Awakening the dawn, regularly

Simple update:
With Luke18 Project at the University of Manitoba, we are starting 6am prayer meetings.  The first one was this morning, the second one tomorrow, and will continue every Wednesday and Thursday until the end of the semester.

I'm a morning person, so I like early prayer meetings, but 4:45am alarms are a bit harsh. It's an hour that I have rarely seen, but I have a feeling it will become like a good friend in no time.

This morning, without seeing anyone else on campus, four of us sat/knelt in a room and worshiped Jesus, asking for God's heart for the campus, and experienced the tangible Presence of the Holy Spirit and the love of the Father.  It was pretty incredible.

We will be seeing more of 6am in the future, and I am excited to awaken the dawn as we take our place as watchmen on the wall.

I know Superheroes

There is a unique band of superheroes who take up residence in a very unsuspecting place: Winnipeg, Manitoba (affectionately known as "Winterpeg"), and are growing in number every year. Their superhero acts are displayed every day, all over the city, with many Winnipegers taking them for granted.  Who are these brave, sometimes masked, clothed in MEC apparel, perhaps slightly crazy, superheroes?

They are known as Winter Cyclists!!!

With temperatures dipping into the -40〫Celcius (for my American friends, this is also -40〫Ferenheit) range this past week, these superheroes did not slow down in their endeavors because of the dangerous windchill warnings, but rather took it as a challenge or dare to exercise their powers. Crazy? Perhaps, but you have to admire their persistence and determination!  Risking their lives on treacherous roads, laughing in the face of potential frostbite and injury, they peddle on.


They are brave, and I say "Thank you" for your powers that help reduce carbon emissions and being the champions of environmental stewardship in this city, putting your lives on the line. You really are "Superheroes!" ..... just...be careful.
 

 

"Jesus is driving the bus, and He's CRAZY!!!"

"Jesus is driving the bus, and He's CRAZY!!!"

The phrase left my mouth, louder, and before I had anytime to think it through or discern whether this was the correct time or place for such an exclamation. Thankfully I had a very understanding friend across the table burst out laughing... not out of insensitivity, but because she totally knew what I meant and the history of the context! I quickly noticed that there were other patrons in the coffee shop around us who began to chuckle and smirk, giving away the fact they had been eavesdropping. I contemplated making a loud general statement to clarify that I wasn't being blasphemous, but just for a moment, and then moved on.

Those who are familiar with Sanctuary House of Prayer will know that there is lengthy prophetic history to the establishment of night and day prayer in the city of Winnipeg.  One of the great words of encouragement to our house was a picture of Jesus driving a big yellow school bus.  The explanation goes to say that the bus is the prayer movement, or the establishment of house of prayer/night and day prayer, and that Jesus is in complete control of what it will look like.  Psalm 127:1 "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." The prophetic pictured continued to show that when the bus was going uphill, it was barely moving, and when driving downhill, Jesus would step on the gas.  On the outside, it looked out of control and dangerous, or unwise.  But Jesus was driving and He knows what He is doing.  His plans, timing and will are perfect.

From what has seemed to be a very slow and exhausting battle uphill in the last season of my life, with little confirmation of moving forward, has in a moment felt to shift and change!  Since the start of the new year, my life in the natural and in my journey with God has accelerated, to the point where from one day to the next, it feels and looks totally different.  In the last two weeks, I have had more opportunities to speak and teach, to have strategic meetings and decisions just happen in an instant, and an increased desire, hunger and grace to be in the Word, to spend time in His Presence and ability to hear His voice.  That is a gift from God, and a huge answer to prayer.  I would believe in miracles on that fact alone.  And I dare to believe that my experience over the last couple of weeks is for me alone, but for our community and anyone who will agree with what the Spirit is doing right now in our city.

I am keenly aware that the Lord is up to something in my life, and corporately for the Church in Winnipeg, and though we all go through different seasons of the soul, I am prepared to say "yes" in this time to Jesus driving the bus, even if it seems crazy!

When God Goes to Starbucks

Jokingly on campus yesterday, some students and I off-offhandedly discussed the face of most of the evangelical church culture in North America, determining that Jesus really likes Venti Starbucks beverages and has an iPhone4.  

I admit (and should probably confess) to contributing greatly to that general stereotype.  I have weekly staff meetings at the SBux location down the street, where three of us sit, with drinks in hand, for hours with three iPhones on the table, sometimes we pull out the Bible, or at least open our App for that.  Without a work area in my room until recently, a Chapters SBux location was dubbed "my office," where I met with friends, students, supporters, read, emailed, worked on "things," sometimes being productive.  

It may be true of other cities other than Winnipeg, but Starbucks locations across the city are largely staffed by trendy, Christian young adults who get to say "hi" to their pastors and leaders on a weekly basis and recognize the regular church folk whom they see more often in the cafe than in the foyer on Sunday mornings. They serve the Christian community their caffeine, as they work their way through college degrees, or more appropriately through the years of "figuring out what God wants me to do with my life." I know many of these barristas, and truly like and appreciate them, thinking they are some of the coolest people, and that God will, and does, work through them in their workplaces.  

I have a theory about Sbux barristas and the future of the prayer/missions movement in North America... but that is for another time....

I also have a theory about spending less time "hanging out" in Sbux...but that is a work in process...

And there is that unread apologetics book on my self for years, "When God Goes To Starbucks" or the inspirational, "Gospel According to Starbucks: Living with a Grande Passion"... Which brings us neatly back to Jesus consuming large doses of caffine while staying on top of his social networks via the latest Apple technology...

But today, God showed me that sometimes He does go to Starbucks.

Here's the proof:

A year ago, I arranged a sweet set up at a corner window table in the cafe. Grande Mocha light-water Americano Misto: Check! MacBook Pro: Check! Earbuds: Check! Worn leather NKJV Bible: Check! iPhone3GS: Check! Coil-bound journal: Check! Scarf: Check!  I was geared up for some serious God-time/work/fellowship.  Friends and staff members came and went as I scheduled their allotted appointments.  Refill. Check Twitter. Flip to Ephesians. Flip to Psalms. Flip to the maps.

A girl studying at the "accessible table" justifiably needed the extra table-top space to spread out the giant high-level Calculus and Physics textbooks, in French!, and to litter the floor with bags for books and work-out clothes.  We had exchanged some polite half-smiles throughout the afternoon when we caught each other blankly staring off before quickly looking down and feigning focused productivity.

Finally, she initiated conversation.  Having overheard some comments from my meetings, she made connections to having similar interests.  I countered with a remark on her intense and impressive study burden.  We exchanged some general remarks, trying not to raise our voices too loudly over the tables between us. Something flashed through my mind for half-a-second. "Go over there and talk to her." I ignored it.  Classic.

Re-considering, I went and sat down with her instead of contemplating another drink fix.  My heart beat rapidly, possibly because of the caffeine overdose, or maybe because of uncertainty of what God was asking of me. We talked easily for a long time.  We had much in common, and realized all the 3-Degrees of separation between us.  She shared openly about her life, and some of the hard questions going around in her head and heart.  I recognized the stirrings of the Holy Spirit, and thankfully chose this time to listen and obey.  I told her some of my testimony; where God has taken me from and the journey of healing, freedom, deep relationship and true joy that I was on.  Tears came easily on both sides, and I weakly offered to pray for her. Taken aback by her approval, I prayed simply and unknowingly, just hoping that God was doing His thing.

She had to leave to get to the gym or to work or to class or to get away or something.  I went and packed up my office and went home.  Honestly, I didn't really think much more about it.  Not that I didn't care about the girl, or thank God for the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone a bit and hopefully act obediently to His invitation, but this was not the only time this has happened to me.  There have been other opportunities at Starbucks, and other places, to respond to the still, small Voice, that encouraged me to step out of my "Christian-Hipster Bubble" and actually obey to living out the Kingdom (in very little ways) and talk or pray with people.  I just chalked this up as another practice run for bigger opportunities to come. Plus, I never saw any of those people again, and definitely never heard of God doing anything because of those moments.  To be honest again, I didn't have any faith that it really meant anything.

Imagine my surprise and stinging pride when I received a forwarded email about a month ago from one of those common-friends of the girl in the Sbux months earlier!  It read:

Would you by chance have Janelle's mailing information for me? I had the most inspirational talk with her at a coffee shop last year that really got my life back on track and I was hoping to get in touch with her this Christmas season. 

Today, I had the opportunity of meeting once again with her, though not at a Sbux, where we spent hours talking, sharing about life, and I got to hear about what God has been doing in her life.  She is a noticeably different person and choosing to live differently since I saw her last winter.  My heart beat wildly, this time not because of a caffeine high, but because I know God was speaking to me again and showing me a picture of what He can do when I stop just focusing on my coffee cup, look up and act when He speaks.  He was telling me about the greatness of His grace, salvation and love despite my lack of faith.  It was a rare, divine moment, where God let me see a bit of His bigger picture and plan, and how my obedience is important.

 Thankfully, God goes to Starbucks, even when I don't recognize Him or have faith that He can do anything! 

*Note: Please know that I am not trying to make any kind of statement against Starbucks, or Christians going to Starbucks, or Christian young people trying to figure out what they are supposed to do with their lives while working at Starbucks, or doing your daily Bible reading plan on your iPhone while at Starbucks.  Blessings on you if you fall into any or all of those categories.  Blessings on you if you don't fall into any of those categories.  May God's Spirit rest upon you wherever you go, and in whatever conversations you have. May you bear the image of Christ and be a light to the world. Have faith.

Michael W. Smith says it best

A poignantly bittersweet moment was spent  saying good-bye to my dearest friend Christina tonight. 

The Lord brought us together over three years ago at a Onething Regional conference held in Winnipeg, where I heard about the International House of Prayer for the first time, had my first taste of the prayer movement, first saw a picture of people my age living radical loves abandoned to Jesus like I never could have imagined, and when my heart first was awakened to the calling on my life as an intercessor.  Christina was the one, while at the book table, who gently and patiently began to explain and walk me through what I was experiencing in the place of prayer and worship during the conference, what the heck "harp and bowl was," why a 24/7 expression of prayer and worship was important in a city, and invited me to come check out Sanctuary House of Prayer.  October 28, 2007 was my first Sunday at SHOP.  My life has not been the same since.  That weekend put me on a trajectory I could never have imagined, to eventually have me spend time living at IHOP, coming on staff with SHOP, being a full-time intercessory missionary, and becoming best friends with Christina.

The Lord blessed me with a season of living at IHOP-KC in the fall of 2008, where as it would turn out, Christina was doing an internship/training semester and was already rooming in the same home I moved into.  It was that fall semester at IHOP that the Lord had us get to know each other, where I would pepper her with questions and doubts about the end-times and book of revelation (which again, she gently and patiently walked me through, pointing me mostly to seek out the Lord in prayer and Scripture about those issues), knit our hearts together as friends and sister in Christ as we drank QT iced-coffees and walked around the plaza, and set up the next couple of years of journeying together in Winnipeg. As much as that season was for us individually to spend time alone in the presence of God and be transformed by the Word, it was also for the formation of an integral friendship that would prove to be a major way that He worked in my life.  Christina has been one of those rare friends that come to us in life that know the good, the bad, the really ugly, and help keep God's perspective first and foremost no matter what either of us looks like in the moment.  She shines with the beauty and love of Jesus all the time.

My first weekend living in KC in 2008.  Christina brought me along with some of her Commission classmates to try "disc golf" for the first...and last time.

I'm guessing this was during a meal out with SHOP friends who came to visit IHOP while Christina and I were down there.  Can't exactly remember.

Christina's last day of her Commission term Nov 2008.  We were sad to say goodbye that day too.

 When together, we give detailed descriptions of each day since we last talked and not just texted, we laugh, discuss the destiny and future of entire cities, dream of what God is doing in our lives and the lives around us, dive deep into parts of the Word that we have been studying, drink coffee, compliment each other on nail polish colors, tear up over a frustration, talk about our roller-coaster emotions, sing on an intercession set, talk and plan about going down to IHOP again, laugh and sing (often at the same time...or trail off a sentence to sing a line of song and then go back into the previous sentence not missing a beat.  We are not fazed by this anymore. It's normal), prophesy over one another, speak truth, pray, give each other encouragement cards, share newest blog finds or Prayer room archive sets, laugh some more, sing some more, more details about the day, more emotions, more coffee, wave at each other in the prayer room, and hug at each greeting.  It has been a gift to have this dear and beautiful woman of God only a 10 minute drive away.

We have spent much time in Kansas City together from living there in fall 2008, to numerous trips over the past two years.  Now she will be there for good, and I will have a place to stay in when I come! I say farewell to Christina as she moves to Kansas City to be a part of the International House of Prayer and work at a hospital part time with hope in my heart and prayers on my lips as she faithfully steps in line with the will and calling of God.  Skype dates are already planned, and trips to see her in the works for the next couple of months.  It won't be the same, but I bless her and admire her faithfulness and abandon to the voice of the Good Shepherd.

There are no other words that I can say, so it is here when Michael W. Smith says it best (Definitely sang this loudly feeling like a 7 year old again listening to the cassette tape in my kitchen, teared up while doing so, laughed, and then wrote it in a farewell encouragement card.  Christina and I both laughed when I gave it, sang a line together, hugged and said goodbye tonight):

Packing up the dreams God planted

In the fertile soil of you

I can't believe the hopes He's granted

Means a chapter of your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

And with the faith and love God's given

Springing from the hope we know

We will pray the joy you live in

Is the strength that now you show

We'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Us getting ready to head into one of the last Awakening meetings at the FCF building, during a trip to IHOP in October for Christina's interview at the hospital.

Christina and I celebrating New Years Dec31, 2010 at the Onething 2010 conference in KC just a few weeks ago. No other way I would have wanted to bring in the New Year - to celebrate all God has done and will continue to do.