Twila's Weblog

….thoughts

twilacrawford — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:23:10 +0000

First I want to say is I know it’s been a while since I’ve last updated this. I’m super busy right now. I made it to the states where I’m visiting family and friends. Serving wherever a door opens for me to do so. I’m sharing what God has been doing in my ministry in Romania and abroad. It is awesome. At any rate, this is what is happening right now. I’m soon to have another grandchild, (Ethan). He will be born anytime now. I am watching the presidential races, wondering about who will get my vote and how that will affect our nation. I love this nation and my people. God has called me to serve the nations but he hasn’t told me to forget my roots or my inheritance in this nation. Join me in praying for our leaders (cursing them changes nothing and only brings a curse on us, not voting is still voting only without a voice..so if your not going to vote you also lose your right to say anything about who ends up running our nation). Pray before voting…God knows and appoints kings when we seek his face. He will provide wisdom for all who lack it. There is no shame in lack only in staying in that position…especially when the wisest ever is willing to impart his wisdom to you. Well enough of my ramblings for now. Will write more later.

Random thoughts….

twilacrawford — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 13:43:02 +0000

Hello everyone!

Have you ever had those times when you just sense God’s deeper heart? I believe I experienced it this morning…it was heavy as I seen what he sees in the untimely death of his saints and yet full of promises that his eternal purposes and destiny will be carried out! He will bring justice (knowing that it is mercy and love) I asked him for more and more missionaries to be raised up in the Spirit and with a heart of Mother’s and Father’s for a motherless and fatherless generation! After all we are living for the glory of God and to make way for the next generation, we are all forerunners, called to make the way…what kind of inheritance am I leaving? Jesus deserves the inheritance he purchased….a generation from the nations of the earth who live to make mention of his name! Jesus I declare today your kingdom come…

Brief Update about Egypt

twilacrawford — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 13:42:04 +0000

Hello everyone!

I need to keep this simple for now and yet there is so much to share about the amazing ways God is moving in and through us in Egypt. The goals of God’s heart are being met for the people of Sudan! We are seeing hope arise in the hearts and lives of a refugee group that has been down for far too long now. As I experience the overwhelming love God has for the people of Egypt and Sudan I can’t help but tremble in his very presence! I have met some incredible leaders and can say honestly that there is a generation arising that will change the course of their nations as they take their God by the hand and go forward! They are crying out for it and God has heard their cries! There have been over 28 people give their hearts to Christ! We have seen others who have had many questions about their future, their God and where he is in the midst of their suffering come to a whole new desire to pursue him more and to find the answers to their questions. I have new members to add to my personal family, sons and daughters..(a very special son and daughter Anwar and Jerusalem! they are from Sudan) It’s a privilege to have them become a part of my family. I can say that this outreach has been the most amazing I’ve experienced by far! My walk with the Lord has been impacted in a whole new way and while I came here to serve and be a blessing, once again I feel it happened quite the other way around. It’s been a privilege to be here and to serve. We leave next Friday for home. Our whole team is being impacted by this as none of us are ready for it to be over yet. I’m very proud of our staff and students who have served so awesome and allowed God to move through them in amazing ways! It has been awesome to serve with every last one of them and I honestly would do it all over again with this group! Paul and Ana Maria have been amazing leaders and I know God is preparing them for even more in the future. Myself, I have grown a lot in this time and have learned a lot about just how deep the responsibility is for those God brings into our lives to disciple and to mentor. I’ve learned that I’m more and more in Love with my Savior every step I take with him. I want to grow more and more and go deeper still! I can’t do anything a part from him and yet my value in him is unmentionable! WOW! This isn’t just for me but for all of you as well! Do you know just how much he loves you? God is so amazing! HE is LOVE! HE LOVES YOU! He isn’t some angry God just waiting to pour out his wrath…quite the opposite…he is a loving Father waiting for his children’s voice and embrace! HE longs for us to turn to him…he then can pour his love through us into those around us! (I must say that he is a just God just in all of his ways and he is justice for those who are receiving injustice and it does say in his word its a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God, I will not minimize who he is but I will not take the devils lies either on who he isn’t).

Blessings,

Twila

Awesome God…

twilacrawford — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 06:53:36 +0000

God has an incredible way of shaking us up and putting our feet back on the right path! I love him more I think than I ever possibly could before and I can’t say it is for any reason other than he is flooding my heart with his love and goodness. I’m excited about all that he is doing in and through us. As I was praying Psalm 145 yesterday and then again this morning I just feel he is sooo worthy…he is incredibly in love with each of us and holds us very near. I feel his embrace like never before and somehow just know that nothing will come my way that he isn’t capable of taking care of. I know we tend to “know” these things but how often do they really go below the surface? I encourage you to read this incredible Psalm of exaltation of the one who is worthy and allow him to speak to your heart. He is waiting to meet with you today…he loves you and you are fearfully and wonderfully made in his image. He chose you before the foundations of the world and longs to be in an intimate and deep relationship with you! RUN to him. He is there waiting to take hold of you! Be blessed today! All things are well so far. We have a children’s program today and a time of intercession! Continue to pray for our protection and for open hearts and divine appointments!

Blessings,

Twila

Egypt…

twilacrawford — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 07:11:16 +0000

We have been in Egypt for almost about 9 days and it has been incredible. We are beginning our service to the Sudanese Refugees tonight. We will attend what is a very cool meeting with youth! What they do in this group is have all of the young people (some are Christian and some are not) study a verse from the bible and then discuss it further in small groups. After this discussion takes place the youth create a rap song about what they received from the verse! It will be awesome. Be praying for us to be God’s hands and feet to them as we lead tonight and be in prayer because two rival gang members often attend these meetings. They are peaceful, for the most part, and usually they only harm their own people (which is absolutely nuts to even be saying), but not those from the outside. Anyway, be praying for their hearts to be open to the one who can truly bring them the love and acceptance.

We have a full schedule and incredible opportunities to be ambassadors! Pray for open hearts and open doors. Pray for us to be full of his love and power. The students are incredible and doing awesome so far on this outreach! They are taking initiative and taking ownership. It’s awesome to watch them as they step out with the Lord to impact those around them.

Well this is all for now! God be with each of you! Coveting your prayers and thanking you for being a huge part of what is happening here!

Twila

Egypt

twilacrawford — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 05:07:58 +0000

We are leaving for Egypt tomorrow morning! Blessings to all of you and I ask for your continued prayers. This is going to be an incredible trip for all of us. I thank you for those who have agreed to be our prayer warriors over the next 7 weeks. This is the first trip to a 10/40 window (least evangelized nation) nation for our students. They are excited! I will do my best to keep you posted through this site as to how things are going…it may not be frequent because internet access isn’t always easy to get to and we have a full schedule on outreach! I’ll do my best though! Many blessings and lots of love to all. Thank you so much for giving to the Lord and seeing his Kingdom expanded! He is receiving his rightful inheritance.

Prayer requests:

Open doors to see Jesus glorified and to receive his inheritance from this nation and that the people will see themselves as people in need of receiving what he has so freely given…..salvation…and yet so much more.
Protection as we are ministering, serving in various forms of service to the people.
Sudanese to feel the overwhelming love Christ has for them…and for the Egyptians.
Our team to be in unity and to stay healthy, as the climate is very different for most of us

10 Shekels and a Shirt/Judges 17:1 – 18:6/Micah

twilacrawford — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:46:18 +0000

I just read the most amazing study by Paris Reidhead about Micah. The self appointed priest of the Lord who mixed the priesthood with the idolatry in the land in which he lived. At this time men lived as it seemed best to them. In reading this amazing sermon I could see my own humanistic approach to God and how I have settled for so long to live for 10 Shekels and a Shirt instead of serving out of a heart of complete worship, the one alone who is worthy of such service, Jesus Christ.

What I walked away realizing was how often I settled for a life of what God could do for me, keep me from hell, give me heaven, save me, provide for me, carry me…etc…really self centered, huh?!!! I realized I want to know God for who God is. I want to be drawn into his glorious presence, I want to know the total reality of my sin and the opposite reality of his glory! I want to serve the living God because of who he is! I desire within me to lay my life down and realize I’m too selfish to do this on my own! I need his conviction, his drawing and for him to help me to want to do this. I must choose but he will walk with me to the cross. I have to climb on it and die to self…die to rights….die to what I’ve believed I’m entitled to…I need Jesus…..I’m no longer desiring to tell people about Jesus to keep them out of hell…but rather…telling them of a savior who is worthy of their lives because he purchased them with his own life….they are unworthy…I am unworthy…but we are his reward! Anyway, these are my initial responses to this. I’m praying for more revelation and understanding. I know I’m in pursuit of a savior and will not stop short of knowing who God really is and having him totally control and live through me.

Thank you for your time…blessings.

Twila Crawford

Current happenings…..

twilacrawford — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:16:17 +0000

We are currently in the 11th week of the Discipleship Training School! The students are doing awesome! We are in our final week of classroom preparation and teaching. Next Tuesday we leave for our seven week outreach phase, which will take place in Egypt. Our goal is to serve the Sudanese refugees and the Egyptians in practical and as well as spiritual ways. Our focus will be intercession, practical labor and serving children and youth! Thank you for your prayers and support! We are so appreciative of those who have decided to come with us through intercession and giving. God bless you and continue to use you to expand his kingdom! See below for current prayer points and continue to return for the latest news from Egypt!

Prayer points:

For all of us to be open to all that God has for this nation!
For the people to have prepared hearts.
For protection and safety for the team and our contacts.
For God’s continued provision. (We still need approx. $4200.00)
For wisdom and for his love for this nation to invade our hearts as it has his.

Blessings and thank you,

Twila Crawford