Atmosphere Changer

I will refer to a lesson I learned in Brazil. That beautiful country put some mettle in my spirit. Bridgeport, ironed that mettle out! (but that’s another story)

Everyday we were witnessing on the streets. We were rescuing street kids, offering them a place to live in our children’s home. One evening we came back early; no kids. Our living room was spacious, with wall to wall tropical windows. It had 2 plastic pink couches, a few chairs, and a mini pulpit. We walked in real quiet and found a place to plop down, all 5 of us. Three of my missionary friends came from rough neighborhoods in LA, myself and the other were (uuh) not. But all of us had arrived in Brazil zealous and bold.

The room was quiet, eerie and weird. Except for the outside. It was windy and starting to get dark. Every noise outside had us glancing behind our back.  It sounded like someone was outside walking and casting shadows on the flimsy tropical windows. The stuff we were encountering in this vast city was starting to get to us; demon possessions, and a murder investigation across the street from our home. I was scarred, but no-way was I going to admit it!

Thank God someone finally blurted out, “I feel weird” (ya right, I know she really meant scarred), but that was my opportunity to say “me too”. Instantly even the guys blurted out a sigh of relief. We all moved away from the windows and came to sit in the middle- TOGETHER! We shared, talked, laughed at each other and prayed together. What we discovered in that intimate moment was that we were encountering the enemy’s oppression.

(Oppression; the use of authority to subject fearfuly. Physical or mental disempowerment, to keep down, to silence)

When you are experiencing oppression:

1.You’ve probably been a threat to the enemy’s kingdom.

2. Usually you get quiet as your thoughts get loud.

3. The presence of God is absent.

4. You think you are alone.

5. You experience fear or thoughts of doom……….There’s more, but you get the picture.

We walked away from that living room with a Battle Plan! Because our church didn’t raise spiritual wimps!

“God teaches our hands for battle, and our arms for war” “No weapon formed against me will overcome me” “We overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony”

From now on we would walk in a line always led by a worship leader sounding out songs for us to follow. When that person would get tired the next in line would step up…careful to never let the praise break (and you better be loud so that the one in the end could hear)(Sempre Fi style-hoora!) We would only stop when a street kid was found.

Singing. That’s what can changed the atmosphere. Now you choose what to sing. But if you choose songs like “She’s a Freak” what kind of atmosphere are you expecting? We sang ‘I KNOW IT WAS THE BLOOD, I’VE GOT JOY LIKE A RIVER, THERE IS POWER POWER WONDER WORKING POWER, even FATHER ABRAHAM.We never felt like that again. Singing praise songs broke the power of the enemy! Try it now. Watch. It will change the atmosphere.

That year, we established a second children’s home and many many children were saved. Today many of those kids are adult leaders in Brazil, and Mexico; saved, married and happy! They continue spreading the gospel that saved them!! As for the missionaries…well we keep singing. Today my favorite song is

‘You deserve the Glory, and the Honor………for You are Great! you do miracles so great”