New Start(s)

When don't we have these? Every minute of every day is a new start. Every time we wake up; every time we take a shower; put on clean clothes (or dirty clothes for that matter); every time we call a friend; go to a store; you get the idea. We have so many chances to have a new start to everything we do. Everything. The past doesn't matter and we can look to and walk toward the future, making new and better and more informed decisions. Not to fall back and make the same mistakes and press toward a new, or the same prize, afresh everyday.
But then there's this thing called "everyday life." The thing that wakes us up but makes us want to roll back over and pull the comforter over our head to not face the day. The alarm clock. The job. The phone. The kids. The chores. The traffic. The bills. The Schedule. The Day. The mundane. All the things that seem to suck out all of the newness of Life that makes it fresh. Everyone deals with this, just as much as they deal with the newness. The same, over and over and over and over and over... Just as much as we want to rejoice in the newness we have to deal with the mundane. But how can we be satisfied with our lives when the newness seems like it's going to be the same yesterday, today and forever?
So I'm doing track II of the Fire in the Night Internship and when it started I was like "YESSSS! Finally something DIFFERENT!" I mean as much as I like being in the prayer room for 6-12 hours a day, it is so nice to have some spice and flavor in the schedule! This track, in addition to being in the prayer room, and at the Awakening Services (see other posts for references) we are able to do some service. And I got super excited... I mean in addition to singing on a worship team (Brandon Lautzenheiser's team... Go to www.ihop.org click on the webstream link and look at archives under his team name and you can see yours truly. Shameless. Self. Promotion;-) I get to go out into the community and help others! On Mondays, we go participate in an inner city prayer service called Hope City. On Tuesdays we serve a children's ministry called The Daniel Academy, and during the week, work in the children's ministry at church. When we started, I was like alright, I get to do something else. And I started with excitement! I was like "I am gonna be an awesome children's helper and rock out at the prayer service." And at the start it was cool, and new and exciting! Week one goes by. Week two goes by, and I start to get settled. Week three goes by and it starts to be normal. Week four: normal. Mundane. What happened to the excitement? To the newness of something different?
I prayed about this in the prayer room recently and was like "What happened to the excitement of starting something new? What happened to the joy of something different and exciting? And how did something I was looking forward to become so lackluster?" and in the quiet, I felt that maybe it was me. And not just me, but society as a whole. We are so eager to look for the next big thing, the next excitement, the newest trend to follow. Maybe my perception of newness is a little off kilter. Ok maybe not just a little, but I'm trying to make myself feel better.
"Then how do you find the newness of life in the mundane/everyday/boring? Sitting in the prayer room and following the same schedule everyday is not exactly my idea of fun." And as I was reading the bible I remembered a verse that I had heard but had never really thought about, and in the context of my life, it fit. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The normal context is that God was the same God in the beginning, the old testament, the new testament, now, and in the future, all of his attributes are the same. But what does that mean about Jesus the man? How did he live in his life? He was human, but did he really do the same things as us? Then I thought about that verse again... Wow, wait, he was the same? What does that mean? Then I thought about it. What did Jesus do before all the miracles and excitement of his life? What did he do when he wasn't walking in like a 75 mile radius teaching and stuff? He worked and built chairs and tables. He fished with his friends. He ate and did chores with his family and built his earthly father's business. He put on his pants (or maybe it was a tunic, whatever they wore back then) the same way we do. He went to school, and probably learned the Torah. He played with his siblings. He woke up every day and went to bed every night. It was, DUN DUN DUN, the mundane. Life. He did it everyday. But he still walked in the joy and newness of life everyday. Every prayer that he prayed was new. Every person that he came in contact with was genuine and refreshing. Every time he turned a temple inside out because they were selling goods that didn't need to be there was boring. Well, maybe not that, that's kinda awesome... but you know what I mean. He took joy in walking out the day to day and the disciplines that we take for granted in finding the newness of life.
That took me to Ecclesiastes, the emo book of the Bible, the one where we get the Mama's and Papa's song "to every season turn turn turn" and talks about a time for everything. And it says this: (Ecc 3:11-14)
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

The mundane is a gift from God. The everyday is a gift to enjoy. The small things are a blessing, because if we think about it, it's a blessing to wake up every day. It's a blessing to have a job and to drive and take phone calls and interact with people. It's a blessing to stay in a room all day and talk to the Creator of the universe who gives us good things to enjoy. And I thought, maybe I can find joy in that too. DING DING DING! There it is, folks: the newness of life. Looking at Christ and saying that if he can find contentment in the mundane, maybe I should try to. Gazing upon His holiness is not a light or boring thing. I mean, look what I wrote about in this blog, and it was probably because I had nothing else to do (but pray. I'm praying too. that's what I'm here for. just to clear that up).
I'm going to take a cue from http://quarterlifecalm.blogspot.com/ and give my prayer
Abba Father,
Let me experience the newness of life in the mundane. At times when everyday seems to run together, or when the exciting things grow dull. Let me live everyday with the excitement of new life. It's by your grace that I can live, breathe and have my being. Let me look at you and your beauty when I am bored with the every day. Let me remember your great, extravagant love for me when the excitement of new things falter. Allow me to experience your love in new ways that keeps me excited about what you're doing, even in the things that happen every day.
In your Name, amen


Alright friends: give me your feedback let me know what you think, and send me your prayer requests so that I don't have to experience the mundane! haha! also, if you would like to give a tax-deductible donation of any amount by credit or check card, click here:

blessings and much love!

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Making it easier for you!

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,

I haven't forgotten about you! Well maybe neglected you, but with really good reason: I have been crazy busy experiencing God in a new way that is changing my heart. Like I had written before, I am really learning how much God loves me, and actually delights over me. How I don't feel like I am perfect, or sometimes like I will ever be perfect, but God says that He has made me perfectly and He still loves me. Wow. Who am I to not love myself, when God says that he loves me?!

Anyway, I have been busy. Track 1 ended a couple days ago, and it sent me in a whirlwind. In addition to the class schedule where I am learning these amazing truths, I am in some crazy-amazing services that are huge displays of God's power. Not only do I feel awesome, because I am not ashamed of who he made me to be (a strong, confident, loved, loving, blessed, talented, handsome, humorous, spontaneous... you get the point... man) I have truly seen miracles. I was healed in my right ear of hearing loss, and have seen awesome things happen to others. I saw this lady's tumors fall off, saw a friend's leg grow out, saw a back straighten out, and gold dust cover this lady's hands! Seriously! it was awesome! I'm also singing alot on a worship team. it's awesome! (http://www.ihop.org/ go the prayer room, look at archives and look at Brandon Lautzenheiser"s team) This week I have started track 2, which has all of the same, but includes inner city and children's' services, and it rocks. We are really putting hands and feet to God's work to bless and encourage other people's lives.

I am learning how much God wants to answer our prayers, if we would just come to him and let him! All we have to do is come to him and let him know what's on our mind. Not gonna lie, being in the prayer room for a while is hard, but when you think about the creator of the universe listening to you, it makes it easier, especially after learning what's in the first paragraph.

So, blog, sorry I haven't written, but I am learning and experiencing so much, I knew you would understand. Also, don't forget about my mom's foundation, Leading Scholars Scholarship foundation, which you can give with a credit or debit card to scholarfoundation@yahoo.com on www.paypal.com if you would like to give a tax-deductible donation. And I would love to pray for you, so tell all of your readers to send me those prayer requests! blessings

Love,

Gabriel

Donations

Hey everyone, there will be a new post coming soon, but I just wanted to update you on giving! I have partnered with a scholarship foundation: Leading Scholars Scholarship Foundation, and they will be receiving any donations for my time here at the International House of Prayer. Soon I'll be updating you with more information about this amazing non-profit, complete with a website, but donations are accepted now by either check, or by paypal (credit and debit cards).
To donate by check send it to
Gabriel Mudd
c/o Leading Scholars Scholarship Foundation
4956 Windy Ridge Ct
Liberty Township, OH 45011

or on paypal
scholarfoundation@yahoo.com

And of course, all donations are tax deductible.
Be blessed, send me your prayer requests, and I"ll be posting soon!

the beginning.

So I never expected to be here. Seriously. In my plan for my life, I would not have thought of spending time praying in Kansas City. If anything right now, I would have wanted to be a star on TV, or take the music industry by storm, or be a lead on Broadway. Instead, I'm in the middle of the country, sitting in classes and in a room from 12-6am every night.
Why, you ask? Well honestly, I don't really know. I just felt a tug on my heart to be here. Over Christmas time, my sister, mom and I came out for a conference, The oneThing conference (ps 27:4). The conference really opened my eyes about how I should be living. Truly loving God and others; Seizing the moment to share God's love with others; to be kind and treat others not just the way they want to be treated, but how they NEED to be treated, with dignity and respect; To look past my own selfishness and into God's heart. From there, I knew that I had to be here for whatever period of time that I could, as soon as possible. So I applied to the internship I thought would best fit me in the time I had allotted, the Fire in the Night Internship.
In the short amount of time that I had to apply and get here, I tried to tie up all the loose ends that I had in my life in NYC (unfortunately neglecting some until I got here) and went gung ho toward this new life. And it was NOT AT ALL what I expected! I found out that I would be living with and surrounded by a bunch of 18 year olds that were leaving home for the first time. The cafeteria food (i know right cafeteria...) wasn't that great and all had CHEESE in it (and for someone why was lactose intolerant, this was awful). I had classes again for the first time since college, and most importantly, I would have to be in the prayer room from 6-10 hours per night! WHAT WAS I THINKING?! Seriously. I was like "What have I gotten myself into?" I was even questioning God asking why I was here. I felt like I didn't fit in. More importantly, I saw the most unusual things going on, and everyone was saying that they "felt God" and I couldn't feel a THING.
So here I am a 25 year old man, living in a dorm with guys that didn't want to be clean or even take showers (and believe me; that has been taken care of. Clean apartment: check) going to class and sitting talking to God for 6 hours on end. By like the 1st hour, I felt like I had run out of things to talk about. I didn't understand what people were feeling or what was going on. But, I knew that God asked me to be here, and I wanted to be open to what was happening around me. So one night I prayed "God, If this is you, and you want me to be here and experience your love in a better way, I'm open. Though I don't understand everything that's going on, I'm open to what you're doing." And there is more to the story, but God answered my prayer. I felt a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in a really long time. AND God healed me of partial deafness in my right ear!
So now I'm open. It's amazing what you can do if you stay open to what God is doing in your life. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes we don't understand even our own decisions. Sometimes we don't understand what God is doing. But the BEST thing we can do is stay open, even the tiniest bit, because God is good and only wants good things for our life.
So I am adjusting. I'm changing my thoughts. I'm starting new things and turning over a new leaf. Trying to experience new beginnings. And making people take showers.
My prayer for you is that you stay open to what God is doing in your life; because even though it may hurt at the start, He is good and is only trying to work through the pain so that you can receive real healing.
Be blessed!

If you would like to give anything (tax-deductable) while I'm here (even the smallest things: 25cents, post dated checks, food stamps) you can go to paypal.com, and donate to gabriel.mudd@yahoo.com or make arrangements with me! (I can send you an address and make sure you receive everything you need to claim it as tax deductable).
More importantly if you have any prayer requests, let me know so that I can be praying for you. It doesn't matter what it is, God wants to come to him with your requests. They can be anything from healing a sick dog, to financial increase, a new house, favor in your job, or just to receive more of God's love and His spirit. God loves it when we come to Him as a loving father and delights in granting our requests. AANND I'm in the prayer room for 6 hours a night, so keep me busy.

love ya!

Starting of a New Trend

Hey Everyone!
This is a new thing for me, but I want to share my life with you, and let you be a part of my process. Currently, I'm in Kansas City, doing an internship on intercessory prayer, and worship. It is amazing, and is completely changing me, and my views on who God is to me. I am doing the Fire in the Night Internship, in which I am taking classes on knowing God better, and praying for about 6 hours a night, which is different, but definitely not as hard as it sounds!
Through my blog, I am going to share what I am learning, and as much as possible, I want you to be a part, so feel free to comment. Also, I am accepting prayer requests for any and everything. I have learned that God loves to answer prayer, and all we have to do is ask with a sincere heart. Also, if you would like to give and support me while I'm here (it doesn't have to be much like 5, 10, 20, 25, 43, 50, 300,whatever you feel on your heart, if you feel it on your heart)feel free! I will be setting up a paypal account and posting my address if you would like to partner with me by credit card or check. And its tax deductable; holla! Most importantly, I want you to read, learn, comment, be a part, pray, and send me those prayer requests!
Be blessed and enjoy the process!