dreams, visions, prophecy.

we've had a large amount of prophecy come our way in the past month, some by dreams and visions, some by direct revelation. it makes me proud to say that my wife has been gifted and hears the direct voice of the Lord to give wisdom, to correct, to encourage and empower. through our friends (and family) also, our God has given words and pictures to build up the body of Christ, which includes us.

recently this body of text has been brought to our attention. isaiah 55 reads:

Come, everyone who thirsts,come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

that which God provides is abundantly superior to the provision a man can make for himself. it is not to say that we should not labor, should not spend, should not be about the working world... but what is the purpose when God is able and willing to provide much more at no cost. bring your burdens, your weary hands and hearts, let Him fill you with His good food and water. seek not the things that are deceptively empty, set your heart toward God and seek wisdom in all things.

Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

we are now in a nation which we do not know, among people with whom we can hardly even speak... our purpose here may be shrouded for the time being, but it is daily being revealed where our place is in hong kong. the Lord asked us to answer the call to a far away and unknown land, and now a nation that does not know us is running to us. it is my belief that the nation that does not know us is not hong kong, which is not to devalue our current position as the following scriptures will show. we are here, for a time now, possibly a time later. the nation that is running to us will manifest itself once we are adequately prepared for that calling.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God knows what He is doing. there are people around us, even among us at times, that seek to devalue the work of God in our lives and through our being in hong kong. these will be dealt with by the Almighty Himself and i for one refuse to be burdened by them. God's ways are greater, infinitely superior to our planning. we are naught to question what Christ has called within and without.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout,giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

our Lord does not do things by accident, for random purposes, for fun, for show. the rain that falls has a purpose, and the snow from the heavens a reason behind its coming. we are in hong kong for a reason - to get settled, to pay off debt, to better know the area and its customs/laws? all of the above? whether we know or not, it is folly to think that God will not use us despite our impotence. rather it is by our inability to do what we will to do that God's power and glory are magnified.

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

the conclusion of the passage, the fruit that bears forth from our ministry, is quite an exciting prospect. raising grand trees amongst a great number of thorns, brier, a cornucopia of impossible circumstances... we are excited. wherever our ministry is in the long run, we know what it is - to raise soldiers among weaklings and naysayers. we anxiously await the harvest for which we prepare and sow. thanks to all whom are daily praying for and encouraging us. grace&peace. bye.