Lions Rise…..In China

I see his face.  Bold One.  To youth.

Here.  In China.

And though words I do not understand.

His eyes….Awake…

Shine Light….

Like few I have ever seen.

And words….though only spoken…

ROAR!  With Holy Fire!

…..And I am broken.

Missing full revival fire that used to burn inside of me.

And how I have coddled fire……Stoked it less….Fallen into complacency.  Years past.

Youth.

Bibles open…..

As I wonder what they say.

Interpreter beside me….So, I ask.

Hands raised.

Testifying how they share…..with friends….that they are believers.

In a region.  People persecuted….tortured….tormented…..for their faith.

Rumors of Bold Ones…..Disappearing…..for Gospel’s sake.

Yet, we.  American Christians.  Too often…..keep silent.

Though.  Us.  In free country. 

Simply hoping….Our faith will be known or seen….simply because of our…..

Good Works…..

Not by any words….

That we might say…..

Why are we…….so afraid to offend?  Let alone be persecuted.  Rejected.  Or not fit in.

Wanting faith.  Yet, people pleasing too….

And I am convicted once again.   In this area. My sin.

Then, Righteous Youth calls us to share….

And I am humbled to stand in front of these people….

Thinking….what have I…..a meek….apathetic…..compromising Christian….

Have to share.

Yet……I look in eyes eager.

Remembering in America….how easy it was to fold……and tailor……and iron my faith……


And neatly put it away.

While, here…..

Lions are being raised to rise.

Still, I…..

Share my name. Confess in front of these Burning Ones gathered in a church in China.

Professing the sins of our culture.

Exposing misconstrued notions…..of mirages and messages sent out to the world.

….From America.

How sex and drugs and indecency and lust has pervaded the world from the U.S….

And how I am sorry.

And how….

Don’t look to us…..For faith.

Or our message of purity or holiness.

I then, exonerate their leader……The one who….Spoke with boldness.

And testified of His love……for each one…..

And how it is rare. 

And I pray.

Eyes would see.  Ears would hear.  The truth of what he said.

Then, I share….

The testimony.

My testimony. 

The one I held back from when I was asked to speak in a church in Guatemala over a decade ago.

Remembering how….

The enemy is slain by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.

And I don’t hold back…..

Not this time. 

Some alarmed….

For, I don’t look like who I was back when I was bound by sin.

But, I had to share….needed them to know….

The power of the cross.

….And how, only He can bring grace to a heart deeply lost. 

And I encourage them….

To be faithful.

And if any feel far from the grace freely available….

….Come to Christ.

He will make them clean.

He will wash them in righteousness.

Make them holy and new.

And I am drawn to Bold One’s faith……

As we end and pray.

And as we……the sent ones…..Humbly walk away…..

From Lion’s Pride of believers being trained in this season of life…..

To not tip toe…..

But roar.

And how his faith is contagious.

And how, instead of teaching…..

I most…..learned from them.

Shaking Lion Risings hand……While humbly leaving…..Lions Pride …..

Seeking.  Fervent.  Alive.

Here.

In inland church.

In China.