Blog
Posted by: Miguel Zayas - 02/12/09 @ 10:48AM
While reading this article it becomes clear that what we need to see is a move of God first in the church to make the church more OUTWARD focused and then for a move of God in the world...
PLease pray for Estonia...
Estonians least religious in the world
ELITSA VUCHEVA
Today @ 09:25 CET
Five EU members figure among the world's top 10 least religious countries, with Estonia leading the list, a new poll has shown.
Just 14 percent of Estonians answered positively to the question: "Is religion an important part of your daily life?" according to a poll released by Gallup earlier this week.
Estonia is followed by Nordic countries Sweden and Denmark, where 17 and 18 percent of those asked answered positively to the same question.
The Czech Republic comes fifth at 21 percent, just after Norway (20%), while France is ninth with a quarter of French people declaring religion important in their daily life.
The UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia and Bulgaria were also among the countries where most people did not consider religion to be such an important part of their lives.
By contrast, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Romania and Greece emerged as the EU's most religious members.
However, no EU country has made it into the top 10 of the world's most religious states, led by Egypt – where all of those asked responded positively to the question, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (each on 99%).
Several other African countries, including Congo, Malawi and Senegal, as well as Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates are also on the list.
According to Gallup analysts Steve Crabtree and Brett Pehlam, the results of the poll could be partially explained by the fact that "a population's religiosity level is strongly related to its average standard of living."
Among the countries "commonly seen as part of the developed world," some 38 percent consider religion important in their daily lives, while on the other hand, "eight of the 11 countries in which almost all residents (at least 98%)" replied positively to that question, "are poorer nations in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia."
The US, where two thirds of those asked replied positively, is the most religious "rich-world" country, with Mississippi being its most devout state (85%) and Vermont the least so (42%).
"It's fascinating to note that in terms of religiosity, Americans span a range that invites comparisons to some predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East and tribal societies in Southern Africa, as well as to some relatively secular nations in Europe and developed East Asia," the analysts noted.
The survey was carried in 143 countries, with an average of eight people out of 10 saying religion was an important part of their lives.
Posted by: Miguel Zayas - 12/16/08 @ 11:37AM
There is so much happiness that comes with the thoughts from a baby’s first step. If you are a parent, a cousin, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandma or grandpa isn’t it true that when you saw the first steps of your baby that it brought a smile to your face and heart?
Up until that moment this little one was totally dependant on you. You had to feed them, clean them, watch over them, burp them, de-gas them…that is always fun…
You stayed up late at night watching them sleep to see what they would do next. You would dream about their future, pray about their future, think thoughts of hope for their future.
I remember for each of our children I would hold them and sing to them. I sang the only Spanish song I know. I would make promises to them that I would do my best to be the best example to them to teach them by my actions what it would mean to be a person of integrity, honesty and belief.
All I wanted to do was to make sure that they would NEVER have problems, NEVER have struggles, NEVER have disappointments, and NEVER have heartache, NEVER experience loss.
As we prepare ourselves for what is inevitable the growing-up process, we already begin to plan what we would like for our kids to do or become. We dream about who they might become, and every thing they do we see as part of their personality or character.
Then that day comes, when that little one takes their first steps…
1. 1st Baby Step – Independence
You know that when that baby takes their first steps it means that everything you thought was safe is now unsafe…all your pictures, trinkets, glass vases, remote controls…they are all fair game for your child.
All the doors in the kitchen and bathrooms now have to be locked some way, all the sharp corners on tables need to be padded…you really would rather the kid came with a helmet or something!
Luke 2:1-7 – (6) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, (7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son, she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Here is this new mother and father with all the confusion of emotions that come with being a parent…am I going to be a good mom or a good dad? Am I going to be able to provide for my family as we grow? Now get this, Mary new that this son was not a normal son…He was and is the Son of God!
Like any parent Mary and Joseph hoped for greatness in their child. They had some inside info that Jesus was going to be different than most, but being a first time parent scares even the most secure people.
Our first steps as baby’s means that we are beginning the process of independence. Our first steps takes us on the path of independence. This independence is something that is elusive because we can never truly be independent.
When Jesus was 12 he flexed his independence when his family and he traveled to Jerusalem for a census. After spending several days in Jerusalem Mary and Joseph headed back to their home town and noticed that Jesus was missing. He stayed behind to hang out in the church to talk with the teachers, preachers…wow Jesus liked to talk with people like me…
We think that independence means freedom, because now that we are finally free from the restrictions of our parents, the rules that governed how we lived and with whom we lived it. But then a day comes when you realize that independence was only a dream.
Because in life we realize that none of us are really free from the responsibilities that come with being human in a productive society.
We move from being babies, to toddlers, to kindergarten, to school to teens. From babies to teens it seems that freedom and independence is what motivates us to grow up. Because now that I am 16 I know I can’t drink legally but just wait…I will be 18 and then I can. I want my drivers license so I can drive any car to be free.
It is our own passions and desires that tricks us into thinking that all I want is to be free! I want to be my own person and do what I want to do. And then we look at God or maybe have only looked at God as a person who only wants to restrict us and gives us a bunch of rules that we only want to break.
So we assume that independence from God is freedom.
2. 2nd Baby Step – Inter-dependant
But then we move beyond the teens into young adults and we begin to realize that freedom is not FREE…and that we are really not independent people but we are inter-dependent.
We begin to realize that I cannot live life by myself on my own and be productive. We begin to grow up and see that we in fact need people more than just ourselves so that we can grow more.
Jesus knew He had a work to do, His job would ultimately effect and infect all of human history. But guess what…He did not do it alone.
Jesus chose 12 people who were going to help Him and then help everyone.
Even Jesus who was born in a manger, grew up in a carpenters home, realized that He was the Son of God, baptized by John in the river Jordan, for 40 days was led into the wild to be tempted by the devil himself (his archenemy), came back in the power of the Spirit into Jerusalem, and turned water into wine as His first miracle…nice trick…even He needed to chose 12 who would help Him achieve His goals, whom Jesus poured His life into, and into whom Jesus gave the power of God to do the same as He did…Even Jesus needed more than just doing it alone…
And we, if we let ourselves stay as a teen in our thinking about God we can look around and say I don’t need God, I am my own person I am my own King…and be totally blind to what God had intended for us.
If I wanted to be a doctor I need a teacher, If I want to be a musician I need a teacher, If I wanted to play professional sports I need a coach, If I want to be a good mother or father I need a role model, If I want to be a good Christ follower I need an example…
We begin to find out that inter-dependence is more of what this life is about.
Hebrews 5:12-14 - For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
How do we define what is right or wrong? We take the practices, models, explanations, examples of others and we define right and wrong…
But how do we define God? How do we understand Him? When for so many people there are no examples accept false ones? How can we make judgments about God when we have not experienced Him, listened to Him when all of our lives we in fact run from the idea of doing that?
Some say, well Church and God are for the weak, the women and the children…who told you that?
Some say that the church is filled with hypocrites, how many have you met?
There comes a time in our baby step process that if we allow ourselves the room to see it we will find that God has been there all the time waiting for us to turn to Him and see who is really is for ourselves.
3. 3rd Baby Step – Dependant
And then the miracle begins to take shape. The Christmas story which you may have heard once a year begins to make some sense…Imagine this.
The God who made everything came to earth to pursue you, He did not come riding a white horse, but instead came in the most humblest of ways as a baby…totally dependent on his mom and dad for everything.
Yes, the angels sang and the wise men came with gifts but He Jesus was still a baby.
And then we begin to get the picture of the greatest miracle of all…that Jesus showed us and modeled for us how we are to live, how we are to act, how we are to respond…like a little child completely dependent on mom and dad.
As we begin to trust God we realize that He is completely trustworthy. As we put our faith in God we find that He is completely faithful. As we ask God for Grace we discover that he is full of grace. As we seek God for Mercy we understand the He is totally merciful!
Today is a day of baby steps for us all…
Each of us are somewhere on this journey from independence to dependence. My question for you is where are you today?
As we come to this point I ask the question who is willing to take a baby step toward Jesus. Who is willing to say that I am not capable on my own to bring me peace, and hope?
Today, Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and He is standing there knocking asking to be let in, and if we open our hearts to Him, Jesus said that He and the Father would come and live in you!
Today is your day to ask Jesus to be a part of your life from this day forward. To say Jesus I need you.
Up until that moment this little one was totally dependant on you. You had to feed them, clean them, watch over them, burp them, de-gas them…that is always fun…
You stayed up late at night watching them sleep to see what they would do next. You would dream about their future, pray about their future, think thoughts of hope for their future.
I remember for each of our children I would hold them and sing to them. I sang the only Spanish song I know. I would make promises to them that I would do my best to be the best example to them to teach them by my actions what it would mean to be a person of integrity, honesty and belief.
All I wanted to do was to make sure that they would NEVER have problems, NEVER have struggles, NEVER have disappointments, and NEVER have heartache, NEVER experience loss.
As we prepare ourselves for what is inevitable the growing-up process, we already begin to plan what we would like for our kids to do or become. We dream about who they might become, and every thing they do we see as part of their personality or character.
Then that day comes, when that little one takes their first steps…
1. 1st Baby Step – Independence
You know that when that baby takes their first steps it means that everything you thought was safe is now unsafe…all your pictures, trinkets, glass vases, remote controls…they are all fair game for your child.
All the doors in the kitchen and bathrooms now have to be locked some way, all the sharp corners on tables need to be padded…you really would rather the kid came with a helmet or something!
Luke 2:1-7 – (6) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, (7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son, she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Here is this new mother and father with all the confusion of emotions that come with being a parent…am I going to be a good mom or a good dad? Am I going to be able to provide for my family as we grow? Now get this, Mary new that this son was not a normal son…He was and is the Son of God!
Like any parent Mary and Joseph hoped for greatness in their child. They had some inside info that Jesus was going to be different than most, but being a first time parent scares even the most secure people.
Our first steps as baby’s means that we are beginning the process of independence. Our first steps takes us on the path of independence. This independence is something that is elusive because we can never truly be independent.
When Jesus was 12 he flexed his independence when his family and he traveled to Jerusalem for a census. After spending several days in Jerusalem Mary and Joseph headed back to their home town and noticed that Jesus was missing. He stayed behind to hang out in the church to talk with the teachers, preachers…wow Jesus liked to talk with people like me…
We think that independence means freedom, because now that we are finally free from the restrictions of our parents, the rules that governed how we lived and with whom we lived it. But then a day comes when you realize that independence was only a dream.
Because in life we realize that none of us are really free from the responsibilities that come with being human in a productive society.
We move from being babies, to toddlers, to kindergarten, to school to teens. From babies to teens it seems that freedom and independence is what motivates us to grow up. Because now that I am 16 I know I can’t drink legally but just wait…I will be 18 and then I can. I want my drivers license so I can drive any car to be free.
It is our own passions and desires that tricks us into thinking that all I want is to be free! I want to be my own person and do what I want to do. And then we look at God or maybe have only looked at God as a person who only wants to restrict us and gives us a bunch of rules that we only want to break.
So we assume that independence from God is freedom.
2. 2nd Baby Step – Inter-dependant
But then we move beyond the teens into young adults and we begin to realize that freedom is not FREE…and that we are really not independent people but we are inter-dependent.
We begin to realize that I cannot live life by myself on my own and be productive. We begin to grow up and see that we in fact need people more than just ourselves so that we can grow more.
Jesus knew He had a work to do, His job would ultimately effect and infect all of human history. But guess what…He did not do it alone.
Jesus chose 12 people who were going to help Him and then help everyone.
Even Jesus who was born in a manger, grew up in a carpenters home, realized that He was the Son of God, baptized by John in the river Jordan, for 40 days was led into the wild to be tempted by the devil himself (his archenemy), came back in the power of the Spirit into Jerusalem, and turned water into wine as His first miracle…nice trick…even He needed to chose 12 who would help Him achieve His goals, whom Jesus poured His life into, and into whom Jesus gave the power of God to do the same as He did…Even Jesus needed more than just doing it alone…
And we, if we let ourselves stay as a teen in our thinking about God we can look around and say I don’t need God, I am my own person I am my own King…and be totally blind to what God had intended for us.
If I wanted to be a doctor I need a teacher, If I want to be a musician I need a teacher, If I wanted to play professional sports I need a coach, If I want to be a good mother or father I need a role model, If I want to be a good Christ follower I need an example…
We begin to find out that inter-dependence is more of what this life is about.
Hebrews 5:12-14 - For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
How do we define what is right or wrong? We take the practices, models, explanations, examples of others and we define right and wrong…
But how do we define God? How do we understand Him? When for so many people there are no examples accept false ones? How can we make judgments about God when we have not experienced Him, listened to Him when all of our lives we in fact run from the idea of doing that?
Some say, well Church and God are for the weak, the women and the children…who told you that?
Some say that the church is filled with hypocrites, how many have you met?
There comes a time in our baby step process that if we allow ourselves the room to see it we will find that God has been there all the time waiting for us to turn to Him and see who is really is for ourselves.
3. 3rd Baby Step – Dependant
And then the miracle begins to take shape. The Christmas story which you may have heard once a year begins to make some sense…Imagine this.
The God who made everything came to earth to pursue you, He did not come riding a white horse, but instead came in the most humblest of ways as a baby…totally dependent on his mom and dad for everything.
Yes, the angels sang and the wise men came with gifts but He Jesus was still a baby.
And then we begin to get the picture of the greatest miracle of all…that Jesus showed us and modeled for us how we are to live, how we are to act, how we are to respond…like a little child completely dependent on mom and dad.
As we begin to trust God we realize that He is completely trustworthy. As we put our faith in God we find that He is completely faithful. As we ask God for Grace we discover that he is full of grace. As we seek God for Mercy we understand the He is totally merciful!
Today is a day of baby steps for us all…
Each of us are somewhere on this journey from independence to dependence. My question for you is where are you today?
As we come to this point I ask the question who is willing to take a baby step toward Jesus. Who is willing to say that I am not capable on my own to bring me peace, and hope?
Today, Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and He is standing there knocking asking to be let in, and if we open our hearts to Him, Jesus said that He and the Father would come and live in you!
Today is your day to ask Jesus to be a part of your life from this day forward. To say Jesus I need you.
Posted by: Miguel Zayas - 10/22/08 @ 4:16PM
Hello Everyone! So here we go with the questions...Are you satisfied with your life and where you are right now? Do you want MORE out of life?
We either are asked or ask ourselves these kinds of questions from time to time don't we. If you are anything like me the answer is always going to be NO I am not satisfied and YES I want more out of life. I am not sure if its a guy thing, a type A thing, or what, but it seems that I am constantly wanting more...
My greatest frustration is that I will often look to my own human efforts to accomplish this...maybe if I read more books, the bible, pray, start a new project, raise more money...maybe then I will be satisfied. I have watched the frustration on Mai's face as I walk through our house and say, "I want to paint the walls, change the furniture, and let's talk about moving..." The comfort she has is that I told her long ago that no matter what happens I will never change her!
WIth all this going on in my head, I have forgotten at times that my only source of satisfaction is when I find my place with God with what He has called us to do.
It is from this that I have begun a journey, a pilgrimage for MORE.
I want MORE of God, I want MORE of His Spirit, I want MORE of Jesus in my life.
I reminded myself of the story of the Samaritan woman and Jesus.
Her thirst for natural waters had blinded her from seeing the source of living water.
John 4:10 - Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.
John 4:11-12 - The woman said to him, Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.
John 4:13-14 - Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
What a classic story of totally missing the greatest source of everything we will ever need or want from in life.
I found some great quotes that I would like to share with you as you journey for MORE>
Billy Graham said, “Everywhere I go I find that God’s people lack something. They are hungry for something. Their Christian experience is not all that they expected and they often have recurring defeat in their lives. Christians are hungry today for spiritual fulfillment. The most desperate need for the nation today is that men and women who profess Jesus be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Johan Christoph Blumhardt wrote, “I long for another outpouring of the Holy Spirit, another Pentecost. That must come if things are to change in Christianity, for it simply cannot continue in such a wretched state. The gifts and power of the early Christian time – oh how I long for their return. And I believe the Savior is just waiting for us to ask for them… When I look at what we have, I cannot help sighing…oh Lord Jesus is that the promised Holy Spirit for which you hung on a tree? Where is the Spirit that penetrates nation after nation as swiftly as at the time of the apostles and places them at Jesus’ feet. – The Awakening, in the late 19th century God used this man in a little town in Germany to spark an awakening, which saw powerful miracles which led to thousands being saved.
Reformed theologian Karl Barth said, “Everything is in order, but everything is also in the greatest disorder. The mill is turning, but it is empty as it turns. All the sails are hoisted, but no wind fills them to drive the ship. The fountain adorned with many spouts is there, but no water comes.”
Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones once said to a crowd of Christians who claimed to have it all, “Got it all? I simply ask in the name of God, why then are you as you are? If you have got it all, why are you so unlike the New Testament Christians? Got it all? Got it all at conversion? Well where is it, I ask?”
Are we satisfied with where we are? Are you hungry for MORE?
My dear friends let us ask God for the nations, let us ask God for miracles, let us as God for a release of His presence like we have never seen!
It is beginning to happen all over the world...even here in Estonia.
We are seeing deaf ears open, legs growing, blood disorders corrected, depression leaving...and it is only the beginning.
LETS HAVE MORE!
Posted by: Miguel Zayas - 09/09/08 @ 2:11PM
Dear Friends,
Miguel here, the night before a trip to the States to share our story in Estonia. It has been about a year and a half since I traveled to America by myself so I find myself a bit nervous...
So much has happened this past summer and I am sorry for not keeping you as up to date as I should, but you can be assured that we have been moving at quite a breakneck speed that I am looking forward to this trip just to catch a small break...
Kaila just started the 6th grade, Daniel the 3rd and now Lizell has entered the academy of higher learning...she is the the FIRST grade!!!!
I am attaching a pic of the family on their first day.
Thank you for your prayers, and support. We have been blessed by you in so many ways.
I hope to see you while I am in the States and I will do better at writing and updating our website...lots of old info there... my bad...
I would like to ask you to do something for me while I am away from my family...
Would you pray:
1. For Mai, that she would have the strength to be on her own for 2 1/2 weeks...keeping up with the kids school schedule, homework and church stuff.
2. For the kids...that they would be in peace while I am away...they are also a bit nervous that I am leaving.
3. For me...while I am in the States I will be meeting with pastors, business people, and well the average guy...to share our heart for Estonia and the story that God is writing in this nation with us. Pray that I make heart connections with people who would support our ministry. I am asking God for an additional $1500.00 in monthly support to offset the dollar exhange rate which has really hurt us these past 2 years...
Thanks and as always I look forward to hear from you...
Love and Blessings
Miguel
Miguel here, the night before a trip to the States to share our story in Estonia. It has been about a year and a half since I traveled to America by myself so I find myself a bit nervous...
So much has happened this past summer and I am sorry for not keeping you as up to date as I should, but you can be assured that we have been moving at quite a breakneck speed that I am looking forward to this trip just to catch a small break...
Kaila just started the 6th grade, Daniel the 3rd and now Lizell has entered the academy of higher learning...she is the the FIRST grade!!!!
I am attaching a pic of the family on their first day.
Thank you for your prayers, and support. We have been blessed by you in so many ways.
I hope to see you while I am in the States and I will do better at writing and updating our website...lots of old info there... my bad...
I would like to ask you to do something for me while I am away from my family...
Would you pray:
1. For Mai, that she would have the strength to be on her own for 2 1/2 weeks...keeping up with the kids school schedule, homework and church stuff.
2. For the kids...that they would be in peace while I am away...they are also a bit nervous that I am leaving.
3. For me...while I am in the States I will be meeting with pastors, business people, and well the average guy...to share our heart for Estonia and the story that God is writing in this nation with us. Pray that I make heart connections with people who would support our ministry. I am asking God for an additional $1500.00 in monthly support to offset the dollar exhange rate which has really hurt us these past 2 years...
Thanks and as always I look forward to hear from you...
Love and Blessings
Miguel
Posted by: Miguel Zayas - 07/01/08 @ 2:31PM
Hello Everyone, Sunday June 29, 2008 early in the morning Rael Laur, one of the founders of the Estonian Pentecostal Church went home to be with the Lord.
Rael was a spiritual mother to many was also a personal friend to Mai and I.
We will miss Rael, but we are more determined than ever to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to more and more people...this is the legacy she would want to leave with us.
Please pray for the extended family.
Blessings
Miguel
Rael was a spiritual mother to many was also a personal friend to Mai and I.
We will miss Rael, but we are more determined than ever to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to more and more people...this is the legacy she would want to leave with us.
Please pray for the extended family.
Blessings
Miguel
Posted by: Miguel Zayas - 05/20/08 @ 8:59AM
I have been a Christian/Christ follower since I was 10 years old...if you take away the 1 year that I walked as far as I could from God, it has been 26 years since that day. Growing up in church I have seen just about everything a person can see...I have seen miracles, heard prophecies, listened to thousands of messages and have witnessed the wonder of salvation coming to a persons life.
Through the years I have also gone through times of spiritual dryness and tremendous refreshing...
When I first moved to Estonia back in 1993 God chose to use Mai and I at various times to be a part of watching His Kingdom come in this wonderful country. With my own eyes I saw miracles, preached many messages and helped people come to faith in Christ. Back then was quite common that in our meetings the Holy Spirit would move in amazing ways where miracles happened!
Now I have to say that those were special days in Estonia, they were the ending days of tremendous revival that had taken place since Estonian re-declared Independence from the Soviet Union...
Today is an entirely different monster all together...
Materialism, greed, fatherlessness, empathy and apathy toward spiritual things, and an ever growing HIV / AIDS epidemic are the dynamic influences of the day.
For all that Estonia is, one of the fastest growing economies in the EU, internet connected cities, and ease of travel...there is an emptiness in peoples hearts that only God can fill.
It has been our prayer to see miracles again...I believe that a miracle settles the issue whether God exists or not...as one person said, "A miracle is the dinner bell to salvation." It is this supernatural dynamic which I know will be a sign and a wonder those who do not believe that there is a God in heaven who loves them and desires relationship with them.
Around the world there seems to be a growing hunger for the supernatural and the miraculous...
Something has begun in Estonia which I have desired for many years...
It has been many years since I have seen miracles...but that has all changed!
This past Sunday I was speaking in the main Pentecostal Church in Tallinn...this is what happened...
I went up to speak and just prayed, Holy Spirit come...
Then this is what happened...
2 peoples legs grew...2 cm and 1.5cm
1 person who could not hear for 24 years in their right ear started to hear...
1 lady with chronic back pain God healed her completely
1 person who had an inner ear infection which caused lots of pain was completely
healed...the air was completely electric...very cool!
God was pouring out His presence in amazing ways...
In our service later in the day more of the same took place...lots of worship and then a
release of God's presence...our young people got involved...
1 person felt like "Jesus came over her and felt like she was flying"
1 person as he prayed for another had the presence of God so strong on him he got real hot and began to sweat like mad...
Mai had a word of knowledge for another person about forgiving her mom, this persons mom had died a few years back and was holding things against her mom (this person is not even a believer yet) she could not believe it that God would be so specific for her...
For 1 hour we prayed for people and I believe God is getting ready for us to do more and see more!
Monday morning Mai received information about 2 more miracles after prayer...One person had a serious chest cold which caused breathing problems woke up completely healed. Another person had lost her voice due to a severe cold and could not come to church on Sunday but Mai prayed for her on the way to church...she called Monday morning to say that her voice came back and she was completely healed!!!!
We have been receiving messages from people whom God has ministered to since Sunday...
I believe this is only the beginning of great things on the horizon.
Believe with us that this time of miracles increases in intensity and expectation...
Miguel
Through the years I have also gone through times of spiritual dryness and tremendous refreshing...
When I first moved to Estonia back in 1993 God chose to use Mai and I at various times to be a part of watching His Kingdom come in this wonderful country. With my own eyes I saw miracles, preached many messages and helped people come to faith in Christ. Back then was quite common that in our meetings the Holy Spirit would move in amazing ways where miracles happened!
Now I have to say that those were special days in Estonia, they were the ending days of tremendous revival that had taken place since Estonian re-declared Independence from the Soviet Union...
Today is an entirely different monster all together...
Materialism, greed, fatherlessness, empathy and apathy toward spiritual things, and an ever growing HIV / AIDS epidemic are the dynamic influences of the day.
For all that Estonia is, one of the fastest growing economies in the EU, internet connected cities, and ease of travel...there is an emptiness in peoples hearts that only God can fill.
It has been our prayer to see miracles again...I believe that a miracle settles the issue whether God exists or not...as one person said, "A miracle is the dinner bell to salvation." It is this supernatural dynamic which I know will be a sign and a wonder those who do not believe that there is a God in heaven who loves them and desires relationship with them.
Around the world there seems to be a growing hunger for the supernatural and the miraculous...
Something has begun in Estonia which I have desired for many years...
It has been many years since I have seen miracles...but that has all changed!
This past Sunday I was speaking in the main Pentecostal Church in Tallinn...this is what happened...
I went up to speak and just prayed, Holy Spirit come...
Then this is what happened...
2 peoples legs grew...2 cm and 1.5cm
1 person who could not hear for 24 years in their right ear started to hear...
1 lady with chronic back pain God healed her completely
1 person who had an inner ear infection which caused lots of pain was completely
healed...the air was completely electric...very cool!
God was pouring out His presence in amazing ways...
In our service later in the day more of the same took place...lots of worship and then a
release of God's presence...our young people got involved...
1 person felt like "Jesus came over her and felt like she was flying"
1 person as he prayed for another had the presence of God so strong on him he got real hot and began to sweat like mad...
Mai had a word of knowledge for another person about forgiving her mom, this persons mom had died a few years back and was holding things against her mom (this person is not even a believer yet) she could not believe it that God would be so specific for her...
For 1 hour we prayed for people and I believe God is getting ready for us to do more and see more!
Monday morning Mai received information about 2 more miracles after prayer...One person had a serious chest cold which caused breathing problems woke up completely healed. Another person had lost her voice due to a severe cold and could not come to church on Sunday but Mai prayed for her on the way to church...she called Monday morning to say that her voice came back and she was completely healed!!!!
We have been receiving messages from people whom God has ministered to since Sunday...
I believe this is only the beginning of great things on the horizon.
Believe with us that this time of miracles increases in intensity and expectation...
Miguel
Posted by: Miguel Zayas - 04/26/08 @ 12:23AM
Dear Family and Friends,
With spring in full bloom Estonia is really a great place to be...the long dark, cold days of winter have turned into the warm bright days of spring. I pray that you are having a wonderful spring enjoying greener grass and blossoming flowers...
God is so good...I realize that this might be obvious, but wow...God is so good...
Our church community just celebrated our 5 year anniversary, we have moved into a new place of worship in the center of downtown Tallinn and we have big plans for the summer.
Just recently I have been bumping into some very important people just walking around in the shopping malls...people who have influence to areas of Tallinn we are wanting to work in. People like Kalle Mihkels, the Mustamae town mayor and then a few days later Mr. Mihkel’s right hand man...
These encounters have brought some incredible opportunities for summer outreach!
The city is building an outdoor stage which we can use to hold concerts, and special events all summer long...we have plans to organize basketball camps, children’s programs and for our church to conduct a summer of “Church in the Park” services...and all of this would be FREE for us to use!!!
Like I said, God is good!!!
Thank you for your prayers for us and our church which greatly encourage us to extend ourselves as the hands of feet of Jesus in Estonia.
SPECIAL REQUEST: The ministry that God has given us does involve a great deal of mobility. One of the tools has been a used Honda Civic we purchased about 6 years ago. It has been a great “mule” to haul me and others all across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. We have kept this car up to snuff and have desired to Gift it away to someone who needs it as we look to purchase a newer vehicle.
A friend who has worked at the American Embassy who is about to move back to the States has offered to sell his car to us for an incredible deal...$10,000.00 below what he can sell it for to others...
I am asking you to consider helping us replace the Civic with this newer vehicle...2005 Ford Freestyle.
Would you pray about making a special gift to help us with this? The cost of the car is $23,000.00 to make this deal happen...and we need to purchase this vehicle in May.
All your gifts are fully tax deductible.
From all of us: Mai, Kaila, Daniel, Lizell, Alberto and myself thank you for all you do to help us do what we do...
Your Missionaries.
Please send contributions to: Miguel Zayas Ministries P.O. Box 917 Liberty, MO. 64069-0917
Posted by: Miguel Zayas - 03/31/08 @ 12:58AM
Change: tʃeɪndʒ/cheynj]...to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.
I am learning, sometimes slower than I would like, that change is a necessary part of life, but can be quite painful in the process.
Mai knows me better than anyone in the whole world, she knows me and can very often finish my thoughts for me...she knows how much I actually like change. It has become a frequent subject in our house...
I get bored quite quickly so just shortly after a year living in our new home I want to change the paint on the walls, put up new wallpaper, build a grill house in our backyard...Mai laughs at me because it seems that just as we get close to settling in I want to do something different.
I have told Mai, that everything that surrounds me is subject to change, except my love for her, our children and God, so just short of those 3 categories everything can be changed.
So where is the challenge?
The challenge for me becomes the pain that is often associated with change especially when it comes to people and church...
Recently, we have been going through a lot of changes here in our local church I pastor. These changes are absolutely necessary for us to move forward, but quite painful as I have begun to notice that these changes directly affect the people I care for the most...our leaders...
The definition of CHANGE is to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.
Isn't this sometimes the hardest thing to do? Because it means that there is a course correction in midstream and when life, friends, vision, plans, and ideas are all pointing to one direction, yet God calls us to do something different.
When you commit your life to follow Christ there is a complete directional change which may mean that at times friends will have to get used to you being a very different person and may even leave you as friend. That your vision, plans and ideas for your life are now subject to a higher purpose and those very things that held close will have to be let go so God can give you His ideas, plans and visions...
Our church will surf this wave of change and we will be stronger for it, it is painful now but that too will change...
How about you? How are you navigating change? Are you avoiding it? Or embracing it as an opportunity from God to grow?
Let me know how you handle change...I would love to learn how you do it...
Till next time...
Miguel
I am learning, sometimes slower than I would like, that change is a necessary part of life, but can be quite painful in the process.
Mai knows me better than anyone in the whole world, she knows me and can very often finish my thoughts for me...she knows how much I actually like change. It has become a frequent subject in our house...
I get bored quite quickly so just shortly after a year living in our new home I want to change the paint on the walls, put up new wallpaper, build a grill house in our backyard...Mai laughs at me because it seems that just as we get close to settling in I want to do something different.
I have told Mai, that everything that surrounds me is subject to change, except my love for her, our children and God, so just short of those 3 categories everything can be changed.
So where is the challenge?
The challenge for me becomes the pain that is often associated with change especially when it comes to people and church...
Recently, we have been going through a lot of changes here in our local church I pastor. These changes are absolutely necessary for us to move forward, but quite painful as I have begun to notice that these changes directly affect the people I care for the most...our leaders...
The definition of CHANGE is to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.
Isn't this sometimes the hardest thing to do? Because it means that there is a course correction in midstream and when life, friends, vision, plans, and ideas are all pointing to one direction, yet God calls us to do something different.
When you commit your life to follow Christ there is a complete directional change which may mean that at times friends will have to get used to you being a very different person and may even leave you as friend. That your vision, plans and ideas for your life are now subject to a higher purpose and those very things that held close will have to be let go so God can give you His ideas, plans and visions...
Our church will surf this wave of change and we will be stronger for it, it is painful now but that too will change...
How about you? How are you navigating change? Are you avoiding it? Or embracing it as an opportunity from God to grow?
Let me know how you handle change...I would love to learn how you do it...
Till next time...
Miguel
Posted by: Miguel Zayas - 03/22/08 @ 3:45PM
Happy Resurrection Weekend to all of you! This is a weekend of celebration as we look the singular most important event in all of human history!
Luke 24:1-9 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, (3) but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. (5) And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, (7) that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." (8) And they remembered his words, (9) and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
This past weekend a couple from our church and Mai and I went to Holland to take part in a pastors and leaders retreat in the city of Utrecht. If you have never been to Holland you should visit one day...it is a beautiful country made famous for windmills, tulips and wooden clog shoes (totally uncomfortable)...
Some of things that Holland is infamous for is legal drugs, prostitution, gay marriage and just about anything else you can think of...so it begs to ask the question...
What are we FREE for?
Christ has made us free for what? Is it so we just do what we like? Never commit to a cause? Or share our faith with others?
This weekend as you go to church or visit with family and friends maybe it would be a healthy exercise to ask these questions and see answers you come up with...would you let me know what they are?
Holland is a beautiful place full of every freedom you can imagine...but is this the freedom that Jesus purchased for us with His Life?
From our family and church to all of you we pray that you experience the JOY of life and FREEDOM of being called a child of God.
Love your Missionaries
Miguel, Mai, Kaila, Daniel, Lizell and Alberto
Luke 24:1-9 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, (3) but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. (5) And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, (7) that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." (8) And they remembered his words, (9) and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
This past weekend a couple from our church and Mai and I went to Holland to take part in a pastors and leaders retreat in the city of Utrecht. If you have never been to Holland you should visit one day...it is a beautiful country made famous for windmills, tulips and wooden clog shoes (totally uncomfortable)...
Some of things that Holland is infamous for is legal drugs, prostitution, gay marriage and just about anything else you can think of...so it begs to ask the question...
What are we FREE for?
Christ has made us free for what? Is it so we just do what we like? Never commit to a cause? Or share our faith with others?
This weekend as you go to church or visit with family and friends maybe it would be a healthy exercise to ask these questions and see answers you come up with...would you let me know what they are?
Holland is a beautiful place full of every freedom you can imagine...but is this the freedom that Jesus purchased for us with His Life?
From our family and church to all of you we pray that you experience the JOY of life and FREEDOM of being called a child of God.
Love your Missionaries
Miguel, Mai, Kaila, Daniel, Lizell and Alberto
Posted by: Miguel Zayas - 02/01/08 @ 3:01PM
Every once in while you hear a song that truly does speak into our modern pop culture. In that kind of song you hear a message that should make you stop and ask questions...not too long ago while listening to the radio while driving with my kids in the car such a song came on that made me think and ask my kids important questions.
Its a song produced by, Timbaland entitled, "Apologize." Check out the lyrics below:
I'm holding on your rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground
I'm hearin what you say but I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around, and say...
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
I'd take another chance, take a fall
Take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
But it's nothin new
I loved you with a fire red-
Now it's turning blue, and you say...
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I'm afraid...
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
Bridge (guitar/piano)
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
It's too late to apologize, yeah
I said it's too late to apologize, yeah-
I'm holdin on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground
What is the message that comes screeming off this song...and more important what should our answer be.
When we all heard this song I noticed that my daughters knew all the words and sang the chorus with ease.
I turned to my eldest and asked her, "Is it ever too late to apoligize?" In typical fashion Kaila said, "Oh Dad...come on its only a song..." But of course I could not just let this opportunity slip by to bring God into pop culture.
I asked again, "Is it ever too late to apologize?" With that we had a great conversation about what God thinks about this idea and what our response should always be.
Even the Apostles asked these kind of questions to Jesus. Remember Peter came to Jesus once and asked him..."Jesus, how often should I forgive someone who has hurt me or done me wrong repeatedly? Is 7 times enough?" (Matthew 18:21-22)
Good question, after all if someone does you wrong more than 7 times for the same thing it kind of looks premeditated and you would wonder whether or not they were truly sorry...
Without hesitation Jesus responds..."Not nearly how about 70 times 7..."
Ouch, now that sounds like alot...and it is...
But what was Jesus' point? That giving forgiveness has no end...The we should never hold forgiveness from someone no matter how much we are hurt.
What it shows us is the attitude that God our Father has toward us, that we are never too far from Him to be forgiven no matter how many times we mess up doing the same things over and over and over again...
Ok, but that is forgiveness, what about saying, I am sorry...
Well, if you have to forgive someone 70 times 7 then it is reasonable to believe that someone has said I am sorry that many times too...
It is never too late to apologize...never too late to recieve forgiveness...
Today, if you know that you have to say I am sorry to someone, go ahead and make the call and ask for forgiveness...
If you have never thought to say I am sorry to God for something you have done against Him...give Him a call...on your knees and say I am sorry.
Peace!
