Lovers of Your Presence

"We are lovers of Your presence. And that's all we want to be."

Oh bless, this "Here on Earth" album by Bryan and Katie Torwalt has been preaching to me so much. Seriously, stop what your doing right now and go buy it, then continue reading. I feel like these past two weeks God has been consistently emphasizing to me His presence, the Spirit's presence and power within us and what that could bring if we were simply obedient. 

Man, could you imagine what our days would look like if we truly welcomed and walked in and by the Spirit's presence? I believe we'd see a totally different outplaying of our daily lives. Days where REVIVAL would be birthed in the hearts of believers and LIFE would be birthed within the hearts of the lost. Could you imagine what our days would look like if we truly walked by the Spirit's leading? I know we'd be in drastically different places than we choose to put ourselves in each day. I think I'd be on the streets more, in the slums, in community, and be more intentional with each place I went throughout the day. Could you imagine what our days would look like if we let the Spirit direct our words? We would be encouragers, grace bearers, people who build up and never tear down, people who put others before ourselves. Could you imagine what our days would look like if we embraced and lived in the power the Spirit gives us? Lives would be set free, sin would be conquered, victory would be the norm. We could bring hope and healing to the thousands. 

Could you imagine the outflow of Christ to others if we simply were more AWARE of the Spirit's presence, prompting, and power? God make us lovers of Your presence who are hungry for Your presence. Let us burn with a desire to see Your presence not only invade our lives, but the lives of this world. Let's not just imagine, let's see His presence flood this earth. 

The Shakedown before Revival

I feel like it’s a constant theme within Scripture of God always allowing faith rattling things to happen before He shows up in even bigger ways. Before Paul was set ablaze for Christ and took the gospel to more places than anyone in the world and wrote more than half of the New Testament he had to encounter Christ a shakedown kind of way. He was struck of his horse on the road to Damascus and Scripture says that he encountered the risen Christ. I don’t know about you, but I could only imagine how much this shook Paul to his core being a persecutor of the very Christ he was seeing. In the Old Testament we see how Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, suffered as a prisoner and servant before God brought him into the place of a pharaoh’s assistant. Joseph, who had previously seen dreams of his brothers bowing down to him, these very brothers that sold him into slavery, was most likely having his faith shaken as he sat in that prison cell. Yet in all these cases throughout Scripture we see that these “shakedowns” always brought about a greater good, a greater revival of the purpose and mission of God.

Currently, at Canaan, I feel like we are in this shakedown phase. With a change in some of the missionary staffing, we as a team and Canaan as a whole has had to readjust in many ways.  The kids have had to get use to a change in the teaching staff and adjusting to a few new faces. There are days when these changes seem impossible for them, but as we progress we are seeing the kids actually renewed and encouraged to strive on in even greater ways.

Also at Canaan right now we are having our land surveyed and the removal of squatters that are currently on our land. This is bringing quite the shakedown of our community as we are all on high alert because of the squatters potential outrage of being forced to move.  We have a whole new set of rules for where we can be and cannot be at certain times and as with any change it brings frustration. But after meeting with Pastor Henri last night the team now sees the greater good that will come from this happening. As these squatters are removed, Canaan will have more opportunity to grow and expand on the land that God has given them. With these projected long term expansions Canaan will be enabled to reach thousands and thousands more for Christ.

Personally, I’m being shaken to the core right now as well. A few days ago I got the news that my uncle who has been fighting stage 4 lymphoma for over a year was emergency admitted into the hospital. They have started him on heavy radiation and with a tumor close by one of his kidneys they are expecting this to have damaging effects on that kidney. Too often we think that if we are serving God that guarantees everything in our lives flow good and dandy. But that is nothing but a lie. I knew that as God led me to make the decision to return to Haiti for four months that my uncle was still sick. And yet God told me to trust him. So I stand here, an ocean away, with the reality that my uncle might not make it. But I also stand in the reality that I have a Savior who took cancer on the cross. I have a God that is a healer, who is The Great Physician.  I stand in the reality of a God who says that “faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.” So while my faith is being shaken to the core right now, I praise God that I even have the gift of faith. I praise God knowing that in the moment I am being shaken, but it is only a preparation of a coming revival, a coming move of God.

The fact is that we don’t always understand why God does things the way He does them. But I am learning that I am so glad that He does do them His way. While the shakedowns aren’t that fun, I know that I stand in a faith that is ultimately unshakeable, and that God will bring me through, and us through anything that comes our way. I know that God uses these times to shape and mold, to build up, and push us on to greater things. So I praise God for these shakedowns, because it is only the flood gate being opened of the coming revival that is to hit this land called Canaan, to hit this country called Haiti that will ultimately flood into the ends of the earth. 

The Light in the Darkness

We got back into Haiti pretty late Sunday night. With it getting dark around 5ish here now, the ride back to Canaan was mostly in the dark of night. With the two hour drive, the dark of night, and it being a Sunday we passed by quite a few brightly lit churches meeting for worship. What a picture of the role of the church I saw that night. A light shining brightly in the darkness. With the lack of electricity in the majority of places in Haiti, you could only imagine how incredibly dark it gets here at night. I'm talking about darkness so dark you can't even see the hand in front of your face. What a picture of the lost in the world. People wandering around in the darkness of evil, deception, and sin. A world lacking of any Light to guide them. A world lacking of Christ. But on the other end what a beautiful picture these Haitian churches showed me that night. Many of these churches were the only sources of light. They were the only places with electricity or brightly burning fires. But the most striking thing about these churches was not the fact that they had a source of light. It wasn't even the fact that they had probably been worshiping for hours on end, or that the people worshiping had walked hours to be able to gather with a Christian community. The most striking thing was to see just how profoundly these illuminated churches penetrated the darkness. Wow. What a picture for us, the global Church. That in a world of such profound darkness, such profound lostness, the Church should be the brightly shining source of light that floods in. Let us as the Church strive to be this example to the world. Let us permeate and penetrate this vastly dark world. 

Back in Action!

Well, I think I've took a long enough break from the blog world! I am still amazed at how fast things when you follow Jesus. So for my first blog back I'm just going to update all of those who might not keep up with me. :)

This past November I was give the opportunity to head back to Haiti shortly after our one week team returned in October. One of the missionaries down there had to come back to the states and they needed a teacher to fill in for her while she was gone. As most of you know, I gladly and enthusiastically volunteered myself. Little did I know that the month I would be filling would be the time God would stretch me the most I've ever been stretched in my walk with Christ. To keep things short, let’s just say I saw God move in me and through me in ways like never before, and as a result I have come to know God more fully and His over exceeding capability to fulfill an Ephesians 3:20 promise!

I will probably post some excerpts from my writings that month soon to come, so keep your eyes open! 

During the time I was filling in I was actually invited to come back this next semester and take over the preschool program. After much prayer and a lot of back and forth time with Jesus, I have committed to return to Canaan and teach from January to May. The thought of being in Haiti for four months straight both excites me and scares me to death. I know that it will be a time of continued stretching, but also a time of seeing God move greatly. And there is nothing more I want in life than to witness and participate in a move of God. I know that God has great things in store for Canaan, and I want nothing more than to be an initiator of change to push Canaan to being a place where Jesus is overflowing from. From not only being a loving oasis for children, but being a sending place of world changers for the glory of God. 

The best is yet to come! 

Call to Sponsorship

As many of you know in 2010 I had the privilege of being a part of a team of 40 that packed our bags (and 50+ other bags of supplies) and left for Haiti. We were welcomed by many small smiling faces at Canaan Orphanage in Montorious, Haiti located about two hours out of Port-au-Prince. I knew that God was going to teach me a lot, but never did I imagine that in just a week the direction of my life could take such a drastic turn.

Haiti is continuously on my heart and on my mind and since stepping foot off Haitian soil a part of me has been missing. God has opened many doors through my time in Haiti. I now represent Canaan throughout my school and the city of Raleigh. I am privileged to run a pen pal program that connects people here to the kids at Canaan in order to build Christ-centered relationships and to surround these kids in prayer. I have the honor to speak about Canaan at special events and fundraisers and help in numerous needs to spread awareness and gain support of the efforts of funding the orphanage and outreach programs. The only thing I love more than sharing about what God is doing through Canaan and in Haiti, is being at Canaan and serving.

Shortly after returning and after many days in prayer I felt that God was leading me to return long term to teach at Canaan. About two weeks after I was pretty positive this is the direction God was leading me, my team leader, Seth, and Canaan’s U.S. connection, Chris, invited me out to lunch. Once again another door was being opened as they presented me with the invitation (and urge) to teach at Canaan after I graduate.

So now I am on the road of preparation to spend an initial one to two years teaching at Canaan after graduating from The College at Southeastern Seminary. In these 2 and half more years I have the task of preparing to live in Haiti verses visiting Haiti. This will include numerous trips, each getting longer in duration each time. And as you know trips cost money and need prayer.

I invite you first and foremost to join with me in prayer during this process of preparation. I know God has many more things to teach me in these 2 and half years and I will need all the prayer coverage I can get. Also, as many have seen on the news, Haiti is in desperate need of prayer as the country is still struggling from the 2009 earthquake and is also in a time of political struggle with the recent elections.

 I secondly invite you to sincerely and prayerfully consider sponsoring me finically in this process. My next projected trip is just around the corner, October 4-9. I will need to raise $1200 in order to cover my airfare and food costs. I know that these needs can only be met by a mighty move of God and the generous support of people like you. I thank you in advance for your prayers, support, and anything else the Lord might lead you to.

God is moving in a mighty way already. Children abandoned by parents or orphaned by the earthquake are not only finding physical refuge at Canaan, but are finding life abundantly in Christ. They are receiving an education from pre-school age through the completion of high school, enabling them to have the foundation to be world changers in their generation. Through Canaan’s Malnutrition Program children who once had no hope of living are being treated back to full health. Through their Medical Clinic the community and surrounding areas are provided with much needed medical assistance and education. Pastors from all over Haiti are being brought to Canaan to attend theological training and ministry equipping seminars, enabling them to reach their communities even more with the Gospel. Above all needs are being met and people are meeting Jesus, but this will only continue as God provides the laborers and missionaries. This is my call. A call that propels me forward, a call that moves me to action. I will not settle for watching from afar, but will pour out my life for the sake of the Gospel and for the nations.

I thank you for already being such a big part of this by being in my life in such a special way. Together, the nations will return to Him. Together, we will change the world.

Le’union fait la force.

(“Strength in unity” in Haitian Creole)

With much love,

 Kimberly Wheeler

If you are interested in finically or prayerfully sponsoring me please email me at: wheelerkd.sebts@gmail.com