Burn Well.

Duress, Albania

Before moving to a new country, our squad has a time to debrief. This again is a space to just reflect within our teams, come together as the body, and primarily worship our good, good Father.

My squad last week had our month 9 debrief. As I write this there are only 40 days left of the race before returning home to the states! During each day of debrief we tend to have a session where truth is shared and then a time of worship with our squad. Jesus was so present during this time in Durres, Albania. I believe He has opened all of our eyes to what a blessing and privilege it has been to travel the world and to serve Him freely as the body this past year. Looking back on the lows, the hard spaces, and the moments of defeat..they are a testament to acting in obedience to the Lord’s calling and seeking nothing more than His glory. I LOVE H-SQUAD so much! I wish I could tell you about each and every individual on this team, but that would be a lot of words for you to read. Just know that H-squad is a group of individuals passionately pursuing the Lord; I feel absolutely honored to know each and every one of them.

Fran (our squad’s-mentor) and squad leaders had the incredible idea to have a ”Burn Night”. A night of full-out intercession, prayer, worship that would last from 7pm- 7am the next morning. Fran contacted me to ask if I would lead us into this night not even knowing my heart had recently been burdened and broken over even my own prayer life. 

This night did not go anything as I planned it too. WHICH WAS A GOOD THING. As I sat with the Lord praying over what He wanted this space to be, He brought me to this scripture: Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Going into it I was honestly nervous being that the Lord truly had not told me anything else. I felt unequipped. But, looking back at it that was just it. I needed to be unequipped; it was not about me at all; Going back to the above scripture in Thessalonians, it is all about Him. He just needed the space to move.

Friends, when we give the Lord complete room, this is where the miraculous is welcomed in.

As we began to worship, a few of my squad-mates prompted by the Spirit raised the question to why we were not worshipping in the city center across from our hostel. Why were we keeping worship inside of our hostel’s walls? 

 We pray Thy kingdom Come, but how often do we actually live that out?

So my squad moved to the city square. At first it seemed strange to our limited perspective; Forty people standing out in the middle of a city square with a guitar as the wind was blowing irrationally. But, then we began to sing praises to Jesus’ Name. I truly believe the heavens opened over that city square. This square has been marked as the Lord’s territory right across from a Muslim-mosque (58% of Albania’s populations adheres to Islam). How Incredible is our God?!  There were countless numbers of seeds planted this night, as well as, prayers prayed. Many I saw with my own eyes and could attest too, many more that we will only know of once we get to heaven. It was beautiful to encounter and to be apart of all because of our God! 

My heart breaks over the freedom and privilege we have to proclaim the Gospel that many have been and are continuing to be persecuted for. Friends, We have the freedom to shout and praise Jesus from the rooftops! WHAT IS STOPPING US? I think most of the time for me it is fear; fear of how I will be perceived. SILLY! It is not about me, and I hope if you perceive anything about me it is that I am in love with Jesus. When we get to the point of realizing it is not about us at all, life is SO MUCH SWEETER AND SO MUCH MORE! I desire for everyone to know the Love of Christ; to truly know Him. Yet, the times I fail to show Him happen when my focus is on myself. 

Let’s continue to give the Lord complete surrender and room to bring us to the rooftops and shout Jesus all along the way.

That is the reason I am alive and breathing today and you too. If you are living for any other reason today, I promise you are missing it.

When you walk into that grocery store, when you go to order your coffee, when you see the homeless, when you meet new people… carry the Gospel, the good news that there is Hope beyond this.

Lord, I pray for boldness among your people today; I pray that I would Burn for You and You alone, Jesus. It is more than just a night or a specific time of day; it is how we are called to live our lives. Help us to be Your utter Light to this world. I pray that You would continue to give us the strength and endurance to burn well ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

Your Beloved, Kel