It’s amazing to me that I try to put God in a box, that I still think I can imagine how He will bring about His purposes. And yet He says, “My ways are not your ways, neither are my thoughts your thoughts. In fact I will do immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine.”

None of us quite knew what our time in Indianapolis was going to look like, we just knew it was important that we go. So two Memphis girls and our friend from New York set off for an adventure. The event was surrounding 32 hours of continual prayer led by the National Day of Prayer, and a program unveiling a documentary on the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, on his birthday.

This weekend was to be for a purpose bigger than all of us, but we were about to see God “WOW” us all. Throughout the weekend we would watch as He would pull the pieces of the program together, knit our rag tag group together like a family, and through it all speak to each of us individually about how dear we are to His heart.

Our group was about as different and diverse as it gets. We were different ages, different races, different genders, but we all shared a common theme. We all follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we all have deep inner groanings, deep longings to see healing, reconciliation, and unity. We feel that the love of Jesus is our only hope for these things.

One thing is certain, in these times as God is moving throughout our nation and the world, our prayers avail much. So we partnered with a church in Indianapolis, and went to pray. And pray we did! They had our team up front leading over a microphone, but you could hardly hear the person speaking because people were literally crying out to God. We prayed for our nation, for our leaders, for our families, for our children. The cry that went up echoed in Heaven’s throne room as we cried out to the living God to heal our land.

On the holiday honoring MLK, the Madame CJ Walker Theater was filled to the brim. The documentary was shown, local talent entertained, the mayor and others spoke, and all was for the glory of God.

As the three of us drove home, exhausted and yet bursting at the seams with overflowing cups of joy, we lamented having to leave our little family that had bonded so tightly in our short time together. And that is what we are...family. As followers of Christ we are brothers and sisters. And for eternity we will join together with every tribe and every nation in praising our God saying, “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come.” Amen

I know in God's Word it says when there's a knock at the door you should not ignore it, because we never know who's on the other side. It just might be an Angel in Disguise.

Ever Wonder How We Can Change Urban Education in Memphis?

It's Back to School for many & it seems we’re just about back in our normal fall routine.

Right in the hustle & bustle of new lunch boxes, after-school sports and carpools – a friend of mine recently reminded me of some back-to-school kids we might just be forgetting. (The photos above are Real Kids from our neighborhoods & these are Real Life Stories That You Need to Know!)

This is Mona's story, please take a minute to read it & please don’t just READ – please say a prayer for these kids and ASK if there’s anything that God might want you to do!

“As school gets into full swing, children must quickly adjust to earlier bedtimes, tackle homework assignments and strive to make new friends. However, to a large number of children, their lives hold even greater challenges.

Dad (or maybe even Mom) is in jail or in prison. They miss Mom. They love Mom. They miss Dad. They love Dad. Their little hearts and minds are too young to understand why jails do not allow contact visits.

They just want a hug from Dad and they’re too young to understand that Dad cannot make a phone call unless mother places money to be used for calls home.

They just want to tell Dad about their new friends and the school day. I’ve seen these children and know how much many of them love their Dads.

So maybe if you’ve not visited a jail, it might slip your mind to say a special prayer for the children who love their Dad right where he is.

And perhaps if you don’t know one of these precious kids – you might’ve forgotten that for them, back-to-school THIS fall is not back to ‘normal’ at all.”

'For as much as you’ve done it to the least of these you’ve done it unto me!’

Matthew 25:40

Celia & Jeanne are quite a pair. Praying together, laughing together, learning together & truly loving one another. They would tell you they could never LOVE each other if they weren't loved by Jesus first.

Jeanne smiles and says 'Many people haven't learned to LOVE yet because they've not realized how much they're LOVED.'

There are many Promises in the Bible that talk about the GIFT of Waiting. Psalm 37 is full of them. 'Wait & you'll inherit all I've promised!' (v. 7 - 9) 'Wait & I'll exalt you!' (v. 34)

Have you ever noticed, we love the end of those verses but we try to skip that first word 'WAIT!'

Deborah Farrow & Gena Cummings received an amazing GIFT in the Waiting!

Deborah had been waiting for a prayer partner for 15 years, Gena for over a year - yet it is only now that they realize the GIFT of that wait!

When Gena shares about her 'do it yourself' personality - she encourages you 'Wait on God, don't try to make it happen!!'

And though Deborah had been longing to pray with someone for years - the GIFT of Gena is so much sweeter because it's God's choice not a man-made connection.

They both agree, this is so much more than just a prayer partnership: "It's a friendship and seeing God in one another is amazing! It's brought growth (personal & spiritual) and they're truly learning fervent & effectual prayer" - just Two by Two.

Those are some big words, so what does that look like - 'Fervent & Effectual Prayer'?

It looks like stepping out of our comfort zones and realizing that ONLY radical love and God-made friendships & prayer partnerships will change our City!

It looks like someone so focused on her family now being led to pray for her neighborhood and coming to the realization that we need to make a difference!

It looks like redemption across bad racial experiences of the past and having a 'white sister' (or brother) as a friend - 'someone living the same life you're living just in a different part of town!'

It looks like... as Gena & Deborah put it 'learning to pray without words - to Listen & Wait on God!'

So, I don't know what you're WAITING for but I certainly know who's WAITING for YOU!

Jesus is longing not only to change you - but to change our City!

I'm really tired of Forbes list of 'miserable cities' and (despite some great social programs in Memphis) I'm grieved that we've made only small steps toward needs in education, infant mortality and crime.

I believe there's ONE thing that will change Memphis and it's not a man-made solution, it's not another social program! But it is something each and every person can take part in - no matter your race, your age, your economic status.

How can we change Memphis?

ONLY Jesus can... but the gift is that He wants to use us & the promise is no matter what you're waiting on, He's waiting on YOU!

Won't you ASK Him - 'Jesus, is there something you're trying to show me in this WAIT?' 'Is there someone you want me to partner with to pray for my city?'

Until we Listen & WAIT for Jesus' Heart - we'll never be changed!

Jesus promises: 'Get serious about finding me, want me more than anything else & I'll make sure you won't be disappointed!" Jer. 29:13 (MSG)

Just sitting with Gena & Deborah you see Jesus' Heart - They're Changing Memphis - one prayer, one friendship, one radical act of love at a time!

For more about Jesus, Radical Love & Waiting - just give us a call!

There's a PROMISE in the Bible that talks about How Much God Loves You - He Calls YOU His Daughter, His Son (1 John 3:1)

His Love is COMPLETE - it's High, Wide, Broad & Deep - so why do we sit by our empty wells longing to be filled - when Jesus says 'Ask me & I'll FLOOD You with my Love!'

Two by Two longs for Memphis (& for the World) to reach across the barriers that divide us - for us to become ONE as we Love like Jesus Loved.

BUT - we realize there's a fatal flaw in all of us!

You & I can't Love until we know whose we are - until we know How Very Much We Ourselves are LOVED!

So... here's our challenge for May 2010 - we don't want you to give or strive or do.... we really just want you to STOP!! Be Still & Ask Jesus to Flood You with His Love....

Just ASK Him.... place out your buckets, your pitchers, your gallon jugs and may you be filled with a FLOOD of His Love like you've never experienced in your lifetime!

'We ask Him to strengthen you by His Spirit, that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite Him in - and we ask that you'll be able to experience His love in extravagant proportions!' Eph. 3: 16 - 19

For it is then & only then.... that we will be able to LOVE Memphis (& our World) with the self-less love of Jesus!!