*desperate prayer*
if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place. for i have chosen and sanctified (set apart for holy use) this house, that My Name may be here forever, and My eyes and My heart will be here perpetually. ~ 2 chronicles 7:14-16



this was the topic of conversation this morning at church. i believe the audio stream will be available shortly. in the meantime, you can listen to last week's sermon by tony 'rhyme master' read and tom read's new song.

after church, we had the first preparation meeting for our easter bohol/cebu mission trip (april 5-11). as of today, 35 people, aged 14 to 60+, first-timers and seasoned missionaries alike, are about to embark on another life-changing week. easter in the philippines is always intense, since it is santa semana, or holy week, where some really serious catholics actually personally reinact the crucifixion in hopes of atoning for their sins. a first for us this time is that we are also going into a new place, bohol, where we'll be visiting some muslim tribes, among others. so, exciting to say the least.

and while we're on the topic of prayer, if anyone could spare a moment...
~ please pray for my poor stomach which has been wretching all day yesterday. i think i'm recovering (after marking my territory with my digestive matter all around central) but my stomach is still feeling the effects. i do have to get back to work tomorrow so it'd be nice to not smell of throw-up...
~ also pray for my flight to the philippines. we are trying to go a day earlier than planned, and i have been put on the waiting list. since we are planning to fly into cebu sunday night, then take a ferry to bohol first thing monday morning, if i don't make the sunday flight, i'm going to have to make my way to bohol on my own a day later.

i should get to bed early tonight, but i'll leave you with tom's desperation song:

i have prayed so many prayers
i have sung so many songs
my heart has found its home in you
it's not about me anymore
oh it's so much more

this is a desperation song
this is a desperation cry
we are your people called by your name
and we humble ourselves and pray
come and heal our land

lord let my heart burn for you
lord let my soul yearn for you
ignite a fire deep within
now i'm coming back, coming back for more

this is a desperation song
this is a desperation cry
'cause we are your people called by your name
and we humble ourselves and pray
come and heal our land

come and heal our land