J+C Generation

A while back I posted a blog titled “that all generations
may be ONE.� The Lord began speaking to me about the importance of “bridging
gaps� between generations. He is always in the process of bridging gaps (i.e.
Moses bridged the gap between the Israelites and God, Jesus bridges the gap
between sin and righteousness, etc.)

Here’s the thing….

I need the generation that precedes mine to speak into me. We
need our mothers and fathers (representing the older generation) to cover us
and come alongside us. There are things we can glean from their generation that
the Lord wants to transfer and transplant into our generation. I also believe
that He wants to bring a wave of healing for their generation. Lets face
it…their generation has a lot of “wounds� that have been passed down to us. These
wounds manifest themselves in abandonment, abuse, rejection, individualism,
lack of identity in the Lord, and many more. These “wounds� have been passed
down to them by their parent’s generation. I believe the Lord wants to use our
generation to start healing these wounds in order to bring into fulfillment,
for every generation, our
inheritance as His Sons and Daughters. 

Also, we need the generation rising up after us. They are
already making their presence known. We must allow them to speak into us and we
must speak into them their identity in Christ. It is our responsibility to
mentor them. To be Christ to them.

Several months ago I had the pleasure of talking to someone
on staff with AIM. I asked her, “what is the most challenging aspect of your
job?� Without hesitation she said that the most challenging part is the parents
of World Racers. She wasn’t passing judgment on them. She was simply stating
that “relationship� with them is difficult and exhausting. This REALLY struck a
chord within me because I have sensed and witnessed a disconnect that exists
between my generation and the one before mine. The disconnect breeds lack of
understanding and all sorts of other stuff. And it does get exhausting! I knew
there would be more revelation to come due to this brief conversation and He has
continued bringing it.

Whenever the Lord reveals something new, it’s important that
we posture ourselves in such a way that we ask the question, “what?� What does
this mean? What is the root? What do you want me/us to do? I have been asking
Him the “what� questions for seven months now and here is what He has
downloaded to me.

I believe the Lord has positioned the World Race in such a
way that it will play a vital role in bridging the generational gap. Here is
why:

The World Race is structured in such a way that it calls
forth all generations. It provides the opportunity for those 21-35 to “go and
see� the nations. As they do this they become “first-hand witnesses� to what
the Lord is doing in His Kingdom. They also become “on-the-scene reporters.� They
report back home the things they are experiencing the Lord doing in the world
and in their own heart. Who are they reporting to? Their mothers and fathers
(older generation), their siblings (their own generation), and children (the
younger generation rising up.) This is so POWERFUL and PROVIDENTIAL.

note: i am using family
terms (mothers, fathers, siblings, and children to illustrate this point.
obviously we know that they report to mentors, friends, etc.)

Let me
compare this to a story in the Bible.

The Israelites have been wandering in the desert after their
deliverance from Egypt. Moses sends 12 spies to survey the Promise Land to
check out the enemy so they can develop battle strategies to defeat them. However,
ten of them come back with the report that the enemies are giants and their
kingdoms are too well fortified to be defeated. The other two spies, Joshua and
Caleb, come back confident that the Israelites can defeat the enemies and
possess the land. However, majority rules and the final report to the
Israelites is “The land through which we
went to spy out is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people that
we saw in it are men of great stature.� (Numbers 13:32b) This instilled
fear in the people and they began to weep, grumble and deplore their situation.
In fact, they were so distraught that they actually wanted to return to Egypt.

Due to this bad report (and the Israelites response), the
Lord brought judgment upon the people, specifically the older generation,
stating those who are 20 years and older would not enter the Promised Land and
instead they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years (to match the 40 days
it took to spy the land). However, Caleb, because “he has a different spirit and has followed (the Lord) fully,� (Numbers
14:24) will enter the Promised Land. And Joshua will lead the younger Israelite
generation.

I believe the Lord is calling my generation to be a “Joshua
and Caleb� generation. Will we choose to have a “different spirit� and a heart
that will follow the Lord fully? Will we have our identity so completely
grounded in our Sonship and Daughtership that we will give bold and courageous
reports about our God? 
 

God is providing a multitude of opportunities for us to do
this. The World Race is one of them.

At my training camp in May 2010, Michael Hindes spoke of a
“whisper and rumor� coming from the Lord, calling forth His children into their
destiny. It’s no longer a whisper or rumor for me. It is a flat out battle cry.
And my answer is yes. It will always be yes.