1 John 3:17 exhorts, “whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” Apart from God’s love abiding within and radiating hope, the human heart can’t handle the hopelessness that arises from seeing need, so it shuts up to it. Yet, this is key to love: to allow your heart to feel the pain and suffering of others. And this is the grace of the gospel: to see hope in the midst of the hopelessness you encounter in that place.

I have again been reminded lately how last year after 3 months of intensively studying the plight of orphans and foster children (American orphans), the Lord rerouted my path. I was planning on continuing to serve in the Orphan Justice Department as my full time service on the base. The Lord then made it clear that I was not to do as I had planned. He spoke very clearly that this was a season I was to give myself in a focused way to the supernatural justice of the Kingdom that can only come forth when a human being enters into extravagant worship, like what is going on around the throne right now. When this reality of heaven touches earth, heaven responds, angels and demons move, and Jesus breaks in with justice in a way that far surpasses anything I am capable of. This is the kind of justice this world needs. It’s the only hope for such staggering hopelessness in our nation’s foster system. It’s the only thing that will set millions of orphans free from the self-loathing, depression, oppression, and insanity they have come under.

I believe that one day God will have me participate in rescuing orphans in a “more practical” way (perhaps “hands on” is a better definition). Yet, I know that if the fullness of what He desires for that day is to come forth, He has made it clear that the MOST PRACTICAL thing I can do today is to tarry in the place of extravagant worship, contending for a personal and corporate endowment of power that will break the back of the oppressor (Isaiah 61).

He has said to let this agony of feeling these children’s pain and my own barrenness to do anything about it propel me into the place of prayer and worship, this place of singing and dancing upon injustice, as my primary form of ministry and work of justice in this season. And He has promised that from that place of extreme abiding, He will allow me to bear much fruit. What’s more, He has promised that that fruit will remain: the deep cry of my heart. From tasting the bitter right now, He will bring forth an abundance of sweet fruit and cause me to taste and see that He is good!

Forerunner Arts dance classes started up this week. I’ll be teaching 5 classes with over 30 students  this spring. What an answer to prayer! This picture is from Wednesday night’s Tiny Tots Ballet Class (ages 3-4).

“Twenty years ago, Ray Stribling traded drugs and life on the streets for a microphone and a church pulpit to preach hope to the city’s poor and homeless at Hope City Ministry. Now, some of the people he has helped want to give him something in return…” Click HERE to see video.

It’s in 6/8 AGAIN!  I am not sure why I keep writing  (probably 6 of the songs so far!) in 6/8 meter.  I think I even tried purposefully to NOT play 6/8 and then when I got home and played it again, it was 6/8! HA!  I think it’s more than just a creative rut, though.  I think it is spiritual.  The Lord has told me several times lately that He is rocking me (that place of security, provision, peace, and rest in a parent’s arms).  And 6/8 reminds me of the rhythm of a rocking chair.  So maybe that’s why.

So without further ado…

(OH, I almost forgot… it’s extremely rough.  I just threw it together in a rush to post and share for your edification, not because it sounds extremely great! But I think it will still bless someone!)

To listen/download go to: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47118925/Just%20Breathe%202.aif

Last night was wonderful.  I personally felt such a heavy weight of the Lord’s presence resting on me before we even left the base and continuing all through the service.  I also felt like many things were shifting in the spirit and was reminded of 1 Samuel 16:23:

“So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.”

Bethany gave a powerful teaching about praying and communing with God through art and the children got to practice at the end, drawing a picture of how God is always with them.  During the activity I got to sit in the corner and just play and sang over them, pressing in for that 1 Sam 16:23 reality – that things were shifting in the spirit and they were being refreshed as I played.  And I could see notable difference in certain individuals and their demeanor by the end of the service.  I believe far more was happening than we could see.

I also felt that the Lord was letting me begin to taste and enter into an aspect of my calling that I am contending for: to bring Jesus and His Kingdom into the darkest most hopeless of places through a spirit of worship.  I long to be His presence carrier in the fullest sense and can see Him moving me along in this journey despite my weakness and unlikeliness.

PS: Feel free to pray for me today as I am not feeling well.

Please join me in this prayer of my heart tonight.