Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Have you ever just had one of those days where you just can't shake off the 'bad mood' attitude? Yesterday seemed to be this day. I usually have a pretty happy-go-lucky personality but yesterday one who was around me probably would not have referred to me as having a peaceful personality type. I don't know what the deal was but the whole day was a big 'uncomfortable situation.' It just seemed that I found so many things to be ungrateful for.

Complaint 1:  I was out of toothpaste.

Complaint 2:  I was very very very hungry and praying for grace to get through the day.

Complaint 3 & 4:  As I went about my day, I grew very frustrated with the coldness of my classroom and became agitated beyond measure with my students. It seemed to be that the heater was not working properly in my classroom and even the students were wearing their winter coats. None of the students seemed to be following directions and they just were loud beyond measure. Hmmm... who would have guessed that second graders talked so much?

Complaint 5:   Then I was stuck behind cars that seemed to be afraid to do the actual speed limit.  You know... there are posted limits on signs for reasons.

Complaint 6: Then the coffee shop seemed to forget my 'toffee nut' flavoring in my Americano.

Complaint 7 & 8 & 9: Then I went to the FCS-renewal meeting at IHOP and as I walked through the door, I was quickly swept away like a sardine in a trial sized aluminum can. I felt like I couldn't breath and quickly became closterphobic and easily agitated with people-mostly students, who were showing any presence of a manifestation of the Spirit. I mean really... who makes any noise or movement when the Holy Spirit is upon them anyway? After walking around the building for about a half hour, I finally found a seat but only to be crawled over and upon about every 5 minutes by hot-sweaty-smelly bodies trying to make their way to and fro the front of the stage.

Complaint 10:  I was having a very bad day.

Believe it or not a PRAISE crept in:  During the FSF service, there was yet another call for healing. I felt that I was especially not in the right mood or mind of sanity to pray for healing. I think I was the one who was in desperate need of healing.  I specifically told the Lord how I felt and about my stubborn mood.  I should've expected a suddenly but I didn't.  The woman who was sitting next to me just happened stand up for healing. I felt as if I was required to pray for her. I assumed this was the Spirit leading me to pray because in my stage or frame of mind there was no possibility of any sort of elegance coming from my mouth in prayer... nope nothing else but Him (isn't this how it should always be anyway?) There was also a man praying over her. He was using a lot of big words and very expressive motions but quickly left her when his prayer ended. I grouchily prayed "Lord bring your healing and bring her body back into alignment." The Spirit then pressed it into my mind that it was caused by an injury. I then prayed (grouchily of course) "bring healing over any past injuries that her body has endured for You-Lord are worthy of her praise and worthy of her thanksgiving." Nothing outrightly seemed to happen and I sat down while trying not to focus on the crowded auditorium. She sat down next to me for about 10 minutes and then disappeared into the crowd. All of a sudden she appeared on stage and proclaimed that the Lord had healed her hips!!! She had just had a baby and had been struggling with her hips being out of alignment. When we were praying for her they popped back into place! I just sat there mystified and thankful that the Lord is so faithful! Even through my own stubbornness and grouchiness, He still worked through my prayer! I now say to myself... of course He did because it's not any power that I posses on my own that can bring healing. It's actually the Spirit dwelling within me and the power of God that brings healing. He is always faithful although I am not, He is always loving although I am not, He is always full of mercy and I am not, and He is always Big and Powerful and I am simply small, weak, sometimes irritable, and all too needy.

As I left the FSF service, still in a somewhat grouchy mood (def. 'dark but lovely') I was reminded of how faithful God truly is. I was realizing how big of a ‘brat’ I had been this day, but I was more focused and amazed at how awesome He was and is. I am so thankful that He is not anything like me, although I am praying daily to be more like Him. When He wants to work and bring healing, He doesn’t ask you to come and pray in a happy mood, without sin, or without agitation. He simply says “come as You are.” “Come to My house of praise just as you are.”

He is all together lovely. This is my faithful friend. This is my God.


More Praises: 

1. I am thankful for toothpaste that is free of diethylene glycol (a chemical in antifreeze).  Warning for the reader... do not buy toothpaste made in China it could be hazardous to your health.  Buy Crest it's the best.
2. I am thankful for having a job, while because of the economy so many do not right now. 
3. I am thankful for having a school to teach out of, while some schools are not left standing, let alone having children that are alive (Haiti). 
4. I am thankful for students who are proficient in the english language, even if they speak some Swahili on the side or in the halls. :-D 
5. I am thankful for living in a country that has equal rights for women, while some countries don't allow women to drive, let alone the other equality determining factors that affect their lives. (Martin had a dream for a reason.)
6. I am thankful for COFFEE!  Yes, I believe there will be coffee in Heaven!  Although God has told me that I won't be addicted to it in Heaven.
7. I am thankful for a wonderful Church that truly believes and lives out the Word of God.  I am thankful for the teachings that have been instilled in my heart. 
8. I am thankful for the church buildings and prayer rooms that we have, while some countries are not as fortunate.
9. I am thankful for the freedom to speak of Christ, the freedom to worship, and the freedom to evangelize and teach about Christ.
10. Last but most importantly, I am thankful for a God who loves, heals, and saves.

I am randomly reminded of one of my favorite children's books... "Alaxander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."  Maybe next time, I will move to Australia. :-D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p09_ULvFBlA  (online play-book)

bend us Lord

There is no deeper Truth
Than Jesus Christ crucified
Risen from the dead
And now alive
Returning one day
To claim His bride
A bride so sanctified and purified
Church are you ready?


Lord, help us to see You how You really are
Lord, help us to see You standing at the end of Jacob’s ladder


Open our eyes, open our eyes, open our eyes
Open our eyes that have been shut for too long
Open the eyes of our heart and not the eyes of our sinful physical nature


Help us not to be the biggest obstacles in the way
But help us see You in Absolute Truth
Help us to peer through to You and see You at the end of the ladder


Open up, open up, open up the Heavens
Give us a new revelation of Your Truth
Open up the Heavens upon Your children, upon Your bride


Lord, bend the Church, bend the Church
Bend us individually in our homes, in our congregations, in our towns,  in our regions.
Bend the Church to save the world.
Bend us Lord!




“Before there is ever an open heaven over a congregation or a city or a nation, there first is an open heaven over a person.” Quoted by Jim Goll

Jacob's ladder

Walk'n these steps of Faith
Hid'n in this cliff of mine
Trying to climb Jacob's ladder

Wrestling to see
Wrestling to hear
Wrestling just to know that He's near

Walk'n these steps of Faith
Hid'n in this cliff of mine
Trying to climb Jacob's ladder

Grabbing on to...
this seems to be... this seems to be...
this seems to be...
an endless ladder

Wrestling to see You
Wrestling to hear You
Wrestling just to know that Your near


(Genesis 28, Genesis 32)

traveling in song

As I looked down, I knew my location was not stable.  I began to to do what I normally do when I do not know what to pray, sing.  Slowly and softly I began to sing in the Spirit.  As I traveled from location to location, from place to place, from town to town, from country to country; I did what I only could do, sing in the Spirit.  As I stood at one location singing, I felt an indescribable sense of Freedom.  I looked up to my Maker and He spoke the words to me "bending bows of oppression."  The scene then changed and I was standing in a diffferent country, I began to do what I only knew what to do.  I began to walk and sing in the Spirit and I felt more alive than I have ever felt before.  It was amazing how my locations were changing, but my walk and song were consistent and unchanging.  It was as if I were walking in and out of countries, singing in the Spirit, bringing Freedom through my prayer song.  As the last scene came to an end, I was awaiting a message as usual.  I heard an audible voice speak from above "Come worship in this beautiful place of worship."  Seemingly unique that this is not the first time He has given me this very message.  In this last moment, I began reciting this phrase, not to quickly forget again.  I then awoke and opened my eyes, singing in the Spirit.  Today I am thinking that I need to fall asleep more often singing in the Spirit.

Bathed in Jesus

As I awoke this morning, I heard the whisper of the Lord, "John 13." I spent most of the day meditating on the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. What a beautiful story of service and love.

I found it quite amazing how Jesus knew His High Position, His Royal Authority, and He humbled Himself to serve the disciples by washing their feet. I can imagine Him picking up a ceramic clay pitcher or maybe a dull silver pitcher full of water, and pouring the clean water into a basin lying upon the dirt floor. As He arose from the table sitting amongst His disciples after supper, parching down to take off His outer clothing, while wrapping and girding a towel around His waistline. He approached each one of the disciples to wash clean the only thing left dirty (all except Judas of course), their feet. He then approached Simon-Peter to wash his feet but Simon-Peter began to protest.

I can picture the scene, Simon-Peter gently pushing Jesus' hand away and stepping backwards, while saying boldly:

"You shall never wash my feet."
"You are of too High Authority."
"You are too Holy and I am simply not."
"I should be the one serving You."
"I should be the one in who is washing Your feet."
"I should be the one stooping down upon a basin cleansing the sand and dirt from our journey off of your feet."
"No Jesus; I will not let You wash my feet."

Yes, I can picture the scene in my mind. Clear as day I can picture the scene with full understanding on Simon-Peter's behalf. Did you ever wonder why it was Simon-Peter who was the one to protest? Think for a moment about who was the one who denied Jesus 3 times. I believe that God chose Simon-Peter to be the one to protest to show His loving kindness, mercy, and absolute forgiveness. Although Jesus knew that Simon-Peter would soon deny Him-in which He even warned Simon-Peter of the future event, He still chose to serve him out of humility, love, and faithfulness. Simon-Peter would soon understand the heights and depths of Jesus' love for him, when remembering this extravagant act of service once his denials had taken place. Yes, Simon-Peter would soon understand how much this Man 'Jesus' truly loved and served him.

It's beyond significance that as Jesus walked with the disciples and shared the secrets of His Heart, the secrets of Eternal Life, the secrets of the coming Kingdom, and the secrets of the Father's Heart; that not all of them obtained full understanding that it was Jesus who would wash them clean from the filth of the world. That it was by Jesus and only through Jesus that they would all become clean and follow in the very footsteps that He used as a living example, the very likening of their Beloved Lord Jesus. As Peter protested against Jesus' washing of his feet, he gave a stipulation that Jesus could wash all of him. This was due to the fact that his feet weren't really all that pretty and clean. I mean come on let's be real, most aren't right? This was the dirtiest part of their bodies, especially when considering the hot-dry-sandy dessert. It's not like they had tennis shoes back then either, let alone foot-deodorant spray. They wore leather sandals, which probably smelled definitely not like 'Japanese cherry blossoms.' Jesus again told him that he was already bathed, he was already clean. He was not talking about the literal aspect of being cleaned by water and soap but He was referring to the spiritual act of cleansing. Jesus had already made him spiritually clean. It was and still is Jesus who makes us clean. Just as Simon-Peter was bathed in Jesus, we are bathed in Jesus. We are bathed in Jesus and made completely clean, that is if you believe in Him. If you do not believe in Him than you can choose to believe, be bathed in Jesus, and be made spotless-squeaky clean.

Jesus' full act of humility of service was a clear sign that it is only by Him that they could be clean. Although He knew that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God (John 13:3), He still chose to serve His servants. For this is a real servant. In stead of our humanistic philosophy and tendencies that lead us to veer away from humility and serving others of a lower status, it was due to His High positions that lead Him to serve and teach the very thing He was practicing. For this is a real servant. He was their Lord. He was their Teacher. He was teaching them what it meant to truly serve out of love.

This passage is yet another example of how close Jesus was and still is. Before the first advent, it was as if God was a God so far off. Suddenly Jesus came as a man, a human baby needing what every other human baby in the dessert needed, caring and love. God came as a baby who would love without stipulation, limitation, or circumstance. He came as One who would walk and talk with His beloved friends, disciples, children, and even strangers in need. He came as one who would serve even though He knew He was above all. He came to serve all that had been given to Him by God the Father. He came in humility to make a way that was not so far away as was before. He came knowing He was from God and was going back to God. He came to serve and love, so that they (we) may be clean, bathed in Jesus, and following in His very footsteps doing the same. He suddenly was not a God so far away.

"Mostly assuredly, I say to you a servant is no greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things; blessed are you if you do them." John 13:16-17

As I again think about Simon-Peter's protest, I think about my own-this is if I were to be in his very position. I'm pretty sure I would have reacted in the very same manner. I mean "who am I that Jesus would wash my feet?' I don't feel worthy enough, that's for sure. Wait but that's what is so great about this message. It's not by our might or by our doing that we can become clean enough or worthy enough for Jesus to serve us, as to His washing our feet. It's only by knowing Him intimately and being bathed in His Love that we can be made clean enough to have our feet washed by Him.

Jesus said "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." John 13:8

He was saying that if you do not acknowledge that you are clean by my doing than you are denying my worthiness to clean you. You are denying the reason for my very existence. If you can not acknowledge this, than you can no longer walk with me. Jesus was saying that "It's only by My service that you can be made worthy to carry My Name. Now, let me wash Your feet."

Jan. post- The Hub Journal

I currently write a monthly column for a Korean International Christian Journal that posts in Seoul, Korea called "The Hub." A very good friend of mine, who is the editor of the journal wrote an article over Robert Park. Robert Park is a Christian Korean American Human Rights Activist/Missionary who just recently was obtained in North Korea. For those of you who don't know Robert Park or what has been happening with him associated with North Korea, here's a copied version of her article. When hearing about his detainment my heart immediately broke and went into intercession. When living in Seoul, my heart was awakened to the issues in North Korea by this man's passion and zeal. Since then I have had a burden for North Korea for intercession as well as missions. I had attended a few prayer meetings and church services, that Robert Park had spoken at and something just hits home in my heart when hearing this news. I realize that so many people in the west and even some here at the International House of Prayer aren't all that up to date with world news, but I believe that it's a necessity to be when intercession is a primarily calling to our lives. Please read this article and intercede for Robert Park and North Korea.

The Hub Journal

Volume 2 Issue 12
Page 3
On Robert Park and North Korea by Tash Schoultz

“Concentration camps,” “1000 people a day (dying) by starvation,” and “geno­cide” are the reasons that Robert Park, a fellow Christian and human rights activ­ist, listed for walking across the Tumen river and entering North Korea (illegally) Christmas evening around 5pm. The Tumen river lies on the border between North Korea and China, and during the winter time many North Koreans illegally leave their country by walking across this river, which is frozen, and escape into China in search of a better life. Although the border is guarded by armed guards, instructed to shoot at anyone trying to escape the country, many North Koreans risk the possibility of death rather than stay within the oppressive confines of North Korea out of sheer desperation. It was therefore surpris­ing for many to hear that a Christian Korean American would freely choose to enter North Korea, despite North Korea’s very negative human rights record and its history of persecuting Christians.
Robert Park entered North Korea in plain sight with a letter addressed to the country’s president imploring him to rectify the human rights abuses happening in North Korea and to release the political prisoner’s who are in the prison camps. In an interview with Reuters, Robert Park is quoted as saying, “I want Kim Jong-il and the North Korean government to know that I love them. I love all these people. I am going in because it has to change, for the sake of the children, the men and the women who are being brutally murdered.” As he entered North Korea, he was fully aware that he may be martyred, a price that Robert Park told the media (prior to entering) that he would be willing to pay in order to highlight to the world the seriousness of the North Korean situation.
Living in South Korea for almost 7 years now, reading extensively about North Korea and meeting a number of North Korean defectors as well as being involved in a volunteer ca­pacity with an NGO related to North Korean human rights back in 2007, I can concur with Robert Park that the North Korean situation is very serious. Defectors living in South Korea, as well as in other countries around the world, give testimony to Christians being tortured and killed in the prison camps of North Korea. In a country where religious freedom is non-existent, if the North Korean government finds out that someone is a Chris­tian they are labeled as a political dissident and are sentenced to long prison terms in political pris­on camps, which, as Robert Park told Reuters, are comparable to those of Nazi Germany, or worse. I have read testimonies of liquid­ized metal being poured over Christians as they were martyred for their faith, of Christians in the prisons not being allowed to look up at the sky in fear that they are pray­ing or being involved in what the prison officials call “superstitious” behavior, and of prisoners in the camps feeling lucky to be able to catch rats to eat in order to be able to escape starvation.
North Korea is about a two hour drive from the affluent capital of South Korea, Seoul – yet it is like travelling to a completely different world. In Seoul we see bags and bags of leftover food being thrown away daily. We also see people eating expensive meat and seafood dishes in trendy restaurants, large modern apart­ment buildings with cozy warm under­floor heating, and the latest in cell phone technology and designer bags being profligately displayed. It breaks my heart to think that the food we throw away daily could save the lives of thousands of starving North Koreans.
Yet, as Robert Park points out, North Korea is indeed receiving a lot of food aid from various international nations however the starving people of North Korea never see this food, instead the food is distributed to the army and military who are involved in the suppression of the North Korean people. Food is used to con­trol North Korean citizens, with those in good favor with the government getting more food than those in bad favor with the government, and of course Christians are at the very bottom of the pecking order receiving barely enough food to survive on in the prison camps.
Considering how desperate the situation in North Korea is, and that it is our brothers and sisters in the family of Christ who are being martyred for loving Jesus, it is no wonder that Robert Park’s heart broke for this nation and that he is willing to give his life for the people of North Korea. Whether you agree with Mr. Park’s method of drawing attention to the situation or not, is peripheral. Of far greater importance to us should be how Jesus feels about what is happening to His people in North Ko­rea. Our hearts should break for the things that break our Lord’s heart. Knowing what is happening just two hours from many of our homes should move us so much that we weep over this na­tion, fast and pray to see change. Second Chronicles 7:14 tells us, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” All of us need to recognize the universality of the body of Christ and realize that when one part of the body of Christ is in pain, we all suffer along with them. The situation in North Korea is not only the situation of the North Korean people and the per­secuted North Korean church, but it is our situation, too. We need to humble ourselves along with them, turn from our wicked ways, seek God’s face, repent and plead with God for the healing of the North Korean nation.
At present Robert Park is de­tained in North Korea, please keep him in your prayers.