PRAYER?: Sifted.

What is prayer, really? Communication, connection, intimacy with God. How does community fit into it? It's something we NEED to learn. Do we have a clue what we are doing? There are clues in this quote by Jesus.

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

-- Jesus, Luke 22:31-32

There are many questions about Satan and evil, especially on a university campus.  I don't begin to claim an understanding of the debates or all of the questions that start them.  I do ask questions, too.  There are different kinds of questions for God.  They all boil down to some form of Who, What, When, Where and especially Why.

When I read Jesus' quote, in context, I see more clues than questions.

They had all been having their Passover meal.  Some conversation had happened about one of them betraying Jesus.  Ironically, they all ended up betraying him to some degree not long after this.  So have we.  Most importantly, it's the things He's asked us to BE and DO that we've ignored.  The habit we have of leaving His side to walk on our own.  The times we let down those He'd have us Love.  The times we abandon His Kingdom for our own kingdom. It's interesting that the next conversation was about who is greatest among them.  Jesus straightens that out promptly!  The greatest is actually the one who serves... who gives Love away. Not the one reigning atop their own kingdom.  Then, 'You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom...'

Wait...

Stood by me in trials = confer on you a kingdom.  

Not leaving His side... Stand By.

Not Vacation... Trials.

Not your kingdom... His Kingdom!

His Way... His Kingdom... Is ultimately GOOD.  If it SEEMS it is not, then WE don't UNDERSTAND fully yet.  We do not see the whole picture.

We tend to abandon His Kingdom that He has conferred on us to pursue our own plans... for many reasons.  Oh, and having a Kingdom conferred on us is about responsibility, effort... LOVE... restoring others, sacrifice and the conferring comes by trial.

Then, our quote. "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat."  So, Satan asked to sift and apparently was given permission.  Trial?

"But, I have prayed for you, Simon"

If we are writing the story according to our expectations, God would stop the sifting because Jesus prayed for Simon.  And, if Simon still got sifted, then God must not exist... or He's just not powerful enough... or He just doesn't care.  The other side is that Simon didn't have enough faith... or Jesus didn't.  We tend to assume that Jesus prayed and so obviously He asked God to reject Satan's request and make Simon's path easy.

"But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail."

Let's change the way we think.  Open our eyes to His ways that are greater than ours.  Take a posture of discovery with God.  Learn from Him through the life of His Son.

Jesus, first of all, knew that Satan had asked to sift them...We should Ask God about people and situations with an expectation of gaining insight.  Jesus was ushering in a new life for humanity and He conveyed the watch and work to those who stand by Him in trials.  He is still with people in trials... if we are standing by Him, then we are too.

Jesus asked God to provide Simon faith that would withstand the sifting...

Trials, challenges, struggles, pain... these things strengthen us when we trust God through them.  We should Ask God to provide the Spiritual fruit and enable us and others to withstand the sifting.  It's all part of growing into who He intends us to be... DOing our part in a Kingdom for ALL people.

"And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

When you turn back...

Jesus knew Simon would turn back and He spoke to him with confidence and Love.
Turning, wandering, questions, doubts, distractions, failures, abandoning, denials...  It really is all part of the journey.  There will be times that you find yourself, Returning to Him.  Understand, though, failures and questions do not change our responsibility to one another.  It doesn't make us worthless or powerless.  There is a standing invitation to turn back and your purpose and identity in Christ remains.  In all of it, we are works in progress and God has promised to see us to completion.  So, persevere and let God lead your thinking and your dreams and you'll know your purpose.

What is runWITHme?

runWITHme.

is the Facebook, Twitter and Blog platform for interaction between those who care about

The Kingdom of God | Campus Ministry | Kris Zerbonia | ALL People

or all of the above.

----------------------------------------

The day came that I found myself looking out the huge window at our office that faces our campus,

just thinking with God, looking. I began wondering, asking, hoping...

It wasn't new.  I'd become accustomed to this type of interaction with God in my life.

When asked, He gives answers... insights, plants dreams.

God wants ALL people to be near Him.

This fact led to the realization that God wants our campus, our city, our state, our country, our world! 

Duh! Right?

In that moment focusing on our campus, knowing He wants it and is moving and working in the hearts of it's people.  I asked, how?  What do I do?

I've found a real peace in my connection with God and it's a good thing...

and we will do some good little stuff, me and Him and it will be fine.

He will be glorified, Life will have meaning, the Kingdom will grow a bit and people will be blessed.

I have peace about it now, like never before.

I believe it.  God is pleased with me... with us.

BUT, Here's what's new to me...

There's something better.  God has a better vision for you and me.

ALL PEOPLE.

He wants them all and He's moving toward it... working... it's His plan, His desire, His Will.

I want to be part of it.

It's about ALL the PEOPLE!

He wants them ALL... and so do I...

ALL.

I asked How and He answered...

I must turn to Us.

Me to We.

Then WE seek Him and LOVE them ALL... TOGETHER.

When you start asking what HE wants EVERYthing changes.

The other question.  What do I do?

It's an obvious answer isn't it?

I will follow Him to We... to Us...

So, the new question is...

What do WE do?

Will you ask with me?

Will you seek Him with us?

He said We'd find Him...

Maybe this is that something more you may have craved...

How can we do anything with our whole heart when we clench it so tightly and guard it so carefully?

It's not so easy, but..

runWITHme?

It's one step to WE.

KNOW+CARE = Vital Spiritual Impact.

Become a Fan of the FB page | Follow on Twitter |  Read the Blog

Small Effort... Huge Impact.

Over the course of the last semester one of our Cords (a small group with a balanced approach to spiritual community) was blessed with an opportunity to give Love (serve) a lady who rents a room in her home to one of our staff.  While she, Jackie, was out of town recently, her house flooded.  It was bad enough that carpet had to be replaced and furniture had to be moved around.  It took a week or two for things to be at a point that her things could be put back in order.  Becca, one of our most precious new alumni!!!, saw this as an opportunity to get our Cord into action!
She suggested that we find a time to gather at Jackie's house to put her furniture back, but while we were at it offered to brain storm a few ideas for rearranging.  Jackie was game.  So, the plan snapped into action and on a Wednesday afternoon we met at Jackie's and moved things around.
It was a very simple action.  We smiled, enjoyed her company, moved things and honestly had a great time.  She was very thankful and complementary toward us.  Avoiding all her efforts to pay us was the most difficult part of the afternoon!  She really couldn't get over how a group of college students would be willing to do such a nice thing for nothing in return.  From her perspective, people don't do things like that for each other.
I was filled with joy as I watched our students try to explain, I felt a great work of Love was in process.

Recently, our staff member who rents a room in Jackie's house, Cory, sent us this message.

Just wanted to let you all know Jackie, the lady I live with, has a picture of you from the day you moved her furniture. It is hanging in the kitchen with a picture of her deceased husband. That day meant a lot to her and she brings it up often. It had allowed me to have some great conversations with her about love and what it means to follow Christ. Just wanted to say thanks and you all are awesome! You did a small thing that impacted her (and my relationship with her) in a huge way! Hope you are having a great summer!

I have some things I could say about what God is doing through Cory as well, but that will have to be another post... be watching for that one!

One of the students who helped that day had this observation.

Yea I loved helping her, she was very lively, lol. It's sad that it took this long for her to realize that people just like to help without anything in return though.

God is moving all around us.  It is an amazing joy to see what happens when a few people take time to be intentional, begin looking to see God moving together and then consider it an exciting opportunity to give God's Love away!  I witnessed God, embolden a few people to step into a strangers life with Love, draw one more heart a little closer to himself and teach a few people how powerful seeking Him together can be.

Kirstyn Day: Headed to Bethlehem

If you haven't already, I'd like you to meet Kirstyn Day. She is among the first students I had the opportunity to interact with at The University of Arkansas. Kirstyn calls The Rockhouse her church home, her spiritual family. This is because it's the place where her faith became alive, where her heart found a life giving connection with her creator. Kirstyn jumped right into ministry!  She finished out her college career as a leader in our ministry and immediately focused on relationships with those in need.  Upon graduation she spent a year interning with us and continued to show a passion for connecting people and going above and beyond for people.  Now, she's answered a call to spend a year teaching in the Middle East.  I could go on a long time about Kirstyn, but suffice it to say that Kirstyn's impact in the Kingdom will be far and wide.  Please read her own words about her upcoming year in Bethlehem.

--------------------------------------------------------------

This coming August I’ll be moving to Bethlehem, Palestine to volunteer at an openly evangelical K-12 school, called Jerusalem School Bethlehem (JSB). I'll be teaching 5th grade there. And then when I am not teaching, I'll be in the community getting to know people (my students, their parents, and other people in the town!) and just having the opportunity to love on them! I know for sure that I will mentor some young ladies that have already begun their walk as believers. I am not sure what other ministry opportunities God will lead me into, but I am excited about it!

The school is run and staffed by Americans and Palestinians that are committed to offering a quality education and mentoring inside a walled city (The entire city is surrounded by 26 ft high concrete wall, which is over twice as high as the Berlin wall). And this is a politically charged area, with prejudices and hate on both sides (Israel and Palestine).

I am going to go and live there and be a part of bringing hope to people through God’s love.

Bethlehem is roughly 70% Muslim and 30% Christian; however most are only culturally so. This school is an amazing opportunity to minister within the Arab culture.

If you would be interested in partnering with me in this ministry to Palestine, there are many ways in which you can!
---receiving email up dates and being committed to pray for me and this ministry, just send me your email address! (kirstynday@gmail.com)
---spreading the news of this ministry and my needs to others who are passionate about reaching the Middle East with love and peace, about what I'll be doing.
---Feel free to pass on my information. I would love to talk to with anybody about this! I can never have enough people partnering with me.
---sending me through a onetime donation or monthly pledges, easily done online at http://mountainmovers.org/donate.php, just select Middle East and put my name in the memo line! All donations are tax deductible.

Truthfully, I’m excited, but also a little scared… but I think that is okay, because I really can’t do it on my own (only God is beyond powerful enough to get me there and provide for me and work in people’s hearts there) and the fear is helping me to acknowledge that and remain humble!

Kirstyn Day