God of this City, a song, rings in my ears. Every time I hear it, it speaks louder. Tallahassee. TALLAHASSEE. TALLAHASSEE! What does God want to do in that city? Really? Does He want it to settle for a status quo that has been set by society? Or does He want it to seek and find restoration? Every city I believe could use restoration. It doesnt mean its an evil city or it needs desperate help. But dont you feel that God is just longing for the church to do something radical? I mean absolutely radical. Something that has 'love' written all over it. I wonder what kind of love it would take for the city to come running to the church, rather than avoid it. What would happen if members of the church went up to city officials and asked "what are the top 5 problems in Tallahassee and is there anything we can do to help?" I can imagine that even if the officials said "no, there is nothing," that acting as PRAYER WARRIORS would make radical change! God teaches us to pray. All the time! He wants to see that we believe He can work through our faith. When I hear the word warrior, I think of a dedicated soldier armed and ready to serve. With open arms and a heart of love...something that looks like Jesus. Now thats a new way to do church!
I say these things to you for this very purpose: we are ALL on a mission as one body. A love mission. I am here, you are there. So while I am here, I absolutely love to share with the church, the one body of Christ, back home, everything that I am learning and that God has placed in my heart. Communication is key with any relationship. And God has placed a desire for restoration of Tallahassee right between my heart and lungs. In my very being. I wonder, what is life about anyway? Getting a degree and a job and to raise a family and to create a sweet bucket list and fulfill it and eat ten different kinds of sushi and be nice and make a good reputation and succeed in soccer and try out dreadlocks and....NO! Friends, those are all good, but we know there is so much more than that! So much more. Please understand I am now on a huge mission: matthew 28:19-20. And that includes my wonderful home, Tallahassee.
AND- We as a YWAM group had intercession today in the prayer room. If you were to fly to Hawaii and enter that room, your eyebrow might have gone up because we sounded like an army. But if you were to listen close, we were chanting. Chanting for our individual hometowns. We prayed, we sung, we chanted, for Gods love to radically overlfow. OVERFLOW! WHeeeW! overflow. Im on fire with excitement here! I sang out Florida State University as a song to the Lord, proclaiming that I wanted to see His Kingdom come in that place. He wants to do it! You know? I would shout for joy if I knew that some of you are feeling this same excitement. The excitement of knowing what God can do in Tallahassee. And the rest of the world. Our job as Jesus-lovers is to bring the flavor back where the flavor has been lost in the world. Wherever! Our lights shine in the darkness much better than they do in the light, yes? I hold open my cellphone to see in the dark of my room, not in broad daylight do I? What good is our love if we keep it in the church? We are a light to the world, yes? Yes!
A few more things. I tell you this not to sound proud, but as someone who has learned a good lesson: to follow Jesus with nothing else holding you back. It is the most freedom a person can ever feel. I am a single 19 year old, with no future plans to tie me down, no access to a facebook account, no phone comm(except to talk to my family), no job, no food. Got you on the food part. Really, though. I have never been able to sing "I lay it all down, for the sake of You, my King," and really, really meant it. Until now. FREEDOM!
Know this friends- I have faith that Tallahassee could be transformed for His glory. I guarantee I will be praying hard for that over here on this island. What to do? Jesus just tells us to love. So how can we love every person in Tallahassee? Whether they are young or old, liberal or conservative, naughty or nice, tattooed or not, peirced or not. How cool would it be if the church member's hobbies included building houses off South Monroe street on the weekend or maybe, just praying like a warrior. Oh, the excitement of this life, you guys!
I send out a big 'mahalo' to everyone that has ever had a part in sharing with me the love of Jesus Christ. You have truely introduced me to the Love of my life.
Ohana Court Monday morning worship.
