PRAY FOR MARI

I don't very often put personal stuff or requests on my blog, but here is a really worthwhile exception!

I know that many of you who read this are great praying people, and so I wanted to let you know that my very dear friend Mari needs prayer right now.

She is a most precious and special person, one who loves and encourages everyone she comes in contact with. Her heart for the needy and underprivileged is really amazing, and she has outworked this in so many great ways here in NZ.

You will see a link to a blogsite here "Mari's news" which will tell you all about her current situation, updates, and help you to know how to pray. PLEASE PRAY ... God loves her and so do we. Thank you to all who do this, it means such a lot, and is the best thing that anyone can do.

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;

I give Egypt for your ransom,

Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honoured in my sight,

and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you,

and people in exchange for your life.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you ......"

Isaiah 43

Where are you going my friend?

For quite a long time last year, whenever I was in the car I seemed to hear an advertisement on the radio that began "Where are you going my friend...?" Then it proceeded to tell you where you should or could go. That was fine, but right now I only have the question and would not presume to suggest an answer!

Where are you going my friend? Are you following that indefinable thing that has burned in your heart as long as you can remember, the flame that occasionally leaps and burns brighter when a fresh wind blows on it?

Where are you going my friend? Are you following the pathways that logic and the world dictate; the pathway that circumstances have forced you on to; or maybe the pathway that leads to the fulfillment of your dream and ambition at the cost of someone else's?

Where are you going my friend? Are you being tried and tested, sifted like wheat, stripped of pride, fortune, ambition, strength, and wondering how you will take the next step forward?

Where are you going my friend? Are you finding yourself face down on the ground before your King, crying out in your passion and despair over things that He has placed in your heart that remain burning in your heart when everything around you appears dead or dry as dust?

Where are you going my friend? Are you pushing yourself towards your dream or passion, making a way, collecting evidence that you are favoured by God for all the world to see?

At this moment in time the question reverberates, and I would not dare to try to answer it, except to say that we are told there is only One way. I would dare to suggest that unless the path we are on aims us at Him, our Way, Life and Truth, then maybe we have taken a wrong turning somewhere along the way, maybe we are hearing a voice quietly whispering ... "Where are you going my friend....?"

When the authorities of the day were considering what to do with those unstoppable followers of Jesus, even to the point of wanting to put them to death, a wise man among them spoke words that it would do well to hold in our hearts as we walk into the time ahead:

"Therefore in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:38 & 39)

Where are you going my friend ....?

"Acts...."

I just had a wonderful weekend with friends.  We laughed, ate, talked, played together in beautiful surroundings.  At various intervals we prayed for individuals, and finally for our beautiful nation and its people.  It felt like living in an "Acts" environment, our unity was not because we all met in the same building, or under the same banner, but because of our shared love and life in Jesus Christ which we were continuing to live even in this environment.

When I came back I was told a little of other meetings that had taken place in the city over the same weekend.  At one of them an invited overseas speaker had asked where our own prophetic people were.

I'd like to suggest that some of our own prophetic people were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing ... they were meeting, ministering, praying and having fellowship in Jesus Christ. 

They were encouraging one another forward in a most trying and difficult time. 

They were praying for greater strength, anointing, and endurance to continue in the race.

They were listening to God speaking through various ones present and responding to His voice and heart in prayer.

They were wrapping their arms, love and prayer around those who have been wounded and grown weary along the way.

I know of others visiting and ministering in fellowships in 'off the track' places that important invited people would probably never get too.

Those of you who know me will understand that I am reasonably mild-mannered and not often given over to anger.  However, at the end of our prayer time something arose from deep within me and I found myself 'roaring' into the heavenlies the enormous pain and concern I feel for this nation, while others wept over the place we find ourselves at this time.

The following day I was back amongst the women and children who are representative of the pain and disfunction of this nation.  Monday night I sat and listened again to their stories, their courage, and their pain and anger.  Today, as a result, I am spending another Tuesday weeping.

"Where are our people?"

My prayer and hope is that they are crying out to God to be positioned by Him IN AND FOR THIS TIME.  I desperately ask that He would reach into our lives and bring His transforming truth before it is too late.  My heart's desire is that our itchy ears would be opened to hear His voice, and our eyes would begin to look for and desire ONLY His face.

Perhaps then there will be no-one coming to ask such questions because the answer will be obvious for all to see.

Dear Jesus, lead us in the paths of righteousness for the sake of Your Name.  Please give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand what is important in Your heart in this season.  Give us love for You and one another that truly shows who you are.  And please dear Lord, give us grace, grace, grace for this season.