Oh happy day ... for this year

Oh happy day

Today, on my birthday, I drove out into the African bush. As the first red rays cut through the black night and the morning mist, I heard this song and something made me think about what I call effective marketing coincidences.

Twice, in the past months, as I was listening to the radio while I was driving, an advertisement came on air at the same time I was passing a billboard with the same product in full colour right in my face. WOW that was effective. It was striking and it was very very powerful.

Back to the bush, and the morning song ...

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
When " J E S U S " washed (when " J E S U S " washed)
When " J E S U S " washed (when " J E S U S " washed)
When " J E S U S " washed (when " J E S U S " washed)
He washed my sins away

In a "magic" moment, as the word " J E S U S " came through the loud speakers, the red glimmering sun on the horizon broke through the mist ... (WOWOWOW)

And there it hung, just a red ball of fire conquering a new day.
Just quiet and powerful above the red sand.
The red lights of the car in front of me reminded me to concentrate on the road.

This came to mind:
On that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Then more "magic" as the next song started to play over the bush which was now splashed with a fresh red from the morning sun.

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

And through the tears I look into the rear view mirror into red eyes as I just let HIM move me.

Fire | Forgiveness | Love . . .
A year of Fire | Forgiveness | Love
A year of cleansing and a year of moving into what has been prepared in my life ... with Fire | Forgiveness | Love powered by the Lord.

God makes coincidences happen for me. And I walk into this year boldly but also humbled by HIS grace and love for me.
A year for a new afrowalk.
A closer afrowalk with Jesus.
And a afrowalk in HIS power.

I am weak, but Thou are strong,
Jesus keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long,
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

CHORUS

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

a m e n . . .

Carry HIS fire ...

Lord make us instruments
... of YOUR PEACE ...

And Lord, make me a catalyst of YOUR change.
Where-ever I go - I want to be instrumental in bringing HIS peace to the situation.
But I want more than that. When I come into a place - I want to be a catalyst of change.

HIS change.

Where people have been lousy to change according to your will - I want to be the catalyst to them catching a wake-up. And doing what they should. Lord if I truly bring your presence into a situation - things are bound to change.

Where people are living in sin - I want the Lord's conviction to touch people when I speak to them - even as I am not addressing those issues.

I have seen it twice in really big ways in the past 2 months. Now I am hungry for more. It is an adventure walking with the Lord. Specially when we stand back and watch HIM sort things out.

Lord make us instrumental
in your change
make us bold to go places where people need
Your love
Your peace
Your change
and YOUR hugs

just use us Lord
in Jesus name
amen

HIS global love

The Lord has just blessed me by revealing a sweet piece of His wonderful love.

I recieved an email from someone just about on the other side of the globe from where Africa is. Someone there read my account of the prayerwalk in Denmark and among other things that had an effect of coming back to right standing with God.

I am quoting from the mail:
"Jesus is back in my life, He is once again my loving guiding Master.
I praise God for not giving up on me and for working so hard to find me, the lost sheep"

Here dear friend - is my picture for you ... and may the Lord bless you richly as you follow HIM close now. To think - the Lord sent me from Africa to Denmark to turn around someones life on the other side of the planet. Lord we just praise you. amen

Kicking up a storm

Prayerwalking around a soccer field can score you some great insights.

This evening, as I prayerwalked (afrowalked) around the field where several very young soccer teams were training, I was immediately struck by one coach. He was just giving his whole heart in the training session. His whole attitude was that of training a winning team - and the team seemed eager to learn all he had to offer.

Some other trainers seemed to be there just because someone needed to do the job.

Same with our ministries. Do you know what your specific ministry in the body of Christ is? Are you waiting to get "good" or "holy" enough before you will move into some ministry?

Now is the best time to get involved in your future ministry. That is if you know what it is ...
You have a valuable role to play, serving in His body here on earth. Do you know in which ministry you fit in? Or is your ministry a new exciting one that still needs to be explored?

My prayer is that you will be encouraged to get involved in the area where the Lord wants to use you and as you let Him become more in you, that He will lead you to "kick up a storm" with Him.

Lord I pray the you will stir our hearts about our own ministries right now. I pray that the Lord will touch you right now ... in your heart and fill you with His compassion ... and start leading you into the your area of ministry.
Lord I pray Your compassion just touching this reader right now. Lord please give insight in the way to go from here. And Lord I pray that You will guide this person step by step into a deeper walk with you and I ask that You will shower them with many blessings as they minister in Your service.
Thank you Jesus
Amen

Selfnature to ashes ... to beauty

I still ponder on this. I went for a walk thinking about a comment on yesterday's post:

---

... When we choose to walk in the Spirit we put the selfnature to death, it becomes Ashes, so that the fruit of the Spirit, His Beauty, can be seen in us and touch the lives of many... In Boksburg or where-ever we go.
(Inge Lyck, Denmark)

---

This is such a simple principle. I know it can go with lots of tears. But when we come to the point of dying to self-nature, when we decrease - then God in us can increase and we can live powerful lives. Bearing the fruit of the spirit. Profound hey. Now this is a real challenge to walk into.

Are you in some way challenged?
Lord I pray for this challenge that You just gave to us. Lord let us walk into it with boldness. Believing You will take our ashes, and turn it into beauty. Lord please help us to die more to self-nature so You will be more visible in our lives.
In your name Lord Jesus.
Amen

3 Prayerjumpers

You don't have to be within the boundaries of your ministry for the Lord to speak to you. Sometimes He will take you right out of your normal day to day activities, and from the outside, look at your ministry with you and show you some exciting things.

I had a day off after the week of walking at Boksburg lake. I was taking a relaxing bath and the Lord started to speak things into my heart.

I have noticed something great in the past few weeks. Prayerwalking is such a powerful tool for a christian. I have been priviledged to get testimonies by email and also from people telling me personaly how their personal spiritual lives have been turned around by just reading about the prayerwalks here or by joining in the walking. The Lord has touched people and drawn them to a closer spiritual understanding and spiritual walk with Him.

I just thank you for that Lord. I pray that You will touch each person reading this page right now. Lord I pray that the noise of the world and the deadlines and rushed lifestyle will just sink to the background now and this person reading here right now, feel Your presence in a real way. I pray the Lord's love over you right now. I pray that in your heart you will just be filled to a measure that will move you by His love for you. He loves you with the love we cannot fully understand. Lord I thank You for this love. Lord I pray for the dreams and plans in this heart right now. Lord some of those dreams are born from YOU. Some of those dreams are born from the own flesh and thoughts. Lord I pray that You will excite this heart about the dreams You have and start revealing Your plan of action to get this dream reality.
In Jesus name. Amen

I felt the Lord put into my heart a new ministry. It is not for me. It is for someone who will be touched by this ministry. I believe there will be at least 3 people reading this who will become prayerjumpers.

What??

Maybe it is already someone's ministry but here is what I see:
Skydivers who will go up in silence ... listening to what the Lord speaks about the area where you will be jumping just now. AND AS YOU DESCEND ... PRAY OVER THE AREA

P R A Y E R J U M P E R S
go cover the earth ...
in Jesus' name

Day 7: Ashes to Beauty, Boksburg

3. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 (King James Version) (KJV)

We had a wonderful time of worship at our church this evening where we used pen and paper to express our worship to God. The challenge was firstly to think back of a recent encounter we had with the Lord, and then to draw or write what we remember. I had a distinct moment, which I want to share with you here.

I was on the 2nd last round of the final day 7-round prayerwalk around the lake when I saw 4 people around a fire just getting some heat - and I realised that fire was made to last a short while for heating only - and I knew they didn't have food. I was a way past them when I asked the Lord if I should buy them some food from the local foodsellers. Then I started discussing this with the Lord and wondered whether I should or not. The Lord showed me clearly: My son, the compassion that you have ... is MY compassion. It touched me - and I knew ... don't question this compassion - buy the food and bless them. I was so glad i did...

Today's walk started off with some 35 people from the Healingworld Church which is right across the lake, who joined me for the very first round. It was such a blessing to share in praying and to just praise and worship the Lord as we walked. I overheard someone praying and reffering to the lake as dead water, and praying to the Lord - Here are our ashes Lord - will you please turn it into beauty...

I drew a second picture in church. Two hands outstretched, holding a heap of ashes. the ashes were too much for the hands and were falling from the sides. From the side of the paper I drew tears falling. I wrote on the paper:
HE WILL TURN YOUR ASHES INTO BEAUTY
The congregation started praying and like usual some prayers were short and others longer. Then I heard this prayer: "Lord thank You for turning our ashes into beauty" - and the Lord nudged me in my heart - go give her this picture.
I was scared - but went over and asked, why did you say that about ashes for beauty. She said she has never prayed in church and the Holy Spirit just impressed on her to say thank you for Him turning her ashes into beauty. I asked if there were lots of tears going with that - she said yes, and i said to her - here is your picture. She was overwhelmed. I believe the Lord really wanted her to see that He meant business with her and that He really gave her beauty for ashes.

And so I feel in my heart to say to the christians in Boksburg. He will give you "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness"

I have prayed over the things in the daily feedback here - and we now give it over to the Lord. Please keep Boksburg in your prayers, and don't be surprised if you find me moving there for a time ...

I just want to thank everyone who emailed me from foreign countries to say you are walking with me in the spirit. I also want to say that there was even a young girl in a wheelchair who wrote to me saying she is in - walking with me in the spirit. What an encouragement.

May I encourage you to walk out from this day on - talking to God as you walk. If you never did it - just in your mind pray and say, Lord Jesus, thank you for walking with me. And just talk to Him as you go ... you will start hearing Him.

Boksburg - here is a gem that I believe the Lord wants you to know:
Isaiah 45:3 (New Living Translation)(NLT)
3 And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness--secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name

Area alert ... (no comments)

I saw this sign about 3km from the lake.

Day 6: The young and innocent

Lift up the youth. Pray for them and let them in on the things of the Lord. Train them up in the secret ways that bring closeness to God. Explain in love who God is and how to approach HIM. Give them a safe surrounding to learn. Teach them about closeness, patience and love, so they will understand the Lord's closeness, patience and love.

Today I have the youth on my heart. As I walk around the lake this day - I carried my daughter on my shoulders. I was just touched by the innocence and the openness of the youth.

So by praying for the youth we have to include the caregivers, the teachers and anyone involved in training them up.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tomorrow, Sunday, is the day of walking around the lake 7 times. This is not an organised event, and whoever feels to go, can walk all or part of the 7 roundabouts at any time they arrive at the lake. And remember - we also are joined by friends from around the world in the spirit in this one ... even people in wheelchairs will be walking with us in the spirit.

• If you go, please take some money with and bless the people with their little spaza shops in the area. Just go in and buy whatever. If you don't want to use what you bought, ask the Lord and He will show you the need in the area - and give it away. So you will give a double blessing.


• Be a blessing by praying as well as by giving something physical to someone whom the Lord lays on your heart

Day 5: Expectant silence

I see in the spirit lots of dirt and grime. It is not very obvious because of the darkness that prevails. I see the light seeping through from outside. The more the lights seeps through, the clearer we can recognise what is dirt and what is good.

The greatest revelation I get in this is that we only have to channel the light in. The LIGHT is God in all HE is: Father Son and Holy Spirit. And HIS mere presence will drive the dirt and grime away. We are vessels to usher in His holiness, His love, His light, His way of thinking, His way of caring, His way of supporting, His way of uplifting.

I sense Him wiating for our prayers for Boksburg. I am excited with you - and I look forward to Sunday, when there will be lots of prayer for Boksburg.

And if you pray, will you also just burst out in praise and worship.

I want to add this scripture from
2 Thessalonians 1 (New International Version)
(Paul writes to the church of the Thessalonians)
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Day 4 Sowing the Word

Today I did the walk at sunset. It felt like I could just feel God hovering - brooding - over Boksburg lake. I saw people from all walks of life and I just felt the need of the Word to get into this town.

I remembered the parable of the farmer sowing the word. I feel there is prayer needed for the people to be receptive for hearing the word. BUT there is also prayer needed for the sowing of the word. For people to be bold and to trust the Lord however He leads them to do it. And then they will see a crop - 30, 60 or even a hundredfold.

Comments

Thank you for this Sylvia:
I heard things about pools in the desert. Water is so special in the word. Jesus is the living water. The lake is so beautiful (and your sunrises!). I was looking at isaiah 35.
You have this lovely lake but the people and the land are so dry but God will put pools in the desert places - his living water into the hearts of the people. He will bring life where there is no life. For the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters the sea. The lake is a glimpse of the covering. Is it coming..like your sunrise. The king is coming.

and this is great, thanks Andrew:
I pray that your obedience will truly shatter the darkness over Boksburg, that once again people will behold the beauty of the Son. Be encouraged: John G. Lake & William Bramen prophesied the "next great outpouring of the Holy Spirit would spring from Boksburg!". Lord let your glory fall!

Day 3: Honest but hard words

I cannot really get over the challenge that the Lord laid on my heart at Boksburg lake yesterday. He led me to a part of the lake where the water was deep, dark and dirty ... very dirty. Ohhh, did I mention it is icy cold too! As I stood there looking down into the unpleasant water, I felt Him ask me in the spirit ... If you want to clean this up, how dirty are you willing to get. Are you willing to get your fingertips dirty, or are you willing to jump in with everything you are, and get really smothered with the dirty water while you clean up the mess? So in the spirit world ... How willing are we to get involved. Willing to get our spiritual fingers wet? OR willing to jump in and be available 100% in every area the Lord wants to use.

Has me contemplating ... and now hopefully you too. (smile ... sorry)

This day I got a clear word that I want to share with you. I believe in my heart this is something that we should pray for, for Boksburg. I will say it as honest as I can, without condemnation of any person or church or group.

There is life in Boksburg. There are things happening. Services are rendered. People are doing jobs. When one stands on the outside looking in, there are things happening. You can see life and you can see lots of movement. You even can see fruits of the labour and see areas of growth. But when you come close ... When you get to the core of it. When you get to the heart of what makes it happen ... It is barren. It is empty. The outside is a beautiful facade, but the inside has been eaten by hatred, mistrust, vandalism, pride ... in fact it as like damaged by fire ... all burnt and of no use. We need to pray that Boksburg will get its heart right. In the natural as well as in the spirit.

I say this in humbleness and love, because I speak what has been laid on my heart.

Day 2: Silence is Golden (sunrays)

This "silence thing" has some effect all the way through all levels of my life. As I set out on the 50km journey to the lake this morning, I didn't feel like switching on the radio. It was as if I was getting into the "listen"-mode. mmm Maybe more a mode of being aware of God's presence. And on the way He started to speak into my heart some things that I only fully understood while I was walking around the lake.

As I was driving, the day was just breaking. Now this is not tourism talk BUT you won't understand fully what I mean by a beautiful ... wonderful sunrise, unless you have seen one in Africa. (smile - maybe it IS a bit of tourism mumbo jumbo)

But with the few loose groups of clouds in the east, this morning was one of those spectacular sunrises. One of those where it seems the Lord painted with golden rays on each group of clouds separately, just focussing on one group at a time. Now if listening to the Lord means looking at HIM paint, then it is just awesome. And you know ... it is.

And when I started walking ... in silence ... I felt the following in my heart:
Life is going on. Everything is just happening and continuing as usual. Life is just going on.

As I walked I suddenly understood this parallel - Before the sun was even remotely visible, I saw the signs of it's coming. The beautiful golden clouds in the air were only announcing that the sun is on it's way. It was long before I saw the sun, that I saw the sunrays "painting" red and gold on the clouds. The dark sky turned pink, red and later blue - in expectation of the coming sun. The King may already be "painting the clouds" to announce His coming to Boksburg. He is being announced by colourful rays of hope and love seen around Boksburg ... But the King is coming - He will be in Boksburg in such a mighty way soon.
Then this song came to my mind:

The King is coming ...

Even though everything is going on as usual, there is coming a day where everything will stop, because the King will be here.
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels (Matthew 16:27)

The market place is empty,
No more traffic in the streets.
All builders tools are silent,
No more time to harvest wheat.
Busy housewives cease their labors,
In the Courtroom no debate.
Work on earth is all suspended
As the King comes through the gate.

Oh the King is coming,
The King is coming,
And now his face I see.
Oh, the King is coming,
The King is coming
PRAISE GOD,

He's coming for me!

You know ... do the people of Boksburg know this? Do they share the excitement ...
Or do we need to tell them? If you are not called to tell them, you may feel the calling to pray for them this week - pray pray pray. Now it is easy to see what today's word was for me. If you listened with me, will you please send me the words you received.

Oh the King is coming,
The King is coming,
And now his face I see.
Oh, the King is coming,
The King is coming
PRAISE GOD,

He's coming for me!

Well, grab a tissue, close the door and turn on the sound; and share this great song with me as you listen to the melody and hum or sing the words: The King is coming

Day 1: Prayerwalk without prayer

Go prayerwalking ... but please, no praying ...

Sounds like something is not right. Yea, must have sounded the same for the Israelites when they came to Jericho. The Lord laid on my heart a very exciting prayerwalk, and here are the details:
Go walk around Boksburg Lake once every day for six days, BUT don't pray. JUST listen what the Lord has on HIS heart to be prayed for, for Boksburg. On the seventh day, PRAY as you walk around the dam 7 times.

Please join me as I go on this adventure. Most of the recipients of this invitation will only be able to join in the spirit, so that is fine. Joining is easy - each day, for six days, take some time and just listen to what the Lord will say to you about what He dreams for Boksburg. Then let me know. On Sunday we will all pray those things on the lists. Those who can make it to the lake as well as those who join in the spirit will at their own times pray some life into Boksburg.

On this first day of the 7 day prayerwalk, even among the noises of the morning traffic, the silence around me had a feeling of awe and the expectancy. The Lord is in Boksburg that is for sure ... but what are the people making with it??
Things clear in my heart to pray for are:

• Crime


• Fnancial Lack


• Spiritual lack

Here are the pictures of the dam, just so you know where we are "walking"

Ohhh - a message in a bottle?

mmm - many messages in many bottles


You are welcome to walk with me in the spirit, and let me know what the Lord is laying on your heart here: peet@afrowalk.com

Boksburg Lake "7 Day Prayerwalk Challenge"

A prayerwalk with a challenge ... some from distant countries ... and some who even cannot walk will join in the spirit.
Challenge your faith in a prayerwalk where we will follow similar instructions to what God gave to Joshua at Jericho. And see what God will do in Boksburg

I felt the Lord lay on my heart some unique instructions for prayerwalking in Boksburg, a town just east of Johannesburg, South Africa.
2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
Joshua 6 - King James Version (KJV)

This is what I feel in my heart
Go walk around Boksburg lake once a day for 6 days ... IN SILENCE ...
and on the 7th day seven times ... PRAYING !!

6 Days of silent prayerwalking
In a way the six days (Monday to Saturday 6-11 June) are for preparing the prayers for Sunday 12 June 2005. Those days of silent walking around the dam, are for listening to God to hear what to pray for. Now this is definitely a challenge! Those of you joining in the spirit could take about 20 minutes each day just listening to what the Lord wants to say about what He wants us to pray for on Sunday. I say 20 minutes because it is a 2 km walk around the lake, and for the listening part we will walk slowly. You can mail me your words, or make comments here.

7th Day of fervent focused prayerwalking
On Sunday 7 times around the dam, while praying the things God revealed during the week.

The passion
I felt the Lord leading me to drive out to Boksburg and the road I used took me straight to the Boksburg lake. The way there is filled with things to pray for.
+ POVERTY
+ CRIME
+ SPIRITUAL NEEDS

As I walked around the lake and started to pray, I saw the "need" come take hold of me and in a way asking for help.
Here is what happened:
I was just walking around the dam this day praying
and HE showed me to pray for the poverty
terrible poverty
and for spiritual dryness
terrible dryness
and I did
and I was walking fast
and a young boy came and tried to keep up with me
and we started talking
and he asked me what do we learn from this ...
and I said to him nothing but getting fit
and he said he is already fit
and I said ... me too
so he asked me why am I doing it then
and I said ...

because I am actually praying as I walk

and he said "What are you praying?"
and I said ... about the poverty and that the people here would get close to God
and he said. ... but what would it help ... because do you know that I am actually a sinner

and my heart said "halleluja!"

and the lord gave me some things to say to him
and then I asked him if I could pray for him
and the Lord showed me areas to pray for him
and he was touched
I knew the lord wanted me to talk to him - and I was waiting for the innings
and the Lord showed me to pray for him ... Yougan ... for new friends who will help him to live a better life

and you know ...
I was walking fast before we started talking
and I was just surprised that he walked as he could and then ran - but he just kept on staying with me
and the lord told me not to slow down
and when he asked if I knew he was a sinner -
i just about stopped

then we talked
... smile
and the Lord was just leading me
I learned a lot!!!
and I knew not to present the gospel - but to just tell him of God's love
the Lord just showed me to do that
and when I prayed I told him I will pray to Jesus
I could see He was touched

the Lord spoke to me through that
I know I have this as my next prayer walk
and I am ready ...

What to bring
This is not an organised activity. If you want to join in, just go to the lake at your own time and walk around at a pace at which you will be comfortable. Please take water and just to be safe, a cell phone (if you need to contact someone). You needn't complete 7 rounds if you are not fit - just walk as the Lord leads you in your heart.