Thursday, July 20, 2006

Cairo, Egypt 2006

Greetins from Cairo, Egypt!

Revelation 5:6-10 "The I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out to all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the trone. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lab. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowl full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth.” “
In the midst of the elders stood the Lamb, slain and who had seven horns and eyes. So Jesus Christ, the bearer of our sins and sicknesses, Saviour, Healer, is the center. He who alone is worthy to open the seals. The elders fell down before the Lamb with their harps. They also had bowls full of incense, our prayers. They sang a new song that has never before been sung to the Lamb, one that comes forth on that instant of praise. What did they sing? They exalted the Lamb for His holiness and what He did on the cross where He shed His blood for all nations, languages, peoples and tribes.

What does this say? Seven is the number of perfection. The horns represent power and authority and the eyes are the seven spirits of God (Isaiah 11:2). The truth that sees everything all the time, which is always present in everything all around the world. The elders fell on their faces, humbled themselves before the Almighty. They had an aatutude of praise and worship that wasn't tied to a ceremony or tradition. The new song flowed freely and spontaneously. They also had the golden bowl filled with thei prayers of saints…

These verses deeply touched my heart when I understood the purpose of my trip to Cairo. My 10-year-old son Jonas and I were on vacation in Cairo but also taking a Heavenly message to some Christians.

We meant to continue on to Alexandria to continue our vacation on the beach but God encouraged me to stay in Cairo. When I wondered why I understood that I had been sent to prayer-wlak in Cairo. Every night I went out onto the balcony and spoke God's word over Cairo and over Egypt and prayed for the people.

I met a lot of locals who welcomed us. I blessed each persom I met. I blessed all my money in Jesus name so they would bless the person or busniness from whom I bought goods or services. I blessed every taxi driver, bakery worker and passer-by who stared at our whiteness. I blessed the people working at reastaurants, money exchange desks and stores we visited. I realized that no one is praying for these muslims. They don't pray for salvation for their families, children or friends. Thei don't stand before the Lord for they don't know Him.

I felt especially close to my son the whole trip. I had the chance to teach a young boy about making choices according to God's will. How we can choose God's will when it comes to our lives, feelings and fears or we can choose the other alternative. This was our first trip abroad together and I thank God for being able to be a witness when Joonas' wish of seing the grave of Tutankhamon, pyramids and sphinx became reality.. I met people I had gotten to know a year earlier. I met Nadja, a former muslim, to whom God had come in dreams singing the Song on Solomon. God sent me to serve her and tell her Heavenly news of what is to come. We spent two days together praying and worshiping the Lord our God. We understood that our friendship has a reason. We will serve the Living God together. Maybe next year already? I also met Mama Margaretha who together with a pastor took me to a Sudanese curch in the area of the KoptiChristians in Cairo. I had the opportunity to share about a Christians calling to serve and I was also able to serve a pastor and an old lady God had sent to help him with a prophetic gift. God is good and His grace endures forever!

Mama Margaretha told me about a woman who I had prayed for the previous year. The woman had a tumor in her stomach which was as big as that of one pregnant in her ninth month. I didn't recall praying for her but the woman did. Two days after we had retuned to Finland she had gone to Mama Margaretha who had barely recognized her. The swelling in her stomach was gone! God had taken away the tumor. He is truly great! We want to see these sorts of healings in Finlang too! This testimony encouraged me a lot because it is rare to hear about God's deeds. Our trip was successful in every way. It was good to see beloved friends and meet with the Lord and locals. Sharing, praying, resting, sunshine and warmth. It was wonderful. Busy Cairo with its traffic, beautiful people the Arabs I love with God's love.