YOU CAN FOLLOW THIS LINK TO OUR NEW INTERNET ADDRESS: www.HisKingdomReign.com

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Over the past year, God has been challenging me to embrace a new name for this ministry and to occupy a new domain here on the internet.

He’s also challenged me to examine my personal life and honestly answer some rather tough questions in light of the choices I make every day.

When I make decisions on my own without consulting Him I hear the question “Who’s kingdom is it anyway?”.

When I stubbornly refuse to do the uncomfortable and resist His challenge to believe in extra-ordinary possibilities, He quietly whispers “Who’s sitting on the throne now?”

Time and again I have had to repent and confess that it’s HIS kingdom and that HE is the one who rules and reigns over me.

I am the one who should be at HIS beck and call, not the other way around.

That’s why a change in name and domain is so significant for this ministry.

It’s not about me, IT’S ABOUT HIM.

It’s not about Him coming alongside my life; it’s about my life coming alongside His plans and purposes.

YOU’RE WELCOME TO JOIN US AS WE EMBRACE THIS NEW LIFESTYLE THAT CHANGES OUR FOCUS AND MOVES US INTO A NEW DOMAIN THAT HE’S RESERVED FOR US!

IT’S ONLY A CLICK AWAY AT www.HisKingdomReign.com

This morning I found out about another thing God’s got on His agenda for this spring.

It’s called Reign Down USA.

It’s scheduled to take place on Saturday April 26, 2008

Click on “The Vision” tab at the top of the page.  When you get there and be inspired by the story of a kingdom person who’s living a kingdom lifestyle that is accomplishing kingdom purposes!

(They’ll even keep you posted on the most recent developments if you give them your email address).

Check it out at reigndownusa.com

It all started with a dream:

I was seated at a table with a white cloth. Before me was spread an elaborate place setting for a very formal dinner.

The most surprising thing of all was that none of the dishes were in their proper place. A beautiful crystal goblet was laying on its side. . . the plate was upside down. . .the silverware was scattered about.

In my mind I began to criticize the person who had so carelessly set the table. In an instant I sensed the Lord leaning over my right shoulder, and I knew immediately that I was the one who was responsible for setting the table.

My face blushed in shame and tears welled up in my eyes as I hurriedly attempted to straighten out the mess I had made. Suddenly I realized that I had no idea how this table should look. My mind was a total blank and I began to weep uncontrollably.

The Lord began to comfort and reassure me with the tender love of a father and the gentle patience of a teacher.

I watched as His strong right arm silently swept all of the silverware, delicate crystal and china off to one side without chipping anything. As He did this, I sensed that He was sweeping His arm across my life and clearing away all of my projects, activities, desires, concerns and responsibilities. (I also knew that He would be the one to “re-set” my table; and that I was to keep my hands folded in my lap, listen and learn!)

He began to replace each piece while patiently explaining why the plate and the goblet must be placed upright, and why I should resist that urge to grab the napkin from the pile. “No, not yet. . .you won’t be needing that until the food arrives. It’s not ready yet.”

Later I came across this scripture - “Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here, for I am your servant.” (Luke 22:27 NLT)

I’m finding myself in a similar situation as of late. So much of what has been familiar, comfortable, stable and predictable in my life has been swept away recently.

I’ve found myself grieving for what used to be but no longer is . And yet in those dark moments (thankfully they’ve only been moments) I force myself to lift my head above the wave that threatens to sweep over me and declare that my King is still on His throne.

Then in the flash of a moment, my King is there. He draws me onto His lap, wraps me in His warm embrace and begins to whisper all of His promises in my ear once again. . .

You are seated with me in heavenly places. (Ephesian 2:4-7 NIV)

I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5 NIV)

In all things, I work for the good of those who love Me, who have been called according to My purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)

I am your Shepherd, you shall not want. (Psalm 23:1 NIV)

And some people wonder why I love Him so much. . .

My oldest son (age 13) sent me an email a few months ago. I was surprised to find it in my “in box” because he never sends me emails. He said he was sorry that I was hurting so badly and hoped that I’d get better soon. It was the last line that pierced my heart “I miss the old mom”.

I began wondering what he meant by “the old mom”. What did he remember that I wasn’t able to do anymore?

I remembered the days when I ran a registered daycare in my home. It was my home-based business, and I took it very seriously. In order to be reimbursed for the meals I served, I had to prepare nutritious menu plans and meals. The house was kept very clean to keep everyone (especially my own children) healthy. The rooms were picked up frequently so that little feet wouldn’t trip and fall over a lot of clutter. That’s what came to my mind when he mentioned “the old mom”.

Once I went to work away from home, my attention shifted. I had a new business to run and my home-keeping at times slipped into hobby status.

As I was pondering this, I began asking God what I should do.

“The Smidt Family Bed and Breakfast” is what came to mind.

At first I argued with Him. “I don’t want another job!!!” But over the course of several days My Heavenly Daddy began to remind me about all of the times that people have noticed my gift of hospitality. He also reminded me of the times that I had experienced the gift of hospitality in the homes of my friends and family.

I began to realize that I wasn’t supposed to run this “home based business” by myself. He wanted me to teach my entire family about the gift of hospitality and teach them some of the necessary skills (like meal planning, food prep, and clean-up). But I noticed there was an unexpected by product of this teaching time.

They began to enjoy the fellowship with me in the kitchen and take pride in the new skills they’re learning. My youngest son is becoming an expert at running the bread machine. We’ve enjoyed fresh hot bread at our meals, caramel rolls, homemade pizza and now we’re moving on to homemade buns.

We’ve also come to realize that my oldest son has a real talent when it comes to selecting seasonings to flavor up the food we’re cooking. Each of them have learned how to set a table properly and they even enjoy lighting candles as part of our evening meal preparations.

They’re beginning to enjoy their own gifts of hospitality. And I’m beginning to realize that “The Smidt Family B&B is actually more of a ministry than a business.

As my children grow up and move away, they’ll have the opportunity to open their own little franchises. And who knows; once their friends experience that gift of hospitality, perhaps they too will be inspired to open a franchise as well.

Learning to LISTEN to God is something totally different.

Have you ever asked someone to do something for you, only to have them give absolutely no response to your request?

Then, when you try to get their attention again, they give you this irritated response;

“I HEARD YOU!”.

I wonder how often we’ve done that to God.

We know what He wants us to do. . . we’ll get around to it eventually. . . it’s just not at the top of our priority list right now.

Perhaps part of our problem is that we picture our Heavenly Father sitting in a recliner in the living room of our lives.

Would our response to Him and our priorities be different if we really understood the reality of who He is?

In chapter 17 of the book of Matthew, three disciples were given the opportunity to see Jesus and His Father the way they really are:

2 As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

4 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials*-one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said,”This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. (NLT)

In the blink of an eye their perspective had changed.

Once that bright cloud overshadowed them, they lost site of that bright idea that threatened to distract them.

In the swirling mist they were once again able to focus on that which was truly important. . . listening.

REALLY listening.

Our Heavenly Daddy loves us deeply and unconditionally. It’s really hard for human beings to understand the depth of His love for us, because most of us have never had an opportunity to experience anything that comes close to unconditional love.

Yet in the midst of this unconditional love is the ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY of the CREATOR, RULER and SUSTAINER of EVERYTHING.

SO LISTEN TO HIM !

You’ve asked God to help you re-examine your PRIORITIES (be sure to take notes!)

You’re carefully PRUNING away activities and projects that don’t reflect these new priorities.

The next step is a challenging one :

To DISCIPLINE yourself by making each day’s decisions based on these new priorities.

Old habits die hard. Distractions will inevitably come along and tempt you to loose focus and fall back into the comfortable and the familiar.

Just remember that the height of insanity is to continue to do the same things you’ve always done and expect a different result.

Don’t expect to do it perfectly at first. Anything worth doing is worth doing badly until you can do it well. Don’t let your pride and fear of failure become stumbling blocks on this new stretch of road God is leading you down.

Humility is a good thing. It helps you realize just how weak and inadequate you truly are.

This was to be the first one in 2008.

As we were waiting for the last few people to arrive, I asked if life had managed to get back to normal yet.

It seemed as if everyone had at least one unfinished project that they were focused on.

As they were sharing, this picture came to mind. . .

It was a like a clip from one of those Saturday morning cartoons I watched when I was little.

This poor little turtle was trying to creep across a VERY busy dirt road. After several failed attempts, he finally gathered up enough courage to dive in and take his chances. Once the dust cleared, there was nothing left but an empty shell spinning on its back in the middle of the road.

I found this picture extremely funny, because many of us were facing physical conditions this Christmas season that slowed down our speed.

Two of us had painful knees, one of us had a sore foot, one had a pain in the neck (and back) and we had two pregnancies and deliveries!!!

Our inside joke was that our battle cry this Christmas should be “TURTLE POWER !” and our motto, “slow and steady wins the race”.

As the dust begins to settle and the spinning begins to stop, we’re able to stick our necks out far enough to realize that. . .

BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WE SURVIVED!

(THANK YOU JESUS!)

I don’t even remember how I ran across this website, but I want to make all of you aware of an ALTERNATIVE or a UNIQUE ADDITION to your New Year’s eve celebration.

The vision for Tiny Lights originated in the UK, but I know God would be even more pleased to look down from heaven and see “Tiny Lights” glowing in every time zone around the globe as people pray and celebrate the coming of a new year.

That’s why we’re going to be hosting a Tiny Lights prayer gathering for our contacts here in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

If you’d like to join us, check out the “Local Events” tab on the top right hand column of our website.

I’m hoping that the rest of you will prayerfully consider hosting one in your home for your family and friends; or perhaps even one in your church home for the members of your congregation.

Be sure to register your event. It’s free of charge, and you can then download a prayer guide and check out a video interview with Pastor Stephen Clark (the pastor who God is using to bring this idea not just to his own congregation but to his nation and the rest of the world).

HERE’S THE LINK: http://www.Tiny Lights.org/uk.

That’s why it’s so important that you are firmly convinced that these new priorities come along side what God is doing and where He is leading.

We are to adjust to HIS plans and purposes, not the other way around.

Where is God already at work around you?

Join Him there. . .

I’ve heard it said that the best way to find out what your REAL priorities are is to examine both your checkbook and your calendar. That is where you will find the evidence that reveals what your priorities really are.

It also brings you face to face with the difference between NEEDS and WANTS.

I WANT to be pain and drug free.

But the reality of my life right now is that I NEED to depend on pain relievers and muscle relaxants so that I can do my job and take care of my family.

I WANT to rest and relax when I get home at night.

But I NEED to set aside time to do all of the exercises my physical therapist has assigned to me if I want to regain my strength and flexibility.

But I’m a three part being. I have a mind and an eternal spirit that lives inside of this earth suit called a body.

I WANT to be able to correctly handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

But I NEED to devote substantial amounts of time to study if I want to make that a reality in my life.

And that brings us back to where we started - PRIORITIES.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see your priorities as they really are, and ask Him if there are any adjustments you need to make.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31 & 32 (NIV)

You see, I was in a car accident this past July.

Doctors and physical therapists are trying to help me regain my speed and stamina; but the pain and the resulting inactivity have had a major impact on my body.

I’ve taken a great deal of comfort in a passage of scripture found in 2 Corinthians Chapter4 verses 16 and 17 (all scriptures are taken from the NIV).

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

And Romans 8:28 promises me this:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I serve the King of The Universe.

He comes to visit my bedside, and strengthens me with words of comfort like these.

In the midst of the aches and pains, He has been teaching me that He loves me unconditionally - even when I’m no longer able to”produce” like I used to.

That realization touches me deeply. . .

It’s called Paradise 08.

The first time I hopped on the website I cried. What they were sharing and showing aligned so closely with what God has been talking to me about for quite some time. . .

I was so excited to find out that the gentleman God was using to make this vision a reality would be sharing his story with us at the Mission America Coalition’s annual gathering in Kansas City. I was able to speak with Him ever so briefly, and He said it wasn’t just the two of us that God has been sharing this with. He said he’s finding people all over who have been hearing God talk about it.

After I got home from the conference, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes from a book called “Experiencing God” by Henry T. Blackaby and Caude V. King.

“When I see the Father at work around me, that is my invitation to adjust my life to Him and join Him in that work.”

I’m seeing The Father at work in Paradise 08, and I’m adjusting my life to join Him on this journey.

Paradise 08 is more than an event that will take place on a grassy Kansas field near the geographical heart of the nation. It is a spiritual pilgrimage of the heart and soul for anyone who is willing to take the journey. It’s a journey towards discovering Jesus as your currently reigning and majestic King.

At this point, I’m not sure what kinds of adjustments I’ll need to make in my life - but I’m willing to make them for the sake of deepening my relationship with Him.

Won’t you join me on this journey? Check out www.paradise08 to learn more and give it your prayerful consideration.

(I invested the $22 to gain access to the study materials. . . best investment I’ve made in a long time.)

I was rubbing elbows with national leaders who’s ministries have had a profound impact on my life-

I was able to hear the stories of major cities and nations that are being transformed through the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power-

But to quote Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz - we’re not in Kansas anymore.

The long drive back to South Dakota gave me time to think and ponder. And every hour brought me closer back to the reality in which I live. . .

Then I was led to this scripture:

The angel of the Lord sat down next to Gideon as he was thrashing wheat and made a surprising statement. (see Judges 6:12-16 in the NIV)

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you mighty warrior.”

“But sir,” Gideon replied “if he Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

But Lord, ” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.

The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”

SO NOW, I GO IN THE STRENGTH I HAVE. . .

Just some thoughts I’ve been having around Matthew 25:

“Then those ’sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ And the King will say:

I was sitting under the underpass and you stopped to say hello.

I was busking in the tube and you gave me 50 pence.

I was sat on an upturned basket, outside Sainsbury’s, and you bought the Big Issue from me.

I was on my own on the bus, exhausted and afraid, and your smile brightened my day.

I was struggling to get my pushchair up the steps and you helped lift it up.

I was late for work and you let me go ahead of you in the queue.

I was down to my last few pence and you shared your lunch.

I was walking up hill and you gave me a lift.

I was drowning in debt, and you helped me work out a budget.

I was keeping it all secret and you made the effort to see how I was.

I was lonely and you walked home the long way with me.

I was frightened about the results and you held my hand.

I was losing hope and you shared your story.

I was grieving and you cried too.

I was drowning my sorrows and you bought me a coke.

I was wearing a mask and you peered behind it.

I was ashamed of myself and you didn’t judge me.

Audrey Smidt (no network) wrote at 8:07am How beautiful. . . Coming from the states, I don’t completely understand “busking the tube”, the value of 50 pence, what a Big Issue is or the queue. But your rendition of Matthew 25 drove home for me how our lifestyle as a Christ-follower transcends both time and culture. You’ve also challenged me to try and rewrite Matthew 25 DAILY by making the most of every opportunity that God brings my way. Can I share this with everyone on kingdomreign.net? I know they’d appreciate it as much as I did this morning. Thank You for the food for my thoughts today!

I’ve spent the last month “investing” in some “real estate” on the internet. . .

The little piece of property I’ve been building on can be found at the intersection of Facebook and MyChurch.

The cool thing about this property is that building costs were minimal since I had already invested in an internet connection and my laptop.

I’ve been able to meet lots of “new neighbors”. And some these new neighbors actually turned out to be old friends that I’d simply lost touch with once I had graduated or moved on to a different job.

Talk about expanding your sphere of influence in a hurry. . . here’s just one example of an online divine encounter.

I’ve been hearing about “boiler rooms” and have been very interested in these 24/7 prayer rooms. I was especially intrigued by a Salvation Army corps that had already developed one. I’m not even sure how I found out about a newly formed group on facebook that focused on teens and prayer. I began emailing the young woman who was developing the group and over the past month I have discovered that:

* She is actually a member of the corps in the UK that established the same boiler room that I had read about!

* She is familiar with Connecting Scotland (a prayer movement currently underway in Scotland that we here in Aberdeen, SD have partnered with). Not only is she familiar with them, she was present at the first planning meeting for that movement!

We’ve been able to share prayer requests, update each other on the latest “God things” happening on our side of the pond and been encouraged by what God is doing in our denomination and in our world.

It’s so much easier for me to think globally now. . .

And yet I’m also challenged to work locally. . .

I’ve been able to reconnect with some teens that I had worked with in a previous job. These junior high students that were so inspirational to me in the past are now in senior high; and I’ve been able to catch up on prom and homecoming details and learn about the ministries they’re currently involved in.

And as far as MyChurch.com? My current personal challenge is to see how big I can build a site for our corps without spending any money ! I love a challenge. . .

It just seems to make sense to do SOME building in high traffic areas. Then you can link them to your own little corner of the internet. . .

That’s my thought anyway. . . what are your thoughts?

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to
the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be
considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yeah,” said the son.

“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered:

“I saw that we have one dog and they had four.”

“We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have
a creek that has no end.”

“We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.”

“Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.”

“We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go
beyond our sight.”

“We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.”

“We buy our food, but they grow theirs.”

“We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to
protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would
happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.

In a classroom setting, the teacher will usually teach you ABOUT something first; and then created a situation or an environment that allows you to put into practice what you’ve just learned.

Lately it’s been just the opposite.

God has been walking us through situations with little more than a blind trust in Him and His ability to meet our every need. Then, when the dust settles (or the water recedes !) he begins to direct us towards scriptures and teaching materials that help us understand what we’ve just experienced.

During the month of May, we were focused on an Emergency Disaster response in the natural sense (The flooding that occurred here in Aberdeen).

During the months of June and July, many of us have felt as if we were involved in an Emergency Disaster response in the spiritual sense.

We have been praying and standing in faith alongside dear friends who are battling very serious issues; and the recovery process is not yet complete for many of them.

Now I find My Heavenly Papa teaching me about disaster response. . .

Every disaster (whether it’s a personal disaster or a community-wide disaster) involves both a physical and a spiritual component because we are spiritual beings living in physical bodies.

Therefore our response needs to be both practical (helping with felt needs) and spiritual (sensitively reaching out with the Holy Spirit’s guidance to meet them where they’re at on their journey).

Daddy may not be teaching us in the manner that we are used to, but He is an excellent teacher.

Summer vacation is over. Class is already in session. Everyone is welcome. Won’t you come too?

Here’s your first assignment. . .

Matthew 11:28-30

In January of 2007, I shared a thought-provoking email that I had received from a friend. It was entitled “The Pearl of Great Price” (click on these highlighted letters if you’d like to read that story for yourself).

I’ve found myself re-reading that story frequently since January, and I find myself asking the same question. . .

Is every THING and every ONE I cherish still totally surrendered to God?

It’s so easy to slip back into my selfish and self-centered ways and begin to see the “stuff” and the people within my sphere of influence as belonging to me.

The reality is, that I willingly “surrendered all” when I surrendered to Christ’s lordship. Now I am merely a steward, a caretaker of the things and the people within my sphere of influence.

That reality puts everything into a totally different perspective doesn’t it?

THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE.

When I think of defense; the picture that comes to mind is that of a soldier dug down into a fox hole or a castle on a high mountain with a draw bridge and a moat filled with alligators. The goal and aim of setting up a defensive position is to protect from danger and to maintain a position.

Here’s my question:

Have we as Christians gotten so comfortable playing defense that we’ve neglected or forgotten how to play offense?

DEFENSE is designed primarily for MAINTENANCE, not growth.

It’s designed more to keep you from falling behind than it is for helping you to get ahead.

THE GREAT COMMISSION is the ultimate OFFENSIVE play.

It’s a play that was called over 2,000 years ago by Jesus Christ, the greatest coach of all time. The problem is that many of the players on His team have either ripped out that section of the play book, or have simply refused to execute the play because they’re afraid of being offensive!

BUT !

You can’t be effective on the field if you are UNABLE to hear the coach’s voice or UNWILLING to execute the plays when the coach calls them.

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON. . .A TIME TO PLAY DEFENSE. . . A TIME TO PLAY OFFENSE. . .

The key to success is responding the plays as the coach calls them !

I took some time off from work on Friday for an impromptu meeting at a near by park.

Now I’m usually the one that’s preaching the sermon about “don’t forget to use bug spray!” but I had other things on my mind at the time and I forgot. . .

I have CLUSTERS of mosquito bites around both ankles, all over my arms, and some of those long-nosed nasties even managed to bite through my t-shirt !

As I was spreading calamine lotion everywhere verses from Ephesians Chapter 6 began popping into my mind. (You know, scriptures that talk about putting on the whole armor of God?). I had to chuckle because I had just shared that scripture in staff devotions on Tuesday. . .

I had asked everyone to roll their desk chairs into a little space we have just dedicated as a prayer room. Rolling our chairs into that room was a prophetic act of sorts. We were there to tell God that we meant business.

We’ve had so many of our key people profoundly affected by the flooding, several marriages are struggling, health issues seem to be popping up everywhere and more than a few people are having problems at work.

We’ve decided that enough is enough. We’re tired of being on the DEFENSIVE. . . we want to start being OFFENSIVE. (And believe me, nothing is more offensive to the enemy of our souls than the smell of a red-hot prayer.)

When I was in New York a few years back, I had the opportunity to listen to a journalist from Israel who was giving us some insight into what it’s like living in Jerusalem right now. Parents take each child to school in separate trips in case there is a bombing or a sniper on the way to school. At least this way they won’t loose their entire family.

They know what it means to be citizens of a country engaged in a war. They are constantly watching for signs of trouble and taking special precautions to make sure that everyone they care about is kept safe.

The problem is that many times we as Christians don’t seem to realize that we’ve been adopted into a kingdom that is engaged in a war! We slap at the mosquitoes when we feel them biting us, but often times we don’t take the time to do a little preventive maintenance. After all, it’s just a little mosquito bite.

You’re right, it is just a little mosquito bite. But an inflamed mosquito bite will irritate the daylights out of you for days on end; and it only takes one little bite for you to contract The West Nile Virus, an illness that can haunt you for the rest of your life.

Let me encourage you to study the principles found in Ephesians 6, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal !

The world often sees dependence as a sign of weakness and immaturity; and yet for the Christian, dependence on God should be seen as a sign of maturity and strength.

Adam and Eve declared their independence when they chose to eat the fruit from The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

You’re able to declare you’re “in-dependence” on God and in a right relationship with Him when you accept Christ’s death on the cross as the payment for all of “the forbidden fruit” you’ve eaten over the years.

If you’ve not yet surrendered your life Jesus, I invite you to do it now. He’s the only one who is able to pay the price of that expensive fruit called disobedience. He wants you to be in right relationship with His Father and experience the power of The Holy Spirit in your life.

Won’t you take a moment to declare “you’re in-dependence”?

He had read my blog and was hoping that I didn’t have him in mind when I was writing the section about picking up your gear and walking around the rapids.

I explained to him that THE NAME OF THE RIVER IS OBEDIENCE.

This morning as I was thinking back on our conversation; I began to realize that when you’re attempting to navigate your way down the River of Obedience you will occasionally be faced with a fork in the river.

You may begin sensing that God is asking you to make some significant changes in your life.

Transition is hard. (watch carefully now. . . I’m transitioning from a river parable to a gardening parable!).

It’s not much fun when God starts to till the hard soil in your life.

He flings fertilizer everywhere (remember those trials and testings?) and starts pruning your dead branches so that you can bear even more fruit. You’re faced with the prospects of giving up bad habits, prized possessions and your independence.

(OH NO! HERE COMES ANOTHER TRANSITION!)

When you’re in the delivery room and the labor pains are intense, the last thing you need is a room full of people telling you what to do.

A small circle of qualified people should be there to help you; but there comes a point in time where you don’t even listen to the nurse or your spouse. The only voice you’re listening to is the voice of your doctor (yep, I mean God).

There are times when WHAT HE’S ASKING YOU TO DO and WHAT HE’S DOING TO YOU are EXTREMELY PAINFUL ! And yet you have to trust him and follow His directions carefully if you want to cradle that little blessing in your arms.

It all boils down to that one word. . .OBEDIENCE.

1) You can climb out of the boat, turn your back on the whole thing and walk away because you’ve decided you don’t want to have anything more to do with white water rafting.

2) You can look at the rapids that lie ahead of you, pack up your gear and decide to carry your raft around the rapids because you don’t think you have the skills and equipment necessary to carry you through the next set of challenges.

3) You can set up camp right where you are and decide you’re never going back, you’re never going forward. You will dig in your heels and stay right where you are. (The problem with this choice is that chances are, your supplies will eventually run out and you’ll die if you refuse to move.)

4) You can grab an energy bar, take a big swig of water, strap down your gear, put on your life vest and go for it; knowing that you’ve got someone else in the boat with you who knows the river and promises that :

He will never leave you, nor forsake you. . .

He knows the plans He has for you, plans for a future and a hope. . .

He will not test you beyond what you are able to bear. . .

THE CHOICE IS UP TO YOU. . . WHERE’S YOUR FOCUS?

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

I feel like I’ve just run the rapids on a raging river. . . I’m praying that God will give us a patch of calm water to learn from what we’ve just been through and implement some of the ideas He’s given us to help improve our response next time.

Over the course of 2 weeks we prepared and distributed over 5,000 meals. (The story of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes has taken on a whole new meaning for me. . . those disciples were HOPPIN’ trying to get that much food distributed - and dealing with the leftovers is definitely a challenge !!!)

One of the most important lessons I learned? Even in the midst of a disaster response your PERSONAL prayer time is VITAL !!!

We prayed with every response crew before they went out. I was praying constantly asking Daddy to supply us with the needed materials and man (or wo-man) power. But I was so pre-occupied and distracted, I found sitting at His feet and allowing Him to feed me almost impossible. I was so busy doing I lost sight of the importance of being.

It’s taken me almost two weeks to find my center back, and feel like I’m able to hear His voice once again. It’s like trying to exist for two weeks in the wilderness with hardly any food or water. I hope I never make that same mistake again!

I’m hoping to be able to use this blog to record some of the awesome things God did and is still doing here in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

If you’re aware of any “God Things” that took place in your sphere of influence, please share them with me either in person or through the comments section here on KingdomReign.net

Click on the blue “Comments” link on the line below this one to read a few “God Things” going on so far.

In the after math of the flooding here in Aberdeen, South Dakota, it takes on a new meaning.

The Lord, the Lord Almighty called you on that day to weep and to wail, to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth. But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! “Let us eat and drink,” you say, “for tomorrow we die!” Isaiah 22:12 and 13.

How can I explain what’s going on in my heart right now? There is such a heaviness and yet it’s not depression. Perhaps a more accurate word would be impression.

I sense such a seriousness.

This window of time between today’s NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER (May 3rd) and THE GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER (May 27th) is very significant.

Since the prayer walk on April 15th, the Holy Spirit has been emphasizing repentance, humility and fasting (see Isaiah 58) to MANY of our key intercessors here. Yesterday an intercessor shared with me a very thought provoking statement.

The essence of her statement was this: When God is sizing up a city; He’s not as interested in what the ungodly are doing as He is interested in what His people are doing (or not doing). He judges a city by what He sees going on among His people there.

What a sobering thought.

If God is calling His people into a season of prayer, fasting, repentance and humility what will He see when He looks at our city?

Repentance or revelry?
Humility or joy?
Fasting or eating and drinking?

Oh Daddy, help us. . .

WHAT IS GOD SEEING NOW AS HE LOOKS AT HIS PEOPLE IN ABERDEEN?

Friends of flood victims refusing a meal for themselves so that “someone else who really needs one can have it”.

Weeping and wailing as His people embrace victims who have lost so much.

Sheltering of the homeless.

A record shattering food drive by the local letter carriers (20,000 pounds!).

AND SO MUCH MORE. . .

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/13/the-fasting-isaiah-58/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/09/the-flood/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/09/the-flood/#comments Wed, 09 May 2007 11:58:35 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/09/the-flood/ Pardon any typos and poor grammar, but this is gonna have to be quick.

Working. . .
Over 250 sack lunches twice a day plus an on-site hot meal. Drive by feedings from the canteen and a 14 passenger van in the areas hardest hit. Case work load breaking all time records. 200 flood kits distributed so far. A semi load of relief supplies landing this morning that will need to be unloaded, sorted and distributed.

Listening to stories. . .
Two different boat rescues. . .
One family pulled out of their home by an unknown someone. Dropped off on high ground and left to fend for themselves in the height of the storm.

Another rescue made more significant because it was their pastor at the helm who then took them to a hotel room and put them up for two nights on his personal credit card.

Watching. . .
(I’m not the only one watching - the congregations are watching their pastors, the city is watching the entire Christian community, and God is watching all of His people. Does their walk match their talk?)

Many pastors on 5 am to 11pm days fixing broken sump pumps, hauling out wet debris, getting tetanus shots because of the raw sewage they’re wading in all day. One pastor on our Emergency Disaster Services canteen, delivering food and comfort in his own neighborhood - his basement walls are caving in and he has just learned he’ll have to replace his entire basement. A Seventh Day Adventist pastor and a female Lutheran pastor praying with victims in the hallway of The Salvation Army Community Center. Would they have ever met under normal circumstances?

I firmly believe the best way to build a strong team is by walking through fire together.

The most interesting thing to me is the timing of all of this. Our emergency disaster coordinator had just met with the evangelical pastors a week ago to offer training on preparing your congregation for a disaster. I think God’s gotten our attention.

GOD MAKES ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSES.

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/09/the-flood/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/08/you-asked-for-it/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/08/you-asked-for-it/#comments Tue, 08 May 2007 05:32:06 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/08/you-asked-for-it/ For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring;
Isaiah 44:3 (NKJ)

Our area has been in the midst of a drought - in the PHYSICAL sense AND in the SPIRITUAL sense.

We’ve been asking God to replenish the subsoil moisture here.

We’ve also been asking him to flood the dry, thirsty ground in our souls.

THIS WEEKEND (SATURDAY MAY 5, 2007) GOD OPENED THE FLOOD GATES IN THE PHYSICAL REALM. . . over eight inches of rain in the course of a few short hours! As we struggle to cope with this abundance of water, I find myself standing in awe at God’s ability to do more than we could ever ask or imagine. I also find myself whispering this quiet prayer: “OH DADDY, FLOOD OUR HEARTS THE WAY YOU’VE FLOODED OUR LAND!”.

Steven Curtis Chapman has written a song called “Dive”. It’s based on Rom. 11:33-36; and Eph. 3:16-19

I just can’t seem to get this song out of my head!

The long awaited rains have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground
and carved their way to where the wild and rushing river can be found.
And like the rains I have been carried here to where the river flows, yeah.
My heart is racing and my knee are weak as I walk to the edge.
I know there is no turning back once my feet have left the ledge.
And in the rush I hear a voice that’s telling me it’s time to take the leap of faith
So here I go!

I’m diving in, I’m going deep in over my head, I want to be;
caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head, I wanna go.
The river’s deep, the river’s wide, the river’s water is alive.
So sink or swim, I’m diving in!

There is a supernatural power In this mighty river’s flow .
It can bring the dead to life and it can fill an empty soul.
And give a heart the only thing worth living and worth dying for, yeah.
But we will never know the awesome power of the grace of God.
until we let ourselves get swept away into this holy flood.
So if you’ll take my hand we’ll close our eyes and count to three
and take the leap of faith.

COME ON LET’S GO !

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/08/you-asked-for-it/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/04/lets-seek-the-lord-together/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/04/lets-seek-the-lord-together/#comments Fri, 04 May 2007 12:56:43 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/04/lets-seek-the-lord-together/ As I was browsing through the National Day of Prayer’s website I ran into this quote from Dr. Henry Blackaby and Claude King.

It was shared with the intercessors who met in the basement of the Brown County Court House at noon yesterday.

“Today we’re facing a period of moral and spiritual decline that is perhaps more rapid and widespread than ever in our history. Almost everywhere we go, we hear churches and people cry out for revival. They are saying that what they are experiencing is so bad, so dry, and so empty that they want a fresh touch from God. They want to experience God in the ways God’s people experienced His might power and presence in the Scriptures and in history. Some are experiencing a fresh breeze of God’s Spirit. Small mercy drops are falling in some localities. But many are saying, “We don’t know what to do.” Their heart cry is: “Is there a word from the Lord? What does God say we need to do?”

God’s Word has an answer for us. God has revealed Himself and His ways as He has worked with His people down through the ages. He has spoken clearly about His expectations and standards. He has revealed principles and described examples. He stands ready to pour out times of refreshing on the dry and thirsty ground of our lives. But He’s waiting on a people who are willing to pay the price of surrender and obedience to His will and His ways. He’s waiting on a people who will return with their whole heart to a love relationship with their Creator and Saviour. WILL YOU BE SUCH A PERSON? WILL YOU JOIN WITH OTHERS WHO ARE WILLING TO BE SUCH A PERSON?”

As we were visiting after our noon prayer time, two ladies shared with me that their small group had just finished up the 4 week study on prayer and transformation that this quote was promoting. They highly recommended this study to me, and so I now recommend it highly to you. It’s called “Fresh Encounter” and if you click on the title, you will be connected to The National Day of Prayer’s website where you can order a copy for yourself or your small group.

Here’s another little taste from the book to whet your appetite:

In Malachi 3:16 we read that “those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard.” We’ve prepared this devotional guide to facilitate that kind of conversation and prayer. We want God’s people to study His Word about revival and spiritual awakening. We want to help you talk about His will and His ways. We want to assist you in seeing His standards and choosing the return to Him. We want to encourage you to pray together with others to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Heb. 10:24)

We want God to move in our cities , in our nation and in our world; but often God requires that we provide part of the equation. Do we know what our part of the equation is? Are we willing to supply it?

LET’S SEEK THE LORD TOGETHER!

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/04/lets-seek-the-lord-together/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/03/national-day-of-prayer/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/03/national-day-of-prayer/#comments Thu, 03 May 2007 13:34:53 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/03/national-day-of-prayer/ The Lord, the Lord Almighty called you on that day to weep and to wail, to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth. But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! “Let us eat and drink,” you say, “for tomorrow we die!” Isaiah 22:12 and 13

How can I explain what’s going on in my heart right now? There is such a heaviness and yet it’s not DEpression. Perhaps a more accurate word would be IMpression.

I sense such a seriousness.

This window of time between today’s NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER and THE GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER (May 27th) is very significant.

Since the prayer walk on April 15th, the Holy Spirit has been emphasizing repentance, humility and fasting (see Isaiah 58) to MANY of our key intercessors here. Yesterday an intercessor shared with me a very thought provoking statement.

The essence of her statement was this: When God is sizing up a city; He’s not as interested in what the ungodly are doing as He is interested in what His people are doing (or not doing). He judges a city by what He sees going on among His people there.

What a sobering thought.

If God is calling His people into a season of prayer, fasting, repentance and humility what will He see when He looks at our city?

Repentance or revelry?
Humility or joy?
Fasting or eating and drinking?

Oh Daddy, help us. . .

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/05/03/national-day-of-prayer/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/16/and-god-said/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/16/and-god-said/#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:45:39 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/16/and-god-said/ (last updated 5-2-07)

God shared some thought-provoking scriptures with several of the downtown intercessors on the day of the prayer walk. He has also been sharing other scriptures with intercessors in the city as they have been called to cover other events in prayer. . .

THIS FIRST SET OF SCRIPTURES TAKE ON A SPECIAL MEANING WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT A REVIVAL SWEPT THROUGH ABERDEEN AND BROWN COUNTY IN THE EARLY 1900′S. IT WAS CALLED “The Honeywell Revival” AND A GROUP OF CHRISTIANS FROM MANY DENOMINATIONS THROUGH OUT BROWN COUNTY PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN IT. THIS GROUP OF INTERCESSORS CALLED THEMSELVES “The Brown County Holiness Association”.

(Please note that the verses emphasized in bold print are the verses that “jumped off the page” when I read them.)

Zechariah 1: 2-6 (NLT)
I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors.

Therefore say to the people, This is what the Lord Almighty says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty.’

Do not be like your ancestors who would not listen when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: Turn from your evil ways and stop all your evil practices.’

Your ancestors and their prophets are now long dead. But all the things I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said they would. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the Lord Almighty. He has done what he said he would do.’”

Isaiah 63: 15-19 (NLT)
Lord, look down from heaven and see us from your holy, glorious home. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now?

Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, Lord, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past.

Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants, and your special possession.

How briefly your holy people possessed the holy place, and now our enemies have destroyed it.

Lord, why do you treat us as though we never belonged to you? Why do you act a though we had never been known as your people?

Isaiah 64: 1-9 (NLT)
Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in your presence!

As fire causes wood to burn and water to boil, your coming would make the nations tremble. Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame!

When you came down long ago, you did awesome things beyond our highest expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked!

For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! You welcome those who cheerfully do good, who follow godly ways.

But we are not godly. We are constant sinners, so your anger is heavy on us. How can people like us be saved? We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.

Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins.

And yet, Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand. Oh, don’t be so angry with us Lord. Please don’t remember our sins forever. Look at us, we pray and see that we are all your people.

ANOTHER INTERCESSOR WAS LEAD TO THIS SCRIPTURE AFTER PRAYING THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AREA: (This scripture takes on greater significance when you realize that in the past, Aberdeen had a regional reputation for having the most bars with nude dancers.)

Habakkuk 2: 15 - 16 (NIV)
Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies.

You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed! The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you. and disgrace will cover your glory.

THIS NEXT SERIES OF SCRIPTURES CAME AS TWO INTERCESSORS WERE PRAYING NEARBY FOR A GROUP OF VISITING HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVISTS who were meeting in the area we had prayer walked just over a week before:

1 Corinthians 10: 12-14 (NLT)

If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.

But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.

So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.

Ephesians 2:1-9 (NLT)
Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God’s anger just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms - all because we are one with Christ Jesus. And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.

God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. HE HAS CREATED US ANEW IN CHRIST JESUS, SO THAT WE CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US LONG AGO.

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/16/and-god-said/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/14/preparation/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/14/preparation/#comments Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:46:19 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/14/preparation/ THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN PRAYING FOR OUR CITY!

I’ve not been able to make personal contact with many of you because our window of opportunity was tight on this particular prayer initiative. (I made first contact with the gentlemen in Aberdeen, Scotland on March 29th - just 16 days ago!).

I’ve been using the KingdomReign.net website to keep everyone updated on the most recent developments. Feel free to scan the last few entries if you’re interested in background information.

I’d like to share a couple of things with those of you who will be taking to the streets in prayer tomorrow (Sunday April 15, 2007):

In January of 2002, a group of Christians here in Aberdeen were meeting to discuss plans for Jesus Day. The question we were prayerfully asking was “What’s next, Lord?”

We began to sense that:
THE LORD WAS ASKING US TO GIVE HIM THE HEART OF THE CITY.

One of the scriptures that was shared was:
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Above all else, guard your heart
for it affects everything you do
(for from it flow the springs of life).

We began to realize that we as a city had not guarded our heart. We had allowed things in that were now affecting everything we did. We needed the Divine Physician to give us a heart transplant.

We were also reminded of the promises found in Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires,
and I will put a new spirit in you.
I will take out your stony heart of sin
and give you a new, obedient heart (a heart of flesh).

A song has been steadily running through my mind for the past few weeks. It’s called “Search Me, Know Me” by Mildred Rainey and Kathryn Scott. It’s based on Psalm 139 and I have used it often when asking God to examine the condition of MY OWN HEART. (Click on the title of the song to link to a website where you can listen for yourself.)

Here are the lyrics to the song:

Search me, know me, try me and see
every worthless affection hidden in me.
All I’m asking for,
is that You’d cleanse me Lord.

Create in me a heart that’s clean.
Conquer the power of secret shame.
Come wash away the guilty stain of all my sin.
Clothe me in robes of righteousness.
Cover my nakedness with grace.
All of my life before you now I humbly bring.

I encourage each of you to carve out some quiet time today and listen to this song and/or ponder Psalm 139. Please also prayerfully consider if God would want you to add fasting to your prayers on Sunday morning.

You are all warmly invited to prayerwalk your homes, businesses, churches and neighborhoods tomorrow and ask God renew the heart of our city.

FOR THE DOWNTOWN INTERCESSORS:
I will be providing you with a detailed map of this 16 block area and a list of suggested sites to cover in prayer. We’ll meet at 1pm in front of the Red Rooster Coffee House.

FOR EACH AND EVERY INTERCESSOR WHO HITS THE STREETS ON SUNDAY:
Aberdeen, SCOTLAND will be wrapping up their day of prayerwalking with a praise and prayer gathering at 8pm their time.

A time of worship and sharing will take place in Aberdeen, SOUTH DAKOTA from 2 pm to 3 pm at The Salvation Army chapel (across from Lincoln School in Aberdeen). If my calculations are correct, that would mean that both Aberdeens will be worshiping their Heavenly Daddy in stereo!

Please stop in, even if just for a few minutes and join in our time of sharing and celebration. We’d love to hear about your experiences!

GOD’S RICHEST BLESSINGS ON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/14/preparation/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/11/zechariah-820-and-21-niv/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/11/zechariah-820-and-21-niv/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:17:29 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/11/zechariah-820-and-21-niv/ One of my co-workers found this scripture last night. He brought it to work this morning to share with me. . .

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ “. Zechariah 8:20 and 21 (NIV)

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/11/zechariah-820-and-21-niv/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/11/prayerwalking-101/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/11/prayerwalking-101/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:54:13 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/11/prayerwalking-101/ I’ve been prayerwalking for a number of years now. I sometimes forget that this may be a new concept to some of us.

Prayerwalking is:
PRAYING ON SITE WITH INSIGHT
PRAYING ON SCENE WITHOUT MAKING A SCENE

I’d like to share a quote with you from Seek God for the City 2007:
“We’re not pushing God to get Him started. He’s already doing good things. And He has promised to do even better things. Instead of holding off the worst, these prayers are designed to help you ask God to bring on the best.

God is the one who is orchestrating the united prayer of which you are a part. He’s the one inspiring you to pray as never before. Why is He doing this? It could be that God is about to do some of the most amazing things that He has ever done. He wants us to pray for them all before they take place. That way He can explicitly receive thanks for doing them.”

Prayer prompts like Seek God for the City 2007 are a wonderful tool to get you started and help you focus - but the Holy Spirit is your ultimate “prayer prompter”.

(If you’d like to read about a personal experience I’ve had with this sort of prayer; type the words: The Way My Daddy Reads It in the blue search box in the upper right corner of this page. When you hit the search button, that journal entry will be loaded immediately below this one.)

Prayerwalking doesn’t have to be an event. It can (and quite possibly should) become a lifestyle. Then as we work, as we shop as we care for our neighbors and our homes we can claim the promises found in this scripture:

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
-Joshua 1:3

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/11/prayerwalking-101/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/09/aberdeen-prayer-walk-latest-developments/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/09/aberdeen-prayer-walk-latest-developments/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:22:29 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/09/aberdeen-prayer-walk-latest-developments/ Thirty intercessors from various congregations through out Aberdeen have been using a prayer guide entitled: Seek God for the City 2007. This NATIONAL prayer initiative takes place ANNUALLY from Ash Wednesday through Palm Sunday and intercessors from our city have been participating in it since the mid 1990’s.We will be using the daily readings and prayerwalking suggestions from this booklet as we cover our city in prayer this Sunday April 15, 2007.

A NOTE TO ALL INTERCESSORS:
Please be prayerfully considering which location God wants you to cover. There are some assignments that I am supposed to offer to specific individuals / congregations this week. Whether their schedules will allow them to participate, I do not yet know.

We will be finalizing all prayer walking assignments this Friday evening, April 13th, 7 pm at The Salvation Army Chapel - 1003 6th Ave SW - just south of Lincoln Elementary School. A group of intercessors have been meeting at the chapel on the second Friday of each month since 2005. They have invited us to join them for worship and prayer and then opened up the balance of their meeting time to us so that we can finalize arrangements for Sunday’s prayerwalking.

If you are unable to attend this meeting and would like to participate, please email me at kingdomreign.net@gmail.com and I can arrange a prayer assignment for you.

-THE HEART OF THE CITY -

This portion of Sunday’s prayer walk was not taken from Seek God for the City 2007 - it is the continuation of something that God had shared with a group of us in 2002. We were meeting to discuss plans for Jesus Day 2002. The question we were prayerfully asking was “What’s next, Lord?”

We began to sense that the Lord was asking us to give Him the heart of the city. One of the scriptures that was shared was:

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Above all else, guard your heart for it affects everything you do (for from it flow the springs of life).

We began to realize that we as a city had not guarded our heart. We had allowed things in that were now affecting everything we did. We needed the Divine Physician to give us a heart transplant.

We were reminded of the promises found in Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart (a heart of flesh).

One group of intercessors will be focusing their prayers on the original 16 block plat of Aberdeen, SD on Sunday April 15th at 1 pm.

The center or geographical “heart” of this particular parcel of land is found at the intersection of South Second Avenue and South Main Streets (the manhole cover in front of the Red Rooster Coffee House). All downtown intercessors will gather at this intersection for a short united prayer. We will then break into small groups of two or three and then be assigned to specific streets/locations.

Ideally, I would like to have a MINIMUM of 16 intercessors to complete this portion of our city-wide prayer walk. It would be very significant if most of these intercessors could be Christians who own / manage businesses or properties within this 16 block area. To view an early map, click on the link below:

1888 Map of Aberdeen, DAKOTA

Aberdeen, SCOTLAND will be having a united time of praise and worship at 8 pm their time (this would be 2:00 pm our time if I’m calculating daylight savings time correctly).

The Salvation Army Chapel in Aberdeen, SD will be open from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. All intercessors are invited to stop by as they finish up their prayer assignments. There will be praise and worship along with ample opportunities for sharing prayer experiences and any spiritual insights gained.

PLEASE COVER “CONNECTING SCOTLAND” AND BOTH ABERDEEN PRAYER WALKS IN A HEAVY BLANKET OF PRAYER (see the entry entitled Aberdeen Prayer Walks - BACKGROUND to find out what God is wanting to do in Scotland!)

Take time to read Ephesians Chapter 6 ASAP. It puts this whole prayer initiative into the proper perspective.

If you need to contact me for any reason, my email address is: kingdomreign.net@gmail.com

God’s richest blessings on each of you!

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/09/aberdeen-prayer-walk-latest-developments/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/06/prayer-walk-background/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/06/prayer-walk-background/#comments Sat, 07 Apr 2007 04:50:51 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/06/prayer-walk-background/ On March 4, 2007, I was doing an internet search using two words:
Aberdeen and prayer.

I was looking for prayer events in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

What I got instead, was a link to a website that listed prayer events in Aberdeen, SCOTLAND.

Now for those of you who may be unaware of this fact; Aberdeen, South Dakota was named after the home town of Alexander Mitchell - Aberdeen, SCOTLAND!

As I was scanning through the list of Christian events going on each month in Aberdeen, Scotland, one entry in particular jumped out at me. It involved a prayer walk on April 15, 2007 that was going to be held as part of a NATIONAL prayer event headed up by Pastor Bert McCaig and Connecting Scotland. (click on the blue letters if you want to link to their website - Pastor Bert is a child of the King if ever there was one!)

As I read about Aberdeen, Scotland’s plans to prayer walk their city center, I was reminded of the prayer event that was already underway in our own city.

Thirty intercessors from various congregations through out Aberdeen, South Dakota have been offering up daily prayers that invite God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done - in our city as it is in heaven.

The Seek God for the City 2007 prayer guide focuses on a particular group or portion of the population of our community each day. By the end of forty days, we’ve probably prayed for everyone in our city three or four times. Each day also offers suggestions for prayer walking opportunities to go along with the prayers for that day. For more information on this annual event that runs from Ash Wednesday through Palm Sunday, click on this link to their website: WayMakers.org.

This little booklet has been so helpful to us here in South Dakota - I asked Pastor Bert and his staff at Connecting Scotland if they could put me in touch with the people who are coordinating the prayer walk in Aberdeen, Scotland so that I could make them aware of this wonderful resource as they plan their prayer walk.

Pastor Bert’s staff graciously shared contact information, and as a result they are not only “Connecting Scotland”; they are connecting parts of The Body of Christ on opposite sides of the globe! They also emailed me a copy of the notice that is being distributed in churches and media outlets through out Aberdeen, Scotland. If you’d like to take a look at it, click on this link: Aberdeen Scotland Prayer Walk Notice

I’ve been sensing that God wants us to join Aberdeen, SCOTLAND on April 15th in a prayer walk here in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

I’m in the process of getting detailed time frames from the gentlemen in Scotland, factoring in the time change, contacting key intercessors, planning a short meeting on the evening of Friday April 13th where we can worship, pray and select our prayer walking assignments. We will also hold a Sunday afternoon event where we can gather to worship and share our prayer walk experiences with each other.

Please continue to check for DAILY updates here at KingdomReign.net between now and April 15,2007. If you need to contact me, my email address is kingdomherald@hotmail.com

WHO BUT GOD COULD ORCHESTRATE SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
(Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous!)

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/06/prayer-walk-background/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/04/i-am-a-soldier/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/04/i-am-a-soldier/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:44:43 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/04/i-am-a-soldier/

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus
2 Timothy 2:3

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12

The following poem was given to me by one of my “Army” buddies.
It has always encouraged me when the warfare gets heated.
I hope you find it encouraging as well.

 

I AM A SOLDIER !

I am a soldier in the army of my God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience,
tried by adversity and tested by fire.

 

I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire in this army at the Rapture or die in this army;
but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.
I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable.

If my God needs me, I am there.
If He needs me in the Sunday school, to teach the children,
work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn;
He can use me because I am there!
I am a soldier.

I am not a baby.
I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up,
pumped up, picked up or pepped up.
I am a soldier.

No one has to call me, remind me,
write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me.
I am a soldier.

 

I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders,
praising His name, and building His kingdom!

No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food,
cards, candy or give me handouts.

I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.
I am committed.

I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

 

When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead.
I will win.

My God has and will continue to supply all of my needs.
I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph.
I can do all things through Christ.

Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me.
I am a soldier.

Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my commander calls me from this battlefield,
He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him.

I am a soldier in the army, and I’m marching claiming victory.
I will not give up.
I will not turn around.
I am a soldier, marching heaven bound.

Here I stand!
Will you stand with me?

]]> http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/04/i-am-a-soldier/feed/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/01/never-mind-go-on-2/ http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/01/never-mind-go-on-2/#comments Sun, 01 Apr 2007 11:08:38 +0000 His Kingdom Herald http://kingdomreign.net/2007/04/01/never-mind-go-on-2/ I’ve been hearing a song in my mind FREQUENTLY over the past few days.

It’s one I cling to when the going gets tough.
It’s #805 in The Salvation Army Song Book and it’s entitled “Never Mind, Go On“.

It goes like this. . .

In the fight, say does your heart grow weary?
Do you find your path is rough and thorny
and above the sky is dark and stormy?
Never mind, go on!

Lay aside all fear, and onward pressing,
Bravely fight and God will give his blessing;
Though the war at times may prove distressing,