When I prayed for Nepal at the beginning of the month, God whispered the word “the cross” to me. That’s been my heart cry and prayer: that the people here know and feel the power of the cross. And that I personally bring it back to the cross no matter what the day brings. When we got to Nepal, someone who lives here shared a vision with me that he had of a Red Cross and the blood of Jesus breaking the curse of human trafficking over Nepal. That was confirmation to me that that prayer was what was needed. When these women and children realize that when God looks at them, and they have a relationship with Jesus, He only sees His son and the cross. He sees the value and worth. He doesn’t see their sin. He sees them.
The cross teaches us to die to ourselves. Surrender. It teaches us the principle that it’s not about what we get out of it but what others get out of it. A week before Jesus died and rose again, the people were praising Jesus for his miracles, and not Him. Not for who He is.
This week, I got to see the meaning of the cross in people who the world would consider the least of these. As I write this, tears are welling up remembering their faces and smiles and eyes. I felt like I was looking straight into Jesus’ face looking into their eyes.
We often make ministry a to-do list and and a busy schedule. When really it might just look like sharing a meal and sitting with someone. And praying for them to walk. And praying for them to hear. Ministry this week made me think about when Jesus walked this earth, and that the people who Jesus healed and prayed for touched his heart in more ways than He felt He touched theirs.
Ministry is just an overflow of our time with the Father. It’s an overflow of the kingdom inside us. I saw that in Pastor Narayan this week. I physically saw the power of prayer and the power of praises this week. Even sitting here, my heart is overwhelmed with the goodness of the Father. Of our Father. He loves us each so uniquely.
I guess I should fill you in on where we were this week. We were at New Life Handicap Ministries and Prayer Tower. Pastor Narayan, the founder, had a vision back in 1991 that God wanted him to make a place where there is prayer 24/7 and so for 17 years, there have been constant prayers being lifted up every hour of the day. They pray for each country by name. Right now, they are praying for muslims to know Jesus, specifically from Palestine. When he first built the prayer tower, he was praying for 3 things- for Nepal to not be a Hindu country, for democracy to come into Nepal, and for God to remove the corrupt king. 8 days later the king was killed and there has been huge steps in Nepal in the other two areas. God hears our prayers.
At the same time, his friend had a vision of creating a space for those who are disabled to live. To take them in when they have been outcasted by society. So Pastor Narayan, with no money to begin with, depended on the Lord to build this place for them.
And this week, 26 years later, we got to see the fruit. 22 people live there. They have all been rejected by their Hindu families because of the physical and mental differences they see in them. But their spirits. And their souls. Are SO good. And SO alive. Their souls refreshed my soul. Pastor Narayan is discipling them. Doing life with them and working with them and being Jesus to them. We sat in on their time of prayer and worship for the past couple of nights and it was the most beautiful thing to be a part of. Our voices and praises were lifted to heaven together. Our smiles joined in with their smiles.
After we would have fellowship with them, our team would stay in the prayer room and praise the Lord together. We would rejoice in Him together. I learned a lot this week about praise and worship and intercession. We must enter his courts with praise! “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for THIS is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Our faces came back glowing after seeing Jesus in these people and from praising Him all week. From glory to glory! From one glory to the next!
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Our team’s chapter this week was Psalm 34.
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! Psalm 34:1-3
The Lord is my CHOSEN portion and my cup; you hold my lot…Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure… You make known to me the path of life; in your presence their is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16
I also wanted to update you on Nombrica! Another team got to meet with her this week and she wants out of the work that she is doing. Agape ministries is currently looking for another job for her. They also learned more of her story this week. Her christian parents disowned her because she married a guy who was in a lower caste than her so that made her not want anything to do with Christianity. When she got married and had her son, her husband told her that she was his second wife and left her to go live in Cyprus with his other family. She still loves him very much and longs for his love and presence. Pray for her to long for the love of Jesus and His presence. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that he has put eternity into man’s heart so it’s there. We know it is. We just have to believe she will know and believe that too.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11
