Autumn's Arrival. Lift Up Your Voice For Justice.

Autumn's breeze has come so suddenly. Already we're turning off the a.c. in our cars and rolling down our windows to feel & take in the sweet breath of creation. Summer is no longer my favorite season. I love all the change that comes with Autumn. The air. The leaves. Marked Conference was a teen gathering we had mid-August. The vision was to reveal Jesus to the youth of this region. And that they'd be so impacted that they'd live lifestyles of radical obedience to God. Between 100 - 200 came from Fredericksburg, Richmond, Colonial Beach, Harrisonburg and other various cities in Virginia. Many experienced God in ways they never had before! Praise the Lord!!

At the end of August, about 30 new Burn Interns arrived at the Prayer Furnace. They are currently taking David Bradshaw's Priesthood class to learn about ministry to God. I like them a lot. :) They are boldly engaging in prayer and seeking the Lord in His Word. I know many of them have been touched already though it is only the beginning of four months in the internship. I'll keep you all updated on their encounters and transformations! I know you all want a testimony, but I can't think of one at the moment!!

Earthquake:

Even though I have taken a class on the End Times and hear often about preparing our hearts, I feel I have grown dull to the reality that I must have and KEEP understanding concerning the End Times. Even if the Lord does not return in this generation, we must clearly teach our children about what is to come. Matthew 25 is an important passage concerning the time of the Lord's return.

Prayer Room - Intercession:

>Genesis 12:3 says, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you..." concerning Israel. Therefore pray that the US government would be one to bless Israel and do what's best for that country. There has been talk about dividing Israel. If it happens, it won't be good for America.

>California

Personal:

Since Aug, God has been reminding me that He is my Father again. It's so simple, but knowing that He's my Father changes everything. Ever.ry.thing. I know that NO insecurity can stand when I start to understand more and more of His delight over me. Just receiving His love gives me confidence and drives out fear! Coming out of a season where I wanted to mostly isolate myself, I am re-learning that two realities are needed concerning worship/devotion. One, I need to spend time alone with God. Just like a husband and wife need to spend quality time together alone, so do I have to spend that time with Him in the secret place. Two, I need to spend time in worship with other believers too. Having both keeps my heart in a good place. Alone, I get to hear what He wants to speak only to me t

o move my heart in love for Him and in a body, I get to receive revelation that He is giving to others as well as having a context where I can share revelation He's giving me!!

Isaiah 43

India

The Lord has really been breaking my heart for the youth in India. Some time ago, I had a graphic dream with young men and mostly young women committing suicide. Without much se

arching, I found that suicide in India among youth is one of the highest in the world. Since then, the Lord has been giving me a burden to pray for them. I also found women are sometimes burned to death by their husbands if they have baby girls, not boys. I do not know how widespread this is, but I am praying that God would raise up spiritual fathers in India that would know Him!! Please pray with me! Ask God to give you His burden for nation[s], and He'll be faithful to give if you are open to receive it.

Nefarious: Merchant of Souls

This was a documentary that I watched about two months ago at the Byrd Theatre in Richmond, Va. It is about human sex trafficking in different countries, all the way in Thailand to Amsterdam to right here, under our noses-in the United States. It is hard to watch, but I'd recommend it to anyone who is not too young. There is no nudity, but there are shots of the red light district in Amsterdam for example that might be too much for someone too young. This was produced by Christians (ExodusCry) who want to see captives get set free. Go to: nefariousdocumentary.com for more information.

CSS classes: Joshua & Song of Solomon

Prayer Requests: discipline, walk worthy of my calling, return to first love

he's like an apple tree in the woods

Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods,

So is my beloved among the sons.

I sat down in his shade with great delight,

And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Thoughts & Thanks

I just finished reading a little ditty this morning by Norman Grubb on Romans 6-8, how we in Christ have died to ourselves and have new life in Christ. It's so freeing to know that since our life is now hidden in Christ-it is no longer I who lives but Christ in me, the hope of glory. A beautiful thing is that every time there is truth that is revealed to me, I feel like I am still on that shore of God's endless ocean. Still learning and growing and discovering new treasures. I love the fact that I can know the Lord deeper, but also always be at the beginning of Him because He is eternal~
There is one point Norman made in his compilation about the lie of Satan that we are independent selves. But the reality is we belong to the one who owns us-our Bridegroom Christ Jesus or the Enemy. We are vessels. It's incredible to think I used to not belong to God!

King Eternal. King Immortal. King Invisible. {1 Tim. 1:17}

Hi everyone!!! Goodness! I have not done an update in AGES. So try to stay up with me as I fly through a couple months worth of stuff…

Weddings galore: Since the month of May, I've been to four weddings. One of my best friends, Fiorella {See picture :)}, got married and my other friend Carlie and I had the privilege of helping her with her guestbook together. I also got to help serve on the worship team and design her wedding invitations. I’m so happy for her!! Her father-in-law, Mr. Barnes had a hurt back or ankle I think while we were doing wedding prep. I got the chance to pray for him and God healed him. No pain!!! Praise the Lord!!

Worship: Music. The Arts. I have learned a lot from the worship class I took this past semester. I love that the invisible brings out the invisible. Isn’t it amazing that songs bring up things in the heart, feelings and desires you didn’t even know were there!?
One prayer request that I have is that the stage be an altar for me. I’ve been really encountering the Lord while I’m singing, even on stage. My favorite is just feeling the kiss of God on my heart and just crying, knowing He loves me.

21 Days of Fasting: There was a word about an attack on the women in our community in their callings. And that there was grace to break through any dullness of heart.
I felt like it applied to me and that night, I felt like a heavy burden I was carrying lifted off.

>Stand in the counsel of the Lord: Randy gave an analogy on how we are so into watching movies. For example, we go to the bathroom beforehand because we don’t want to go during it. And we use all our energy to hear everything and see everything going on. But when it comes to spending time with the Lord, we get so distracted. We don’t fight as hard to be with Him as we do watching a movie. This word really struck me. I believe God will help me to keep me from being so distracted!

I’m going through this season of returning to the Secret Place with the Lord. I’m only expecting the best things to come out of it. I desire everything in this season to be refreshed between the Lord and I. Please pray that I redeem the time use it wisely for His glory!

Faith is required for intimacy with God- Eph. 3:16-19
v. 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith...
Faith is intimacy. Intimacy with the Lord is believing every word that comes from His mouth. {Selah} ☺

MAY
Awaken The Dawn Conference (What God was emphasizing to me personally) {See photos}:
“He delights in me still in my brokenness”
Love of the Father
He notices me & wants others to see His love through me.

Awaken the Dawn 2011

-conference to encounter Jesus-

June

Redemption is so much better than perfection!
Genesis 1 and Ps 139: The Lord has been showing me the connection between these two passages. God created the earth without form, void, and with darkness on the face of the deep. Then, His Spirit hovered over the darkness. In Hebrew, the word “hovering” means dancing(at least one of the meanings)! ☺ And sooo, in the same way, (Ps 139:7-10) God loves to redeem us from our darkness and bring Himself greater glory!! There’s a lot more I can say about it, but I don’t wanna write too much, but ask me if you wanna know.

Testimonies
I met a woman I will call Jane at Otani Steak House on Father’s Day evening. She was talking to my friend Laurie and I because we sat at the same hibachi table. She told us twice that her dad had passed away a little while ago. So I think she was trying to drown the pain with alcohol. We were mostly listening to her when we got to the topic of movies, more specifically-Bruce Almighty. She quickly mentioned her praying to God and so I asked her if she did have a faith. Jane said she did but she still had many questions. I asked if I could pray for her right then and she agreed. Somewhere in the middle when I was praying, Jane started crying. I really felt impressed by the Lord that He wanted to show Jane His invitation of love as her Father, especially since she was missing her father so much. Afterwards, she was super thankful. She was thanking me and so was her friend who was with her, which we found out a second after praying that her name was also Laurie. Yes, spelled the exact same way as my friend Laurie who was with me!! I invite you all to pray for her to experience the love of the Father and not be afraid to ask all her questions to the Lord. God answers prayer!!

One day this summer, a group of friends and I went to the river. Jason, Daniel, Emily, and I got to talk to this guy near jumping rock about the Lord. It all started with two words of knowledge for him [let’s call him Joe]. Joe had just reconnected with two female figures in his life: his mom and his sister. And Daniel had received that information from God before Joe told us anything about that. Daniel and Jason shared their testimonies with Joe and Joe seemed very curious especially after the words of knowledge. Daniel also felt that Joe had trouble sleeping at night. We asked Joe about it and it was true. After all this talking, which ended up being around two hours!! The guys gathered around Joe and we prayed over him. Joe said he experienced a sense of peace and he felt his chest shaking even though the water was not cold. Hallelujah!
I got to share the Gospel with Joe, but he did not receive Jesus that day. We are still praying for him to come through and become one of God’s sons and our new brother. Please contend for him!! I feel like he will receive God, Jesus as his Savior!!

Mysteries Revealed | Prophetic Worship Thesis Paper

I have many passions with which to love and serve the Lord, but the one that moves my heart the most is prophetic worship. When I prepare for my set, I feel very excited because I know the Lord will encounter me and encounter the ones in the prayer room. I even believe that He shifts the heavenly atmosphere in the region when I sing to Him. Two things always happen after I do a prophetic worship set. I always feel drained because of the emotional energy I pour out for two hours. But right after that, often times I feel filled with the Spirit and invigorated after my encounter by remembering His goodness toward His people and I. One interesting thing that I am always left wondering is, “What did I just sing?” I am left to process what I sang. Sometimes, on the stage I know what I’m singing is straight from the Holy Spirit and not from me at all. In prophetic worship, the Holy Spirit reveals hidden words of God inside the heart to move it in love for Him.

The third person of the Trinity speaks through worship because the Father is musical. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “…He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” So to understand why the Lord moves through song, one must know what is happening in heaven right now. Revelation 4:8 says, “…And they [the four living creatures] do not rest day or night, saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’” In the verses to follow, the twenty-four elders also begin to worship God, a domino effect of divine adoration. The living creatures and the elders around the throne are in constant worship. Therefore, the One being worshipped must have a song flowing out from His being! He is the very source of worship. He is the Song of all songs. He is the Everlasting Song of the Ages. The Ancient Song and the New Song. His very Presence is a song. Psalm 32:7 says, “…You shall surround me with songs of deliverance,” and Exodus 15:2 says, “The LORD is my strength and song…” His Word is full of songs. Every blessing that God spoke over Israel, the Gentile Church etc., was quite possibly sung instead of spoken. Actually, the word “blessing” is from the Latin word, “benedicere,” which means, “to praise,” “to worship.” Proverbs 25:20 is an example that shows the power of song, “Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, and like vinegar on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.” I believe this verse can speak of the instantaneous impact that songs have on the human heart. In both examples, there is a quick reaction or response. It can be uncomfortable, but 2 Corinthians 2:16 says it best. “To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life…”

The Holy Spirit calls out to God. Psalm 42:7 says, “Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls.” The word, “deep” is “tehowm” in Hebrew, which means (in one definition) deep places. But the root word of “tehowm” is “huwn,” which means to make a (great) noise, to roar, to murmur, to ring again, or to be moved. God and the Holy Spirit are in constant dialogue with one another. Speaking to one another in a language that seems so mysterious yet at the same time, the Spirit reveals all things to us who are in Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:9-11 says, “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, not ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” The wonder is that they desire to communicate through willing vessels like us! Even the Bible was written by God’s prophets and apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 10:11, 1 Peter 1:10-11) Truly, our tongues are pens for the Lord if we do offer it up to Him as so.

Thankfully, their relationship with one another is not exclusive. For 1 Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” We have been grafted into the fellowship of the triune God! Therefore, if God’s name is also the Song of All Songs and He speaks to us, how much more then will He sing through us to deliver a message to us, to others, and to principalities and powers? Ephesians 1:7-10 declares that “according to the riches of His grace,” He made known to us the “mystery of His will, according to the good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” The Lord does not only speak or sing to us, but the way He feels about doing so is very important. It is his good pleasure that He reveals the mystery of His will! He is a mystery, but the way by which we get to Him is not mysterious. God is gracious. Therefore He loves to share His heart and His thoughts with His people.

Psalm 22:3 says, “But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” The Lord is the only one deserving of worship and unceasing adoration because He is the only one who is holy by nature. Because He is holy and paid the price of sin for us, we can become holy under Jesus’ blood. God receives glory when we receive and release what He is speaking and singing through us. His presence comes when we worship Him. Healing comes, demons flee, and unbelievers are suddenly converted under the presence of the Lord.

Like the anointing of the Holy Spirit causes one to receive that which they barely understand; by the same power, the Spirit reveals hidden things in the heart through song. It brings spiritual understanding to what was hidden before through prophetic worship. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of prophecy! Therefore, the Holy Spirit inside speaks and prophesies through which He abides. The Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God, whether it is for one person or many or for a nation. God is love, so His motivation is always love and is meant to enlarge the heart in a way that His commands may be followed.

ABORTION CLINICS ARE CLOSING IN VIRGINIA!!!!!!!!!!

As many as 17 of the 21 women's abortion clinics will be closing down due to a bill signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Praise God He answers prayer!!!!!

Spring Starts with the Rain of Tears

March was a crazy month, jam-packed full of events!

One of the first things that happened was a word from John Mulinde.

Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE8Acj94eFg

Mike Bickle (Founder of the IHOP-KC) shut down the International House of Prayer University for a couple hours to hear John Mulinde speak a word from God. The Fredericksburg Prayer Furnace shut down the prayer room to hear the word. Mulinde had a dramatic encounter with the Lord, where God told him that He wanted him to repent for his ways of sin. God told John to share what He told him to the Church. As a house, we were very shaken with the fear of the Lord. One the senior leaders called a public confession in the prayer room. Amazingly, this lasted around 5 hours with about 100 staff & community publicly confessing hidden sin in their lives!! There were many, many tears of repentance and afterwards, there was a stronger sense of unity. For me, it awakened my heart to throw off everything that entangles and seek the face of God (Heb 12)!

My mom went to Hong Kong for a week this month. She got blessed with $900 altogether to help pay for the trip to see my grandma and aunt. So Praise God! My grandma still has very fragile health, so one prayer request would be for her to know Jesus. My aunt is at a dangerously low weight. Please pray for her health too and salvation.

In the Bible, I’ve been in the Book of Ruth, Hebrews 10, and believe it or now-Leviticus! I feel like God is teaching me about the centrality of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The cross totally throws off striving in the confidence of the flesh. In reading Leviticus, I see God’s plan to send Jesus as the only pure sacrifice for the sins of the world even reading the Levitical law of Israel.


Great News!! God hears our prayers! Gov. Bob McDonnell passed a bill that can/is going to force 17 out of 21 abortion clinics to shut down in Virginia!

I got a chance at the end of March to go to Washington DC with some people from the Prayer Furnace.
Dr. Michael Brown launched his new book, A Queer Thing Has Happened to America at a press conference. This book is mainly targeted at people who are not Christians. It was number one on amazon.com for at least a week when it came out for gay & lesbian non-fiction (Have caution when looking this up…). God broke my heart for people who struggle with homosexuality. At many universities, April is the official Gay Pride month. I think it is probably because of the clever name for the month, “Gaypril.” Please pray for them!


My Prayer points:
Direction after Intro to Staff (after June).
For boldness to witness to my dad. (My dad’s salvation)
Prayer Support and financial support
Clarity on God’s calling on my life.
Grace for fasting (the 21 days of Fasting starts midnight).
Awaken the Dawn conference in May.

He Won't Let Me Forget | February Update

Hi all!
Just a little update on the highlights of January & what's coming up this month. Well, January surely went by like the wind. The first 2 weeks of Intro to Staff were about fundraising & what an intercessory missionary is. Then, I spent another week or two working on my support packet; I hope to send some out to friends soon. So yes, that's how most of January was spent. Last Sunday, which was Jan 30 was my 21st birthday. It was almost like a normal day. Spent my birthday in Richmond half the time and then went to Fredericksburg late afternoon. I got to hang out with friends there and I had a really great time just playing cards and worshipping together. :] I look forward to actually doing art this year. Since the Burn Internship, I haven't really gotten a chance to draw or plan a project, but I'm really excited for this year. :) I'm also going to be writing more poetry &...write songs! Haha! A part of me can't really fathom actually writing a song, but I know it's gonna happen. Holy Spirit keeps inspiring me.
My heart~God has been showing me how He pursues me and leads me too. He pursues me until I run from other lovers (idols) & I run into Him. He leads me into Himself. God is beautiful. There is really no one like Him.
But God is also showing me my part in our relationship. Isaiah 55:1 says, "Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters." And in Rev 1, the Word says His voice sounds like waters. So the Holy Spirit is telling me to come to His voice. I must move toward Him. Psalm 29 is a song about His voice. Read it! It's amazing!!
This month, Intro (the entire base really) is going through Song of Solomon 1:1-5, Hosea 2:14-20, Matt 25:1-10, & Isaiah 62:4-5. We're praying that God will open up the well of intimacy in our hearts.

Both Naked and Unashamed

This is a paper I wrote last semester in Genesis class. Thought I'd post it and just have it up and share revelation. Just like I promised :)



Both Naked and Unashamed







Eva Duong




The Beginning and the End of All Things
Mark Kazmier
College of Sacred Scripture, November 29, 2010

Before the universe was created, God was fully satisfied in fellowship with Himself, the Trinity. But sometime in eternity, He provoked Himself to create a kind of longing. Ephesians 1:9 says God, “…made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.” And Ephesians 1:4 says, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” From the beginning, the LORD God created yearning in Himself for a Bride who needed the blood sacrifice of His Son in order to be grafted into fellowship with Him forever.
Even a short passage in the first book of the Bible, one can see the cross and the process God took leading up to the cross. Genesis 2:18-20 is about God creating longing in His heart for a Bride. The very fact that He uses His covenant name, “LORD God” is evidence that He intended His Son to be torn for mankind. Another time, in verse 21, the Father calls Himself the LORD God. He is the LORD that desires covenant and God who is the Supreme Being over all creation. In verse 18, He begins by saying, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” From Genesis 1:3, one can find that when He speaks, He creates. The Father begins to make longing in Himself for a helper. In verse 19, God takes the dust that He has created and forms beasts and birds out of it. He knowingly created creatures unlike Himself to continue to grow in the yearning for beings in His own likeness. He brought them to Himself or the Second Adam, Jesus to give them names. One can imagine that with every name God spoke aloud for a bird or a beast or a creeping thing, a fresh realization came upon Him that these creatures were nothing like Him. God desired a race that could give and inevitably withhold love from Him. He desired a race of helpers, who would be voluntary lovers of God. In verse 20, Adam felt loneliness through the monotonous giving of names to all creatures. Creatures had to receive their name. God let Adam feel what He felt before mankind was created. Like Adam desired a helper in a woman, God desired a helper in His Bride, the Church.
After creating a zealous longing in Himself, He had to follow through with satisfying that longing.4 So He caused His Son to fall into a deep sleep. Jesus had to leave His glorified state and veiled His divine nature as a man in order to take on the sin of mankind. The sin that mankind could not pay for. In reading Genesis 2:21 with the story of Adam and Eve in mind, this sleep is sleep. But applying this passage to Jesus as the Second Adam is a little more difficult. The Son of Man felt a degree of separation from the Father as a human. For example, in Psalm 22:1, Jesus cried out on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Also, the covenant God made with Abraham led to the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross . This degree of separation does not mean the Father forgot Jesus! He was not an orphan, as a baby in Mary’s womb up until His last breath on the cross. He always was the Father’s Son and always will be His Son forever. In Luke 2:49, Jesus said to Joseph and Mary, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Even on the cross, Jesus knew where He was going.5 Also in Luke 3:22, God the Father says, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased,” after He got baptized by John the Baptist. Jesus’ ministry and life on the earth was like a deep sleep in a sense because He had to leave the glory He had with the Father to become a man. When He got put to “sleep,” He was still fully aware of His identity as the Holy Son. But He also knew that when He woke up or returned to the Father after the finished work on the cross, the degree of separation He felt on the earth would dissipate. God and the Son, together with the Holy Spirit would again enjoy the fellowship they had before the foundation of the world.6 The sleep also speaks of the trust Jesus had in the Father. The Father anointed His Son to walk by the Holy Spirit.
Continuing still in verse 21, God had to draw blood from Adam’s side to take out the rib. In the same way, Jesus had to spill His blood in order for His Bride to be clean, pure, and spotless.7 His Bride needed part of Him to be grafted into fellowship with the Godhead. The last part of that verse, the LORD closed up the flesh in its place. Similarly, after the work on the cross, Jesus rose from the dead. Every stripe that He suffered was healed and so was every iniquity wiped away from His Bride. The exhilaration of the union of God with His Bride inspired a divine song in verse 23. Finally, the yearning the LORD satisfied! To have a Church made from His own flesh and bone!
Therefore, it pleased the LORD to bruise His Son.8 Through His Son’s suffering, the LORD received His reward. The Son was stripped naked for His Bride and He was not ashamed. Because of the love of God, the Bride realized her hopeless estate without the Father. She was not ashamed to receive the gift from the Father and the love of the Son. For a short time, God risked the defilement of his perfect love and holiness to weak and broken beings. But the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End finished what He started.9 The Father received His sons and daughters and the Son received His Bride.




















Bibliography
Blue Letter Bible Board of Directors. Blue Letter Bible-Home Page. 1995. [online] Available from http://www.blueletterbible.org/. 24 November 2010.