For Lent I am supporting a professional nurse, Brooke Roberts RN, to go on a medical mission to Kenya to help the women and children of this impoverished nation.

Brooke’s first financial goal is 2100 dollars by February 28. Great news…she has over 1950 dollars so far. 150 dollars more and we take the next step toward saving women and children…for Lent.

Lent has Christian history from the third century AD. The focus is a deeper spiritual life through fasting, prayer, and engaging God’s word. It normally is a forty day period preceding Easter. 40 is a special number in Scripture connecting to a complete period of time.

I think Lent is a great idea, my concern is that like many rituals it can become a self serving event.

This is why fasting, prayer, and the word leading to touching the world with grace and love becomes so important to me. Deeper spirituality must expand beyond me at the center of my own universe and impact the world. Think about it…impact the world.

So, my prayer is that you will, with me, allow the depth of Lent to touch children a world away in Kenya. Ask Jesus what he would have you do…and will you give a gift to send a medical missionary to Kenya? Jesus said when you serve the least…you serve Him.

Here is what it looks like. I have about 1000 facebook friends. If each friend gives 15 cents…Brooke takes the next step toward Kenya. This is not about money, it is the power of a caring community.

There is power in what we do. There is change. Hope emerges.

I trust that you will join me to pray, to go online at http://www.openarmsinternational.com/ and give a gift…whatever comes from your heart. Put in the comment section, “for Brooke Roberts”.

Lent…for children.

He can…through us.

Hi fb community,

A friend challenged me to help her rethink Lent. Normally, we give up something for this holy season leading up to Easter. She encouraged me to think about “taking something on” for Lent. How about saving lives this holy season? Brooke Roberts Rn is preparing for a medical mission to Kenya. Her passion is to help the poor of Africa.

Brooke needs to raise 2100 dollars by February 28th. And then another 2500 by April. Now, here is the good news…she has already raised 1365 dollars.

So this week our prayer is that 635 dollars will come in to send Brooke to Africa. Here is the simplicity. If each of my fb community gives a tax deductable gift of 3 dollars…children are touched in Africa.

Here is how you can support this medical mission to save children:

Pray

Go online to http://www.openarmsinternational.com/ follow the links to give a tax deductable donation and mention Brooke Roberts in the comment section before February 28.

Purchase one of her original watercolors of African children she photographed on a previous mission. Her portraits have sold for 800 dollars each. Check out the blog at glenmaiden.com to see her work from the Africa Collection.

Finally, let’s do something different for the Easter Season, you know rather than giving up stuff, and the usual consumer mentality…let’s save children for Lent.

Dear facebook friends,

I believe our Facebook community represents a revolution of love and connection around the world. In a few seconds you and I will link up with lifelong friends and family and we will encourage and pray for each other. Our community symbolizes the power to change the world through communication.

I want to introduce to you a friend of mine who has a dream to touch the poor of Africa by using her passion for healthcare. Brooke Roberts RN is working her way toward a short term mission with Open Arms International to Eldoret, Kenya to serve the poorest of the poor on this tiny globe. The mission will take place July 10-24, 2010.

Remote Kenya is no vacation…this is a medical mission to save women and children. Here are 3 ways you can help touch lives in Africa.

1-Pray for Brooke

2-Purchase one of Brooke’s original watercolors from the “Africa Collection”. These beautiful works of art are based on photos of African women and children which Brooke photographed on a previous mission. Check out my blog at glenmaiden.com to see her work. You can post a comment on the blog if you wish to purchase one of Brooke’s pieces from the collection.

3-Donate online at www.openarmsinternational.com to make a tax deductable gift. Please indicate in the memo that your gift will go for Brooke Roberts.

If each of my Facebook friends gives a gift of 5 dollars, we can send Brooke to touch the poor of Africa with grace and love. 5 small bucks from a large caring community can do so much.

You may wish to do more…that is cool too. Soon I will post the results of how far Brooke has progressed. Thanks friends…let the revolution begin! And as always…let me know how I can pray for you.

My friends and I are walking through a series of messages entitled “jesusprays”. We are looking at the teachings of Jesus so we can pray as…you know…Jesus prays.

This week I will be speaking on the Lord’s Prayer and the part that says, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.”

Personally, I get stuck on “bread”. This seems to be out of place since Jesus spends a considerable amount of time talking about how God knows what we need, and how he feeds the birds, and adorns flowers. Something in me says this part of the prayer does not have to do with hashbrowns, hamburgers, and hotdogs.

If you were a Jewish person, versed in the Old Testament, bread would be very important to you here’s why:

Bread was a constant presence near the Holy of Holies. In 1 Samuel 21 King David enters Nob and demands the “bread” near the mercy seat of God. Also see Hebrews 9.2 which says, “A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.”

Manna which in Hebrew means “what is it?” was the daily provision of God for his people which they used like bread to feed themselves. They were required to trust God each morning for it; nice teaching tool don’t you think? Provision and trust? Psalm 78.24 He rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was the ceremony at which the people of Israel sacrificed the Passover lamb, you know, the substitute sacrifice which saved the people from death? The image directly connects to Jesus in the New Testament. Mark 14.12

Matthew 14.7 records the multiplication of the bread loaves…miracle time!

Communion was inaugurated in Mark 14.22, the bread represents the body of Jesus.

In John 21.9 Jesus reconciles the rebel Peter on the seashore baking him…bread.

In Luke 24.35 Jesus revealed himself to two doubters in Emmaus when they broke bread together.

In Acts 2.42 and 2.46 the early church gathered around bread which they broke together at meals and in their homes with glad and sincere hearts. People came to know Christ through these gatherings.

And finally the greatest words on bread come from Jesus himself in John 6.48. I am the bread of life.

Jesus is the bread. He stations himself near the mercy of God, He is our daily need, our provision in whom we trust, Jesus is our personal miracle, our sacrifice substituting his death for ours, the reconciler of sinners, drunks and stoners, exotic dancers and preachers, and IRS agents and stark raving lunatics. He is the reason we gather to receive communion, the greatest revelation, the focus of the church.

Give us this day our daily bread…Give us Jesus. Only Him…none other….Fame can’t satisfy…ask Greg Oden of the Trailblazers, money cannot mend a broken heart…see Tiger Woods on that one…and hope emerges when Jesus reveals himself to broken sinful people like you and me…ask the two dudes on the road to Emmaus. Give me Jesus.

Hi friends, check out these Scriptures relating to the Fatherhood of God and the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6.

Psalm 103.13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

Psalm 89.26-28 And he will call out to me, “You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation…I will love him and be kind to him forever; my covenant with him will never end.”

Isaiah 64.8 And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.

Matthew 6.25-31 That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life; whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns but your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

So don’t worry about these things saying, “What shall we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 10.29 What is the price of two sparrows-one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.

Matthew 18.19 Again I say to you that if two of you shall consent it shall be done by my Father who is in heaven.

John 16.23 And in that day you shall not ask me anything. Amen I say to you if you ask the Father anything in my name he will give it to you.

When I look at these passages on when and where Jesus prayed, I see our savior praying alone, in the early morning, throughout the night, with his friends, in public, on the ground face in the dirt, and looking up eyes wide open.

Jesus prayed at all life events. Prayer touched every part of his world, his successes, his betrayals, the mundane, the amazing, the painful and pitiful. Conversation with the Father wove itself like a dna strand throughout his life.

I can see Jesus working on a first century home, you know he was a contractor, right? Banging away with a wooden mallet, the Creator of the universe speaks to his dad about molecules and molehills, cosmic phenomena and phlegmatic sea creatures. I see Jesus speaking to the Father all the time. Every breath a conversation, each heartbeat a connection to the Father who loves.

Paul the Apostle speaks of this when he says…pray without ceasing-constant connection with the Father.

How is your prayer life? When do sense connection with the Father? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Ever sense that your prayers lack power? Is it possible that we can pray wrongly? That is a big question for me. Sometimes I wonder if my prayers are about me or are they truly connecting with God. Below are some passages of Scripture from part one of a series entitled “jesusprays.”

Check them out, I would love to hear your thoughts.

How jesusprays

Matt. 6.6 When you pray go away by yourself..pray to your Father in private.
Matt. 14.23 …he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
Matthew 19.13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them.
Matthew 26.36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.”
Matthew 26.39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground praying, “My father!”
Mark 1.35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
Luke 9.18 One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone.

jesusprays for transformation

Matthew 6.9 Pray like this Our Father in heaven may your name be kept holy.
Luke 9.29 And as he was praying the appearance of his face was transformed and his clothes became dazzling white.
Luke 18.1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Luke 22.32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.
Luke 22.40 There he told the, “Pray that you will not give into temptation.”
Matthew 5.44 But I say love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you.

Faith Community Correction

Matthew 6.5 When you pray don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth that is all the reward they will ever get.
Luke 10.21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and he said, “O father Lord of heaven and earth thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father it pleased you to do it this way.
Luke 18.11 The Pharissee stood by himself and prayed this payer: “I thank you God that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat. I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!
Luke 19.46 He said the them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it into a den of thieves.”
Luke 20.47 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this they will be severly punished.

Lori and I rolled into Warrenton after 3 long days of driving. Our journey took so long because we were required to drive the length of California traveling at 55 mph. This is the law due to the fact that we pulled a trailer to haul a commercial stove to Baja Bible School in Tijuana. We wished to drive faster but the California Highway patrolman who pulled us over with lights strobing blue and red in the fast lane asked us to slow down from warp drive and operate on impulse power by driving in the SLOW truck lane. We complied, but dude…55 is sooooo slow. Molasses runs faster in Florida right now than our Honda Pilot cruising through CA.

3 days on the road gives one a long time to reflect. I thought much about the poor of Tijuana. Baja Bible School is located on a hillside overlooking a very poor neighborhood. Compared to the cardboard shacks on the outskirts, this is considered a middle class area. For you and me, it is very urban, very poor.

I also thought and prayed for the students of BBS, an amazing group of fearless future leaders who love both Jesus and connecting with the poor.

The church will be in good hands when this group takes the helm of leadership. I was very impressed with their love for the Lord, the Word, and the church.

I reflected on the poor these leaders serve and reach in Mexico, the pimps and prostitutes of the red light district, the abused women in a safe house shelter, the orphaned children.

James says that pure religion is that which cares for widows and orphans. Jesus says that when we serve the least…we serve him. Powerful words about the poor…true?

For me I feel different like I went from light speed to impulse power…my world slowed down…passion emerged for the poor…whom Jesus loves and James says is foundation of pure religion.

I trust that you will have the privilege of getting out of the fast lane…soon. Slow down, drink in the purity that comes from connecting to that which Jesus loves.

I have heard it said that the poor are a sacrament for the church, that which is holy for the people who love the Father.

Do you see a cocophany of lights in your rear view mirror? Slow down, pull over, and repent. Go slow, think about the poor…purity emerges…passion follows…connection with Jesus results in a very special way.

BBS asked me to return next year to teach again…I can’t wait to drive slow, drink deeply the purity of the poor, and find hope in the truck lane.

I feel sadness leaving my new friends.

This is a great group. Each desires to serve Jesus somewhere around the world. It takes a special person to go to college in Tijuana. So many young people I think would choose the country club atmosphere of US institutions. But not these students. Something drew them to connect with the poor, the lonely, the broken.

Today some students will visit an orphanage, others will build friendships in the red light district so they might share the story of the Gospel.

In the stories of the class of 2010 there is a depth of life, a hunger to know Jesus and his will.

I feel such joy and pride for them. This is the most important work they will ever do. Serving in a culture void of luxury and materialism the voices of excess are silent. The harsh truth of daily struggle for the people propels one deeper.

There is a symbiosis here of brokenness and truth. I see this in Jesus. Born in a third world contaminated corral void of royal luxury the King of kings emerged. The Father touches us with humility and transparency.

This same great truth comes to light in Tijuana, Mexico. Jesus touches students with truth minus red carpet amenities.

Thanks for your prayers, your support in this journey. God is so good, all the time.

Glen

We finished our first day in classes at Baja Bible School. I am teaching the fatherhood of God and helping the students write their stories.

This is a special group, the church will be in good hands if these Christians lead her into the future.

Tomorrow we go deeper into the fatherhood of God and deeper into the telling of their stories.

By Thursday I hope to see them at a place where they are transparent and honest about their lives.

This afternoon we drove to Rosarito a town on the coast. We are a stone’s throw from the beach and this will be truly a lovely place to listen to God through Scripture, and as the Spirit works through the students.

I was asked to reflect on what God is showing me in all this. I see his hand guiding the right people to the right place. This morning Ryan Sorenson led us in a devotion from Oswald Chambers. Oswald said that God does not tell us what his plans are…He reveals them to us. Very cool. Each of the students shared the story of how God revealed his will to come to BBS. I see His hand to lead and guide…he is a perfect father, in control, filled with mercy and forgiveness. I feel such awe to have such a father call me his own.

And, the public relations about the violence in TJ is a bit out of proportion to reality. Just like in any large city, one must be careful where to go and when. We are in a safe neighborhood with no incidents. Ryan told me about a couple of pastors who were kidnapped near the border. The pastors were victims of mistaken identity, released, and Ryan says that at least one of the kidnappers came to Jesus.

Peace. Glen