The Hinge

The Hinge

I want to share a teaching by my American pastor, Michael Miller – Upper Room Dallas. This will be in the form of my notes taken from his message. I rarely take notes word for word but rather put then into my thoughts. Any text in brackets [] are my side notes. You can go to https://www.urdallas.com/podcast/ for the actual podcast.

Praise and worship has a hinge that opens the door to the presence of God.

Jesus said in Matthew 22 that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God. He did not say love Him by doing things for Him. Jesus went on to say that the second commandment was to love others.

[Now in Matthew 24, Jesus does say to those who are to inherit eternal life,  “for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” This strongly suggest doing unto others as a way of ministering to the Lord.]

We, as the Church, have gotten this backwards. We get busy ministering to others but neglect ministering to Him. [God, the Father, does desire our attention.]

The best way you can love your spouse is to give them your undivided attention. God desires that also.

To God, It is not about what we do but who we are.

It is easy to measure our doing for others but hard to measure our love and attention given to God. [It is hard to measure love. I can never fully explain why I love my wife; when I try, it just seems to limit what can’t be measured.] How do you measure turning your attention toward God and gazing into His goodness?

There is a real release of pressure when you do not have to measure success. There is just a relief from the pressure of required performance.

How do we minister to Him?

1 Chronicles 13:3 “and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.”  In this story of David returning the Ark, this verse is the pivotal verse. This return and inquiring into God is the key to success for Israel. A grace meets you when you give your life to returning to God. Do you need a course-correction?

We must have His presence in front of us. What David did in this act was to make God the center of everything for Israel.

(Pastor Michael goes into what this means in regards to David’s leadership and how that can be seen in today’s church but I will not cover that here.)

1 Chronicles 15:2 The priest were “… to carry the Ark and minister to Him forever.” In the New Testament: 1 Peter 2:9  … you are a royal priesthood … [As priest, the proper order is to minister to Him first and then to others. I know we cannot properly minister to others without ministering to Him first.]

This is not about God’s need, but rather His desire for us. [God knows that as we minister to Him we are transformed from our will to His will.]

1 Chronicles 16:4 And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel: (NKJV)

To commemorate (celebrate), to thank and to praise the Lord.

Then Chr. 16:7 Asaph (the leader) and his brethren were “to thank the Lord”.

Okay, here is the hinge: To thank the Lord.

Give thanks; so simple. [It is very hard to develop this lifestyle but the rewards are overwhelming. Your flesh will struggle with sitting in a room and just thanking, praising and celebrating the Lord.]

Romans 1:20-21 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and ^[g]Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

They failed because they “were not thankful”.

Although the podcast goes on, I will stop with this important point: Giving thanks is the hinge that opens the door to His courts.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

Psalms 100 

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
² Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

The Hinge of the gate to His courts is thanksgiving.

Rest in Your Busyness

“Are you tired? Come to me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Jesus

- Matthew 11:28-30 (The MSG)

²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)

There are two recurring themes in the Bible: 1) Take time to rest and 2) use your talents wisely.

These can be translated into slowing down and being productive. They seem to be counter to each other in meaning. We think of rest as not being productive. We think of using your talents wisely as being busy. But I would challenge you to rest in your busyness.

First of all, if you are a “busy all the time person” or workaholic, slow down. Discipline yourself with a daily time of doing nothing. Don’t even read, and for sure don’t watch television. Take 15 to 30 minutes to sit in a quite room, tune out noises and just rest your body and mind.

If you are a person that is not using your talents wisely, then you need to learn to focus. Exert more energy focusing on a goal. Strive toward seeing an outcome for your efforts, completing a job and seeing a problem solved.

I want to put forward, there is a lifestyle where we can combine being at rest and being busy. Like I said above, these two concepts seem to be counter to each other. The writer of Hebrews was cautioning us not to be like the Jewish people who did not enter God’s rest. (Heb.4) God even wrote it into the Ten Commandments, to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. This was a command to the Jewish people to rest from their labors for a day. The writer of Hebrews goes on to make what seems like a contradictory statement in Hebrews 4: 11 “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, least anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” (NKJV) The King James translation actually says, Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest. Jesus, while having a discussion with the Pharisees about the Sabbath, said, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.” Basically, he was saying, I do not have to stop doing good one day of the week. Jesus was trying to return the Sabbath to its original meaning of rest not law.

I realized years ago; there is a rest that can be in the mist of our labors. I learned I could be productive without stress. It was a discipline I had to strive to follow. I submitted myself to a place of rest. A place where God’s rest was being preserved; a house of prayer (HOP). The church I attended had opened a house of prayer. I started to spend time there. In a healthy house of prayer, you will find the presence of the Lord. Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:20) In a healthy HOP, you not only pray but you listen for the Lord to speak to you.

After disciplining myself to spend time in the HOP, I begin to see extra side effects. I noticed I was no longer striving at my work place. I was able to accomplish things at my job that had many positive results. Not only was I stress free but more productive, more creative and most of all at peace with my coworkers.

As for as our attitude regarding our jobs, we should follow what Paul wrote to bondservants: ²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for^[a] you serve the Lord Christ. Col.3:22-24

Pray for Croatia and IST

We ask for your Prayers for Croatia and the Zagreb House of Prayer

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović recently said, “…my goal is to be very realistic, not optimistic, nor pessimistic but to warn people of the state that exists in our country, because it is my duty to citizens and it’s my constitutional obligation as well. I repeat, we’re talking about a constructive debate that should lead to finding a solution to the current situation we’re in.”

Encouraging words from Croatia’s president. May she be very convincing toward positive change.

Now we are people of faith and we operate on the promises of God; therefore, we should be very pessimistic because great are His promises. We can stand on His promises and look forward into the future with great expectation. One of the greatest hindrances in the Balkans, is a lack of expectation from Christians.

Psalm 2:8

Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

For over two years we have been contending and ask the Lord for the salvation of many in Croatia. In the past few months we have been experiencing people coming to Jesus; five ladies and one man. One of those ladies lead two others to the Lord, one being her grandmother a few hours before she died.

Not only new people coming into the Upper Room Zagreb, but we will be moving into a new place for the HOP in a month. Also, our worship leader that had been with us since the beginning left the URZ to pursue other opportunities. So, we are in transition.

Prayer Points:

1)    Pray for the Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović .

2)    Pray for the Croatian Parliament, there are some unproductive people that either need to get serious are get removed.

3)    Pray for the citizens of Croatian to stop criticizing the government and get involved through an informed vote and a positive voice.

4)    Pray for the Croatian Christians to be positive and expect righteousness to arise. Although we are pessimistic about the future, we need wisdom for the present.

5)    Continue to pray for us at the Upper Room. We are starting to have noticeable victories against the enemy; may we dare not relax, but pursue until satan is made ineffective.

6)    Pray for work in Lika, the heartland of Croatia. Pray for the raising up of an evangelical church where done exist. We are believing for a house of prayer to be raised up there next year.

1 Samuel 2:8

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He has set the world upon them.

Pray for Albania

Ponzi Scheme in Albania, 1991 - 1997

The pyramid schemes started operations in 1991. Their activity was based on making payments to old investors using money contributed by new investors. The first scheme was that of Hajdin Sejdisë, who later fled to Switzerland with several million dollars. It was followed by "Sudja" of shoe factory worker Maksude Kadëna in 1993, then the "Populli" foundations run by an opposition politician, and "Xhaferri". By the end of 1996 the schemes peaked. The interest rates they offered were very tempting; Sudja offered 100% interest. The schemes were not criticized immediately because of bad banking laws. Despite IMF advice to close these schemes, the government continued to allow their activities, often participating in them. Between 8–16 January 1997 the schemes collapsed. On 22 January the government froze the Xhaferri and Populli firms. "Gjallica", another firm, was nearly bankrupt, while "Vefa", which had invested in Albanian hotels, fuel and factories, continued normal activity. The economic crisis was the worst in Albanian history.

The number of investors who had been lured by the promise of getting rich quick grew to include two-thirds of the population. It is estimated that close to $1.5 billion was invested in companies offering monthly interest rates ranging from 10%-25%, while the average monthly income was around $80. People sold their homes to invest. Immigrants working in Greece and Italy transferred additional resources to the schemes. When the realization that most of the money was lost, the people begin to protest, forming rebel gangs that took to the streets. Many government buildings were attacked, looted and burned. Chaos was everywhere, especially in the south. The ruling party was blamed and the rebel groups demanded their removal. The army ammunition depots were raided by rebel gangs and even the army ended up giving out guns to citizens so they could defend themselves. Although the government quelled revolts in the north, the ability of the government and military to maintain order began to collapse, especially in the southern half of Albania, which fell under the control of rebels and criminal gangs. Prominent organized-crime figures escaped from prison and put together gangs, effectively taking control of many areas. Gangs looted banks, took hostages and grabbed businesses. The chaos was complete and the whole country (except for the capital, Tirana) was completely paralyzed. The rebellion started in January of 1997 and did not end until August of the same year.

Damage from the rebellion was estimated at 200 million dollars and some 3700 to 5000 wounded and 2000 dead. Lawsuits were filed against the bosses of the rogue firms. In elections in June and July 1997, Berisha and his party were voted out of power, and the left coalition headed by the Socialist Party won. The Socialist party elected Rexhep Meidani as President of the Albanian Republic. All UN forces left Albania by 11 August.
> Full details can be read at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_Civil_War

Over the many decades of hardline communism, atheism reigned supreme and religious services were forbidden. This left the people spiritually empty with no moral base. This ponzi scheme was a symptom of misguided hope. There was no wisdom to govern as personal gain excelled through criminal minds. No fear of God.
It is good news now to report the Gospel is spreading across the Albania and changing the hearts of those that once had little or no hope. Many churches and mission organization are reporting many coming to faith.

Prayer Points:
1) God is so gracious. He will not abandon us forever. He loves the nations and He loves Albania. Pray that a humbled people will find full forgiveness in Jesus.
2) The hope we have in the resurrected Savior gives us strength and assurance. May the Gospel message continue to grow in the cities of Albania.
3) Lord, may the Holy Spirit go forth across the land preparing the people’s hearts to receive the Gospel. Lord, release an atmosphere of hope.
4) The Gospel will be preached to all men before the end comes. Lord, we ask for the doors to be fully open for the proclamation of the Gospel in Albania.  4) Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
5) Let us pray for an excitement to fill the hearts of the Albanian Christians. May they move in the power of the Holy Spirit and let Jesus shine through their lives.
6) May the churches in Albania be safe places for many to receive healing and abundance in this life.  John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Pray for the Balkans 8-25-17

An interesting Life

I was seeking the Lord as to what or how to pray for the Balkans. I was drawn to the city of Bor, Serbia and to a famous individual who suffered there during WW II.

Radnóti Miklós

Radnóti was born Miklós Glatter in Budapest into an assimilated Jewish family. His life was considerably shaped by the fact that both his mother and his twin brother died at his birth. He refers to this trauma in the title of his compilation Ikrek hava ("Month of the Twins").

In the early 1940s Radnóti was conscripted by the Hungarian Army, but being a Jew he was assigned to an unarmed (munkaszolgálat) ("labour battalion"). The battalion assigned to the Ukrainian front, and then in May 1944 the Hungarian Army retreated and his battalion was transferred to the copper mines in Bor, Serbia. In August 1944 as Yugoslav Partisans led by Josip Tito advanced, Radnóti's group of 3,200 Hungarian Jews was force-marched to central Hungary. On the march most of them died, including Radnóti.

In these last months of his life Radnóti continued to write poems in a small notebook and scraps of paper he kept with him. His last poem was dedicated to his friend Miklós Lorsi, who was shot to death during their death march.

According to witnesses, in early November 1944, Radnóti was severely beaten by a drunken militiaman who had been tormenting him for "scribbling". While passing near Győr, the prisoners were to be placed at the city's hospital, but as it being destroyed by Allied carpet bombing, Radnóti, together with other Jews, was shot, and buried in a mass grave. Today, a statue next to the road commemorates his place of death.

"Postcard 4" which was written days before his own death, describes the horror of seeing "his friend, the violinist Miklós Lorsi" executed. What follows is the poem in its translated version:

"Postcard 4"
I fell next to him. his body rolled over.
It was tight as a string before it snaps.
Shot in the back of the head- "This is how
you'll end." "Just lie quietly," I said to myself.
Patience flowers into death now.
"Der springt noch auf," I heard above me.
Dark filthy blood was drying on my ear.
October 31, 1944


Prayer Points:
1) Sad stories like Radnóti’s is a reminder of the fatal history of the Balkans. Throughout the Balkans, no matter where you journey, there is a sadness that hangs in the air. Let us pray for new stories of happy times.
Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
                  To give them beauty for ashes,
                  The oil of joy for mourning,
                  The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
                  That they may be called trees of righteousness,
                  The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
2) Pray for hope. There is little hope in the Balkans. May the Lord raise up “hope givers” for the many people groups across the Balkans. Pray for encouragement.
3) I had someone quote Gandhi to me the other day, “There is enough to feed everyone’s need but not enough to feed everyone’s greed.” It is natural for those without hope to be selfish. Pray for generosity to arise and free people from the bondage of self-centeredness.
4) Even Christians in the Balkans are tight fisted. Many pastors must work long hours at a secular job and then try to pastor a congregation. Pray that generosity to be released through the Christians.

Let's talk about the Balkans. Make a Comment.

Pray for Turkey

July 7, 2017

Clashes in Ankara’s Yenimahalle

In the News: Late on July 2, Turkish residents and Syrian refugee residents of the neighborhood engaged in clashes leaving one person injured. Workplaces belonging to Syrian refugees and Iraqi Turkmens were damaged, Hürriyet reported.

Why is this important to the Balkans? Turkey is important to the Balkans because it occupied parts of the peninsula for centuries, therefore having an influence on the Balkan peoples.

Article: Deputy PM calls for ‘tolerance’ toward Syrian refugees amid rising tension

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak has made a call for public tolerance following clashes between different ethnic groups in Ankara’s Yenimahalle district.

“We have seen a social reaction against Syrians lately. Of course, there are some among the 3 million of them who may have committed crime. But the crime rate of Syrians is lower than that of our own citizens,” Kaynak told daily Hürriyet on July 4.

“If there are safe zones in Syria, they will go back to their own lands,” Kaynak said, adding that he recognized.

“The argument that ‘our soldiers are going to Syria and getting killed while Syrians are here safely’ is correct but insufficient. People between the ages of 20 and 45 can serve during a war but not all are warriors. In order for them to be warriors, they must be armed and educated accordingly. It is both not right and not possible for Turkey to do that alone,” he said.

“Turkey is approaching the issue solely from a humanitarian perspective. There are 1,200,000 helpless Syrian women in Turkey. We cannot ignore them,” Kaynak added. Read full article at: http://www.balkaneu.com/deputy-pm-calls-for-tolerance-toward-syrian-refugees-amid-rising-tension/

Jerry’s commentary:

I agree with this deputy. This has been my argument concerning the Syrian/Iraqi refugees; that they should be trained and equipped to go back and take their home lands back. Therefore, I believe Turkey is positioned to be the place for assembling the refugees and preparing them for invasion. The western nations (NATO) can then step up and finance this effort. Russia should also be incorporated in supporting this also.

With western nations involved in this training and equipping, Turkey would not be in sole control of the process. Each participating country should be in agreement because they are only contributing money, arms and military advisers, not men in the battle.

Now from a Kingdom perspective:

Many of the fleeing Syrians and Iraqis are Christians. Either they are from the sparsely ancestral Christian inhabitants of Syria or they are newly converted Christians. (There are untold/unpublished stories of many refugees coming to Jesus) Not only Christians but people are fleeing because of the personal danger, economic breakdown and the discontent with Islam.

This situation has opened a door for the Church to evangelize. The Church should expand resources to plant missionaries among these refugees.

Does this create a holy war? Another Christian Crusade? Not necessarily, but that is a discussion that can be explored.

Prayer Points:

1)   The Christian’s greatest weapon is prayer. Let us pray for the Lord to fight for the refugees.

2)   Pray that the conversion of Syrians and Iraqis would continue with even greater momentum.

3)   Pray that the Church would seize this opportunity to evangelize the refugees.

4)   (There are undercover Christian groups operating in Syria and Iraq to bring the gospel) Pray that these people putting lives in danger will be protected and be led by the Spirit.

Special Prayer Needed - Aug. 5-12,2015

Dear Prayer Warriors,

We sincerely hope that each one of you are doing well, as you walk with Him each day. We have a special prayer request and ask if you would please pray for these women. They are a team that has come to Croatia to minister on the streets and in churches.

Pray for their safety.

Pray for an anointing to touch lives.

Pray that they may show His glory.

Pray for redemptive power to set many free.

The Spirit is speaking, “These are forerunners for a revival and visitation that is coming real soon”.

Pray against religious spirits that have footholds in this land.

We have already seen today, the enemy manifest, trying to bring fear. Please pray with us that the enemy will be bound.

Matthew 18:18

“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

The team is from the Glory of Zion network in America, here to work with European Initiative Balkans to minister for a week (Aug. 5-12).  Their testimonies prove they were especially chosen for the outreach.

Thank you so much for joining with us in prayer for this outreach. We have a powerful enemy here but great and mighty is our Lord and His love for Croatia cast out fear.

Blessings,

Jerry and Zuzanna Low

Special Prayer Needed

Čuvar Brata Svoga or Brother's Keeper

I would like to ask for prayer for about 250 men that are meeting near a lake in central Bosnia Herzegovina. The meeting is called Brother’s Keepers and it is mainly for Christian men from all parts of the former Yugoslavia.

For you that have been receiving our Praying for the Balkans prayer directives over the years; I want to report that those prayers have been heard in heaven. I am meeting brothers from many of the Balkan countries who dearly love Jesus and are active for the Lord in their countries and communities. God does answer prayer. He has sent labors and there has been harvest. The Balkans does still remain barely touched by revival, so keep praying.

PRAYER POINTS:
Pray for this four day gathering of men; June 18-21, 2015.
Pray that God will take us deeper.
Pray that all these men would be inspired and endued from on high to be lights in their countries.

Thanks, Jerry

Update: 6/26
The meeting went really well. This was the 6th time they have meet as the Brother's Keepers. One of the leaders told me there was more true fellowship among the men than there had been before. They were as one in spirit and no tensions at all. You have to understand, twenty years ago there was a war and they were fighting each other. There was around 30 pastors at this retreat.

What amazed me was that the prayer tent was full during the 3 to 6 pm prayer time.

Thanks for your prayers, God is moving in the Balkans.

Special Announcement

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

We are taking a sabbatical from the Praying For the Balkans Project. We have been publishing the Praying For the Balkans Directives for the past six years. May we share in a few words its beginnings.

Some 38 years ago, God gave Jerry a deep burden for Eastern Europe and he begun to pray for the then persecuted church in this region. Jerry participated in prayer meetings for Easter Europe whenever and wherever he could find them. His burden for the region only intensified.

In the mid to late 80’s Jerry spent 4 years in the former Yugoslavia (today’s Serbia), and not having a lot of freedom to minister, Jerry learned to prayer walk. The Lord, opened doors for him to travel to many cities in Yugoslavia (Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia), Greece, Kosovo and Romania. Jerry would find himself walking about praying for the cities. Having married Zuzanna in 1986, we continued in the ministry until the end of 1988 when due to political shifting winds and hyperinflation, we returned to the USA.

In this next season our burden remained and eventually a Prayer Blog was birth as a result. The Lord gave Jerry a plan which evolved into the Prayer Directive you have been receiving. The goal of the Prayer Directive was to share the spiritual burdens of the Balkan countries. As time progressed, slowly the list of co-intercessors would grow. The Lord has allowed us to once again return to the Balkans and we now live in Zagreb, Croatia. We joined European Initiative, a mission’s organization reaching Europe for Christ. We have had a very busy first year, and the Lord is truly opening remarkable doors before us. Jerry has been sensing for a period of time now that a change to the Prayer Blog was coming. During this sabbatical we are praying for wisdom regarding the future of the Prayer Directive.

We are so very humbled and honored that many of you have very faithfully prayed with us over these years. We are seeing first-hand the answers to your prayers as the Lord lead us across these lands. Never stop praying for the Balkans because statics show it remains the least evangelized area of the world. In this next season we will periodically send special prayer requests needed for the ministry of European Initiative Balkans and our partners in the area.

Our warmest regards to you as you remain faithful to Him.

Jerry and Zuzanna Low

Pray for Greece - Economy may Crash - Greek Orthodox Church

Week of April 27 - May 3, 2015

<< Also read prayer needs and update on European Initiative Balkans' in left column.


In the News: If Greece falls, no one wants their prints on the murder weapon

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - "We're going bust." "No, you're not." "You're strangling us." "No we're not." "You owe us for World War Two." "We gave already."

Europe's political leaders and central bankers and Greek politicians agree on only one thing: if Greece goes down, they don't want their fingerprints on the murder weapon.

"We are doing everything we can to save Greece from itself, but in the end, it's up to them," is the message pouring out of Berlin, Brussels and IMF headquarters in Washington.

[Greek Prime Minister Alexis] Tsipras revived demands for reparations for the Nazi German occupation of Greece in 1941-44, which his government put at 279 billion euros ($303.5 billion) - more than its 240 billion euro bailout from the euro zone and the International Monetary Fund.
Berlin responded that it had already compensated victims and a 1990 agreement with the four victorious World War Two powers on German unification had put an end to war claims.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been careful to express goodwill and tried to build a relationship of trust with Tsipras while insisting Greece must meet its lenders' reform conditions, which include fiercely resisted pension cuts and labor reforms
.
Prayer Points:
1)    The Greek position is very weak in that it was agreed in the 1990 reunification of Germany that all reparations were canceled. Pray for Greece as it faces difficult decisions.
2)    Greece is in deep financial trouble due to mismanagement of state funds, for which it does not want to take ownership. The Greek government simply must take fiscal responsibility and make though decisions. Pray that Greece would accept the bitter medicine.
3)    The pill of humility is hard to swallow; pray for Greece to accept this reality. May the Lord help the Greeks to accept this reality.

The Greek Orthodox Church is important to the Greek people; their identity as a people rest upon this Church and its teachings. It is the national religion. To see a full revival in Greece you must ask the Lord to do one of two things, 1) bring a move of God in the Orthodox Church, or 2) the Greek people need to be convinced GOC is irrelevant to their current needs and a renewal of first century Christianity break out. The Greek Orthodox Church is deeply entrenched in tradition, gripped by a religious spirit, and a stiff-necked attitude. Their worship of the holy Fathers and the belief that their cathedrals are the manifestation of heaven on earth are just not resulting in changed lives.

The Orthodox Church  observes Easter and the fifty days that lead up to Pentecost. (You can google Bright Week or Orthodox Easter to learn more) The Western Catholic Church puts an importance on the 40 days before Easter (Lent), while the Eastern Orthodox put importance on the 50 days following Easter. The fifty days lead up to Pentecost. These days are filled with special rituals and meetings that do present the Gospel message. Interestingly, there is a day when the Holy Spirit is esteemed with great honor. Honoring the Holy Spirit is rarely seen among protestant denominations.

4)    Let us ask the Lord to use this time of Bright Week and the days leading up to Pentecost to break into the hearts of Greeks and Orthodox believers everywhere.
5)    Let us pray for angelic visitations to intervene as the priest conduct these traditional rituals.
6)    Lord Jesus, have mercy on the Orthodox Church and bind those religious spirits that would operate during these fifty days. Let Your Word come forth in authority as it is read. Lord, we know that Your Word does not return void.
7)    Most of all we want to see the Greek Orthodox Church (GOC) changed and come alive; Lord, release freedom. Let us pray that many Greeks would be filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Orthodox Church is steeped with the bondage of religion and is lifeless. Sometimes you have to just let the dead bury their dead and go follow life in another direction. However we pray that God would call forth the remnant from among them.

Let us pray for the second scenario, GOC becoming irrelevant. To many Greeks this has already happened, especially the younger generation. Simply, Lord, show them where to turn. Lord, show them you are not just an icon but rather You are there to comfort them in their times of need.

8)    May the Lord raise up ministries that will flow with the Holy Spirit to draw Greeks to true salvation.
9)    Let us pray for Greeks that will go hard after God. Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
10)    Let us pray for evangelist to reach the people of Greece. Lord, release those that will have a love for Greeks and a burden to see them come to know Jesus.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Croatia

Week of April 13-19,2015

Banishing evil spirits

Every year in the weeks before Lent, hundreds of men in sheepskin cloaks and elaborate headwear - horned masks, cattle skulls or tall hats - take to the streets of Kastav and neighboring villages in Croatia. The men carry wooden clubs and wear huge, heavy cowbells tied around their waists that clang loudly. Their mission: to drive out evil spirits that may have gathered over the winter months, and to usher in the beginning of spring. These bell ringers, known locally as zvončari, are participating in tradition that dates back centuries and has pagan roots. The bell ringers are the best known participants in the annual Rijeka Carnival. Held on the Sunday before Lent in this Croatian port town near Kastav, the carnival features one of Europe's largest Shrovetide processions - that is, a parade that takes place during the week before Mardi Gras. The carnival attracts more than 100,000 spectators and up to 10,000 participants from nearly 100 groups. Pictured here: the zvončari from the Grobnik area. The zvončari are such a cultural force that in 2009, those from several villages were inscribed on the Unesco list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

1)    While these revelers think they are driving out evil spirits, they are actually inviting them to come and have free rain in Croatia. Let us pray that the root of this paganist   tradition can be exposed and expelled!
2)    These acts of paganism need to be replaced by Praise and Worship to the Most High God, Who can and will drive out evil spirits. He will drive them out at our request. Lord, we ask that You open the eyes of the believers in Croatia so that they rise up and come against these pagan rituals and cleanse the villages where this is practiced.
3)    Lord, we ask that You would raise up a worshiping army in Rijeka and all Croatia that will take their authority with boldness and strike down all the evil spirits and principalities that reign freely in Croatia.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This Resurrection Sunday I was blessed to be at the Budapest House of Prayer. It was a special event where the nations of Central Europe were called together for two days of Reconciliation. Because many locate Croatia in Central Europe, a Croatian brother, Marko, and I went.
During the sessions there was a time of reconciliation between the nations. The Hungarian and Austrian believers asking forgiveness from the Croatians for all the years the Austro-Hungarian Empire ruled over the Croatian people denying them their own self-governing country. Then Marko, the Croatian, forgave them and the turned toward the Serbs and ask for forgiveness from them for atrocities committed during World War II by the Croats against the Serbs. Forgiveness was accepted from both sides.

Much prayer has gone forth for steps of repentance and forgiveness to be exchanged between the Balkan Nations. Although the hatred is set deep in the hard ground of the Balkans, we see some signs of change!

4)    Jesus we pray for true repentance and forgiveness to flow through the Balkan countries! Let it come like a flood with an unstoppable force.
5)    Jesus is coming for a spotless Bride. Let us pray for spots that mar the beauty of the Croatian churches to be exposed and cleansed.
6)    Last year I was asking the Lord how to pray for the Croatian churches. Two sins were exposed to me: apathy, which is rooted in the orphan spirit and exclusiveness. Let us pray for those characteristics to be replaced by a fire for revival and humility.
7)    Let us pray that Croatian Christians would learn to honor each other in the Body of Christ.

Please a Comment or Reaction so we will know you prayed.

Pray for Bulgaria - We are praying for Watchmen and Intercessors

Week of March 30 - April 5, 2015

In the NEWS: Bulgaria’s Interior Minister Meets with Senior US Law Enforcement Officials in Washington
On the first day of the visit to the US, Rumyana Bachvarova, Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, and senior representatives of US law enforcement authorities signed an agreement in the sphere of border security.

Bachvarova’s agenda included meetings with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, and Gregory Starr, Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security.

According to the press office of Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry, the senior US law enforcement officials agreed that Bulgaria was a reliable strategic partner of the US in that sphere.

The agenda of the meetings included discussions on the cooperation of the law enforcement authorities of Bulgaria and the US in the spheres of fight against terrorism, border security, cyber crime and cyber security.

Prayer Points:
1)    There have been other reports pointing to Bulgaria as one of the countries ISIS selected to infiltrate Europe. May the Lord expose the schemes of the enemy and expose its true intent!
2)    Pray that the security agencies in Bulgaria would be alert and dedicated to protecting the country and the citizens. The US government does have an extensive security network and enlisting their help is wise.
3)    How can Bulgaria be protected unless the Lord watches over the country? Pray that first Bulgarians would put their trust in God.
Psalm 127:1b  Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
Isaiah 21:6  For thus has the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he sees.”
4)    Let us pray for Bulgarian Christians to take their post as watchmen. Men and women that call upon the Lord daily to station angels to protect the country from evil doers.
5)    The enemy has plans and schemes he is working against Bulgaria and it is up to the Body of Christ in Bulgaria to stop him. Pray that Bulgarian Christians would rise up with fire in their hearts to identify the enemy and declare in the name of Jesus, “Be bound”.
6)    Not only do we need to pray that the Lord of the harvest would raise up labors to bring a witness of salvation but we need to pray for watchmen and prayer warriors that will confront the principalities in heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 3:10-11  To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

7)  It is time for God’s people, the Bride of Christ, to rise up and show forth  the wisdom of God, declaring to the enemy the victory Jesus won on the cross. May Christians know their God and proclaim Him from the housetops.

Bosnia Herzegovina - Imam attacked for speaking against ISIS

Week of March 16-22,2015
< Please read and pray for updated IE Balkans needs in Left Column. 

 Bosnian Imam attacked 7 times over call to stay out of Syria
TRNOVI, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — The long-bearded man burst into the mosque's yard and pinned Selvedin Beganovic to the ground. Shouting "Now I will slaughter you!" he plunged a knife three times into the imam's chest and fled.

It was no random attack: Beganovic has suffered seven assaults blamed on Muslim extremists in the past year — with three just last month.
The apparent reason for the jihadi wrath? Beganovic uses his pulpit to tell the faithful in predominantly Muslim Bosnia they have no business fighting in Syria or Iraq. And he vows to keep preaching the message no matter how many times extremists try to silence him.
 http://news.yahoo.com/bosnian-imam-attacked-7-times-over-call-stay-161722154.html
 
Bosnia arrests five for planning \'terrorist act\' in Scandinavia
[14 March,2015]  Three suspects were arrested as they were trying to leave Bosnia in a car. 
SARAJEVO (AFP) - Four Bosnians and a Swede of Arab origin were arrested in Bosnia after being found with an explosive device to be used for "a terrorist act" in a Scandinavian country, police said Friday. The operation, coded "Benelux," was carried out by Bosnian, Swedish and Dutch police, Bosnian police said in a statement. "These persons are suspected to have produced an explosive device in Bosnia with the intention of delivering it in a Scandinavian country," it said said. "The device was supposed to be used for a terrorist act." Last month, a gunman of Palestinian origin killed two people in Copenhagen. The authorities refused to give further details, including the final destination or specify if the suspects were linked to local Islamist movements. In a separate statement, a prosecutor said the Swedish citizen was "of Arab origin." Three suspects were arrested as they were trying to leave Bosnia in a car where the device was found, police said, adding that another two were arrested in the capital Sarajevo. Forty percent of Bosnia s 3.8 million inhabitants are Muslim. According to Bosnian intelligence estimates, some 150 citizens are currently fighting along with terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria and some 20 have been killed so far. Some 50 other jihadists returned to Bosnia.  http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/267867//

NOTE: Bosnia was the front lines of the Ottoman Empire for many centuries as they controlled major parts of the Balkans. Even when the Ottomans had to retreat, a majority of Muslim Bosnians remained culturally Muslim and obeyed the Islamic religion. Although most Muslim Bosnians are nominal in their observance of Islam, there is a radical Islamic segment that is forcing their will upon their neighbors and the Muslim institutions. Also let me add, I recently read the book “Wind in the House of Islam, How God is drawing Muslims around the world to faith in Jesus Christ” by David Garrison. Just as the extended title says, (although unreported by the news) God is bringing Muslims to give their lives to Jesus.

Prayer Points:
1)    Holy Spirit we ask that You would blow a wind across Bosnia Herzegovina. We ask for a redemptive move among the Muslim Bosnians that would result in turning them to Jesus.
2)    Let us pray that Selvedin Beganovic has an encounter with Jesus Christ and that he believes in the true God. Let us also pray that he is protected from more attacks.
3)    May he continue to be bold in standing up for what is right. May there be many, even multitudes that will stand with him and surround him from the enemies’ intimidation.
4)    Let us thank the Lord for the arrest of these radicals that were caught before they could carry out their attacks. May all the enemies plans to cultivate radical Islam be stopped.
Psalm 127:1
“…Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
5)    Lord, we ask You to put heavenly guards throughout Bosnia to watch for those that would intend to spread radical Islam. May their plans be exposed and cut short. Let us pray for confusion and disunity to break up these radical groups.
6)    As intercessors let us believe that this will be the year that the “Lord of the harvest” will send laborers to Bosnia.
7)    Let us pray that the love of Jesus for Muslims would be poured out through His servants. Pray that Christian neighbors would go the extra mile to reach out to their communities. Let us pray for strategies that build trust.
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