Finally! Charity decided to write something on her blog! Well, in truth, Charity decided to tell you that she switched to wordpress 2 weeks ago and has been writing without the watchful eyes of her adoring fans.
But now the wait is over!
Check out Charity's new blog at www.beholdandbless.wordpress.com
Leave a comment to let me know you made the switch!
4.17.2007
Confessions of an Intercessory Missionary
The conundrum is resolved! I am including the final draft of my one page (double spaced) article on prayer for any and all who would like to see what I would write to a church that has no paradigm for IHOP. It's not much, but it'll do.
Once again it’s time for the Nightwatch at the International House of Prayer. Settling into my blue chair, I prepare for another six hour shift. From midnight to six a.m, I pray, worship, read the Word, and declare that the night belongs to the Lord. What would ever posses a person to pray all night? Two main motivations thrust me into this life of prayer.
The first was the realization that many who are up from 12-6 a.m. are not engaging in godly activity. This gives me a sense of urgency to pray for my generation, that they will stop giving themselves to darkness and come into salvation through Jesus Christ. The second motivation is that most people who are awake at night are blaspheming the name of God. Because of this, I want to be one of the few who will bless the Lord and love Him in the night. Psalm 134 says, “Behold, bless the Lord all you servants of the Lord who by night stand in the house of the Lord!” I am called to see who God has revealed Himself to be through His word and bless Him for it. God wants me to worship Him and to minister to His heart as much as He wants me to pray and minister to others around me.
As National Day of Prayer draws near, I would like to give you a few helpful hints about prayer. The first is that your prayers don’t have to be long and wordy to be heard. Five and ten second prayers count significantly. Each time that you turn your heart to the Lord and ask Him for something, He hears and He will move on your behalf. The second is the power of praying scripture. The bible is chock full of promises that the Lord has given us for every situation. If you are confused, then you can pray for wisdom and revelation (Eph 1:17-19). If you need to know that God loves you, then you can pray to know the depth of God’s love (Eph 3:16-19).
These two things have helped me stay in the place of prayer more than anything else. I have seen that things really do change when people pray. It is crazy but true. He can’t help but answer His bride crying out for His kingdom to come. I bless you guys as you continue in your life of prayer, and I am praying for you!
Sincerely,
Charity Bates
Intercessory Missionary IHOP-KC
Once again it’s time for the Nightwatch at the International House of Prayer. Settling into my blue chair, I prepare for another six hour shift. From midnight to six a.m, I pray, worship, read the Word, and declare that the night belongs to the Lord. What would ever posses a person to pray all night? Two main motivations thrust me into this life of prayer.
The first was the realization that many who are up from 12-6 a.m. are not engaging in godly activity. This gives me a sense of urgency to pray for my generation, that they will stop giving themselves to darkness and come into salvation through Jesus Christ. The second motivation is that most people who are awake at night are blaspheming the name of God. Because of this, I want to be one of the few who will bless the Lord and love Him in the night. Psalm 134 says, “Behold, bless the Lord all you servants of the Lord who by night stand in the house of the Lord!” I am called to see who God has revealed Himself to be through His word and bless Him for it. God wants me to worship Him and to minister to His heart as much as He wants me to pray and minister to others around me.
As National Day of Prayer draws near, I would like to give you a few helpful hints about prayer. The first is that your prayers don’t have to be long and wordy to be heard. Five and ten second prayers count significantly. Each time that you turn your heart to the Lord and ask Him for something, He hears and He will move on your behalf. The second is the power of praying scripture. The bible is chock full of promises that the Lord has given us for every situation. If you are confused, then you can pray for wisdom and revelation (Eph 1:17-19). If you need to know that God loves you, then you can pray to know the depth of God’s love (Eph 3:16-19).
These two things have helped me stay in the place of prayer more than anything else. I have seen that things really do change when people pray. It is crazy but true. He can’t help but answer His bride crying out for His kingdom to come. I bless you guys as you continue in your life of prayer, and I am praying for you!
Sincerely,
Charity Bates
Intercessory Missionary IHOP-KC
4.14.2007
My conundrum
I am in a bit of a conundrum. I have been asked by my church back home to write a 1 page (double spaced) article about prayer. When I received this request I felt two emotions at the same time. First, elation because I would get to share with people who have no idea what I do here in KC and hopefully open their eyes to a life of prayer. The second emotion was something more like dread, the thought lingering in the back of my mind was, “Oh, no, what am I going to say?”
But last night I sat down and just started writing random, stream of consciousness thoughts about prayer. I filled up six pages. I stared at my screen in disbelief. How can I articulate what the Lord has taught me in the past two years in the space of two paragraphs? Where do I start? How can I fit it all in? I mean, prayer isn’t just about asking God for things. Well, it is and it isn’t. But it’s also about worshiping, beholding, studying, discovering, gazing, loving, longing, fasting, seeking, knocking, interceding, decreeing, reading, prophesying, singing, ministering. This is about a life of prayer, not just about a prayer meeting.
I feel the weight of this assignment more than anything FSM has asked me to do in years. Why? Because I am hoping that this one little article could launch a handful of people into a life of prayer. Consider the implications of my Presbyterian Church back home beginning to fast and pray and ask God to break into their lives. One thing that I have learned here is that things really do change when people pray. It is crazy but true. He can’t help but answer His bride crying out for His kingdom to come.
So, that is my conundrum. My article is due on Monday. If any of you guys have words of wisdom to share, they would be greatly appreciated.
But last night I sat down and just started writing random, stream of consciousness thoughts about prayer. I filled up six pages. I stared at my screen in disbelief. How can I articulate what the Lord has taught me in the past two years in the space of two paragraphs? Where do I start? How can I fit it all in? I mean, prayer isn’t just about asking God for things. Well, it is and it isn’t. But it’s also about worshiping, beholding, studying, discovering, gazing, loving, longing, fasting, seeking, knocking, interceding, decreeing, reading, prophesying, singing, ministering. This is about a life of prayer, not just about a prayer meeting.
I feel the weight of this assignment more than anything FSM has asked me to do in years. Why? Because I am hoping that this one little article could launch a handful of people into a life of prayer. Consider the implications of my Presbyterian Church back home beginning to fast and pray and ask God to break into their lives. One thing that I have learned here is that things really do change when people pray. It is crazy but true. He can’t help but answer His bride crying out for His kingdom to come.
So, that is my conundrum. My article is due on Monday. If any of you guys have words of wisdom to share, they would be greatly appreciated.
4.12.2007
I don't know what to say to that...
Tonight I received one of the most awkward compliments of my life. And so, the award for Most Awkward Compliment of 2007 is given to JD Wenger for this stunning statement from coffee tonight.
"Wow Charity, if I could kiss your brain, I would."
I mean really, what are you supposed to say in response to that? Thank you?
So you might be asking your screen, what did I say?
Well, I laughed out loud and said, "Wait...What?...What?...Oh, my gosh, that was amazing. I have to write that down."
And then I did. But it was still really awkward.
"Wow Charity, if I could kiss your brain, I would."
I mean really, what are you supposed to say in response to that? Thank you?
So you might be asking your screen, what did I say?
Well, I laughed out loud and said, "Wait...What?...What?...Oh, my gosh, that was amazing. I have to write that down."
And then I did. But it was still really awkward.
4.10.2007
What day is it?
Hmmm...where to begin. First off, day 90 of our time of consecration same and went without fanfare or recognition. This is mainly due to the fact that our silence in the PR was extended another three months and the rest of the habits that we were trying to establish have become part of our culture. So, now I have to try to come up with something cool for the titles of my posts, or not.
The verse that I came to this evening was one of those happy accidents. I was reading Psalm 19 about the law, statutes, testimonies and the fear of the Lord. Micah started singing a great chorus and so I closed my eyes and joined in. When I opened my eyes I went back to my place and found this verse,
Also, as I side note. I am more than willing to conform to the popular kids and switch to wordpress, but I need someone to walk me through the process. Any takers?
The verse that I came to this evening was one of those happy accidents. I was reading Psalm 19 about the law, statutes, testimonies and the fear of the Lord. Micah started singing a great chorus and so I closed my eyes and joined in. When I opened my eyes I went back to my place and found this verse,
"I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved." (Ps 16:7-8)As I was reading those verses jumped out at me. I had that, "who put these new verses in my bible" feeling. Then I kept reading and I realized that the pages of my bible had flipped and I was in Psalm 16. I was alright with it though. After everything that went on last week, this verse came up as a confirmation to my heart. When everything in my life got a good shake down, I was not moved because I had set the Lord before me. At this thought I began to smile because it means that all of those "settled and established in love" prayers are actually working. Beholding and blessing the Lord really changes things in your heart and in your life. The crazy thing is that I wouldn't have seen the fruit of it unless some obstacles came against me. It's funny how it all works out in the end.
Also, as I side note. I am more than willing to conform to the popular kids and switch to wordpress, but I need someone to walk me through the process. Any takers?
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