packed my bags and hit the road from my suburban home in Severn, MD to a middle of nowhere town called <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.5261111111,-95.5425&spn=0.1,0.1&q=32.5261111111,-95.5425%20%28Garden%20Valley%2C%20Texas%29&t=h" title="Garden Valley, Texas" rel="geolocation">Garden Valley, TX</a>. Why Garden Valley? Within its bounds lay a campus packed with fiery young adults passionately pursuing a call to reach their generation with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. This was my heartbeat. In joining the 800 plus interns and staff members that made up </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" class="zem_slink" href="http://teenmania.com/" title="Teen Mania Ministries" rel="homepage">Teen Mania Ministries</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, I not only had the opportunity to be a part of an effort that daily impacts a generation in desperate need of a savior, but also one that manages to nearly double the size of Garden Valley, TX. Did I mention it was a small town?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">During my internship I grew leaps and bounds in my relationship with God and developed a greater missional mindset. When my time in Texas was nearly complete, I found myself on a visit to the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" class="zem_slink" href="http://www.ihop.org/" title="International House of Prayer" rel="homepage">International House of Prayer</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">-Kansas City Missions Base. Here I was awakened to a new paradigm of ministry – one where everything flowed out of the place of prayer, rather just adding prayer onto all of the other programs already taking place. I was ruined for anything other way of doing things, and as I completed my internship and traveled home, I took hold of the call to intercession.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Many sleepless nights and long days locked up in my room were to follow as God began to birth something inside of me that I could hardly imagine. </span> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/9638546b-56f2-4052-8dae-ffebdf7612b3/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=9638546b-56f2-4052-8dae-ffebdf7612b3" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-19154056580051989682009-09-28T23:09:00.002-04:002009-09-28T23:17:04.816-04:00Face to the Floor<blockquote>“We have nothing to offer these people.<span style=""> </span>Only when we completely humble ourselves and lay our lives down can God then come in.”</blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>These words continue to reverberate through me as I reflect on the events of the last 48 hours.</p><p class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 249px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erunion/31561809/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/22/31561809_dec2911522.jpg" alt="Candle of Loreto" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" width="239" height="240" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erunion/31561809/">Erunion</a> via Flickr</span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tears</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Shaking</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Highway</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Miles</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hunger</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Laughter</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Travail</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Encouragement</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Prayer</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Last night proved to be an encounter that will continue to mold my view of ministry for the rest of my life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">“If I never get the opportunity to speak to these people and all I do is pray and intercede in that place, then I’ll be happy,” </span>Pastor Don expressed the determination in his heart to us as we traveled the 99 miles in-between Baltimore, MD and Martinsburg, WV to minister to a group of over 100 people who would be gathering that night to pray and seek the Lord.<span style=""> </span>Our team of 6 intercessors rolled across the <st1:place st="on">Appalachians</st1:place> in our 15 passenger van, praying and seeking the Lord on behalf of this congregation that was stumbling to come to the place of obedience to the Lord.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We responded to their plea for guidance by traveling out to lead them in the Sunday evening prayer service they had recently begun after hearing the Lord call them to prayer.<span style=""> </span>After a few songs by the worship leader, our team was introduced.<span style=""> </span>Stacey opened up with a brief prayer and then passed to microphone to Pastor Don, who would give some brief teaching on the subject before we began to engage with the One we had gathered to meet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Almost as soon as I returned to my seat, I found myself face to the floor, completely consumed by the heart of God for these people.<span style=""> </span>I could not recall much of anything that was said that night-only the trembling that was within my entire being as I allowed the Holy Spirit to make intercession through me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote>“The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.<span style=""> </span>He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene.” Isaiah 59:15-16</blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal">I struggle to put the words together to describe the experience any further.<span style=""> </span>It was such an honor to be in that place – partnering with the Lord’s heart and being one who would intercede.</p> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/50259bf7-c5d5-485e-8126-e47c5b57b840/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=50259bf7-c5d5-485e-8126-e47c5b57b840" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-3226758572021388762009-07-03T17:48:00.007-04:002009-07-03T18:01:03.266-04:00Inspired By Birds & Flowers: meditations on Matthew 6<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52C4mADxqBHPXbYsz_7jjrUvGSchMHlmu7JwGA7RpVvAjlvzT05eo4a-IG2RT_c-lLQEwbl918vkdq3e_ZAmEcq5CoDpr6E6EQZvse1sYYP9bruJIfj7lIN6455EQcO7N5WEOgujXHw0/s1600-h/Photo_070309_001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52C4mADxqBHPXbYsz_7jjrUvGSchMHlmu7JwGA7RpVvAjlvzT05eo4a-IG2RT_c-lLQEwbl918vkdq3e_ZAmEcq5CoDpr6E6EQZvse1sYYP9bruJIfj7lIN6455EQcO7N5WEOgujXHw0/s200/Photo_070309_001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354356468242298626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Like the birds of the air<br />Like the flowers of the field<br />Fear will never seize me<br />Of whether I'll live or be killed<br /><br />My provision comes from above<br />It's source is solely Love<br /><br />I won't store up or strive<br />In order to thrive<br />In this temporary world<br /><br />Because my treasure rests in heaven<br />A place it will never rot away<br />No one can touch this wealth that I've found<br />Yet it's the wise I daily confound<br /><br />I know nothing but Jesus Christ<br />And it's foolishness I preach<br />It's foolishness I live<br />And it's foolishness I teach<br /><br />For only when I die<br />Can I truly live<br />Only when I've lost everything<br />Can I truly give<br /><br />My life, my everything<br />Is dependent on Him<br />Jesus Christ, be my guide<br />So this race I will win<br /><br />Because temptation can so easily come my way<br />But I focus on you and everything else fades away<br />Into the oblivion of material worth<br /><br />I don't give a care to anything but new birth<br />In you, sweet Jesus, my King, my God<br />I welcome your ways, your blessings, and yes, even your rod<br /><br />Because eternity is at hand<br />And I can't go on living like any normal man<br /><br />So like the birds of the air<br />Like the flowers of the field<br />I surrender everything to Jesus Christ<br />He's the Onething I can run to to be truly fulfilled.<br /> </div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-44991042269699686052009-06-25T13:07:00.004-04:002009-06-25T13:44:44.836-04:00Exactly How the Lord Wanted It - Baltimore BurnWagon09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM-j-XERBElYyuiwohErzzA4smOL_E_NNwKyvFdo4fe8GI4l63no7zc_PCz8dRq6uy8Q99uPK-pAtG1_Ht0-XZ3EdxF1EXASWOqIUJVbWC9yxzMCKT1fbxd_i0jiRxCQ4gk8lrIK5jq8/s1600-h/burnwagon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM-j-XERBElYyuiwohErzzA4smOL_E_NNwKyvFdo4fe8GI4l63no7zc_PCz8dRq6uy8Q99uPK-pAtG1_Ht0-XZ3EdxF1EXASWOqIUJVbWC9yxzMCKT1fbxd_i0jiRxCQ4gk8lrIK5jq8/s320/burnwagon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351322171212823426" border="0" /></a><br />The BurnWagon...wow...I feel as though I could barely put it into language. : ) But here it goes...<br /><br />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. : )<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-13370766645351579892009-06-16T09:12:00.004-04:002009-06-16T09:25:13.504-04:00Partnering With The BurnWagon<span style="font-family:arial;">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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><div><blockquote><strong>Burn</strong> [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.<br /><br /><strong>Wagon</strong> [<strong>wag</strong>-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<br />a commercial vehicle for the transport of heavy loads, delivery, etc. </blockquote><div>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. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></div><p align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4zktEblmdRI&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4zktEblmdRI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></p><div><span style="font-family:arial;">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!<br /><br />The amazing thing is that God has used this whole thing to o<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc8A_xl5FUNpv0VgKQwlMl_7m3SwyovPn_LGlIALRFnEpjlv3JRVVWUS-yBJk4EJmRX6AE4uvDavGrgN9Kl5wKjesattHqwlGrhv1Y-I6yhEWmvsxoHKhHpKMKCCuQNP_fpj-ASgFR3c/s1600-h/icon.bmp"></a>pen 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. : )<br /><br />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 <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bethking24#/event.php?eid=91973113628">(click here).</a></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bethking24#/event.php?eid=91973113628"> </a><br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347915593795102578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiH0OLQ9k1mAM16uIuxUQ0_sqXbm0bnwlvV6N6jjuKHCt4xrqApg1D4tj4ZmEucWYj5BkwybHMwJdxd1iGuvE6_LMymj0hcvzMjESbvGwOoChc9otEXHbAZLVxCc2TZsqQRRZ1lecitvY/s320/icon.bmp" /></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-63910050950160679772009-06-02T20:59:00.004-04:002009-06-02T21:26:10.585-04:00Oh, Those Gentle Whispers!<div><p>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. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWxVaoxSsp-QqxUzwzF15UTSik95zr9d_NSjpU4xMfh9DJ8Foj-DKx7lXOyqxS-nZQAqTxY5U_jpOz1KUF9dCI32NNxJGQiW-cKgLPR1UHuabhWBKDyALJkpqXN8MDQkK2_PP4NIZjVs/s1600-h/6.2.09+-+Oh+Those+Gentle+Whispers!.jpg"></a></p><p>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).<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.</p><blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaUpdpsTGsIfXjIftCLmVxjiUDk6GVg_eu6yl7iwL4J8bJAEj-RnNyH3sWgNrORRauEn0kixx6mblQlNkGOzovszw1GmBodvp9D0PsHs4WH9Mnuo2fT1kbLQt18H2ein4DRdIk9I6cFU/s1600-h/6.2.09+-+Oh+Those+Gentle+Whispers!.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 116px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 99px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342906175482675442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaUpdpsTGsIfXjIftCLmVxjiUDk6GVg_eu6yl7iwL4J8bJAEj-RnNyH3sWgNrORRauEn0kixx6mblQlNkGOzovszw1GmBodvp9D0PsHs4WH9Mnuo2fT1kbLQt18H2ein4DRdIk9I6cFU/s320/6.2.09+-+Oh+Those+Gentle+Whispers!.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><p align="right"><strong><em>“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”<br />St. Francis of Assisi</em></strong></p></blockquote><p><em>Related scriptures: Colossians 3:22-24; Galatians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:22-26</em></p></div>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-8805759394762998352009-03-12T18:05:00.002-04:002009-03-12T18:10:20.578-04:00A Different Kind of Growth<div align="left">I’m often one who doesn’t really see the growth that’s happening in my life until someone tells me. Recently I had a conversation to that extent.<br /><br />“It’s a different kind of growth,” said one of my friends over the phone the other day. From over a thousand miles away, she could see the changes happening in my life – while I, standing right beside myself, could not even get a glimpse of it.<br /><br />There’s something to be said about the transition you go through when you leave an atmosphere drenched in the things of the Lord in small town Texas to urban America. And yet, I often cannot find the words to express what that transition feels like. I suppose it is different for everyone. <br /><br />For me, I’ve found myself dry and disappointed with my spiritual life. The reality that I’m not in a spiritual incubator anymore has been quite startling at times. Growth came so quickly during my time at Teen Mania, that when I look at my life now, I feel as though nothing whatsoever is happening. So disappointment sets in as all I see in myself is failure.<br /><br />That’s the place the devil wants us – unsure of our faith, feeling weak and worthless. Yet, he doesn’t realize that in those times the Lord can teach us the most. Because I don’t have it all together, I can find strength in the One who does. We must cling to the truth of God's Word!<br /><br />It’s not about how fast you think you’re growing in the Lord anyways. Regardless of where you’re at—sitting under a torrent of spiritual teaching each week or hearing only one sermon on Sunday mornings at church, there’s growth to be had. <br /><br />If you truly think about it, how much “food” you’ve got before doesn’t matter. Just think about the story Jesus told of the wise and foolish builders. One built his house on a rock and was able to ride out any kind of weather. The other built his house on the sand and found his house completely destroyed after the first flood that came his way. This parable wasn’t instructing us on where we should build our houses though. Jesus clearly stated that the one who heard His words and acted on them was counted as a wise builder. The foolish man heard the same things, but walked away unaltered by the power of what was said.<br /><br />So whatever circumstance you find yourself in today let the Word of God change you. I assure you, if you desire transformation, you’ll get it – regardless if you see it right away or not. </div><div align="left"> </div><blockquote>Scripture References: Luke 6:46-49; Isaiah 40:29-31</blockquote>Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-4245918920132033942009-02-23T17:51:00.002-05:002009-02-23T17:56:11.602-05:00Is this hope?I’ve grown akin to listening to NPR (National Public Radio) every now and again as I drive from here to there. Today, on my way home from work, I tuned in to a conversation regarding Marty Gras, the celebration so many will partake in tomorrow night.<br /><br />As the discussion progressed, a simple statement made a huge impression in my mind. A man from Mobile, AL conveyed what his city will look like tomorrow. And as the description came to an end, he expressed hope for that those carousing on Tuesday. “Hopefully they will find themselves in a church on Wednesday, or at least not indulge themselves as horribly until next year’s celebrations.”<br /><br />“Yes, they can carouse all night long and then go to church, or sober up a bit until next year and everything will be ok. Just as long as they’re good most of the time, they have hope.”<br /><br />WRONG!<br /><br />But yet that is the thought process so many people grab hold to as what will get them by. But it’s a false sense of hope that we can’t cater to. We must let the truth be known – that only through the blood of Jesus Christ can any one of us ever become righteous. It isn’t a simple prayer that we pray, and some Sundays spent in a church. Rather, it’s a commitment to follow Jesus – every moment of every day; listening to His guidance for our lives. He’ll change us as we get to know Him better and surrender our ways for His (Isaiah 55).<br /><br />Just a small glimpse into such a big conversation that could be had on this topic. If you'd like to discuss more details, feel free to connect with me.<br /><br />But I'm convinced - true hope must be told – will you share it?Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-81622132382717218702009-01-29T08:20:00.002-05:002009-01-29T08:51:14.685-05:00Pressure...Pressure. So much pressure to say the right words; to articulate the things on my heart with complete clarity. I can barely compose any outward expression of the things the Lord is doing so deep inside.<br /><br />This is the place you can find me->Lost in a whirlwind of change. So deep in the torrent that the pen to the paper cannot adequately convey the scene unfolding.<br /><br />It could be paralleled to what Mary, the mother of Jesus, encountered on that fateful day 2000 years ago. The Lord totally flipped her world upside down. Her path was veered in a direction of which she never expected.<br /><br />As we survey the record of her experience, we’ll find that she gave a simple response, “May it be as you have said, Lord” (Luke 1:38)<br /><br />So may it be as you say, Lord! May my life look the way you want it to look. I relinquish the expectations I’ve placed on this all but fleeting moment I have on this earth and surrender them to you. You know better. For, as the prophet Isaiah so candidly puts it: your ways are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8).<br /><br />As Mary continued to travel this new path the Lord placed her on, we begin to see even deeper into her response to all these things. She simply treasured them in her heart.<br /><br />So forgive me if I haven’t posted for a time, but the Lord’s given me a Mary encounter – one that has totally and radically changed the direction of my life. So the pressure’s off. All I need to do right now is simply treasure these things in my heart. The time will come for an expression of these things, but right now, words have no benefit.Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-71034727797407944312008-12-26T16:29:00.002-05:002008-12-26T16:50:09.460-05:00From Junk to NourishmentWith the new year coming around the corner, many of us are making resolutions and evaluating the path we’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ve</span> taken, and the direction we’re headed. I’m in the same boat. And as I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ve</span> been on the break, outside of the Teen Mania/Honor Academy bubble, I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ve</span> realized God’s changed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">soo</span> many things inside of me since I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ve</span> been there. Who am I now? It’s a question that has surfaced many times any more. A lot of times I find myself not feeling like me. Yet that question brings me to realize that I’m not who I was before…so what does it feel like to be me now?<br /><br />The journey of redefinition has begun. And as I sit and contemplate the defining terms, I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ve</span> noticed many things – one of which is a new appetite. A full circle of changes in the cravings of my being have come about—physically, mentally, spiritually, and even emotionally. I don’t desire the junk food any more! Oh, it can be pleasurable in the moment, but seriously…I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ve</span> come to realize that it’s never going to benefit me.<br /><br />Physically, I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ve</span> switched to a lot of organic foods, and even organically based vitamins. (wow, have those changed my life! No more dependence on caffeine, even though I still love coffee…I get it sugar free & w/ soy most the time now though. ; ) I simply have more energy that way…and it’s great! I want to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">exercise</span>…and even when I don’t feel like it, I know it’s good for me, so I do. (hold me to that, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ok</span> friends?...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">lol</span>…I’ll admit I’m not perfect.)<br /><br />Then, mentally – I like to read books now! And I want to take notes…and really digest the things I’m learning! So often I used to just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">breeze</span> through stuff—learn it enough to pass the test, but ask me about it a week later and, well, I’ll be clueless.<br /><br />Spiritually – Well, yeah. I’m not content with the entertainment-oriented Christianity any more! I’m hungry for God! I listen to sermons now w/ great joy! That’s the main difference I noticed today. Of course there’s plenty more…but I was just thinking about the content of my spiritual food. It’s not so much an entertainment driven thing any more. It’s what will challenge me, what will really make me grow. It’s being vulnerable with others. Wow…what a difference there has been!<br /><br />Emotionally – A total rearranging has occurred. From August 2007 – August 2009 I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">ve</span> committed to not date. In addition to that, from August 2007 – August 2008, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">didn</span>’t listen to any secular music, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">didn</span>’t see any “R” rated movies, and lived on a campus (Teen Mania’s Honor Academy) where I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">didn</span>’t watch movies or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">TV</span> and never touched a video game system. Off campus here and there I would engage in these things…but the regular involvement of these things in my life has been broken. All of that’s to say that my heart has really been given an opportunity to have any other desires put at a great distant to the one thing my attentions need to be focused on – Jesus Christ.<br /><br />That’s been my journey, and I’m continuing on it. I don’t have as many limitations on me now from the Honor Academy, but my convictions have changed. As I experience what I once held so much joy in, I find distaste instead. I’m not nourished at all. It’s junk!<br /><br />So what are you filling yourself up with? Nourishment or junk?Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278640936471972628.post-43224504477485863872008-12-21T20:20:00.000-05:002008-12-21T20:30:10.609-05:00The WindThe Wind: beautiful yet devastating.<br /><br />I’m finding myself in Iowa this Christmas season. And glad to be here too. As I sit back and relax, looking outside into the snowy wilderness, I notice a wonderful conundrum: the wind.<br /><br />There’s a funny thing about snow and wind – it lets you actually see the wind, where it’s going and what it’s doing. Of course, you still can’t guess where it will come from or what direction it will go, but it’s somewhat visible. And extraordinarily beautiful.<br /><br />But tell that to me while I’m trying to pave a way in all the snow for my parents to arrive safely in -22°F wind chill in the middle of the night. Wow! That was insane! It’s been said that weather that cold can freeze any exposed skin over a period of ten minutes! Yikes! And boy was it cold going out to sweep away the snow from the stairs my parents had to climb to get safely into the warmth of grandma’s house. Many times I would brush the snow away, only to find the wind blowing it back in my face. Ouch!<br /><br />Sitting here gazing out at the drifting snow, I can’t help but think about the power of wind and how Jesus compared the Holy Spirit to wind in John 3.<br /><br /><blockquote><p align="left"><em>“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” </em></p><p align="right"><em>John 3:8</em></p></blockquote>It’s interesting to find that the same Greek word, (pneuma) signifies both the wind and the Spirit. Can’t we recognize God’s power in our lives? Can’t we relinquish the driver’s seat to the One who knows where He’s going? <br /><br />He knows better than us. So we must step back and let Him work. Oh how I want to show you more in the Bible about the power of God and of the beauty and devastation of His guidance in our lives.<br /><br />Beautiful because we finally are in the center of His will. Devastating because all the expectations we have formed in this society are laid to waste.<br /><br />Do you have this beautiful devastation at work in your life?<br /><br />Something to think about.Elizabeth Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14605610444245378574noreply@blogger.com0