08th0602rl2 - Keys To Heaven

Beloved
Family,

Time
to get vulnerable. Let me preface this
that I am not writing as your "leader" or an AIM rep, but as your brother and
fellow servant. I don't know about you,
but the reality of our trip is settling in.
It seems as if something wants
to prevent us from going to do whatever it is Lord has for us. I am certain that we are all feeling the same
pressure not to go. Here's what I have been experiencing (maybe
you're experiencing the same things): being overwhelmed, discouragement, confused,
fearful, sick, lack of faith, being pissy, restlessness, apathetic… shall I go
on. Now, I do not want to give Satan all
the credit. These unclean fruits come
from the darknesses of our flesh, the world, and the schemes of the devil.

Good
news though! We have the power of prayer
and fasting. I knew that this time was
coming up and this morning I was talking to Daddy, and We decided that I should
fast this coming up week. Fasting might
be a big word for you, but please don't get freaked out or confused or overwhelmed
or condemned or whatever by it. I could
go on and on (and on) about the power of fasting (maybe we'll have a discussion
or two about it this summer), but don't worry about it. Wesley Duewel wrote an amazing book Might Prevailing Prayer obviously about
prayer. Awesome quote, "Kind thoughts
expressed to Him in five or six sentences, after reading a paragraph or two of
mildly religious sentiments once a day from some devotional writing, will not
bring the kingdom of God to earth or shake the gates of hell and repel the
attacks of evil on our culture and our civilization." Fasting puts "rocket fuel" in our prayers and
mixing it with the unity of the saints makes one powerful weapon that "even the
gates of Hell will not prevail against" (Matthew 16:18).

So
what in the world am I saying? Next week
(starting Monday - probably Friday/Saturday) I will be in specific prayer and
fasting for all of us and this trip. I
invite you to join me. It could be
whatever you wish (fasting (any form), setting up a time to pray, doing a shake
for Jesus). THIS IS NOT A
REQUIREMENT. AIM does not make anyone
fast, nor will we be allowed to abstain from eating during our trip. Fasting does not make you a "good Christian." How else can I say that this is totally
voluntary and unnecessary for any of us to do for this trip?! Fasting is a discipline that the Lord has
taught me and if He has not taught you then that is totally fine. No condemnation! You might even think that I am crazy and
fasting is unnecessary. Neato-supremeo.

I
will be praying these things specifically: Lord's will be done, deliverance
from evil, His kingdom come, safety & protection, financial provision, peace and comfort
these next weeks, the people of Thailand and Myanmar, rest and vision for Angel,
each of you (I will write two of you on my hand each day to pray specifically
for you), and whatever else the Lord puts on my heart. If you have something specific that needs
prayer, then please put it out there.
Oh, and I will also be calling each of you to check up and see how
everything is going and answer any questions that I am able to answer. Let me know if there is a specific time that
you want me to call. Otherwise I will
call you some time in the evening, the day that you are written on my hand :-) Wheww, I'm done