As I was grieving
the loss of my spiritual Dad during the conference in England, the
Lord showed me that I was sharing in His sufferings.
I was comforted as I realized how painful it must have been for
Jesus when He was on the cross, when the sin of the world was laid
upon Him, and when His Father turned away - "Why have You forsaken
Me?" What words of agony from the Son of God who's eternally
been one with His Father! It's utterly unimaginable what it must
have been like for Jesus!
And I have the
honor of sharing in that on a tiny level, having lost my spiritual
Dad a week ago now. Just over 10 months ago the Lord connected me
with this man of God in a special way, and it's been 11 months of
deep healing of the heart that have changed my life dramatically,
through theophostic prayer sessions, but also simply the fact of
having a Dad who was available and loved unconditionally, a true
reflection of my heavenly Father.
This season
of healing is over now, and I'm entering into a new season.
The Lord knew I needed this time to be able to move into what He
has prepared for me and us. I needed a greater level of healing
to be more like Him, and to be able to also deal with the greater
challenges of the higher level.
We all love
the verse in Philippians above, but most people stop after knowing
Christ and the power of His resurrection. Finish the verse! Participating
in His sufferings is part of the package! There are many verses
in the New Testament that speak about the benefits of suffering.
Why have we forgotten that? Suffering produces perseverance etc.
(see Rom 5). If we want to have godly character,
and heavenly hope, we HAVE to pass through suffering.
If we want to share in His glory, we HAVE to pass
through suffering (see Rom 8:17).
So while the
pain is very real, I have such a sense of God in all of this, such
a sense of excitement about the new season I'm entering. God knows
the exact timing for everything, and He orchestrates life in amazing
ways.
Having lost
a close relationship to a Dad, He has also moved me closer to a
spiritual Mom of mine during my last 10 days in England. I do believe
that the Lord will bring other fathers and mothers into my life.
We all need spiritual parents, and the body of Christ has lost that
revelation for the most part. And even if it's there, hurting people
and sin often mess up things. May we come into the maturity of Christ
and a restoration of true spiritual fatherhood and motherhood!
ENGLAND
- COMPELLED TO GO
It
was a crazy thing to go use my frequent flyer miles to go to England
for just over a week. But hey, we serve a "crazy" God!
I just had a sense of purpose and anticipation, plus a prophetic
word that October would be significant.
Things
often don't turn out the way we expect. Losing a Dad wasn't my idea,
but it marked the end of one season and the beginning of the new.
That's why October is significant.
You
remember that a few months ago we saw two villages come to the Lord.
Though other villages have asked us to come, we haven't done so
because I didn't know how we could follow up on the new believers,
since the workers are so few. While in England, the Lord broke my
heart for those villages that are hungry to know Jesus, and we've
refused to come. I deeply repented. I told the Lord I was willing
to go to all those villages wanting to know Jesus, and bring in
the harvest that is so white for harvest. I told him I'd trust Him
to take care of those new believers, and to send people and ways
to help them and follow up on them.
Putting
my words into action, we are going to a new village this Thursday.
And I'm believing for an increase in healings, signs and wonders.
Please pray for us!
TWO
CONFERENCES IN ENGLAND
I
was drawn to England by two of the speakers at this one conference
- Jill Austin and Todd Bentley.
Jill was my teacher while in the US, and Todd is the head of the
second network I'm part of. I didn't get to see Jill this summer,
and Todd I hadn't seen in over two years. One reason I wanted to
come was to reconnect with both of them.
My
expectations were by far exceeded as I connected with Jill more
than ever. At the first conference she was the only speaker. In
total, she did 12 meetings in England. As her spiritual daughter
I felt as if I was on her ministry team, communicating with her
during the meetings, which was so wonderful, and so much fun. I
was greatly blessed.
Todd
only came in for two meetings, and though crowds were huge, I managed
to have 2 minutes to talk to him.
I
also made a few new friends here in England, relationships that
last, I believe. There are a few people who'd like me to come to
speak at different churches, so we'll see what the future will bring.
I know that Jill will be back, and I have a sense that I will be
back too.
NEW
SEASON IN MALI
Only
36 more days until we move to our property! At
this point, the foundation of the house is buing built. We also
still lack $30,000 to finish that first building.
So we're praying for the release of the remaining money, and that
at least the roof will be on the house when we move, even if there
is nothing else there. What an adventure! What a time of transition!
On
Thursday, we are starting three weeks of fasting
and praying as a church, and I'm very much looking forward to that.
I believe we will see an increase of God's glory and presence, especially
as we set aside this time for Him. I personally am very much looking
forward to this time, as I'm more hungry for Him than ever. I'm
crying out for a fresh visitation that will "wreck" me
forever!
And
in 36 days we are moving into our Promised Land. We're moving to
the dwelling place of His glory. The Lord spoke to us that the glory
of the latter house would be greater than the former. I've seen
the cloud of glory over our property, and so I'm very much looking
forward to the move.
One
thing the Lord spoke to me while in England was that our base, this
"big" project right now, is in reality really small compared
to what's ahead in the future. I also saw how little 150 children
are, as the Lord spoke to me about thousands of children.
I could only laugh because so far our project and 150 kids had seem
huge to me. But my perspective changed then and there.
So
please pray for us in this intense time of transition and increase!
CALLING
FOR THE INTERCESSORS
Another
realization I had was that the few intercessors I have right now
are by far not sufficient for what is ahead. I only have just over
10 people on my intercessors email list, and most I don't even ever
hear from.
I'm
calling forth the intercessors to step up and take up the
task of praying for me, for Mali, for this ministry - IF
you're called to it! I need people who are ready to pick up this
sacred task, who will pray for us regularly, who will be open to
His speaking, and communicate with us, sharing what God has showed
them, and giving their input.
Email
me if you're one of them.
QUICK
NEWS
- Malian
Teacher - I've been teaching my kids again these last
few weeks, which I enjoy greatly, but in reality I don't have
the time or capacity to carry this big load, on top of all the
other responsibilities, as much as I enjoy it. Please pray that
the Lord would send us a great Malian teacher.
- Help
from Austria - A young lady from Austria is coming next
week to help us out for two months. We were just informed that
the airport in Bamako is closing for a couple of days - including
the day she should have arrived. Pray it will all work out. Pray
for her to settle in quickly in Mali, and be blessed and a blessing.
- Monthly
Support - We're still very much in need of monthly supporters
to be able to do all we do, pay all our bills, and take care of
emergencies whether it be medical or repairs. Right now our funds
are depleted.
- Team
from Austria - We have a team of 6 Austrians
coming Nov 23 until Dec 3. We're excited to have
those 10 days of intense ministry with them. Please pray for wisdom
as we make the schedule, for God to prepare them, and everything
to work out perfectly for His glory.
We
also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know
that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and
character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has
poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he
has given us. (Rom 5:3-5)
I'm
my Beloved's, and He is mine,
Claudia
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