Day #3 - "Fasting & Praying" (Cincinnati, Oh)

Easter Monday April 5th

Some of you know that every Monday, when I am in Ottawa, I try to dedicate Mondays to a day of fasting and praying in the Upper Room of the Eastern Canada Mission Centre – praying over the Great Commission implications all over the world for Sequoia, but specifically for 50% of Canada’s population in the Eastern Corridor where we happen to be living right in the middle of it.

Well right now this RV that I am in for the month is my self-contained … mode of transportation; hotel; restaurant; office; prayer room; sanctuary; worship centre; place of refuge; “Garden of Gethsemane”; etc

So I won’t be doing any driving today. It’s Easter Monday. Today the RV is the Upper Room. And speaking of garden, my “3rd sign” is God’s Word. Actually my last 3 devotionals are either highly coincidental, or God is trying to tell me something about the appearance of craziness, even seemingly stupidity about doing this trip.

Devotion #1 = about the craziness of the 3 boys, S, M and A in Daniel 3:16-18. I mean these guys were completely obedient to God even at their point of risking their own lives and doing it even if God would not rescue them (they would not be ticked off at Him – well they’d be dead – you know what I mean). But it’s an incredible story of courage. I know I will need courage this month to be doing and asking what I will be asking of people. I believe the Lord led me to do this trip. Trust me, in some ways, I would rather be home in the security of what I know. Sure I am in an RV and traveling all over the place – but I know what’s at stake and this will not be easy.

Devotion #2 = this time about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, cf Matthew 26:39. Interesting timing, It’s Easter Weekend. I mean Jesus did not want to go through what the Father was asking of Him. But He did it. I know, I know – BIG BIG difference between a cross and an RV! Please don’t misunderstand the RV. The similarity I want to make is the obedience to something that sounds crazy – that requires faith. I almost did want to cancel out on doing this trip. It sounded too crazy. It’s never been done before. Asking for $16M? Am I crazy asking this and being on the road for one month?

Devotion #3 = and as if the first two were not crazy enough and affirming to the issue of following through on something that doesn’t make sense, now I somehow land in Genesis 6:22. I mean Noah had to follow through on one of the craziest thing God has ever asked anyone to do. Was he laughed at? You’ve got to believe it! You see, our obedience to God must be unconditional. We must trust God even when we don’t understand the outcome of what He’s asking us to do.

Well I believe these first 3 days were preparation to this trip. Tomorrow I start asking, seeking and knocking!