"If we don't trust Him, then what the heck are we here for?"
Wow! God spoke so much to me. I am going to attempt to summarize some of it here...
It seems to me that the basis of our walk as Christians, the starting point of discipleship, must begin with a simple question.
What is the true character of God? Who do you know God to be?
If we can't answer this... then our world, our calling, our lives... will never make sense. Why did we see starving children in Africa? Why are wives beaten under the religion of Islam? Why did God kill the first born sons of Egypt? Why does my friend suffer from depression? Why does my father have diabetes?
I don't know... these question are not for me to answer perhaps.
But I know this, God is God. What does that mean to you?
Finally, to me, it means He is Love, I can trust Him, His ways are above mine... Why do all these things happen? I don't know. I do know, He uses ALL things for the good of those that love Him!
Do you love Him?
I am reminded of Joshua 7... go and read it, it will make you think! I hope! How often are we crying out to God, blaming Him even for the mess the world is in... God do this and do that we pray! I wonder, how much of the state of the world is simply the result of our disobedience! How often is God saying, hey kids, you know the rules of the game, you broke them, you keep breaking them, why are you crying out to me, get up my child, go make right what is wrong, turn you heart back to me. Seek Me and you WILL find me... but here is the key to the line... seek me and you will find me, WHEN you seek me with ALL of your heart!
I love hearing people say, I have said it myself, "I have a problem with this scripture..." think about it. WHAT??? He is God. It is not up to me to analyze HIs word and then decide if I agree with God or not... HE IS GOD!!!
This is His Ball Game, He made the rules, He invited us to play... and here is the cool thing for me, only he knows the score, who is on the winning team and who is on the losing team! Only HE gets to send players to the sin bin (thats the penalty box for all you non rugby fans)...
Why did I have to leave that child with an abusive family, why did the women go home to a drunk husband, why are there children hungry and naked in the street... I dont know the answers, except the only answer that matters, He is God, and I trust Him, His ways are above mine, they are His children He loves them, He loves me, He loves you... and the greatest thing I understand and believe... that the game is NOT OVER YET... we are still here, Christ has not yet come, judgement day is not here this moment....
Are you still reading, whewwww, ok good, yes, judegement day is not here yet, not this moment... but it is coming.
I finally think I have a better understanding of what this season of my life is now about... Knowing the character of God, unmistakably, unshakibly, unconditionally... knowing God, trusting Him, loving Him. It is NOT about learning to be a better leader, it is not about teams or organizations... this is between me and God. Sitting at His feet, lying face down in His throne room... me and God.
Last night I feel God told me, Kelly... I need you to know me, to trust me, before I can send you any further. I feel that soon God is going to raise the bar on my life, call me to a new level of obedience and surrender. But that it wont be painful it wont be a struggle of flesh, it will be a sweet sweet surrender, because I know Him, I love Him, and I will truly give my life to Him. He has placed Ephesians 3:17-19 on my life... The love of Chrsit that SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE!
Hello from South Africa!! I am posting this blog on Kelly's behalf to ask for your prayers. Kelly broke her hand a few days ago and has to have surgery. She has an appointment TODAY at 1:30 (South African time). Please pray for her during this time and for a quick recovery. Her cell phone number is 0027760127119. I am sure she could use some encouragement!!!!
I just returned from Tanzania, Africa!!! We set off on our journey from South Africa and DROVE 4x4's for 6 days through 4 countries across Africa. I saw wild elephants, and giraffes, and crazy baboons in the wild!!! We had amazing fellowship along the way and used the many hours in the car to interceed for the countries we traveled through. We met up in Arusha, Tanzania just in time to spend a few days with the local church there and then set off to the island of Zanzibar! It is an amazing island! So beautiful, and the people are perhaps the most friendly on earth. Kimmy and I met two sisters in Christ our age, they welcomed us into their home, cooked for us, prayed with us... I can't explain the joy we had together. It is amazing to know that anywhere in the world we are, we truly have family in Christ!
We got down and dirty helping to build a new church in a village... with hand tools and mud bricks! At night we showed the Jesus Film, many many people came out into the streets to watch... you had to be there to understand the miracle this was... Tanzania is a Muslim country, and the message of Jesus Christ was heard in the land that night! And, we welcomed two new brothers into the Kindgom of God. I don't know what is all means yet, but God did place a special love for Tanzania in my heart. I pray that He allows me to return there soon.
I would love to post pictures, but since my camera is broken, I am at the mercy (and grace) of others photographic eye. And since my computer also broke I must must make a plan to get pictures from my friends or wait for them to post on Facebook (hint hint - post your pics my friends)!
There have been many many challenges and many many more blessings this year, but as I look towards wrapping up my time here in Africa over the next few months... it is bitter sweet. I am looking forward to coming home and seeing all my family and friends. And, I am blessed to say that I also have true family here in Africa I will be leaving behind.
Please join me in prayer as I seek the Lords will for my life in 2008. I would love to return to Africa, but only when God gives me the green light!
Kelly
(Note: Due to my computer breaking I cannot update www.KellyDRamsey.com AIM has generously kept this blog site active but please note I am no longer on the World Race or affiliated with AIM).
When I departed from Agapetos just a few shorts weeks ago, I told them all that this was not good bye. I felt very strongly that the Lord would bring us together again soon!
Just this morning I was sharing my testimony with a group of young South African missionaries and I told them that I felt very strongly that God would bring Agapetos back together again before the end of the journey!
I HAD NO IDEA WHEN I SPOKE THOSE WORDS THIS MORNING THAT AN HOUR LATER I WOULD BE STANDING ON THE BEACH WITH MY FAMILY!!!
That the desire God had placed in my heart, even as the words were being spoken in the natural here this morning, God had already designed in the spiritual realm!
I checked my voice mail to hear a message from Eric that they were driving from Pretoria to Cape Town and that "HAPPENED" to be here in Jeffery's Bay to make a stop for lunch. Divinely Random! He then said we are near a big water slide thing... I AM NOT KIDDING, they were 5 minutes from me! So I popped down to the beach to give them all a bug hug. It was great. And confirmation that we are family, it does not matter how long it has been, there is no time lost in the spiritual realm.
To all of Agapetos friends and family - they are doing well. Stay tuned for lots of cool road trip stories. They are on the road again and hope to arrive in Cape Town tonight.
I am preparing to leave for Eqypt in a few days. We will be going on a pilgrimage through Egypt and Israel into Jerusalem. Please continue to keep me and this new season of the Hebrews 12:1 "race" the Lord has set before me in your prayers!
We just finished a week of children's camp at Rifilwe... a community living project in South Africa. Praise God, over 200 children came. Jane and I led a small group with over 25 children most days! WOW! Here is a summary of pictures and stories for you! Enjoy!
It was so cold one particular morning!
Which only made it harder to see shivering children, knowing many of them did not even have a blanket to sleep under last night, much less a bed! We were teaching about God's love! And this particular day we taught about how God always provides. As we were sitting there looking at shivering children. We gave them our scarfs to wear, we held them in our arms. And they never complained, not once! Later that day Allison and her team went to the nearby squatter camp where most of the children live.
NO KIDDING! There was a South African business woman there with a bag of kids hats and gloves!!! Divinely Random! She knew nothing of the camp, she said that she did not know how to distribute the items, she just felt God tell her to come! GOD PROVIDES!!! The next day we had hats and gloves for everyone! And, the sun came out!!!
Meet Katlego! My little Man of God! One day we taught how God's love saves. We made salvation bracelets with the kids and MANY invited Jesus into their hearts that day. On the rec field Anele (my little bully) and Katlego were arguing. Long story short, God took over my tongue and I started speaking about forgiveness, having each others backs as brothers, what would Jesus do. I was about ot encourage Anele to apologize to Katlego, when Katlego looks at Anele and says, "I forgive you Anele"... NOTHING, Nothing I could say or do, no song we sang, no game we played, nothing could have ministered to Anele the way that Katlego did that day! Everything changed, the Holy Spirit dropped, Anele got a big smile on his face, right then, right there, he knew what Grace was! And he knew what love was, he had a new friend! And he met with Jesus that day through Katlego!
He was still a hurting boy acting out for love and attention, but now he was a bully with a passion! A bit later the older boys were fighting at the water hose while Katlego waited, as he always did. Anele stepped up and pushed them all out of the way and laid down the red carpet for Katlego to have a drink. During bible story time they sat under a tree to work on their project together.
Then during lunch Anele searched for Katlego to sit next to him. As we handed out plates hungry Anele snatched one for himself. AND Katlego quietly and calmly said "No Anele" and he pushed Anele's plate over to give it to the young boy sitting next to him. Anele started to react, then with a look from Katlego, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, he bowed his head, grinned a little, a waited. Katlego then gave his own plate to Anele and himself waited to be the last served! HE IS ELEVEN YEARS OLD!!!
PRAISE GOD!!! PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYER FOR ALL OF THE CHILDREN WHO MET JESUS THIS WEEK. PLEASE JUMP FOR JOY WITH US AND THE ANGELS AS THESE CHILDREN ARE ADOPTED INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!!
That's all for now. We head to Alabanza in the morning. And next week we start all over with a new groups of kids! Pray for us!!!
Ok, So the color on the box is "Mahogany - A dark brown with red tones"
Hmmmm, does this look dark brown to you?
Compliments of my personal World Race hairstylist team, who decided that I would definitely be voted "crazy cool camp leader" with my new fire red hair!
We are in South Africa for a week leading a children's camp with Steve and Teresa Kinsley! During pre-camp debrief Steve mentioned he was concerned that the word had not gotten out and that children did not know about the camp. We spent time last night in prayer, asking God to call out the children, to prepare our hearts, to bring His Holy Presence here with us!
We stepped in faith, and prepared for 100 children to be there anyway!
When are we going to pray in faith, to pray, and then believe that it has been done. When will we turn our prayers into prophesy?
This morning, 200 children showed up for camp. God answers prayers for sure!!! I will post more stories and pictures this week, the camp continues until Friday. Please join us in prayer for these children, for the country of South Africa, for the Kingdom of God!
Letting go, and letting God! Here is my rock climbing adventure last month in Cape Town, South Africa! It was amazing to spend the day in God's creation in a new way!
I have a vision... A wall of Jericho movement. Strongholds of today will be broken under the hand of God due to undignified prayer and worship by a generation of young people with the heart of David willing to truly set themselves apart as a priestly nation!
I see strongholds of addiction, sex trade, depression, pornography, and more completely collapsing with hands lifted and voices crying out to God. I see the prodigal sons and daughters returning to their Father, claiming their inheritances that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you , being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width, and length, and depth, and height - to know the love of Christ which PASSES KNOWLEDGE; that you may be FILLED with the fullness of God! (Eph 3:17)
I see a generation so filled with God, there is no room for anything else. I see another generation, maybe our parents, aunts and uncles, teachers, mentors political leaders...on their knees. I see those who have gained the place of intercession and have been freed from the grip of Satans claws, I see them building a fortress around us in the heavens with their prayers.
I am calling out both generations. Those who have lived a bit longer, those who have been delivered from many of the traps of the enemy, raise up and cry out for the next generation. Build a fortress of prayer in the spiritual realm to protect them, to cover them!!!
Those who are young (and young at heart), who are burning with a fire for the Lord, fan the flames. Cry out the your God for the fatherless, for addictions, for depression, those sold into slavery. Those with the gift of worship, use your voices to heal the broken hearted, rattle the gates of hell with your songs, sing with such glory that the demons tremble and have to cover their ears and flee! March around the wall of the city, and then watch, watch the stronghold collapse, watch the walls fall!
Can you see it? Can you hear it? I just watched a short DVD called "Awaken the Watchman" (visit www.global24-7.org) Are you a watchman?
Read the Word!!! Go ahead, grab your own bible, or visit www.blueletterbible.com!!! You are NOT too busy. Actually, we are too busy NOT TOO! Our world is moving 24/7. The spiritual world is moving too. Fix your eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. Let's fight the real fight.
Isaiah 62:6
Lamentations 2:19
Luke 18:7-8
Can you see it now?
Well, raise up men and women of God. Where are the watchmen? Will you join me? Will you go to your knees now in prayer. Will you do it every morning, every night? Will you go to your church and organize a 24/7 prayer program? Will you cry out for us, for the lost, for the Kingdom? Will you bring the Kingdom of heaven down to earth?
I don't have the answers, only questions, and a vision! What say you my dear friends???
I have a vision... A wall of Jericho movement. Strongholds of today will be broken under the hand of God due to undignified prayer and worship by a generation of young people with the heart of David willing to truly set themselves apart as a priestly nation!