Date: Sunday, April 24

Time: 7:00am – 8:00am

Location: Nose Hill Park (north side of the junction of John Laurie Blvd. and Brisebois Drive NW)

*thumbnail photo courtesy of Flickr user Toni Grigoriu. “Sunrise on Black Sea.” 07 Feb 2006. Online image. Flickr. 14 Apr 2011.

In our western culture we seem to believe that it is more important to pray alone than with others. This is a symptom of our society that has elevated individualism to be more desirable than community. History reveals that in previous societies, the people did not even have a word for individualism.  They had no concept of an individual who did not belong to a group.  We have become a society of Solo sapiens! As it relates to prayer, we have lost the New Testament conviction that we must pray together, first, before we are to learn to pray alone.

More is said in Acts and the Epistles about corporate prayer, corporate learning of Biblical truth, corporate evangelism and corporate Christian maturity and growth than about the personal aspects of these Christian disciplines. Don’t misunderstand, the two are intricately related. But the personal dimensions of Christianity are difficult to maintain and practice unless they grow out of a proper corporate experience on a regular basis.  If all we do is pray alone, it is like having only one leg to get around with. Two legs are always better than just one, no matter how strong that one leg is. Both legs are required if you intend to ever run. If we were to place as much emphasis on the other leg (corporate) as we do praying alone, we would be running a lot farther and faster.

In Acts 2 we see the seeds of how the new followers of Jesus lived their new faith. They devoted themselves (plural) to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and meals and were generous with one another, meeting in homes and at the temple.  It is good to understand that until the advent of the printing press, God’s word was experienced primarily in community as followers of Jesus heard the truth explained in regular gatherings. The basic approach to learning was auditory and corporate. Today most followers of Jesus enjoy their own copy of the scriptures, which increases our knowledge, and learning of scripture through private study and devotions. The downside is that this fuels an individualistic approach to our faith, including prayer.

In western culture the church has lived like this for so long that it has become the accepted norm. Even when corporate prayer happens, many describe their experiences as B-O-R-I-N-G and tedious.  As if to excuse the need to pray with others, everyone assumes that private prayer is happening full on, when in fact most people (if honest) will admit just the opposite – they pray very little. Prayer for most people almost becomes synonymous with drudgery.

The fact is that healthy corporate prayer times are just the opposite of what most people now understand. Many people, especially new followers of Jesus, will declare the corporate prayer times together as the most significant times of their lives.  Try and tell the 2,500 who show up every Tuesday night for corporate prayer at the Brooklyn church that what they’re doing is boring. They would probably just grin and suggest you “come and see.”

I will never forget my first corporate prayer time – I was a new follower of Jesus and found myself going to my first ‘bible study’. No Sunday churches existed so by the time I got to this home group, I still had never prayed with anyone, anywhere. I got very little out of the study; it was way over my head at the time. They used a lot of words I had never heard before: sanctification, justification, propitiation …  I thought, “what ever happened to ‘Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so?’”   As the dry study came to a close, the leader asked us to ‘hold hands’ so we could pray.  We were sitting cross-legged on the floor – about 10 of us. I had not held hands with another dude since lining up for potty time in kindergarten. I complied, and before I could say ‘sweaty palms’, I was flying!

I don’t know how long it endured or if I said anything in the moment, all I remember is feeling a euphoric high unlike anything I had experienced before.  At the end when the guy beside me pried my hand from his, I exploded with a pronouncement worthy of an Oscar – “this is the best high EVER!”

Since then I have logged my share of praying in corporate settings. Some are as dull as unbuttered toast, other times I felt like I had died and gone to heaven (good thing).  Other times God has done amazing things in me as tears flowed for God-only-knows how long.  Over the years my personal times in prayer have grown as well – I have learned how to be with God. When I look back on how I transformed from an awkward, stiff, bumbling, self-conscious babe, into a pleasant ease where I can actually hear God (most of the time), I realize it is because of my experience with corporate prayer – watching and learning from others.

As I read the accounts of the disciples learning from Jesus, I was struck by the fact they one day confronted Him and asked Him to teach them “how to pray”.  Seems they had been observing Him – His intimacy with God. It was so different from the technical, styled repetitions they grew up watching in the religious folks around them. They saw Jesus speaking with his Papa from the heart.  They saw something like I learned to spot when watching others who were more mature in their faith – I saw people’s hearts. They saw Jesus’ heart, and it flowed – and even better – God answered. The confidence, the power, the humility…wow! No wonder the disciples wanted to learn!

You see: God does not require a style, or a pattern, or a technique – He does not hear us any better when we use lots of “amens” or cock our head 30 degrees upward.  He sees and hears our hearts – the innerness of us – and He loves it!

Why pray together? Two reasons I think are worth the effort:

1. His presence: there’s just nothing else like it. In the New Testament church, they risked their lives and all they owned to experience it because they new it was the best high ever. God’s presence was palpable – it changed, encouraged, and strengthened everyone present. The fact is that if you think you’re strong enough, encouraged enough, or changed enough, don’t bother to pray with others. God is into helping those who know they need him.
2. When I pray with others, I get to see and hear other peoples’ hearts, their innerness. I learn what a broken contrite heart sounds like, I see what a repentant heart looks like, I get to watch and learn what joy filled heart is like.  I get to see people who know God better perhaps than I do hear, receive, smile, cry, dance, weep, mourn, travail, and be loved by (and love in return) the God of the entire universe.

I am not mature yet; I need to keep learning how to communicate with God.  You would think by now that I might have it down to a nice pattern – but just like my wife after 27 years, she does not want ‘slick’ or pattern; she wants me. She wants me to ‘share feelings.’ Why? Because she wants to hear my heart; because she loves me.  And as much as I find this hard to do at times (yeah macho men!), I am learning how to do it – how to drop the guard.  The same thing goes for talking with Abba father.

I often can still have my guard up when I go to spend time with God. The reasons are long – I am still learning about my guards, my walls.  Yes, I love corporate prayer – I get to see old and young, wise and silly, hard and soft, downtrodden and victorious people lay bare their hearts and it inspires me to do the same, it teaches me how to be free, even when I don’t want to.

Some will tell you to pray  with others because it makes things happen – sure, that is true, but this is a byproduct of an intimate exchange. Pray together because Papa wants to see and hear your heart!  It’s far more rewarding I guarantee!

“Again. I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”  Jesus – Matt 18:19

- Brant

(source of article themes: Fresh Encounters by Daniel Henderson)

*thumbnail photo courtesy of Flickr user …-Wink-… “Another Chain-keh.” 03 Feb. 2009. Online image. Flickr. 19 Jan 2011.

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As Daniel Henderson records in his book, Fresh Encounters, a few years ago a prayer craze seemed to explode upon North America fueled by an obscure prayer that was highlighted in a book titled The Prayer of Jabez. Multi-millions of copies were sold.  In it Bruce Wilkerson challenged his readers that if we prayed the principles of that prayer, God could bless those praying in similar fashion as he experienced in his ministry, that you could experience spiritual and expanded ministry for Him – making a difference in the kingdom.  However not long after a controversy began to brew around the book. It seems that many people thought they would get financial and material blessing if they prayed this prayer.  They started praying selfishly, missing God’s intention entirely. Many people had become more concerned with what God would do for them, instead of what they could (with God’s blessing) do for Him.

It’s not the first time followers have done the ‘right thing’ – prayer, with the wrong motive.  When it comes to prayer many of us have wrong motives. Here are a few I have wrestled with over the years that Daniel Henderson helped outline for me:

Guilt

Because we know prayer is commanded, important and expected, we often feel obligated to pray ourselves or attend prayer meetings and we feel guilt if we don’t.  Guilt however cannot sustain us and keeps us from enjoying the experience. I have found that when I was motivated by guilt, I would look for the slightest excuse to avoid prayer times/meetings.

Acceptance

This one cuts to our sense of belonging. Many of us have grown up in families or culture where our self-esteem is bolstered by our performance and what we think people think about us. Inwardly we think we are only worthy of love when we did things that were deemed impressive or good.  For some of us, we translate that into Christian disciplines with a works-based acceptance with God. Many people inwardly believe that the more they pray, the more God will love them, accept them.  Some of us even have extended this to spiritual leaders around us – that we would feel the acceptance and support of these leaders when we ‘do’ what is encouraged. God loves us, not because of who we are or what we do. He loves us because of who He is. He cannot help it because He is love.  We ought not to pray to be accepted by God. That was settled when he went to the cross for us.

Growth

This logic goes like this – “If I pray, God will be pleased. If God is pleased, He will bless me. If he blesses me, the thing I am doing will grow.” (this could be our business, our ministry, our church, our Home Group, our career, our future spouse, our finances, etc.) For pastors or spiritual leaders, the motive becomes the belief that a growing (big) church is always better.

What we don’t see often is that under the surface, our motive is egotistic.  No matter what ‘thing’ we are doing, if it gets blessed the accolades of personal gratification connected to ‘success’ will closely follow.

God does delight in praying people, and He is eager for things like our churches, our needs, our relationships, etc. to advance. However, He will not reduce something as pure and distinctive as prayer to the next strategy for our human-centered success.  For example, when prayer does not succeed as a church growth tool, it is often discarded for a more “effective” methodology.  When prayer does not work as a means to advance anything we personally are trying to build/grow/get, often we too will discard it and look for some other technique to get results.

Revival

One thing that happens to spiritual leaders is that they hear about the past moves of God in history (called ‘revivals’) and they long to see them today – the impact of good trumping evil.  They hear that what causes God to start a revival is prayer, so off they go to pray for this lofty Godly move. Mercifully all of the spiritual leaders I have come to respect eventfully discover a simple truth along the way.  God comes to them and asks them, “Are you seeking to be revived from Me (God), or are you seeking Me (God) for revival?” Another way to put it is, “are seeking me for what I can do (God’s hands), or are you seeking me for who I am (God’s face).

Yes, revivals do occur because prayer occurs – but when you look into the prayers that sparked a revival, they were all born in an ongoing cry to be revived, not to bring revival.

Recorded in Exodus 32-34, we read of God removing his presence because of Israel’s idolatrous folly with the golden calf.  God essentially said to Moses, “You go on to the Promised Land and I will protect you all the way, because I am a God of my word. But my manifest presence will not go with you.” (Ex. 33:1-3)  Moses and the people knew they were dead in the water – they mourned and repented. Moses went and sought God in prayer ‘face to face” and declared, “Lord, your manifest presence is the only thing that makes us different from anyone else in the world. If your presence does not go with us, we are not moving an inch.” (Ex. 33:15-16) Revival happens ‘out there’ when it first happens in us. The motive to pray is not to get God to do something, but to be with God. It is a relationship that is built intimately where his presence has room to revive us, remove things, and draw us to turn from those things that send His presence away.

The only enduring motive to pray is this: He is worthy to be sought – period. His presence is better than anything else – this is the focused passion God loves to respond to.

“God entrusts His most fruitful plans to those who maintain the most focused passion.”

-Brant

*thumbnail photo courtesy of Flickr user Laura Ferreira. “With a Little Help From a Friend.” 03 Oct. 2009. Online image. Flickr. 19 Jan. 2011.

In the early eighties the Nikolai Kirche Church opened their doors for ‘alternative’ young people who had formed protest groups for disarmament. “I suddenly realized,” says Christian, “that if we would open our doors for these types, the communists would no longer be able to say that the church was just a museum, a place for old ladies waiting to die. The church could again become a grassroots counter movement.”

In 1982 the Nikolai Kirche Church started weekly prayer meetings that went on unbroken for seven years, until the Wall fell. When discouragement kicked in, they reminded each other of Jesus’ words that when two or three gather, He is in their midst. “We realized that if we would stop praying, there would be no hope for change in Germany.”

A few years later Christian started a group for people who wanted to leave the ‘socialist paradise’. He put a sign in front of the church building saying ‘this church is open for everyone’. “Soon we became the best guarded place in the whole GDR because we took ordinary people seriously, and offered them hope.”

When in 1988 a group of protesters got arrested in Berlin, the Nikolai Kirche Church started daily prayer meetings for their release. Hundreds of people joined in, many of them non-Christians. The Sermon on the Mount was central to these prayer gatherings that quickly drew over 2,000 people and continued to grow. This made the government nervous and they sent hundreds of undercover agents to the prayer meetings. “This was just great,” says Christian. “The government sent its employees to church, and they were now forced to listen to Jesus’ teachings. So I started the meeting with a ‘warm welcome to the unofficial representatives of the state’. Everyone laughed, except the secret police guys. The people turned their heads and could immediately spot the cops. This broke the tension.”

By October 1989 over 60,000 people had gathered in and around the church. It was the largest demonstration ever held in the GDR. Everyone had brought candles. In Berlin close to a million were rumored to join the weekly prayer times.  “The Lord reminded me of this Scripture that says that ‘it’s not by might, and not by power, but by His Spirit” Christian noted.

The only successful revolution in Germany was a non-violent one. – The Wall came down.

Later the police stated that they were prepared for everything, but not for prayer and candles.

(source: http://cimarronsong.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/prayer-and-the-berlin-wall/)

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For us in UChurch, I pray we too will one day be unknown for who we are, but rather be known for the things in our world that changed because we took Jesus at his word.

Markus Laegel, who heads up a prayer movement called 24-7 Germany, has written a chapter in a new book about his experiences of the power of prayer growing up in Leipzig on the day the Berlin Wall came down. Here are some excerpts that describe the events – he was 13 at the time….

“Rev. Christian Führer, described one particular Saturday: ‘For ten hours, uniformed men beat the defenceless people, who did not retaliate, and took them away in lorries. Hundreds of them were herded into stables in Markkleeberg.’

‘What if my Dad’s in the middle of it, in prison, even? Just like we watched yesterday on TV.’ Dad did come home that Monday evening. It was very late, but he was okay. They had only got out of the city by using side roads and diversions. Twice they were stopped by police. Next Monday, though, he’d be back in Leipzig again (at the prayer meeting)  and I’d be there with him. This time I had not been allowed as I was still only 13, but it was my birthday in three days. Then I’d be 14. I could go along and I would go along. What I experienced then was the most extraordinary thing my young eyes had ever seen. This I have never forgotten…

Thousands of people gather. They’re here to pray. They’re praying for peace. The prayer is set to start at 6pm. The idea is to use the Nikolai church, but that’s already full and it’s still only 4 o’clock. We go down to the church of St. Thomas. That’s full too, but we manage to find a space. Mum, Dad and me. We’re a family. Not just us, but everyone. Everyone in EVERY church at that moment. The people sit and stand wherever there’s room. The pews were filled long ago.

The people pray simple but honest prayers. Many of them probably don’t even believe in God, but who else can help them?

As the final hymn “Dona nobis pacem” – “Give us peace, Lord!” is sung, I experience the same miracle that also happened the week before.”

Rev. Führer also writes:

“… when more than 2000 of us came out of the church – I will never forget the sight – tens of thousands more were waiting outside in the square. They were holding candles. When you hold a candle you need both hands. You have to guard the flame, stop it from being blown out.

You can’t hold a stone or a club at the same time. And then the miracle occurred. The SPIRIT OF JESUS, a Spirit of non-violence, took hold of the masses and what resulted was material, peaceful violence. The army, fighting patrols and police were drawn in, started conversations and retreated.

Thousands of people with candles. People who’ve never met before, suddenly a family. They lay their candles at the feet of the armed soldiers and police. The steps of the STASI building – the organization that spied on, abused and sold people out – now awash with candles. It looks like a river of peace and light.

On that Monday it was as if I heard God inside of me whisper – even though it was only a whisper I was startled – ‘In the same way as this unjust system has fallen, so every other unjust system will fall.’ It has a hold on me to this very day. That experience is the reason I’m doing this 24-7 prayer thing. I want to see God’s justice triumph so that ‘my’ generation can be free. I don’t want to put up with people still living under oppression. So many have merely swapped communism for consumerism. Free they’re certainly not.

As early as 10 years previously – since 1979 – people had started praying in the Nikolai church in Leipzig. Every Monday. They prayed for peace and justice. For 10 long years they endured suffering and defamation. In October 1989 there were tens of thousands of them.”

(source: http://www.24-7prayer.com/articles/661)

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One of the profound truths that struck me as I read this account was the fact that God used the very people who were praying to be the answer to their own prayer. They became the very force God would use to bring light into the darkness.  They sought for peace in prayer every week for 7 years and they ended up beoming peaceful – full of the Prince of Peace. It was so tangible, the forces collapsed in the presence of the people.

The most dangerous aspect to corporate prayer is not in the praying, it is in the way God changes those who are praying. They become bold in Him. Prayer changes the future because prayer changes us.

- Brant

*thumbnail photo courtesy of Flickr user echiner1. “Candles in Meteora.” 21 Jun 2009. Online image. Flickr. 19 Jan 2011.

“How does one deliver a tribute to one so young as Jeremiah? If Jeremiah was an average two-year old this would be more than difficult, but Jeremiah was anything but average. Jeremiah was a child whom God was particularly fond of.

Jeremiah was the little man whose favorite pastimes were going to the playground and swinging with his big sister, rocking out on his toy guitar, playing hide and seek with anyone willing to join him, wreaking havoc with his brother’s Lego creations, and smothering people with kisses. This is the Jeremiah that his family and closest friends knew.

For the majority of us here today, we really came to know Jeremiah during the last 63 days of his life. Sure, we had seen him at church, at the school Nathanael and Jessica attend, or perhaps at social functions, but it wasn’t until he got sick 2 months ago that we came to really know this wee fellow. It seems so strange to think that even while he was in an unconscious state, so much was revealed about Jeremiah and the purpose God had for his life.

Jeremiah was a gatherer. He gathered us all. As family, friends, hospice and hospital staff, doctors and nurses, we gathered together to seek healing for Jeremiah; the result of which was unity.

Jeremiah was a warrior, so strong and courageous, like his dad. Boy he put up such a fight, even to his last breath!

Jeremiah was a peacemaker. In any stressful situation relational difficulties rise to the surface and Jeremiah’s illness proved no different. Jeremiah brought people together, many of who had been distant or had strained relationships, and longstanding issues were resolved.

Jeremiah was a worship leader. Everyday since his illness, Jeremiah drew people to worship the LORD in song. I can’t tell you how many times the Rotary Flames Hospice felt more like a revival meeting than a place for “end of life care.”

Jeremiah was a prophet. Like his namesake, Jeremiah’s suffering made people examine where they place their faith. Jeremiah’s affliction was incurable according to medical science, which meant there was nowhere else to turn but to God. All the “whys” and “how longs” were directed at Him. We became completely surrendered to God and His will; we had been transformed. Even the palliative care physicians declared the hospice’s staff experience with Jeremiah was transformational. They witnessed and spoke openly about how it was the power of love that sustained his life when science said he should have departed long ago. This phenomenon pointed to the living God, for He is love.

Jeremiah … a gatherer, a peacemaker, a warrior, a worship leader, a prophet … It is astonishing to think that this little man did more in 2 short years than many believers accomplish in 80!

Certainly this is a testimony to Jeremiah’s parents. Those of us who have had the privilege of walking closely with them the past few months can testify to the extraordinary faith, strength and courage of this couple. And we learned a lot about Marlo and Jean in recent months. Early on in this battle for Jeremiah’s life, Marlo and Jean realized that this part of his journey was not just about Jeremiah and them; it was about us. They opened up their lives and their hearts and allowed us to become fellow sojourners. In doing so, some very peculiar things began to happen. People came to encourage Marlo and Jean and they left encouraged; others came to pray for healing and left healed.

As they walked a journey that most parents would consider their worst nightmare and faced decisions that none of us would want to make, Marlo and Jean consistently looked to the LORD, earnestly seeking His will. They waited upon Him, listened for His direction and followed His lead. No matter what each new day brought, they stood firm and declared God’s goodness to anyone who would listen.

It is in the midst of crisis that one’s true character is proven. Marlo and Jean proved themselves to be good and faithful servants of the Almighty. No wonder Jeremiah was such a mighty man of God.

So, we will remember Jeremiah as the sweet little boy who couldn’t wait to get his hands on his Auntie’s iPhone, or gobble down the delicacies Nanay made for him. We will recall the way he mimicked daddy playing his guitar and his creative karaoke duets with Tatay. We will reminisce upon his beautiful, playful smile and the generosity of his kisses.

But when we reflect upon Jeremiah’s life, let’s not lose sight of the many lessons he taught us about unity, fighting the good fight, strength, courage, peace, expression of faith, and the abounding love of our good God.”

Thank you for your continued support and the great outpouring of love you have expressed during this time. You are a great blessing!  Please find below an invitation to the memorial celebration for Jeremiah Abalos; the family would love for you to join them as they rejoice in the precious gift of Jeremiah’s life.

Today is the 6^th day since the femoral line was pulled and Jeremiah has been without fluids. Once again, he has beaten the odds. The doctors did not expect him to survive past Thursday and yet he is still with us, stable and peaceful. The most amazing thing is that Jeremiah, even in this very debilitated state, continues to teach us and enrich our lives.

God has given Marlo and Jean several words that they wanted to share with you:

From Marlo:

“Unless you people see miraculous sins and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” ~ John 4:48 ~

“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” ~ John 20:29 ~

God continually speaks to Marlo, “Keep believing!”

From Jean:

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness […] O house of Israel, trust in the LORD — he is their help and shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD — he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the LORD — he is their help and shield. The LORD remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the LORD — small and great alike. May the LORD make you increase, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” ~ Psalm 115:1, 9-15 ~

“I love the LORD, for he hear my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangles me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. then I called on the name of the LORD: O LORD, save me!” The LORD is gracious and righteous; Our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” ~ Psalm 116:1-7 ~

God reminds Jean daily, “Trust in the LORD!”

Please continue to join us as we believe for complete healing for wee Jeremiah. Wait upon the LORD. Put your faith in the Almighty God and trust in Him alone! Thank you for walking this journey with Marlo, Jean and the entire Abalos family. You are an amazing encouragement and a great blessing to them all.

May the LORD bless you abundantly on this, His Sabbath.

Would you join me in prayer today? May the love of our Sovereign God will be more tangible than ever before. May the afflictions of Marlo, Jean, Nathaneal, Jessica and Jeremiah be eclipsed by the glory of the Almighty God. May His awesome presence surround the Abalos family. May the goodness of God be revealed in a mighty way on this very special day, Jeremiah’s 2nd birthday.

“I know that You do all things; no plans of Yours can be thwarted.” ~ Job 42:2 ~

With blessings on your day…

This evening they will be home in their own beds – Marlo, Jean, Jeremiah, Jessica and Nathaneal at home together – what a blessing that will be.

Tomorrow is a very special day. It is J-boy’s 2^nd birthday! And, there will be a party fit for the son of a King! Please pray that tomorrow will be a wonderful and meaningful celebration for the Abalos family.

Thank you again for your continued prayers. You are so appreciated.

With the changes they are noticing in Jeremiah, Marlo and Jean are sensing a new strategy from the LORD. Hence, they have made the decision to take Jeremiah back to Alberta Children’s Hospital to have a feeding tube put in place. Tomorrow morning, at 10:00 a.m., they will meet with Corinne, the palliative care doctor, to discuss this decision (an option she presented to them on Friday afternoon).

Marlo and Jean felt God direct them back to the message that came through that courageous nurses aide on Tuesday, 1 Kings 19:3-8 …

‘Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. 

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

As they reviewed this word from God, they realized that God provided Elijah with food and water, not just once but twice. And Elijah was strengthened. They believe God is telling them to go back to the ACH and begin enteral feeding (tube feeding) and Jeremiah will be strengthened.

Pray for favor in the process of having the feeding tube put in place. In order to go this route, they must go back to ACH, through the emergency department. Going from the peace and quiet of the hospice into the hustle and bustle of emerg has the potential to be rather upsetting. Please pray that the peace of Christ is all over this transition.

Thank you again for your faithfulness in prayer. You are an amazing blessing to our dear friends. Those of us who have had the privilege of being able to visit them regularly marvel at the incredible faith in Marlo and amazing might of Jean … your prayers have contributed greatly to their strong and courageous constitution.

May you be blessed so you can continue to be a blessing.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s attempts to force Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the faithful men of God, to bow down and worship the idol he had created failed miserably. And he declared,

“But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:15-18).

Marlo and Jean have embraced this word from the LORD and have found peace in knowing that the will of God will be accomplished. They refuse to bow down to the gods of disbelief, discouragement, anxiety, and fear but instead chose to put their faith in God – the true God, the God of mercy, compassion, grace and unending love.

If we continue to read Daniel’s account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace, we learn that God sent an angel to accompany them in the furnace and rescued them from all harm … “the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them” (Daniel 3:27). The king and all his wise men were confounded! And the king responded, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way” (Daniel 3:28-29).

The King of Kings was glorified on that day and we stand with Marlo and Jean eagerly anticipating His glory revealed through Jeremiah’s life.

Thank you for you faithfulness to continue to lift the Abalos family up in prayer. As you continue to petition the LORD for healing for Jeremiah, please pray for Marlo and Jean … that they will be blessed with fresh God encounters daily … He is indeed their strength!

With a mighty hand God proceeded to convince Pharaoh and to break down the powers that held his people in slavery! 10 miraculous demonstrations of power and judgment! God was not only taking Israel out of Egypt, but Egypt (the world) out of Israel! His people later sung:

“Your right hand, O LORD, is glorious in power. Your right hand, O LORD, smashes the enemy!” Exodus 15:6

May God bring about his deliverance for the little man and for his whole church by his mighty right hand!

It has been a longer journey than ever expected. May God give new strength, fresh revelation and enduring power to mom, dad, doctors, nurses and all of us participating. May his peace guard our hearts and minds as we persevere in our prayers. May we be able to run the race to the end, to keep the faith without faltering and to fight the good fight till the battle is completely won!

Almost two thousand years ago, on this weekend, Jesus chose death that we might have life and have it abundantly! He declared, ‘IT IS FINISHED!’ He opened the way for us to inherit the promises of God!

“Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.” Hebrews 6:12

We all know that an inheritance cannot be received till the person dies! And Jesus has died, so we are able to receive all his promises concerning Jeremiah’s life, concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the reviving of the church!

We also know that “…whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it. And God does it so that men will [reverently] fear Him [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is]. Ecc 3:14

And we are, ”certain that God, who began the good work within you [J-Boy], will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns“

God is not a man to lie, nor is he a man to be limited and not be able to finish what he started!

Over the next several days continue to give thanks for God’s victory in Jeremiah’s life, continue to resist any opposition to God’s answers (remember Daniel prayed and the angel that brought the answer was hindered), continue to listen and hear what more God will say.

I know through this journey, and at every point, you are learning well and demonstrating how to fight the Lord’s battles!

Perseverance produces character, character…hope, and hope does not disappoint!

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:2-4,12

Today Jeremiah showed more signs of life at work within him. He has been showing several reflexes for the first time including his eyelids twitching in response to touch!! Way to go little man! And way to go God!

We know that God is not a man to lie or change his mind! If he has promised that we will see his glory, all we can say is yes and Amen!

Continue to cover the family in prayers for peace, perseverance and hearing the voice of God! May God bring about his deliverance soon and completely!

God bless you for your part in the story!

Sweet Holy Spirit
Sweet heavenly dove
Stay right here with us filling us with your love
And for these blessings we give you praise
Without a doubt we know that we have been revived
When we shall leave this place

God is good. All the time.

“Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.” II Chronicles 20:3,4

We are fasting every day this week (do what you can and be led)
We are welcome to join Jean and Marlo at the Rotary Flames House from 6-7:30pm each night
Fast and pray even if you cannot come out, join your faith and pray with another

Here are the topics to focus on while praising God for his role as the author of this story and the many miracles he has already done!

• Ongoing wisdom and step by step direction
• Resurrection! fully restored, no disability!
  
• Physical and spiritual strength for Jeremiah, mom and dad
  
• Continuous healing and Life to brain stem and thalamus (part of the brain that controls vital functions)
• No lingering effects from the trauma of a coma, a long absence of food, tons of medications etc.
• That God will reveal and manifest His glory, pour out his Spirit on his church, extend his Kingdom in the hearts of countless people!

Consider…

“…but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, …But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. God bless you for your willingness to be part of God’s army!” Rom 8:6,11

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” II Corinthians 10:3,4

“…now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly!” Luke 18:7,8

Bring out the big guns this week (unity, agreement, fasting, prayer, sensitivity, perseverance)!

“Praise report for the day! Yesterday, Jeremiah’s heart rate was below 39 and the machine kept on beeping so we shut it off. We prayed life and continuous healing to his thalamus and brain stem that controls his heart rate and around midnight we turned  on the machine back and it didn’t beep as his rate went up to 40+ and still is. He has been breathing without the oxygen tubes for two days now and his oxygen is stable around 100%!! Another couple miracles that we can thank God for! We will  continue to expect and believe Jeremiah’s healing! Amen”

Acts 1 and 2 have been prominent life words that have sustained those traveling in Jeremiah’s story lately. God promising that as we ‘wait, we will receive his promise’, ‘the outpouring of the Holy Spirit’. Consider some characteristics of the early church in Acts 1 and 2 – ‘they were with one accord, met constantly and prayed together’.

As we approach day 40 – Good Friday, let us continue with earnestness to pray, to fast, to listen and to trust God to bring about the manifestation of his GLORY!

On Tuesday afternoon, at approximately 2:30 p.m. Steve Stewart, from Impact Nations, and Noah Scott, from the Healing Room, came to visit Marlo, Jean, and Jeremiah. Moved by compassion these gentle men prayed for Jeremiah and then his parents. They confirmed Marlo and Jean’s commitment to pray the life of Jesus into their wee son and to speak life over him. These ministers of the gospel reminded the Abaloses of our LORD’s covenants – gifts from our loving gracious, merciful Father -  and claimed those promises for this family. As they left they asked Marlo and Jean to contact them 48 hours later. This comment left us all with an expectation that today would be the day our biggest prayer would be answered.

Please stand with Marlo and Jean in faith that today their son will rise from his bed. Please continue to lift Jeremiah, his parents, Nathaneal and Jessica up in prayer.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  ~ Romans 12:12 ~

Let’s join Steve and so many others who are battling in prayer for courageous baby Jeremiah.

~ (Ephesians 3:20-21) ~

On February 23, one of our youngest church family members – 2-year old Jeremiah Abalos – was admitted into the Alberta Children’s Hospital with a very high fever and seizures. According to the doctors, a virus has attacked the part of his brain that is responsible for Jeremiah’s breathing and swallowing.

Please join us as we pray for the physical and spiritual strength of Jeremiah’s family – for his parents, Marlo and Jean, and for his siblings, Nathaneal and Jessica. Please pray for the destiny of Jeremiah, and as you are praying, may God reveal more areas that needs to be prayed for. May we touch the heart of God as we intercede for this tiny member of our spiritual family.

To find out more about Jeremiah’s story and to read updates of his condition so that you can pray accordingly, click here.

Jean went home last evening to spend time with Jessica and Nathaneal and sleep in her own bed, while Marlo remained at the hospice and spent hours (the wee hours of the morning) laughing uproariously with a couple of his brothers-in-Christ.

Today Jeremiah and his parents are very peaceful … such a blessed sign. They truly are at peace with their decision.

Here’s a message personal message from Marlo:

Praise God! His love endures forever! It was another night with Jeremiah and I. We were alone because Jean went home to join our two kids. Jeremiah was surprisingly quiet, even though they stopped some of his medication. He is totally at peace, enjoying God’s presence. I turned down Jeremiah’s oxygen level from 3 liters to 1 and everything is still OK! His oxygen saturation rate is at 100 percent, his heart rate is at 50 and he breathing softly, God is amazing His power is sustaining us all. May God richly bless you all co-laborers in Christ. Thank you, Marlo

Jean keeps hearing the LORD speak to her about His power. Let’s join her and Marlo in faith and expectation of the LORD’s power manifested in the healing of Jeremiah! And may our LORD and Savior receive all the glory!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Yesterday Marlo and Jean earnestly sought God regarding the next step for Jeremiah’s care. The morning was committed to praying and consulting with the elders of their church and meeting with the palliative care physicians and nursing staff. Time with the elders revealed God telling Marlo and Jean to wait on Him. The discussion with the attending doctors revealed they are not pushing them to make any decisions; they are not rushing them to insert the J-tube or move them back to the hospital. This has afforded Marlo and Jean some peace. It also helped identify the key factors of concern … nourishment for Jeremiah and where should they be for the care he required. So, Marlo and Jean prayed for revelation.

Nourishment for Jeremiah: At 6:30 p.m. the Lord spoke to Marlo, “Your son is hungry. Feed him.” Marlo was instructed to lay hands, along with Jean, upon Jeremiah to feed him spiritually. They prayed for him to be nourished, that he would be strengthened physically and spiritually. As they did so, Jeremiah smiled! Yes, he smiled! So, the strategy God gave them was to pray for Jeremiah at each meal time, laying hands on him and asking God to provide supernatural nourishment.

Stay at the hospice or go to the ACH: Moving back to the Alberta Children’s Hospital would mean leaving the peace and tranquility of the hospice and go back into the chaos of the emergency unit. Marlo and Jean felt this change would be too stressful for Jeremiah’s heart. So, the question was posed to God, should they remain at the hospice? Then, the LORD spoke to them through Acts 1:4 “Do not leave for Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised … ” It became apparent being asked by the Lord to wait was all about them waiting for the gift the Father promised. They sense the LORD telling them to continue to wait at the hospice for that gift. Furthermore, the LORD showed them in Acts 1:7-8, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in [Calgary, and in Alberta and Canada] and to the ends of the earth.”

So, Marlo and Jean have consulted with The Great Physician and He has told them, for now, wait at the hospice and allow Him to provide Jeremiah’s nourishment.

Please pray for the following:

1. Marlo and Jean, that they will walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and hear clearly the will of God in each step they take

2. For the LORD to restore Jeremiah completely

3. The femoral line, that supplies is presently delivering electrolytes, glucose and pain relief, will remain intact and fully functional. (If there is a problem with it, they may be forced to bring Jeremiah back to the ACH and explore other options for fluid/nutrient delivery.)

4. Rest and peace for Marlo and Jean and the whole family

5. The doctors, that they would be open to receive God’s divine revelation and creative responses to healing

6. Family time, that Nathaneal, Jessica, Marlo, Jean and Jeremiah will experience a wonderful time of unity over the weekend

7. Continued favor on this family with the health care providers

Thank you again for your willingness to serve and intercede on behalf of Marlo, Jean, Nathaneal, Jessica and Jeremiah.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ~ Romans 12:12 ~

Your prayers reveal such a sincere brotherly/sisterly love for the Abalos family that it is palpable! Thank you all for your faithfulness to continue to walk with and intercede on behalf of Jeremiah and his family.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
~ Romans 12:12 ~

“God displayed Himself and allowed us to see His glory last night. We are indeed so blessed!!! Please pray for more faith to arise. Continue believing God so we bring glory to His name.”

Today Jeremiah made a sound when he yawned! Jean joked that it sounded like he was trying to say Amen!

“Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” (Psalm 86:6-12)

Thank you for continuing to journey with us towards Jeremiah’s complete restoration!

Those of us who have had the privilege to spend time with Jeremiah, Marlo and Jean, we see a pattern that James describes best …

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

Throughout this process of Jeremiah coming to freedom, there is a refining and maturity that is happening in Marlo and Jean. Let’s all embrace this opportunity to persevere through this trial. Please continue to persevere in prayer. The psalmist reminds us …

God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God,who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! (Psalm 66:19-20)

God is listening and hears our prayers. Lift your voices unto the LORD, give Him thanks, and intercede on behalf of the Abalos family. As Jean puts it, “Let’s ask God to show His ways.”

Be assured and encouraged, God is being glorified daily through this journey.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Even as you pray for this dear family, do it with the purpose of seeing God’s glory come to pass.

Have a blessed weekend and please feel free to share what God is revealing to you in your prayer time for the Abaloses.

As we begin another day, please continue to pray in faith, joining Marlo and Jean in their belief for Jeremiah’s complete restoration.  Marlo and Jean are physically very tired.  Please pray for their strength and encouragement.  Please continue to lift their arms as Aaron and Hur did for the fatigued Moses (Ex. 17:12).  The battle is not yet over but be assured, the LORD is being glorified everyday of this struggle and our Mighty God will be victorious.  Believe as Job did … “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2)

The following verse has come to many of you on this list …

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

So today, March 8, 2010, let’s stand on that word and believe along with Marlo and Jean … and we will see the glory of God!!!

With much love and appreciation

Here are a few words that ring true and have been repeated in prayers in the hospital room and silently in many of your hearts and homes.

In Ezekiel 37 God asks, “Son of man, can these bones live?” People of God, can this boy live? Oh Lord, you know. “And he [the one who knows whether this boy can live] said to me [us] – prophesy to these bones!” Prophesy to this boy, to his body. God is teaching us of the creative nature of his words. “Living and active”. They are both alive and actionable – doing something. It is with these words he created the heavens and the earth and what we see from what was not seen. Is he not able through our proclaiming his words to create every organ and body part that Jeremiah needs. Did not Ezekiel “prophesy to the bones and they came together, to the flesh and it covered the bones, to the wind and it filled every body?” And an army resulted! We also get to prophesy the many words God has already spoken of and to Jeremiah directly!

He who began a good work will not stop after today! He will finish the work! God never started something he did not finish. And the glory at the end of whatever he does is always greater than at the beginning.

Why so much time? Time needed to be restored. To be healed. Time for God to layer his messages in J-boy’s heart. Time for God to unravel his mysteries. Time for the nuclear mushroom cloud effect of God’s power and purposes (the radiation) to spread.

ACTION
Let us continue to rally! God is pleased that we have come together to love, to pray, to believe, to support!
Let us not grow weary, watching God move. Agreeing with him. Standing in the gap, praying, proclaiming God’s truth, offering up a sacrifice of thanksgiving. “such sacrifices are pleasing to the Lord”. Allow God to lead you as you pray and give thanks. Feel free to invite your home groups into this adventure. Feel free to take a day a week and stand in the gap on that day with your group.

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.” Habakkuk 2:3

God created the world in six days. Then he rested because it was hard work and it took time. It was not instantaneous, but a miraculous wonder nevertheless and after centuries of study we are still discovering the wonders of what he made on those long early days.

Tomorrow morning Jeremiah will be transferred to the Rotary-Flames Children’s Hospice on the grounds of the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The doctor’s plan is to remove the ventilator tube from Jeremiah’s trachea in the morning, which will allow him to breathe on his own.

Marlo asked that the following message be sent out:
Please join him and his family in the victory the LORD is proclaiming through Jerermiah’s testimony. Celebrate with them the victory the LORD declares, whether it is evidenced through the raising of Jeremiah’s physical body or the raising of his spiritual body; God will be glorified through Jeremiah.

Thank you for praying for the Abalos family. You have answered the LORD’s call to be like Aaron and Hur, as they held Moses’ arms up leading them to victory in battle. Marlo and Jean have sensed your prayers of faith and felt your strong support helping them to hold their arms up high declaring God’s victory every step of the way. Please continue to pray for their faith to be strengthened even more and that God’s glory will be revealed in a mighty fashion tomorrow.

Blessings upon you and yours.

Dear Friends and Family,

Jeremiah’s condition is stable now. The support provided by the Children’s Hosptial staff is extraordinary, for which Marlo and Jean are truly grateful.  After much prayer and discussion, Marlo and Jean have decided to leave Jeremiah’s ventilator tube in place until Wednesday.  As Jean’s text message this morning stated, “We will keep our faith to believe that Jesus will rescue Jeremiah Abalos back to life completely well.”  Please believe with them.

Today they ask you to pray for them for a fresh infusion of faith, strength and courage.  Please pray for them as they speak to their other children about Jeremiah’s condition … that the Holy Spirit will give Marlo and Jean the words to say and that the children are receptive to what is shared and that they will understand.  Please pray for Marlo and Jean’s extended family.  Pray that the LORD will grant this lovely couple supernatural restoration of their fatigued bodies and minds.  Join in the prayers that God’s perfect will is accomplished and that He alone will get the glory!

Thank you for your faithful support of the Abalos family.

Please pray for Marlo and Jean’s strength spiritually and physically. Pray for the team of doctors attending to Jeremiah that God will give them wisdom and right judgment in this situation. Please pray for the destiny of Jeremiah. I pray that as you intercede for this family, may God reveal more areas that needs to be prayed for. May we touch the heart of God as we intercede for the member our spiritual family.

We will keep you posted on the progress of his situation.

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 18:19