Life of an Apostle: Barnabas

Week Three here at IHOP-ATLANTA (http://www.ihop-atlanta.com/) and I am loving it!
My vision for the house of prayer is being greatly strengthened, I am growing in my leadership gifting, and falling in love with those I'm running with more and more. It is truly a privilege to give my life to night and day worship and prayer to the only One worthy of it, Jesus Christ. Sometimes I think about how 24/7 worship and prayer could be viewed as too much, excessive, or too radical, except for the fact that Jesus alone is worthy of it. It is the only reasonable response to His Beauty and Worth. That is how it happens in the Throne Room of heaven, day and night they do not cease to praise Him. God is raising up a generation of lovesick warriors and worshippers who will sit at Christ's feet like Mary of Bethany, hearing His word and beholding his beauty, and this part will not be taken from them (Luke 10:42). His Beauty necessitates a response.

I am in my last year of ministry school at IHOPU (International House of Prayer University). I am continuing to take classes though here in Atlanta for a semester through the e-school. Monday we had to turn in a group project concerning the life of an apostle in the early church. My group chose Barnabas. Thought I would share it with you as well. Let me know what you think!

To better explain the video, the first is a "worship with the Word" experience around the life of Barnabas. I chose 5 different scenes in his life that we spontaneously sang around, in an antiphonal style. It is supposed to be humorous, but also truthful regarding snippets of this powerful apostle's life. The second video is a brief oral presentation concerning some of Barnabas' journey in ministry.
May you be blessed!

Surprise!!

Today I was surprised...

I was surprised with a package from my sister! I happened to be gazing out the window when I see the postman walking to the door with a box. I open the door and grab it from him. Lo and behold, it was for me! From my sister. Puzzled and excited (it wasn't my birthday, or any special occasion) I open it and am filled with joy, excitement, and glee as I read the card and slowly go through every goodie inside the box! I couldn't stop smiling, filled with joy and excitement down to discovering the last item. I love surprises! I always feel like God set me up.

Can you imagine Him (humor me) saying this morning as I awoke and prepared for the day: "Today's the day!..She has no idea!..(to the angel) Michael shhh...I've got to see this!" He's sitting on the edge of His throne...elated with excitement, bubbling. He thought the whole thing up! There I am sitting and reading on the couch, not a clue. The one morning I happen to be home, and by the door...here comes the mail man...Can you imagine the excitement in God's heart as everything is unfolding? I can! God totally loves to surprise us, to show up in the big and small things. He's cheering us on, in the small things holding our hands and celebrating our small victories and the big breakthroughs. He's celebrating my sister and filled her with joy and love as she put the package together. He's been delighting in me, in both the big and small and He just loves...loves to reveal who He is to us.

Wherever you are...whether working through areas of offense in your heart, in a seemingly dry spell, feeling distant from God, wherever and whatever it doesn't matter...God's inviting you to know Him. He's not far. You can have as much of God as you so desire: Open your Bible, sing to Him, pour out your heart and ask for Him to open your eyes to who He is. He will. I love the God of surprises!
If you have any prayer requests feel free to leave them in the comment or email me.

God's call for your life: to love God

I think you will greatly enjoy this brief 10-minute message on the First and Greatest Commandment. Tell me how it impacted you!

The God who waits...

God wants to hear our voices.
When was the last time He heard your voice in the secret place? He longs to hear our voices.
Isa. 30:18-19-"..the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you...He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you."

The Lord says He wants to be gracious to you, but He waits for the sound of your cry. He's not in a hurry. God actually waits for something.  It's your voice. And when He hears it, Isaiah 30 says, then He will answer you. God starves us out of our prayerlessness by withholding things until we ask Him, because He wants interaction with our hearts. Too busy to pray? He'll wait (and so will you). There is so much more (revelation, wisdom, understanding, direction, provision, relational/emotional/physical healing, etc) God has for you...but He WILL NOT RELEASE IT until He hears from you.

Phil 4:6-7-Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer...let your requests be made known to God...

God is waiting to be gracious to you, and He will wait until He hears your cry. Its your voice that He is longing to hear, and no one can raise your voice but you. This is about relationship; It's about intimacy with God. Often I have found myself worrying about something, over thinking it, calculating it, talking to friends about it (losing time and energy)...but have I made it known to God? How much sleep have you lost worrying about something? Quit your fretting and make your requests known to God. Get known in heaven. Persistent, believing prayer changes things. Does God know you (Matt 7:21-13)?

He's longing to hear your voice. Will you lift up? He's waiting.

And for Fun, a video from last year (I'm on the drums):

From Hope City

The Lord is enough for us and We are enough for Him

Family and Friends,

This is a short preach I did in my practicum last week on being enough for God. I pray it blesses you!

The Fear of the Lord

John Mulinde from Uganda visited IHOP about a week ago.
As we enter into this Lenten season, this is a timely word. The Bible says the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. John speaks about how the Lord appeared to him, and the result is the fear of the Lord. Watch:

Bible Marathon, Discipleship, and trip home

Last weekend I was privileged to join something I had never done before. As a 3rd and 4th year class at IHOPU we took up the opportunity to read the Bible from cover to cover nonstop (morning and night) in 72 hours. It was amazing! We actually ended a few hours early (more time was given for Psalms then needed). As a class we started 6pm Thursday night and went around the clock reading just the Bible, ending Sunday afternoon around 2pm. There was a public reader reading on a microphone, while the rest in the room followed along. Every ten minutes the reader switched, with two microphone's being set up, so as one ended a sentence the other began so as to have no interruptions.

Needless to say from this experience I have fallen in love again with the Living Word of God. I felt so washed. I would go in the room, and all the traffic and noise in my soul would cease. My inner man came into alignment with the Word, and I began receiving insight and revelation in the Word (and even into my heart). The Word of God can calm the storms within, and bring clarity where there was confusion. We know that it is the Word put into action that is most powerful and liberating (not just head knowledge). Nonetheless, most of us today suffer from Bible-illiteracy (lack of knowing the Bible) so this was very helpful. If any of you are reading this and getting ideas of possibly wanting to do a public Bible reading (at your church, a home group, on your campus, etc) let me know and I can give some helpful advice.

I would have to say my favorite aspect of ministry school so far has been the discipleship component. I am being discipled (meaning, to teach or train) by leaders, and am discipling (teaching/training) others to become more like Christ. The best way to learn how to pray is to actually pray (not just think in your head), and the best way to grow in leading others is to actually lead. I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to lead others closer to Christ. Proverbs 11:25- A generous man will prospoer; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Here is a picture of me, Rachael (to my right, we lead together), and 9 of the 10 ministry students we lead. We are at a look out in Los Angeles before a prayer time.

Here I am with Katie and Charity (sisters) from my home church. I've been mentoring them for a year and a half. They are awesome girls!

Heading home tomorrow, I hope to see as many of you as I can in my short time there. Thank you so much again for your partnership! Merry Christmas to you all!

Ministry Trip to Southern California

On November 4th-14th I joined about 300 students from IHOPU on a ministry trip to Southern California where we preached the gospel, prayed for the sick, lead prayer meetings at local churches and universities, and strengthened the believers at local Universities.

I helped lead a team (20 ladies) in Downtown Los Angeles. We spent the majority of our time ministering at the University of Southern California. I've never been on a ministry trip filled with so much prayer! I loved it! We prayer walked around the campus 7 times in the span of 3 days (2 laps took about 1 hour:).

We helped lead prayer meetings on both the USC and UCLA campus. It was great meeting people, sharing my testimony, and praying with believers. I helped lead worship at many of the different sites both on percussion and guitar.

Here I am playing in the background while different ones share their testimony of what God has done in their life.

Lastly, here I am standing where William Seymour, a one eyed preacher, who was a son of former slaves, preached holding meetings on Azusa Street 100 years ago. It was from these gatherings of prayer, healing, and worship that went every day for 3 years, that the Charismatic and Pentecostal Movement began (Today, there are over 600 million Charismatics/Pentecostals around the world. Charismatic Catholics are the fastest growing group among Catholics around the world).
What has most moved me about William Seymour is his life of prayer, his humility, and his strong desire to see believers walking in love.

Here I am standing at the very spot where the Apostolic Faith Mission stood on Azusa street. It was here that Seymour preached, with notable signs and wonders following. It really was a sacred moment.

Here I am practicing....