Shoutlouder

let the Holy Spirit speak – fast day 4

// January 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // Holy Spirit, Prayer

I know I missed Day #3 so I’ll try and make this one twice as good!

As Day #4 is fast reaching towards it’s twilight I have to say the impulse to eat lots of food seems to have receded into the vast recesses of my memory. It’s interesting how quickly we soon come to forget the things of less importance whereas my brain is constantly reminding itself of the need to make good use of this fast. After all there is a real reason to fast so if ALL you do is fast and forget to actually PRAY then all you’ve done is not eat for a week and feel hungry… rather pointless that it seems!

So my advice to anyone fasting right now… do actually pray!

Acts 13:2 starts: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…”

I love the example of the early church here. Acts 13 is one of those pivotal points in the Early Church story because its the moment when Barnabas and Saul (very soon to be Paul) are set apart for the incredible journey that leads them all across the known world and seeing the Gospel spread like wildfire! And it all began with some fasting and praying and a willingness to start to listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say!

Right now there is some divine wisdom for your life, just a listen away, that could change everything!

diary of a fast – day 2

// January 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Prayer

It’s Day #2 of what’s been tagged on twitter as our #onetruefast!

Most of today as been involved in meetings so I have to say I’ve not had a lot of time to myself – which is probably a blessing when you fast cause the last thing you want to do is hang around doing nothing. Best to stay busy.

What is happening though around my life is a lot of reinvention so I do believe that this seven days of fasting is incredibly well timed. It’s in the dawning of a new season and the start of a journey into undiscovered territiory that taking time to press into God is the most valuable thing you can do.

Fasting is not about starvation as some form of self-inflicting humility on the body in order to present oneself to the Almighty in a way which may allow us His time and response. Fasting is about bringing things into perspective! It causes you to ask the question – “What is really important?”- or more correctly – “WHO is really important?”

When all you can think about as you drive past McDonalds is “how tasty would a Big Mac be right now…?” we have to stop ourselves and question is that really the sum of what we value most in life? Or is our relationship with Jesus far more important than the hunger in our bellies? Do we crave him far more than any fast food meal or even a 5 star banquet? If someone walked up to us today and said, ‘I’d like to take you to the most expensive restaurant in London and pay for whatever you want’ – would our response be, ‘Well, yeah!! I can always fast another day…” Or do we see that right now – as we fast and pray – we’re positioning ourselves in the greatest of all banqueting halls – the hall of His amazing and life-giving presence.

Once we can make Him the most important need in our life then we create the foundation upon which He can build something magnificent. God is looking for some faith and expectation – but more than that He’s looking for our undivided attention.

Make Day #3 all about Him!

Pray for the Karen People

// June 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Missions, Prayer

I just got this email from a member of our church who is currently working in the mission field out in Burma / Thailand. It’s horrible to think what is happening – but I firmly believe we have a God who reigns over all things and His promises are that He will respond to our prayers… if we just ask “in His name”. I’ve included the email here for you to read in Fiona’s own words. Please do pray!

I am just writing with a prayer request. If you have a chance i would appreciate your support in prayer. Thank you!

Last week i moved out to a village school called No Boh, it is on Thai soil but very close to the Thai-Burmese border, near a village called Maesalit and approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from Maesot, a large border town. I am volunteering through an organisation called ‘Partners’ and had planned to teach English for 1 month before returning to the UK at the end of June.

All the children in the school (from age 10-20) are Karen children (an ethnic group from Burma). Most of the children come to the school from nearby refugee camps or leave their families in Burma and cross the border to study at the school. They mostly all live in dorms there and are almost all Christians as the Karen are a Christian people.

After i had been teaching there for a few days, i received word that the Burmese Army (SPDC) troops were advancing on the otherside of the river/border and preparing to fight and that i would have to leave. After one rather sleepless night with my belongings packed by my bed as instructed, ready to run if necessary, i was picked up and driven back to Maesot.

The children and teachers are still there. Since then the situation has escalated dramatically. Troops have been restrengthened and there are now 1000’s of Burmese SPDC troops in this border area on the Burmese side. The troops are trying to take over land along a stretch of approximately 30km of the border that has previously belonged to the Karen people, and are forcing the Karen people from this land. They have fired 60 rounds of mortars into the Karen area, and are forcing any people they find to work as porters carrying their supplies, or to walk ahead of them and clear the area of landmines. At this point they have not started full-scale fighting or burnt any houses, but this is likely to follow.

The Karen resistance force (Karen National Union) are attempting to defend the land and the remaining people. There are still many people hiding in the jungle and trying to flee into Thailand.

At this point in time 4200 people have fled the Karen land and crossed the border into Thailand. These displaced people were forced to flee with their families, children and all they could carry of their belongings. Some are sheltering in a Thai school, temples, and caves but others have no where to shelter. It is monsoon season and right now the pouring rain is relentless. ‘Partners’ have supplied as much food, clothing and medical aid as is financially possible up to this point but no other NGO’s have provided supplies over the weekend. Thai soldiers at checkpoints along the route make it very difficult for aid to successfully get through to the people.

Please pray:

- for the thousands of people who have fled and are still fleeing
- for other and larger NGOs to respond to the huge and immediate need
- for aid to get through the checkpoints
- for compassion from Thai people towards the displaced people
- for the KNU as they defend their land
- that the SPDC will not be able to cross onto Thai soil (this happened previously in 2001)
- for defeat and retreat of the SPDC

Reading reports like this, it is easy to forget that each one of those 4000+ people is an individual, with a life, hopes, fears and a family. Please do not forget the Karen people, who have been fleeing in this way for many years. Pray for peace for Burma and an end to the evil miltary junta’s rule over the country. Pray for democracy and justice.

For more information about Partners, or to donate money: www.partnersworld.org. If you would like your money designated to this situation please let them know.
For more information about the situation in Burma: www.freeburmarangers.org
For up-to-date reporting on the fighting: www.irrawaddy.org

I am hoping to be able to return to No Boh school as soon as possible but until then will be teaching at another school in a different area.

God bless you, and thank you
Fiona