So a major earthquake happened in China. It’s a really big deal… but unfortunately big deals happen all the time. We become numb to them. I’m just realizing this year how very personal this world has become. When the Tsunami happened I was amazed and saddened by the pictures and I prayed for people… but I didn’t really know how to pray for people (if that makes sense). This is different… when something happens, faces come to mind… are they ok? Are their families ok? Even if I don’t know specific faces… I know what a city in China looks like, I can pretty much picture what a flooded city in Burma looks like
I was just forwarded this email from some of the contacts we worked with in China. There is tradgedy there… but please know that while you pray for the bodies that are hurt and the families that have lost someone… God is going to be doing spiritual miracles. Of all the places we’ve visited… NO ONE is as hungry for God as the Chinese. Their spirits are crying out to the living God and when someone gives God a name and an identity in their lives… they are fervent in their relationship with Jesus.
This email changed my perspective: what does a tradgedy look like when we live through it as people that know the living God, really know that he is all-powerful, and having a burning desire for everyone we meet to know him as well?
I think it looks something like this:
(It’s typed with the Christian abbreviations they have to use in email… think God words and you can crack the code!)
“Hey Everyone!
Thanks for all your emails, concerns and prayers!
We are safe! The big earthquake came about 2:30pm Monday afternoon, the epicenter was in a town 3 hours from where we live. It measured a 7.8 on the Richter Scale and was felt as far away as Beijing. It was quite long and it shocked this unprepared city. We were in our 6th floor apartment when it happened and stayed inside for the whole major shock which lasted over 2 minutes!. Things were falling and shaking and swaying, we quickly prayed for protection but were full of faith, the quakes continued and so we decided to start praying for God to shake this city AWAKE and SHAKE them until their faith will be in HIM! It was an awesome shout of prayers and our spirits welcomed the Lord’s as we knew He was saying HE is coming soon! After the 1st shake, we grabbed some tracks and B’s and ran outside because we knew the people would be scared! Scared Chinese people ran outside and filled the streets. It was very chaotic! Shops closed and everyone was told to sleep outside! Tents were set up in parks and people covered the streets. We, and other brother and sisters had chances all night to share and pray for people, but even though the advice was not to return to our house, we felt the Ld told us we could, 2 friends joined us. Quakes rocked us all night, and through today too, but not as big as yesterday. Today people are still scared and we are asking for OPEN DOORS! This is what we have asked for !! A Big SHAKE to this place!
Many believers were told that time is short and to be alive and in him daily–this was very significant because it was felt in ASIA all the way to Bangkok! The day before, our Sunday house group met and we had a word from the LD that we need to be eagerly desiring the gifts of the SP. That meeting was very significant! Believers were encouraging to me because we were all like-minded —not afraid and ready to witness!
There have been casualties. Especially in villages and town in the Qiang and Tibetans regions where we have friends and have been many times. Please lift them up. It is reported that more than 10,000 have died, please lift them up, please pray for the children trapped in schools, please ask for the minority regions that were hit, and their souls. Please lift up the continual shaking of this place in hearts. Still trying to reach some friends.
Thank you that you are with us! We are HIS! His hand is always on US!
Many of our friends apartments are cracked all over but ours has not a single crack! We are truly protected! He commanded the shaking not to affect our house.
When JC calmed the storm when he was with the disciples in the boat the were amazed- “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him!” Mark 4:41
We are so glad that we are all IN HIS BOAT!!!!
All for Jesus,
~N & O “
Please join them in their prayers for their city and for all the miracles they will see through this tradgedy… thank you!
