So,
I was sitting up last week listening to "Woman" by John Lennon and it hit me.
John not only loved her he was in love with her. He wanted to be with her all the time. I can understand that. I feel that way and more for Liz. I love her more now than at any time in my life.
Have a listen
Woman I can hardly express,
My mixed emotion at my thoughtlessness,
After all I'm forever in your debt,
And woman I will try express,
My inner feelings and thankfullness,
For showing me the meaning of succsess,
oooh well, well,
oooh well, well,
Woman I know you understand
The little child inside the man,
Please remember my life is in your hands,
And woman hold me close to your heart,
However, distant don't keep us apart,
After all it is written in the stars,
oooh well, well,
oooh well, well,
Woman please let me explain,
I never mean(t) to cause you sorrow or pain,
So let me tell you again and again and again,
I love you (yeah, yeah) now and forever,
I love you (yeah, yeah) now and forever,
I love you (yeah, yeah) now and forever,
I love you (yeah, yeah)....
This is really how I feel.
I Love You Liz.
Robert
“The Power of Real Prayer”
We wrapped up our week in prayer, such a great way to end things. Mike spoke about the persecuted church, and we looked at Acts Chapter 12:1-17. How they “earnestly” prayed, when Peter was in jail they earnestly prayed for him; Acts 12:5 “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” Earnest –in a determined and purposeful way, serious and sincere; is that how I pray to God? Mike posed the question, when is the last time you really wrestled with God? In Colossians 4:12 it says “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” Few times in my life, I have wrestled with God. Yet looking back on those times, I see the powerful result of my prayers, the life changing events when I cried on my knees, and begged God to answer my prayers. When I didn’t give up praying until I heard God clearly, and He answered my prayers. There are so many unanswered questions in my life right now, why have I not earnestly being praying? My brothers and sisters all around this world struggle daily; why am I not on my knees earnestly for them? Even when their prayers were answered, and Peter was released from prison by an angel, they did not believe it.
I believe being a prayer warrior is not something you are born into, but a conscience decision, something you work at, strive for, and battle with every day. Many of my friends put their lives on the line daily for Christ. They live by prayer; I thank God that they do and ask that I can too, we all need to live by prayer. A friend of mine wrote on her blog her impressions after Mike spoke. You can read them here: Jomama's Village titled “bring your umbrella.” Mike’s blog can be found here: Mike's blog . Please be sure and take a look.
My prayers are purposefully different. It can’t just be when I can squeeze them in, right before I go to bed (when I am half asleep) or even in the 40 minute drive to work. My quiet times, I am rearranging and rethinking the way I do things, and I am “bringing my umbrella” expecting God sized results! Liz
Follow Up...
So as I attempt to pull my thoughts and feelings together from this past week it is difficult to put it all in words. Wednesday night we had the In N Out truck at church serving up burgers-followed by Mike Carman (our Cross Cultural Pastor) speaking about prayer. There was an international children's choir, followed by a time of prayer for our missionaries. 
Thursday morning our Women's Ministry hosted a brunch for the women missionaries. It was a special time as Joy from Hyderabad, India shared with the women of our church some of her amazing stories and struggles. I was asked to share at my table our intention to move and why we were doing this. I was asked a lot of really good, hard questions. It was a special time for me to share why God is calling me. 
Our table was the last to eat because we were so involved in the conversation, I am so grateful God gave me that time to share. Saturday evening was our annual dinner for the missionaries. We had great Lebanese food, each Missionary was given a few minutes to share what they do and prayer requests.
Then each member of our Missions team, elder and pastor there was given the honor of washing the feet of one of these special people. As the example given to us by Jesus when He washed His disciples feet, we wished to share in this with our Missionaries. It was an emotional and overwhelming time of humbleness for me. To do this for someone who places their lives out there every day for the sake of the Gospel, I was honored. It still is being talked about what an incredible time this was for all of us. More to come... Liz
“A House of Prayer for All Nations” Isaiah 56:7
We are off and running at church this week. Beyond is in full swing with services this weekend, including prayer every night in the lobby of our church for our Missionaries around the world. We have set up stations for 6 continents and prayer requests from missions in each area. You can really focus and cry out to God! I have such clarity and peace and focus in this atmosphere. You can then place a small note on our map for the prayer you lifted up. We are hoping to "cover the world" in prayer by the end of the week.
Monday there was breakfast for anyone who wanted to come. If you are in the area, here is a schedule of the events for the rest of the week.
Tuesday, March 10-
- Our Young at Heart, Women's and Men's Bible Studies will have missionary guest speakers.
Wednesday, March 11-
- We’ll host our annual All-Church Missions Gathering under the pepper tree! At 5:30 pm, the In-N-Out truck will be here to serve a great burger dinner ($3 cost). Our program will include a special performance of the International Children’s Choir of Long Beach, as well as introduction of, and prayer for our missionaries. Focus will be given to our local workers.
Thursday, March 12-
- A special Women's Ministries meeting/brunch honoring our female missionaries.
Friday, March 13-
- 7:00 p.m. Friday Night at the Movies, a time to share a great movie and snacks with family and friends.
Saturday /Sunday, March 14/15-
- Services with our missionaries or representatives present, along with their displays and information. We will have prayer for them at each service.
Come join us or stay tuned for more...
Beyond...9 days in March!
We are moving into our churches celebration time for the Missionaries we support. It is called “Beyond…9 days in March” We spend 9 days in the life of our church, once a year, to really recognize, support, pray for and spend time with our Missionaries. They come in from all over the world (if able) to be with us and share their stories. Robert has been working long hours helping plan and bring to life these 9 days. One of the things we are doing this year is using different quotes from various people that really open your eyes and heart to what it means to be a missionary, and yet aren’t we all missionaries? I thought I would share a few of my personal favorites…
“Not every believer has the missionary gift, but every Christian is called to some kind of involvement in missions. We are called to advance the gospel in some way and to participate in the fulfilling of God’s purposes in our generation”-David Shibley
“God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him” – Hudson Taylor
"Sympathy is no substitute for action." -- David Livingstone, missionary to Africa
"Some wish to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell." -- C.T. Studd
"The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity." -- Mike Stachura
"Go, send, or disobey." -- John Piper
"We can reach our world, if we will. The greatest lack today is not people or funds. The greatest need is prayer." -- Wesley Duewel, head of OMS International
“Anyone who can help 100 missionaries to the field is more important than one missionary on the field. In fact, mission mobilization activity is more crucial than field missionary activity.”-Phil Parshall
“Obedience to the call of Christ nearly always costs everything to two people- the one who is called, and the one who loves that one.”- Oswald Chambers
We seem to be learning that last one intimately right now.
Liz
“Not every believer has the missionary gift, but every Christian is called to some kind of involvement in missions. We are called to advance the gospel in some way and to participate in the fulfilling of God’s purposes in our generation”-David Shibley
“God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him” – Hudson Taylor
"Sympathy is no substitute for action." -- David Livingstone, missionary to Africa
"Some wish to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell." -- C.T. Studd
"The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity." -- Mike Stachura
"Go, send, or disobey." -- John Piper
"We can reach our world, if we will. The greatest lack today is not people or funds. The greatest need is prayer." -- Wesley Duewel, head of OMS International
“Anyone who can help 100 missionaries to the field is more important than one missionary on the field. In fact, mission mobilization activity is more crucial than field missionary activity.”-Phil Parshall
“Obedience to the call of Christ nearly always costs everything to two people- the one who is called, and the one who loves that one.”- Oswald Chambers
We seem to be learning that last one intimately right now.
Liz
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