Be sure to keep the members of the Quail Springs Predisan team, especially our own Amy, Ann, Pete, and Rebecca, in your prayers as we serve in Olancha, Honduras from July 28- August 4. 

Please pray for
-the glory of God to be made known
-our eyes to be open to seeing God at work
-physical and spiritual protection
-extra measures of healing and strength as we work in different ministries

Can't wait to come back and tell you guys all about it!

Pull me Out – Bebo Norman

To be released on his upcoming album.  Of this song, Norman says "I have silently walked the last four years or so with a building and recently diagnosed struggle with anxiety. The irony is that the struggle has been with the one thing I have always found comfort and consistency in - singing the songs that I so dearly love to sing. This song is about letting go of the earthly things that drag me down and holding tightly to the things of heaven that pull me out."

So tell me now, when does this start feeling like I understand
Everything I’m dealing with, first I was young, now it’s all just happening
What about the way I said that made you turn around
And shake your head like I don’t even know what I’m asking for

This could be all about just letting go
This could be all about just holding on

I can’t get my feet off of the ground
I want to run but I don’t know how
Can you reach down here and pull me out?

I want to scream but there’s no sound,
I want to fly to you somehow
Can you reach me here and pull me out?

Remember when I was young and hungry, I could take it in
Without much money, I had nothing at all but dreams and time to kill
Now I feel like I’m treading water and I’m hardly real
I’m just trying harder to make my way on the earth by standing still

This could be all about just letting go
This could be all about just holding on

Not a moment too soon
You will be my rescueBut tell me how long will it take

I can’t get my feet off of the ground
I want to run but I don’t know how
Can you reach me here and pull me out?

I want to scream but there’s no sound
I want to fly to you somehow
But you reach me here and pull me out

by Pete

Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. (Song of Solomon 1:3)

Sweet Perfume—by Misty Edwards
It's like a sweet perfume.
Telling me you've entered the room,
Oh the fragrance, the wonderful fragrance of you.

Your name is a like an ointment poured forth,
Bringing healing to my soul.
Your name is like an ointment poured forth,
Bringing healing to my heart.

The song above has recently captivated my heart because of the harmonious sound and striking lyrics.  As Solomon describes in Song of Solomon 1:3, God's mercy, compassion, and righteousness is truly like a beautiful perfume.  He invites us into a relationship to meet Him sometimes in the most mysterious of ways.  However, it is truly through this time that the Spirit is able to provide healing in every aspect of our lives (i.e., emotional, spiritual, physical, etc.).  Abba, may we always be drawn to your fragrance!!

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
      so why should I be afraid?
   The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
      so why should I tremble?
 2 When evil people come to devour me,
      when my enemies and foes attack me,
      they will stumble and fall.
 3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
      my heart will not be afraid.
   Even if I am attacked,
      I will remain confident.
4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
      the thing I seek most—
   is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
      delighting in the Lord’s perfections
      and meditating in his Temple.
 5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
      he will hide me in his sanctuary.
      He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
 6 Then I will hold my head high
      above my enemies who surround me.
   At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
      singing and praising the Lord with music.

 7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
      Be merciful and answer me!
 8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
      And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
 9 Do not turn your back on me.
      Do not reject your servant in anger.
      You have always been my helper.
   Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
      O God of my salvation!
 10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
      the Lord will hold me close.

 11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
      Lead me along the right path,
      for my enemies are waiting for me.
 12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
      For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
      with every breath they threaten me with violence.
 13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
      while I am here in the land of the living.

 14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
      Be brave and courageous.
      Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

by Ann (04.07.08)

One of my spiritual gifts is passion. I relate this it enthusiasm, conviction, or just flat out caring. I think that for people with these types of gifts, Satan's primary objective is to make you stop caring.

If Satan can make you stop caring, then that pretty much cuts the life-line of energy and desire to the ministries and people to which you were called to serve.

Lately I've found myself saying more and more often that I just don't care, or worse yet, I can't care.

Passion carries quite a price tag. It's not cheap to live life passionately. Most people who embody this gift have battle scars to prove it. In the immortal words of U2, "the heart that hurts is the heart that beats."

I saw this prayer a few years ago and it has been on my refrigerator since. It reminds me that to being a Christ-follower is not meant to be a life of comfort, but holy uneasiness is what God gives us to keep us longing for home.

May God bless you with discomfort
at easy answers, half-truths, and
superficial relationships, so that
you will live deep in your heart.

May God bless you with anger at
injustice, oppression, and
exploitation, of people and the earth,
so that you will work for justice,
equity, and peace.

May God bless you with tears to
shed for those who suffer so you will
reach out your hands to comfort
them and change their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with
the foolishness to think that you
can make a difference in the world,
so you will do the things which
others say cannot be done.

by Pete

Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him.  When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus's grave to weep.  So they followed her there.  When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you only had been there, my brother would not have died."  When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.  "Where have you put him?" he asked them.  They told him, "Lord, come and see."  Then Jesus wept.  The people who were standing nearby said, "See how much he loved him!"….Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?"  So they rolled the stone aside.  Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me.  You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me."  (John 11:30-36, 40-42) 

Thirteen years ago this month (almost to the day), my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer.  As I reflect on this time in my life, it brings back bitter and raw emotion.  Three months to the date after he was diagnosed he went to heaven on a lonely Sunday morning.  I never got to say goodbye.  That night I cried myself to sleep in the arms of my mother with a host of angels at our side.  For several years, I wondered why my God would allow something like this to happen.  In many ways, I questioned God's goodness and love.   

However, the story of Lazarus above provides a convicting reminder that our Creator God, our Daddy, Hosanna in the highest was and is moved by the compassion of Lazarus's friends and family.  I can spend the rest of my life comparing my weeping and mourning with that of Lazarus' closest companions and never fully understand why dad was not healed.  The fact is that we live in a "fallen world".  But, verse 40 provides an interesting insight into the Kingdom of God (in bold).  That day, the crowd saw God's glory through the raising of Lazarus.  However, in the last several years, I have been surprised to find the Spirit shine light/glory on my tragic circumstance.  You see, I have come to find that in the Kingdom of God that no tear goes un-noticed or un-fulfilled through the eyes of a God who is moved by our sorrow and would move heaven and earth just to be with us.  

Misty Edwards in the International House of Prayer- Kansas City prayer room.

by Pete
Psalm 54
Come with great power, O God, and rescue me!
Defend me with your might.
Listen to my prayer, O God.
Pay attention to my plea.
For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me.
They care nothing for God.

But God is my helper.
The Lord keeps me alive!
May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them.
Do as you promised and put an end to them.  

I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.
For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies.

David had it all right!  The "men of Ziph" had given David's position to Saul as he was hiding in the wilderness from Saul in 1 Samuel 23.  The Spirit of the Lord provided David a hiding place at the "Rock of Escape".  God knew just what David needed!!  He provided; Saul did not find him.  In fact, it seems coincidental that just when Saul was closing in on David that the Philistine army was attacking Israel.  Thus, Saul had to give up the chase.  

Why is it when I am in trouble that I forget the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of me?  Why is that I forget that the God who saved me is also the same God who loves me?  Why is that I forget that with one quick glance from my "sin stained eyes" that I have actually "captured [His very] heart (Solomon 4:9).  

No matter what great obstacles that you face this week, don't forget the power of the Spirit of the Lord living inside of you as the very temple of the living God (Ephesians 2:22).  Pray that this prayer back to him and see what he does!!!!!  He is faithful, loving, and merciful and will provide. 

by Ann
God is in a season of building intimacy with me, I believe. This weekend I was blessed with Psalm 139 to meditate and keep on my heart.

The Spirit moved me to try this exercise to make it more personal. It was born out of thinking about Yahweh, the personal name of God, and what that should mean to us. Then I envisioned the Lord speaking my name to me when he talks to me.

So I took Psalm 139 and switched the voice around to make it read from the Lord to me. The result stirred my heart so deeply that I thought this type of exercise it might bless others as well.

Maybe the Lord is wanting to reveal his love letter to you. Take this and replace the "Ann"s with your name. Let me know if you are blessed with any other scriptures read in this way.
------------
Ann, I have examined your heart, and I know everything about you.
I know when you sit down or stand up.

I know your thoughts even when you're far away.
I see you when you travel and when you rest at home.

I know everything you do.
I know what you are going to say even before you say it, Ann.

I go before you and follow you; I place my hand of blessing on your head.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for you, too great for you to understand!

You can never escape from my Spirit! You can never get away from my presence!

If you go up to heaven, I am there; if you go down to the grave, I am there.
If you ride the wings of the morning, if you dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there my hand will guide you, and my strength will support you.

You could ask the darkness to hide you and the light around you to become night—but even in darkness you cannot hide from me.
To me the night shines as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to me.

I made all the delicate, inner parts of your body and knit you together in your mother’s womb.
I made you so wonderfully complex!
My workmanship is marvelous—how well you know it.

I watched you as you was being formed in utter seclusion, as you were woven together in the dark of the womb.
I saw you before you were born.

Every day of your life was recorded in my book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

How precious are my thoughts about you, Ann.
They cannot be numbered! You can’t even count them!
They outnumber the grains of sand!

“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
— John Wooden