Gears of Need
Have you ever noticed how relationships are like gears? I recently had the opportunity to see that. I also had the privilege to see that God created it that way. Before we go any further, picture a set of round gears… 3 disks with the teeth and craters all working together. The first gear turns and its teeth fit into the crater of the second gear and turn it. In turn, the teeth of the second gear fit into the craters of a third gear which causes it to turn. There could pretty much be an infinite number of wheels in a line all being turned from the first wheel. For my illustration, Jesus is going to be the first wheel because Jesus is our source for life.
I was recently having a very difficult day and was feeling very low, unappreciated, unloved, and unlovable. I went to my RIZPAH prayer meeting and shared that my depression was getting me down but didn’t say anything about how far down I was. When we had finished our lesson and sharing of prayer concerns we went to prayer time. I was finding it very difficult to pray for the spoken requests and every time I tried, I was always brought back to a single prayer need. It was a prayer for me. I was telling Jesus that I needed to crawl up into his lap and have him wrap his arms around me tightly as a child crawls up in their daddy’s lap for reassurance that they are loved and safe. I was begging to feel his presence in a very real way. I just kept telling him that I needed a real time hug. I knew I could ask for a hug from my “sisters” and they would give me that hug, but for what I needed, asking for the hug would negate what I needed it to say.
After we prayed together for a spell, one of my “sisters” said she felt like Jesus was telling her that there was a prayer request that wasn’t spoken and un-prayed-for and that it was one that needed to be addressed. We sat and waited and prayed for that need to come forth. I was thinking that although I needed prayer, there must be something more pressing that Jesus was referring to: but I knew that my need could very well be the un-prayed prayer. The ladies were talking about how HIS presence was so strong. I felt it too. One of the ladies said that she felt like someone in the room needed to crawl up and sit on Jesus’ lap. She was thinking that someone needed a hug. As we ended prayer, a third “sister” said “I think Freddy needs a hug”. She came over and hugged me and another came and just wrapped her arms around me and sat and just held me tightly. I just cried. They got exactly what I needed.
So, how is that like a gear? Well, Jesus could have just filled my need himself but HE chose to use my “sisters” to fulfill that need instead. HE was telling me, as well as my “sisters”, that HE gave us each other because we can all do HIS work. HE can use us to help others feel HIM. For a group of ladies who get together weekly to pray for the salvation of our, and each others, unsaved loved ones, that is exactly what we needed to hear.
Well, that in itself would be interesting but he didn’t stop there. Although I got the affirmation I needed, I also needed some “friend time” before returning back to my responsibilities. I was hoping I could ask one of my sisters to lunch but didn’t have any money that day. I was going to just leave after the meeting. One of the ladies said that this was going to sound very strange and although she felt strange suggesting it she felt like Jesus was telling her to so she was going to obey and say it. She was going to run an errand to purchase something special for someone we have been praying for and she felt like she was supposed to ask us to join her. Several of us went with her to Sam’s Club. When we got there, they didn’t have the item in stock but I had gotten some more “friend time”. Jesus was telling us that it wasn’t about the item at the store but about the time together and about following Him. We then went to one of the ladies houses for lunch together. That day all of my needs had been met through my “sisters” who were obedient to their LORD even when they didn’t understand the charge or understand the reason behind what they were being told to do. You see, Jesus turned his gear– which turned a “sister’s” gear which put its tooth in the crater of my need and turned my gear.
HE doesn’t create a need (a crater) without also supplying the solution (the tooth).
We are just so used to having the gears turn that we don’t stop to think and marvel at them. We take them for granted. But we didn’t on that day. We all relished in seeing how the gears had worked and how HE had put them in place and turned them Himself.
So, when Jesus’ wheel is being turned into your wheel and you feel the need to say or do something but you don’t understand why – don’t fight him. Turn with him. You may not see what he is really working to accomplish. After it is done, it could be like our situation and you will be able to see the results or your wheel may just turn someone else’s wheel which will turn yet another person’s wheel before finally fulfilling a need.
Be confident that if Jesus is turning your wheel, there is a reason.
“Gears of Need” was written by Freddy Chakhachiro.
Interview with Brian
Only Servants Ministries is having a powerful impact in the lives of young boys who have been living in the streets of Kawangware, Kenya. Kawangware is a slum area of Nairobi and has a poplulation of 600,000. Only Servants is providing a safe haven for the boys Monday through Friday during the day. The boys are being fed, receiving an education, taught about God, and most importantly- being loved.
Name: Brian. My name is really Hald. But my grandfather started calling me Brian in 2003. So that is the name I use.
Age: 15 (March 23, 1995)
Favorite Food: chips and sausage; chicken
Favorite Soda: Sprite
Where do you stay: I stay with Pastor Deo. Before I lived with him, I stayed on the street. I ran around at night afraid to sleep. Police would beat me.
Do you sleep on the street: No- I sleep at Pastor Deo’s now. There are 10 people who stay at his house. But before, I lived on the street for about a month. I would run away from home to the streets, then go back home. Run away, and then go back home. After awhile, I stayed on the streets for good. I had to leave school because I didn’t have school fees. I used to go to Skyland school.
How long did you stay in the street: about 1 month
Why did you leave home: My father used to beat me. He used a wire to hit me. He didn’t drink; he just called himself “spastic.” He had a bad temper and did not treat me well.
Do you have family: Yes. My mother died. My mother’s sister is the woman I thought of as my mother. But there is another woman- Lucy- who is like my mother (? There is some confusion about this). I have a brother. He lives on the street, too. He is 17.
Do you see your family: I see my brother in the streets. I see my dad sometimes. When I do, I hide myself from him.
Have you ever/ do you still use glue? When: I took glue for one day, morning to night. I felt like I should die. I didn’t think I had a reason to live. But I knew the effects of glue, and I knew it was bad for me. Pastor Deo told me I made a good choice when I decided I didn’t want to use glue. I know God has a purpose for me.
What do you eat on Saturday/ Sunday: With Deo’s family.
If you could have ANYTHING you wanted right now, what would it be: Education, so I can help other street boys. And storybooks for the school. I like to learn all day long. Even when I go home, I continue to read and study. And I can say for myself, I am fine. But it is hard for the other boys- to go back to the streets. I want a home for them too, and a family for them to live with.
Brian speaks the best English of anyone and has spent the least amount of time on the streets. His background is confusing but seems to be very happy living with Pastor Deo. He is a total charmer thinking he can charm his way out of anything. His love language has to be physical touch- a hug being one of the best gifts to give him. He realizes that he has better living conditions than the other boys and is concerned about their needs and well being. He loves soccer and is great at it. Brian has a very generous heart. Lindy Thompson ~ Only Servants
Grave Clothes
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Remember in John 11…
Lazarus was dead and had been in the tomb for four days when Jesus went to his tomb with his sisters and others…
38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39“Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
From this, I understand that when He brings us from death to life (spiritually) he wants us to remove our grave-clothes and then go on with our lives. When I was brought from the dead and to life in 2002, I was saved and loved. It was done! However, I was still wearing my grave-clothes. It didn’t take me long to figure that out. However, as uncomfortable and confining as grave-clothes are, there is comfort in wearing our familiar grave-clothes. It is Christ that makes us uncomfortable in our grave clothes. No one else can successfully do that. However, even after Christ makes us uncomfortable in our grave clothes, we continue to resist taking them off. Why?
It is painful to go through your past and re-think about, re-see and re-feel what is back there. However, I believe most of us are willing to undergo some pain in order to be free of it. No, I don’t think that pain is the main obstacle for us.
I think the issue is two-fold and are “wrapped up” in one:
~Every time we unwrap a layer, we feel a little more free but we find another layer underneath. It is scary to think about what the next layer we uncover will be. I have unwrapped several layers already. And each time, I found another layer of grave clothes underneath. After all, there is more than one layer over the dead. I started looking at my lack of self-esteem and found big marriage issues. While working through that layer, I found the layer of childhood sexual abuse. While unwrapping that layer, I found a layer of physical, emotional and verbal abuse at the hands of my mother. As I process that I found a layer of abandonment issues.
That is where the real fear comes in. Yes, we are worried that, as we get deeper in the grave-clothes, the issues are harder to uncover and deal with. They are buried deeper and hurt more to uncover them. We yearn for when we unwrap the layer and there aren’t any more layers under there — except, we know that when all the layers are unwrapped, we will be standing there stark naked! As freeing as that is, it is also very vulnerable. So,
~ As each layer is unwrapped, we never know what is going to be exposed, another difficult and perhaps very vulnerable layer or a part of our naked body or complete nudity!
However, remember the story of the prodigal son. What happened when he returned to his father? Luke 15: 20b-24 says…
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[b]‘ “But the father said to his servants,
‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Like the father and prodigal son, when we come to our Heavenly Father, he will wrap us in the best of robes so he will not leave us naked. For this reason, I no longer worry about what will be exposed as I unwrap my grave-clothes but look forward to the complete freedom of walking without grave-clothes. After all, when I came to Father in 2002, he wrapped me in a beautiful royal robe.
Anyone who has not yet been able to let go of their grave-clothes may just need help seeing that Father has wrapped them in a beautiful new robe already!
Points to be aware of:
- The Holy Spirit gives the desire to shed the grave clothes.
- There is a feeling of fear of the unknown and extreme vulnerability.
- Feel the honor if they ask for or allow you to help them unwrap
- Don’t force the issue. Be patient.
- Reassure them that they are loved and covered by God! After all, He already knows.
This article was written by Freddy Chakhachiro. Freddy is one of the most valiant Christians I know. She is an inspiration to everyone who knows her. She faithfully proclaims the faithfulness of her Lord and Savior.
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 (ESV)
“That Quick”
We went to the playground today to play with Jackson and Graham. When we got there, Emma Bruce was leaving with Samuel but they decided to stay and play so we all went down to the playground. A few minutes later Joshua came up to me and told me he couldn’t breath and I could hear him wheezing. I had forgotten to bring his inhaler.
I asked Heather and Emma Bruce to help me pray over him so we all laid hands on him and began to pray. He immediately got better, ran off to play and never said another word about it.
On the way home I asked him what we needed to tell Jesus for fixing his breathing. He said to tell him thank you and so we did. Then he said “what did God use to fix it momma?” So I told him God used his power to fix it. He then said:
“Wow, I can’t believe He used his power that quick on me!”
I’ve been thinking about that – how true that statement is. Sometimes I have a hard time believing God would use his power “that quick” – whether it be for healing, provision, relationships, whatever the case may be. Sometimes our prayers don’t get answered as quickly, and other times they do, but may we always believe that our Great God can use His power in any way he see’s fit and that yes, it can even come “that quick”!
Amber Ward
The Invisible Woman
Take a few minutes to watch this very special presentation. This is for everyone whether male or female. In a world that asks, “What’s in it for me?”, Read more
Joel’s Testimony
He is My Defense
It’s been pure joy to watch Abby grow in the faith. One specific area in which the Lord is at work in her is in not giving in to the fear of man and she is placing her trust in the Lord in all things. Rejoice with me!
Click on the link He is My Defense to enjoy listening to Marty Goetz sing about the Lord – our defense.
Blessings in Strange Packages
Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever needed something, I mean really been in need, and when the anticipated package arrived you wanted to send it packing? Your answer was packaged in such a way that it couldn’t possibly have anything to do with what you were requesting.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about.
This is Mama on Mother’s Day,surrounded by her eight children, six weeks before she died. We were celebrating her day in the nursing home. Mama had suffered numerous strokes and had just been diagnosed Read more
The Foolishness of Housewifery
For consider your calling, brothers (sisters): not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. I Corinthians 1:26 (ESV)
According to the world’s standards, the above verse describes me. Wise? Professional women consider my career choice of being a housewife and full-time mom to be an unwise, dull-minded way of life. Powerful? Chauffeuring children, swishing toilets, cooking– hopefully not at the same time – is hardly a position of power. Noble birth? My heritage comes from a lowly band of Scottish pirates. Now that I’m menopausal I’ve stooped to an even lower low by calling my sister and telling her that I know why some animals eat their young. Am I the only one out there who, after washing and folding the same pair of underwear so many times it could compete for a Swiss cheese look alike, wonders if the perceived movers and shakers in the modern world could be right! Read more
