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Friday, January 20, 2012
Beloved
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything
according to his will, he hears us." -- I John 5:14
,
Have you ever offered up a prayer -- something that you knew was in accordance with God's will, something you were asking with completely unselfish motives, something that you truly desired for the Kingdom and not for yourself -- and yet your prayer seemed to go unanswered?
Have you ever scoured the Word of God, wondering if you're missing something? Wondering what might be "wrong" with your prayers? Or even wondering if Jesus really meant it when He said...
,
Have you ever offered up a prayer -- something that you knew was in accordance with God's will, something you were asking with completely unselfish motives, something that you truly desired for the Kingdom and not for yourself -- and yet your prayer seemed to go unanswered?
Have you ever scoured the Word of God, wondering if you're missing something? Wondering what might be "wrong" with your prayers? Or even wondering if Jesus really meant it when He said...
"You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
-- John 14:14
Dan and I have some friends who know a little something about this kind of thing:
If you've been reading my blog (or any number of other blogs floating around the internet, like this one or this one or this one), then you know them well. That's Ernest and Catherine.
Starting back in 1994, they began praying a prayer. A big one. They asked God to expand their ministry to orphaned children. They asked Him for the necessary resources to do this work and to do it right. They needed money. They needed land. They needed a home. They needed staff. They needed transportation. And humanly speaking, this was all impossible.
Ernest is simple Ugandan pastor. He lives a quiet life, caring for a handful of orphaned children alongside his wife, Mama Catherine. He and Catherine give away all they have and all they can -- even when they can't spare it. So they have no resources to speak of. Their dream was completely, utterly out of reach.
And yet they prayed. Not once, not twice, not for a week or a month or a year. They prayed this impossible prayer for 18 years. And even when things got really bad and their situation looked really bleak, they kept on praying.
And yesterday, their dream was realized. Yesterday, Ernest stood with a group of Americans on the land that he now owns, where his new home will be built. And just as Ernest prayed, this house will serve as a haven and a loving home for orphaned and abandoned children in Uganda.
The answer to Ernest and Catherine's prayers came in the most unlikely form -- it came in the form of a couple of ordinary men, who happen to live on the other side of the world. In faith, these men started a ministry called SixtyFeet and God funded their work -- through their friends, their family, their blog readers, their facebook followers and through perfect strangers. And Ernest and Catherine's faithful prayers were answered right on time, nearly two decades later.
God answers prayer. And those truly prayed in accordance with His will -- they shall be done. Probably not in our timing. And usually not in the way we've imagined. But "He who promises is faithful," if we'll only be faithful enough to wait and keep praying.
The current SixtyFeet mission team, those blessed souls who had the privlege of watching all of this unfold yesterday, basically won the lottery. Dan described it to me over the phone in great detail and still -- I can only imagine how wonderful that day must have been. I can't imagine the emotion charging through the air or how tangible God's presence must have felt.
If, like me, you're feeling a tad jealous, there's still hope for us. The entire scene was captured on film by our friend and filmmaker, Sean Kirkland. This story will be told, along with other equally amazing stories of God's love and faithfulness, in the new SixtyFeet film entitled "Beloved."
Beloved premieres in Atlanta on Saturday, February 11th and you're invited. This is one event you don't want to miss. Tickets are available here -- and they're free, but seating is limited and going quick. Click here for more information.
I hope to see you at the film release on the 11th! I do love a good God story. Thanks so very much to everyone who had a hand in this one.
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11 comments:
Wonderful news! Oh, how our Lord answers the prayers of the faithful!
PRASE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know from a very brief email, Patrick was honored to be a part of this special event.
nice... i bet that team that was there for that was just crazy blessed - what a thing to be part of...
weeping tears of joy, simply weeping...what a great testimony that God honors the prayers of faithful men and women...He hears us and He knows...and His timing is PERFECT.
I would love to see the film, but I don't live anywhere near Atlanta. Will it be available online?
well, i'm bawl baby crying! amazing. praise the Lord! can't wait to meet e & c someday. can't wait to see them in that home with those kids. good work, friends. i KNOW it's God, but you allowed Him to use you. proud of you.
As you know we are here in Uganda. Loved meeting Mama Catherine. She is even more wonderful in person as you know!
Thank you for letting us spend time seeing the ministry and children!
Seriously. I'm totally envious that I missed Ernest's prayer on our new land. I bet it was incredibly beautiful. I'm sure I would have been crying. What am I talking about...I'm crying now, just reading about it! I love it when God answers big, and in His own incredible way. Love it.
Does that mean we get to see it in Feb at the film premier?? Dying to see it.
Love you!
T
What an amazing testimony. Definitely a tad jealous of those who were there :). Love the picture, love the post, and LOVE these dear people! Can't wait to see you all and the film on the 11th! (Kristen Linduff)
Wow. Praise the Lord! What an incredible day, moment that must have been! I can't wait to meet those two. Someday. Can't wait to see it on film. and to meet you! 3 weeks! (I'm a just tad excited)
So wonderful. Hope to meet them someday!
Shelly, will the video be accessible on the internet for those of us who don't live in Atlanta? Would love to see it!
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