The Door to the Kingdom

Prayer is sometimes like stepping off a subway into the stillness found in the concrete platform late at night. The subway takes off again but you remain standing there, life is the subway car. Or perhaps prayer is like the stillness Lucy found in the chronicles of Narnia when pushing through the heavy wood door of the coat closet, she found herself in another world. The snow is falling gently and a soft light is cast from the lone street lamp. Not to say that prayer is always peaceful, beautiful or gentle but there is a part of my being that knows it has entered the kingdom of God and Aslan is near. Alisha and I finally managed to find a time and last Thursday morning we sat down to pray. It felt awkward at first a bit but then as we sang a few songs the Holy Spirit showed up and rested with us. We poured out our hearts and took turns expressing our sorrows and grief and people that we had begun to carry in our hearts. At some point it felt to me that we had passed through the coat closet door and were being carried along in his hands. Along with feeling wonder and God's consistent graciousness I always feel a bit silly. Here I think that prayer is my idea or that lifting up our cares to him is my responsibility. Instead I find once again that it was really God's idea. He gives us the heart of compassion the desire to seek his face and the revelation of his character to know that he is listening.

As we prayed we found that God had begun speaking the same things to us, we had burdens for different people, but discovered that the Holy Spirit had already weaved the tapestry of our burden and cry for help. In the coming week I had the incredible priviledge to see him set to work, acting on those very prayers. God gave me love for the kids at Esperonza and I find myself opening my hands to grab hold of theirs and find the key hole in their hearts that will cause them to see they are precious. I am only following Kristen lead. She amazes me with her quick humor and boundless mercy for the students under her care. One moment they may be deliberately ignoring or fighting her and the next calling for help and overcome with tears. She stays with them not distracted or putt off by their unruliness. Then just last night God opened another door with Jis and J. Last night I had I did not know why I had a burden to help little J. or found such connection with Jis Now I know the purpose of my time here and direction that God is heading. Abba is so unbelievably faithful, kind, and loving. He is moving to respond the to the cry of his people and allows me to come alongside him with my little shovel and take part. Jis and I are going to start a short little Bible study and explore what the scripture says about women in the kingdom of God. I am excited to see what comes next around the corner of this journey. One this is for sure, I know Jesus is waiting there!