In our corporate prayer meetings, we share our stories and heartaches and troubles; not to lament as victims but to pray for God’s power, grace and mercy upon our situations, communities, churches, countries, and the world. Because of our ages, many of our prayers have been for our children’s age group who are mostly in the Gen Z. When I read this article, it occurred to me that the oldest Gen Alpha group have entered their teen years and now will be needing our prayers much more. Here are 6 characteristics of the Gen Alpha who make up roughly 18% of America’s population and counting.
Reading this article reminded me of the ‘Rotten Tomatoes’ vision that I had in 2019 during our corporate prayer meeting about Gen Alpha. Please read below.
Also, please make time to watch the global Gather25 prayer meeting. I only saw the first one in North America and it was spectacular, and everyone was so very inspiring! They mostly focus on the Gen Z revivals that are happening in the USA in college campuses. It got me so pumped up to keep going and interceding in our prayers. (First three minutes they have audio issues so it’s not your WiFi. Keep watching.) I look forward to watching the rest and seeing what God is doing in other countries.
Last email I shared this sermon about the rich, young ruler by Tim Keller but I noticed the link no longer took you there. Here is the link for the sermon. I listened to it again and it was still excellent, insightful and inspiring.
https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/camels-needles-and-riches/
I had a dream the other night where I saw that despite all the proactive health measures and regular skin check-ups, there was a skin cancer diagnosis. Perhaps this is happening to somebody reading this…? I’ll be praying for your recovery and faith. In this newsletter, there are many testimonies of healings and miracles, including someone who had skin grafted on due to skin cancer but the skin grafting did not take. Prayers changed that situation. Please read their testimony in here:
https://mailchi.mp/d5cbfc190f42/do-you-feel-the-shaking-yet-5758839?e=eede17ac76
(A good friend of mine was trained by this healing ministry group and it was pretty extensive from her sharing. She is also a longtime and faithful follower of Jesus Christ with good spiritual fruit in her family life, church life and even has a professional career in financial services. I don’t know how she does it all…it is the power of the Holy Spirit.)
I’ve been learning from pastor Francis Chan for many years now. I’m not sure what’s happening but he is preaching differently these days about the Holy Spirit. And I’ve even did his Bible study about Holy Spirit several years ago. He never focused on supernatural subjects. His teachings are mostly about repentance, convictions, disciplines, fear of God, Holy Bible…similar to the late pastor Charles Stanley or less stern version of John McArthur’s teachings. Please listen to Francis Chan and his recent sermon about the Holy Spirit:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-love-podcast/id1007053996
I’m reminded of this story in the book of Acts where Apostle Paul asked the disciples of John the Baptist if they received the Holy Spirit.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019&version=ESV,VOICE
Lots in here for you to think and pray about. God bless you abundantly.
Sent: Monday, July 8, 2019 9:33 AM
Subject: Prayers for the VBS and teen retreats this summer
Good morning ladies! Please remember to pray diligently and regularly thus summer for your church’s Vacation Bible School for children and for teen retreats and mission trips. Find out when these events are at your church and who the key leaders are to uphold them by name in your prayers. The enemy knows how powerful and impactful these moments are for young people and will do everything possible to prevent a successful VBS and retreats. We must pray for the kids, the leaders and the volunteers diligently.
I wasn’t raised in a Christian household and didn’t know much about God or Jesus Christ except from TV, but I got saved at age 13 by attending a summer middle school retreat. It’s imperative to keep these events in your prayers and also volunteer if you can.
I finished reading the book “Heaven is for real”. There’s a whole chapter about how much Jesus loves the children. This 4 year old child kept on repeating this over and over again to his parents like a broken record. His parents got the message loud and clear, and revitalized and refocused their church children’s ministry with greater resources and time.
This week our church teens are away in Florida for a retreat. Please pray for them and the leadership. In early August, there’s a children’s VBS for kindergarteners to fifth graders (ages 5-11). The Lord shared with me through a vision how easy this age group is to bring them into his kingdom. They are as easy as harvesting ripe tomatoes. No need for special tools or guessing if ready. Easy to spot and pluck.
Whenever our prayer groups met this past January to May, I always did my best to pray together for the camps and retreats. Now I believe you have to pray too. Please read my recorded vision. I share it with you so that you will pray with greater intensity and passion.
Rotten tomatoes:
My church children’s ministry leader met with me to ask if I can help her organize regular prayers for the bible camp week coming up in August. We are in January currently. I was blown away by her heart for more power and impact for the children. Praise God!
My heart immediately wanted to say yes but I told her I need to check with God and pray about it. I already have a women’s small group and another prayer group that I’m leading. We ended our meeting with prayer and my heart was greatly moved during our prayer. I sensed that there are many divine appointments coming up with the children during that week in August.
The next morning when I was praying about this matter, I was given these bible verses and a vision:
John 4:35-37
35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’
In my vision, I looked up high but I saw nothing but clear skies. Then I heard a voice to look down. Lol, I was looking up too high! On the ground all around me as far as I can see I saw tomato plants growing and ripening well. We must get ready now for to reap abundantly and successfully at harvest time.
So I’m taking this as a sign that I’m to get involved in the harvest as a sower.
Perhaps I will be a reaper too but with a family European trip coming up this summer, I’m not sure if I’ll be around that week. We haven’t finalized our dates yet.
I’m thinking that I’ll be organizing prayers so that the tomato plants are being protected while growing and that during harvest time there are many workers and God’s angels helping with the harvesting of souls. And we’ll be praying that we follow closely with the Holy Spirit for these important divine appointments with Jesus Christ.
As I was thinking to myself what happens to the tomatoes that we don’t get to harvest and bring in; the very first webpage that I opened when I clicked on the Internet on my phone was the Rotten Tomatoes website for movie reviews. Hmm…so these children will grow to become rotten tomatoes.
In our area, these children usually grow up to be successful professionals – future doctors, scientists, academics, teachers, lawyers, business executives, social activists and climbers, political leaders, etc. This realization is hitting me deeply. I better work hard on this prayer assignment.
Jesus, let the little children come to you and I pray that no one hinders them from coming to you! Please help me to get the word out to the prayer warriors with urgency and persuasion. 🙏
Journal of Faith 