All I really wanted was to sit in awe of Him,

To look up when the sun went down as stars came filling in.

I thought if I under the sky could see His glory then

A humbled cry and worthy song from my heart would ascend.

For the past four years now, Cafe 1040’s staff has paused their usual work routines for a week of prayer and fasting. Join us to gain insight into what we are discerning from the Father, and unite with us in prayerful anticipation for the days ahead. This year’s theme was “Journey into Hope”, and we are reading Joshua 1-4. 

Ramadan across the Muslim world is a time of commemorating the revelation of the Qu'ran. For a whole month, Muslims abstain from food, water, and other indulgences from sun up to sun down. It is said to be a time for cultivating a deeper relationship with Allah and refocusing on becoming a better Muslim man or woman. I have now been overseas for 3 Ramadan seasons, and each year I have felt the weight of this season more and more.

Of all the ways Paul might’ve wrapped up this passage, that wasn’t the “bow” I expected the first time I read it. Up to this point in Romans, Paul has explained and emphasized the Gospel message. But now, he turns to the role of the Gospel messengers. And in this passage, the most notable characteristic of those messengers is their beautiful feet.

Consider the word, “missionary.” What images come to mind? An evangelist in an urban center? A church planter living in a rural village? A medical doctor using their skills to show the love of Christ? 

During my time living in the Middle East, I heard stories of Muslim friends who had dreams and visions of a man dressed in white. Initially, this brought me relief, as it seemed like a way for them to believe in Jesus without our team having to share with every person in the city.

I asked her, "What do you think God wants you to do?" She replied, "God is the one who will move." I said, "Yes, but Jesus has commanded us to go and make disciples of all people groups. So we need people to go to the places where there are no followers!" She responded, "Yes, God will send His people. His plans are good."

Romans 10:14-15  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

What works against you in grasping Christ's love for you? When I think about this question, my answers create a long list, sadly. My sin, fear of rejection, not being good enough, not being faithful enough, being a burden, seeing and experiencing broken relationships, feelings of shame.

It’s easy to fall into discontentedness and bitterness when God is making us wait, especially when the scale of waiting is worldwide. But in Psalms 27:14 the Bible exhorts us to “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” As believers, we are called to trust in the Lord and what he is doing while we wait. We want to encourage you as you wait, whether you’re waiting to go overseas, for school to return to normal, to see at-risk family members, or simply waiting for something to feel at least a little normal again. Here are joyful and life-giving things people have found while waiting this year.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16

Whether you decide to do all 1 or all 10 of these ideas, be creative and have fun!

We must refocus our thoughts, training, and activities on our mission. We must bring the hope of Jesus to those who are hopeless.

“Once per year, for a period of thirty days, Muslims disrupt their daily rhythms by fasting from sunrise to sunset during a month called Ramadan. This fast consists of abstaining from food, drink, tobacco, and sexual relations for thirty days each year. Families will wake and gather before the sunrise to feast for the day. Then, each night, families, neighborhoods, and communities gather together to celebrate the breaking of the fast (iftar) at sunset. In the places I have lived, the atmosphere during the iftar is festive, welcoming, and hospitable for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.” – 40 Questions About Islam by Matthew Bennett

Cafe 1040 and their leadership have been and will continue to monitor the situation. We are adhering to the guidelines and recommendations set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Ramadan is 30 days set aside every year for Muslims to fast from sun up to sun down. For some places in the world, this could mean over 18 hours of fasting each day. Fasting is one of the five pillars in Islam. It’s a time set aside to focus on prayer and the reading of the Qur’an in an effort to seek God.

Prayer is one of the greatest ways we can support those that we send out. David Platt pulled together sixteen ways he saw in Scripture to pray for our missionaries.

Ramadan is 30 days set aside every year for Muslims to fast from sun up to sun down. For some places in the world, this could mean over 18 hours of fasting each day. Fasting is one of the five pillars in Islam. It’s a time set aside to focus on prayer and the reading of the Qur’an in an effort to seek God.

For a lot of people, June 6th through July 5th is just another thirty days of the year. However, for many around the world, these thirty days constitute the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic Muslim calendar, a time devoted to increased prayer and fasting.

While Ramadan, for the Muslim world, is the holiest month of the year, it occurred to me that many outside of the Islamic faith don’t really understand what Ramadan is or how it may impact those who follow Jesus.