Prayers for today

Good morning! It's the end of yet another semester at Ross U. Some will be leaving Dominica soon, and others have already left the island. Some families have only begun the journey, and many will follow down this narrow road in the months to come... It's been a blessing to begin this ministry, Lighthouse - ekklesia/church, with you guys. It has been an honor, privilege and joy to serve alongside each and every one of you. We've learned from one another, eaten good meals, laughed a bunch and dreamed big dreams. We've even killed a rat prior to taking Communion (really adding to the whole blood sacrifice). What church can say they've done that?
This will be the last Sunday for Kelsie, Maddie, Grace, Justin and Greta. Stef will be gone in another week, and Robb is already back in the states. We've seen Sherrie, Terry and Billy come and go, and, yes, it's inevitable that everyone will be on their way "back home" in the blink of an eye. This time in Dominica is short, but very sweet, difficult, yet very simple and wonderful.
Lauren and I wouldn't trade this season for the world. We wouldn't trade our living conditions over the past year for anything either as we've been blessed in so many ways through living in this house (even in the midst of break ins, rat problems, leaks, ants, mosquitoes, water issues, generator problems, fans busting, and so much more...). I've absolutely loved my life in Dominica, and I'm proud to say that "losing my life" was the best way for me to find it!
I'd like to spend some time simply blessing you guys through words (I'm a "word" guy ... as if you didn't know already). But I'm less concerned with my own words at the moment as I'm yearning to receive the words from the Lord that He has for our family. What are his prayers for us? What are his blessings? What are his convictions? Where is the Spirit of the Lord leading us?
Lately, I've been praying (along w/ Wes and Mary Lou's family) the Prayer of Jabez, which is a simple yet profound prayer that goes something like this... "Lord, bless me... enlarge my territory... may your hand be upon me... and, may you keep me from harm/evil...!" Praying this prayer alongside of the Shema has opened my eyes a bit, and helped me to see a bit more of what G-d might want for each one of us, followers of Jesus. G-d desires to bless us with more than our eyes can see, and much more than our minds can comprehend. He longs for us to receive His good gifts so that we might use them for His glory, His kingdom and for His perfect will on this earth as it is in heaven. G-d is not in the business of watching us suffer for His satisfaction. He truly desires what is best for us, which is why his kindness is what leads us to repentance, and His faithfulness in the midst of our unfaithfulness is what leads us to our knees, in humble adoration of a good, abundant Father who intimately cares for everyone: Sherrie, Billy and Kelsie, Robb and Stef, John and Briana, Jonathan, Scott and Whitney, Jake and Crystal, Dana and Nicole, Becky, Doug, Emma, Laura and Ben, Fern's family, Joseph, Jaimie, Kenny and Nina, Greta and Terry, Maddie and Summer, Melissa, Aubrey, Wes, Mary Lou, Karissa and Jillian, Brian and Anna, Joe, Grace and Justin, Neil and Jen, Andrew, Cari and Ben, Jason, Jennifer, Sarah and Joshua, Grace, Brian, Monique, Eddie, Stephanie, Lauren and myself...
So, Lord... grant me your prayers for us, please. Have mercy upon us, and share your heart with the hearts that long to beat with yours above all others! Father, I am in need of your grace, your mercy and your kindness. Will you please become more real right now than ever before, and will you show us the goodness behind waiting for your presence to manifest in our midst? Will you help us to become patient with you as you are so patient with us? Will you help us to pace with one another and grant us hearts that are expectant, but ones that throw away expectations?
My heart beats for yours, dear Lord. My body aches for your affectionate embrace, your comfort, your strength, your words of promise, blessing and love, and your abiding presence throughout the course of the day.
Today is just one more day, and today is the only day we know... Today, many are studying, and today many are resting. Today, your people will come before your throne in a nuber of settings all across the globe to receive and to give, to grow and to become pruned. Today, is an intentional day among followers of Jesus to take the body and the blood, remembering your death and your resurrection among the family of G-d. Today, we come to praise your holy Name as a crew, and today we come to pray, intercede and bless one another in the name of Jesus. Today is yours, and we ask that you do as you please as we prepare our hearts for worship of the One True G-d.
If we are leaning upon another false rock, I pray that we will tear them down. If we are obsessing over anything above you, I ask that we learn to release our earthly desires for the sake of your glory and your kingdom. If we are not in a good place, I pray that we will seek counsel, prayers and loving kindness from the body of Christ that you have given us. If we have strayed in any way, with your rod and staff, bring us back to the sheep fold, dear Jesus.
If we have not loved our enemies well, show us the loving heart of Abba Father. If we have not shared with the poor, break open our wallets to share with the faces of Jesus in every day settings. If we have not been cultivating disciplines that shape our heart, mind and body toward your face, cutt off every branch that bears no fruit so that we may only be a fruitful tree, abiding in your goodness.
Teach us the spirit of Jubilee. Teach us how to allow the Spirit's power to be unleashed with care and much power during our daily battles. May we liberate with you. May you give us a heart of justice and loving mercy. May we walk in your economic system (G-d' s Manna economy) of embracing all creation and helping out all people in need so that the world may know you are a good G-d whose land, blessings and riches have been bestowed upon us in order to reshape a system gone awry. May we become less dependent upon the government and more dependent upon the body of Christ as Jesus paves the way for true Jubilee!
May we use your authority with passionate force and with great enthusiasm, yet make sure we know how to use your power with the utmost respect and love in a world aching for true power to break the strongholds of the enemy.
And, finally... about the enemy, the evil one, the accuser... by the power of the living Jesus Christ who is the Alpha and Omega, the firstborn over all creation, and the One who has saved the world through the power of the cross, may we know that we can crush Satan under our feet.
This is authority!
This is jubilee...
We have won in His name, and we are called to live in a different posture b/c of our authority we have found in the living Lord.
You have given us the keys to bind and to losen, to be agents of change and transformation in a world which needs true liberation. Lord, may we use your keys with care.