Today was the Global Day of Prayer (
http://www.gdopusa.com/), Pentacost Sunday and Mother's Day, all wrapped into one. This morning I found myself at Jacob's Well while Andrea took care of the kids' ministry. She had her own Mother's Day to attend so I had her leave me downtown. I met her best friend Teresa and went to lunch with Tim, John Teresa, Rachel and Erese at the Jerusalem Cafe. Very good food, all from the Holy Land.
Teresa dropped me off at the Boiler Room for the afternoon. The reason being is that we had ended up talking and chatting at Jerusalem Cafe for over three hours! It was already 4:00 by the time I got to the Boiler Room. For those familiar with Pete Greig, the Boiler Room is the 24/7 Prayer base for the US. They were the first like it, and Adam and his wife are good friends with Pete and his wife. And for those familiar with Soliton, we actually brought out Pete to speak to us many moons ago.
I really wanted to see Linnea's studio since it moved up stairs and it was great to see her working. I also saw (John) Dowdy again and it was awesome to hear his heart for the Boiler Room and what he hopes it to be within Kansas City. I also got to talk to Julie and Max about Lakeland. Max, I discovered is a programmer as well as a electronic musician, but hearing and seeing his passion for both of these worlds was a joy. Really, because when you see people who know who they are and they know who they are created to be, there is a confidence there that no book or person could ever give one's self.
A few hours later, they began there evening gathering. One of the leaders got up to see if there was anyone who had a story to share testimony of God using finances to bless others. (This topic was something they had been discussing.) A young guy stood up, sharing how he felt that God wanted him to give his money to a woman, though he was concerned how he would do it. He only had $2500 and felt led to give it up. Well, he ended up getting a check in the mail for $2400, and he totally knew that God was in his actions to get this gift. He then invited his girlfriend up to his side. Well, as it turns out the gift was an engagement ring and the guy proposed to her right then and there. I think it was a first for everyone in the room and everyone couldn't stop laughing and cheering at the same time.
Things toned down and we entered into a time of "restful" worship. This was the theme of the evening, just being able to rest in His presence. For me, call it rest or relaxation, but it was a holy moment as well as a moment to just be with Him. Towards the end of this time that went on for over an hour, I was on my knees on the floor and God began to show me a picture.
The picture was that of a richter scale. Coming from California, we are very familiar with these. We are also very familiar with being prepared and as a kid growing up, every year we made our earthquake kit with water, snacks, etc. It was a part of life, especially after the Northridge quake.
I see the scale and God says "Look." I look and with eyes still closed, I see the scale going back and forth, left to right, right to left. Then I hear Him say: "This is my presence."
He then began to speak to me about his heart for Kansas City, telling me that:
"In this city not known for Earthquakes, let alone tornados, there will shaking. Just as in the natural, there must be preparedness. You too must do the same. This is the caution: to prepare your hearts. The movement and the marks on the scale are the increase of my presence. Where even the Kansas City Royals cannot win a game, I will establish my royalty with my presence. The city that may get written off will have Me. And what happens in Earthquakes? Cities shake. This will be the shaking of my presence. So prepare this house for it is coming. My presence is coming. I am coming to shake Kansas City."
I shared this with Linnea and Julie and the encouraged me to share with with Adam, the leader of the K.C. Boiler Room. I was nervous for not wanting to come across as some stranger that must get my voice heard. But Julie introduced him to me and I shared with him what I posted above. I was sure what he would think. But just then, he encouraged me that what I was sharing should not be taken lightly. He told me that he and others have been praying for more of God and his presence for the Boiler Room and God in the city. It was very reassuring for me. I shared with him that I was on a pilgrimage myself and he asked if he could pray for me and of course I obliged.
And then he asked, "What was your name again?" "Joel", I replied.
"Wow", he said. "We only have one Joel in here at the Boiler Room. A few nights ago, another man in our community had a dream that Joel was walking around his room, clear as day. When he awoke, he felt the Lord say to him: 'Joel will be coming to you in normal clothes.'" He told me of how they felt God was saying Joel's prophecy in scripture would be coming, not through a state production, but through the normal joe-schmoe, John or Jane Doe. And he realized that as I was sharing this with him, I was Joel coming in normal clothes confirming their prayers and petitions to God.
He the proceeded to pray for me, confirming three things in my own life. He felt God simply saying he wanted to give me more of His presence, confirmation to my prayer of being like Jesus in the wilderness and coming out in the power of the Spirit. Secondly, he felt like God was saying "innovation", confirmation again to me in my love of ideas and entrepreneurialism. Last, but not least, he said God spoke to him about the marketplace, again confirmation as I am about to engage my new business direction as soon as I get home. He believe that God wanted to bring the innovation to the marketplace so that there could be relationships built so that discipleship could happen.
This was my evening. God shows up, yet again. Should I still be surprised like a child getting something on Christmas he didn't expect? I think so. To expect and anticipate God and His workings and to never be complacent when He shows up.
If you want to listen to an amazing song that has been popping up in the past few weeks across the country, listen here.
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