04.30.2012 Faith May Not Fail

Sitting in the prayer room this morning the worship team began to sing a line that touched my heart. “I have prayed that your faith would not fail.” I was struck with the tenderness of the Lord toward not only Peter but all of us.

The setting was the Last Supper in the upper room. You know, Jesus washing the feet of the disciples, Peter’s objections, as recorded in John 13 and somewhere in the mix of the evening they all had a dispute about who would be the greatest. We really are no different than the first twelve disciples are we!

It was in this context of wondering who was going to be considered the greatest that Jesus spoke to Peter specifically and said in Luke 22:31, 32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Lets consider the word sift. In the Greek it refers to ‘inward agitation to try one’s faith to the verge of overthrow. Anyone able to relate to having enough inward agitation to the verge of overthrow besides me? How about faith in verse 32? Part of the Greek meaning here is “fidelity, faithfulness, the character of one who can be relied on.”

So here we have Jesus giving Peter a heads up that the enemy was going to be showing up to mess with him but He gave the awesome encouragement that He had prayed for him regarding the matter. Jesus had prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail and part of that prayer included the concept that Peter would have the character of one who could be relied on!

I don’t know how this might be striking you but it brought such a comfort to me this morning to know that I am not in this thing alone but I have the Son of God that prays to His Father that my faith might not fail when I am ‘sifted’. I also love that He is the one that sees the beginning to the end. He was not merely seeing Peter’s imminent failure at faithfulness but the Peter who would request to be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to die in the manner of his Lord.

Just looking at this little picture of Peter consider the power of the prayers of Jesus to transform a heart….and be encouraged! He is sitting at the right hand of the Father even now interceding for you. Know that I am also going to incorporate Luke 22:32 in my prayers for you all too! It is a most excellent prayer after all.

04.08.2012 Resurrection Day!

I must say that I was a bit taken aback when I opened up this blog to put in a new post to see that it has been since January since I had written here! I actually found a February note in my draft box, so I went ahead and just posted it too. My goodness, where does time go? Easter Sunday, what a day of promises remembered! I trust this note finds you all well and hanging on tight to His words, both the written and His spoken words that He has whispered in your heart.

This has been an unusually quiet day and it has given me occasion to consider the journey I have been on for the past 37 years, as of the 12th this week. To look back at the different seasons through the years has been a bit breath taking. I even plotted out a time line and kept running out of space! There were several things that arose in my heart within this process but a line from a Kevin Prosch song kept echoing through my head, "...what have I lost?" The premise is that in light of His great love, grace, mercy, provisions...salvation, what have I lost in this life compared to Him? Everything else does pale and fade away when we really look at Him, seeing the fire of love in His eyes. Song of Solomon 7: 10 "I am my Beloved's and His desire is for me." That is true of me and it is just as true for you! I also hit up YouTube for a little Jason Upton this evening and revisited an old friend, the song No Sacrifice. Within the chorus it says, "This is no sacrifice, here's my life." We have probably all heard that 'you can't out give God', and I think that is true. Consider, He gave all of Himself, even unto death on a cross, that we might be with Him where He is. We say we want to be like Him, right? Well, know that it will cost me and you no less than it cost Him: our all. But what an awesome exchange rate!

With that being said, looking back at the journey I have traveled it has been marked by so many ups, downs, victories and many defeats and failures. It is my testimony that He has never left me. On this Easter Sunday I am grateful that He is the God of rescue; the God of my salvation who has given me Life rather than what I deserve. I am thankful for His leadership as He has taken me places that have revealed more of His beauty to my heart. He has brought me to a place where it is not a sacrifice or duty to do life with Jesus but it has become my joy.

Things are well here in KC. I am in full swing with the transcription, which seems to be hand picked by the Father for me each week. Literally by the time I have finished with a CD I have heard it, typed it, read it, listened to it, etc. (you get the picture!) about six times. This is remedial school for Heather because I need it! The word will get in me one way or another. I am serving on three prophecy teams each week, which continues to challenge me and gives such a sweet opportunity to touch the hearts of men and women, young and old from all over the globe. This past month God has made it abundantly clear, i.e. He has been tracking me down like a dog, that I am to be involved with the evangelism department as well as the deliverance training here on base. If I had the time to write out those stories and you had time to read them, you would be laughing as much as I have sensed His laughter about it all! So we will see what that all looks like in the near future!

Blessings and grace to you all as we continue on into the spring!

02.11.2012 "He will make your way straight..."

Proverbs 3:6 "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."


"And it feels like coming home, through the dark and in the rain." In the Fall of '08,these were the words being sung as I walked into the prayer room here at IHOP-KC at the start of my first internship. I remember I just starting weeping and didn't know why. It took me some time to get a clue, but I got it! What a journey since that Fall to find my way back here now as staff, on base and plugged in. I am actually astounded at what all has transpired the past weeks since returning from Mom's. What could have been a difficult transition turned out to be nothing more than walking through doors that God prepared for me here. And I could not have imagined what He had come up with! I so appreciate everyone's prayer and encouragement. Some of you have been pressing me forward and encouraging me for years now. Thank you!

So my primary place of service here on the base will be doing transcription for one of the leaders. The most amazing thing is that if/when I need to go and tend to mom, there is a website that the CDs can be downloaded to and I pick them up with the password. If I "want to", I can actually work from mom's. This, in one moment, annihilated my concern/fear of getting established here on base and then having to drop it all to take care of mom. That is no longer an issue and the relief is huge! I would never have imagined this was a possibility in any position on the base. It is glorious! I have also been asked to be on a couple of prophecy teams. I have had a blast on one of those teams already, having opportunity to once again touch the nations one person at a time. This week there were 3 from Russia, one from China, and one from Nairobi. I love this aspect of being here!

Mom actually returned to her home this past Tuesday! Thank you all for your prayers and concerns. David is spending these first few days with her making sure she has everything she needs. Home Health is going to keep her busy as they are continuing physical therapy at home for a while. We really did not know if this would be possible when she got sick in December, so, again, I am pretty amazed at the work of God on our behalf.

Something that struck me last week was how tender the Father is in His dealings with us. Tender: Marked by, responding to, or expressing the softer emotions, showing care, delicate or soft in quality or tone, consideration, regard,

Psalm 25:6 "Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and your lovingkindness, for they are of old."

Colossians 3:12-14 "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness,; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must do. But above all things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."

Oh that we might be like Him. Thank you all for your friendship, love, prayers and support. You all are a part of everything I do here!

01.18.2012 Seasons and Times

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

Seasons and times....I have been knit to Ecclesiastes 3 for years, you know, the old school song, "Turn, Turn, Turn", for those older than 20! "A time to be born; a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what has been planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to cast away stone and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to sew and a time to tear; a time to keep silence and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace." I don't know why this has always brought me such comfort because in the midst of it there comes questions. I mean is the Word telling us there is a time to hate...when Jesus says to hate your brother is as murder? Ahhh, I think He loves when we have to search out His heart and His secrets! So I won't even try to touch that question and will let you take it to Him.

All that to say, that I arrived back in KC to the International House of Prayer on December 16, ready for my new season to begin. Well, on December 20 my mom ended up in a medical crisis and on life support in Arkansas. So I have spent the last 4 weeks with her. I must say God did a healing miracle in her. I have talked with a couple of women who almost died this last year with the same scenario. One spent 2 weeks in ICU and went home with IV antibiotics. The other was 36, spent 9 days in the hospital and her white blood count wasn't anywhere near as high as moms. Literally the next day after this crisis hit, mom was breathing on her own, no temp and her white count had gone from 33,000 to 16,000 over night....for all you medical folks. She was sitting in her ICU bed that day working crossword puzzles and watching Wheel of Fortune, like every other night! So yes, I have been really considering seasons the past couple of months. Obviously God still has plans for Ngaire! She is in a nursing facility at this time for occupational/physical therapy to see what strength she can gain and plans on returning to her home, perhaps with some hired help. We will see. I would so appreciate continued prayers for her. And thank you so much for all the concerns and prayers that have supported us through this little season.

As for me, I returned to KC on Tuesday, Janurary 17. I have found a joy bubbling under the surface, though I still don't know what this is going to look like. What I do know is that His timing is perfect and through it all...Ecc 3....(you should take a slow walk through that chapter) He holds my heart. That comforts me and may it comfort you as we kick into 2012. Love you guys much and am so grateful for how He has added you all to my life! Blessings and grace.....