Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Hey Yo Part of Cambo!

Alright sorry it has taken me so long to write about my ventures in Cambodia... Just been settling back in to life in AZ these last 2 weeks....

We arrived in Cambodia around August 6th or so after being in South Korea for a week and a half. Let me tell ya, from the minute we arrived in Cambodia we knew we were about to experience something we've never experienced before. We went to different villages throughout our trip within Preah Vear and Kratie, and also stayed in Siem Reap for a few days. 

We visited a local church and spoke about how Jesus is Healer and told people to come forward if they needed healing anywhere in their bodies. Around 15 people came forward looking for healing all throughout their bodies- anywhere from chronic migraines to bad knees- People needed healing! I prayed for an older lady who suffered from bad migraines, pressure on her chest, bad sight in one eye, and was near deaf in both ears. Prayed for Jesus to touch her body and take away all pain and she said she felt a little better but was still feeling pain.

 Over in Cambodia (and obviously in America too), there are many ways people put trust in other things to help them that are only temporary or just don't help at all- for instance, many believe in Buddha and practice certain "good luck" rituals to help them out when challenges arise. Many wear red bracelets that are a part of Buddhist tradition to give them good luck and blessings.
 
This woman was wearing one of these bracelets and putting her trust in Buddha to provide healing. Through a translator, We talked to her about how Jesus is the one who will heal her, and that this bracelet will not help her. She took off her bracelet, which had like a million ties in it, and we prayed for her again. We prayed off all other religion that she previously put her trust in and she said she wanted to trust Jesus. We asked her how her body felt, and she said that her vision was restored as well as her hearing, She also felt a "refreshing" throughout her body- she said she no longer had pressure on her chest or any headaches!! It was incredible! Praise the Lord!

That day every person who came in sick and hurting left healed of their infirmities!

Just as it is said throughout the Bible, when Jesus came to earth:

Matthew 8:17 “…Himself took our INFIRMITIES and bare our sickness.”
Luke 5:15 “…multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their INFIRMITIES”
Luke 7:21 “And in the same hour he cured many of their INFIRMITIES, and plagues, and of evil spirits.”
Luke 8:2 “…which had been healed of evil spirits and INFIRMITIES.”
Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit help our INFIRMITIES: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought.”

By faith in Jesus as the one, true God, and praying in His name- these miracles are promised to all today!

This was one account of healing of the many we saw occur by the power of Jesus through our team.


So big surprise- my mind was blown again and again on this trip. I realized how powerful God is and how much He loves His people!! All over the world, God wants to be with His people, heal His people, all because of his abounding LOVE!

I've never known such a love, and have never experienced it until my time doing Catalyst.
& I've gotta say my life will never be the same.

I began Catalyst with disbelief, hardness of heart, confusion, brokenness, among many of my problems. Aaaaaand God totally met me, took my hand and guided me through all the hurt and all of the stubbornness and declared me as His own. As soon as I agreed with the truth of who God claims to be and gave up control- surrendering my agenda, my flimsy ups and downs, and all expectations to how life should go-

I finally received what I've been wanting and trying to get all along - Freedom! There's nothing like the freedom that God gives. It's not limited in any way- it's pure freedom.
God has got me!-And life is so much better when you've got the Creator of all that ever was and is in your side. He's got a wayyyyy better plan than I could've ever come up with- I mean He sent me to freakin' Cambodia and South Korea last month! Haha

Dude, come be blessed sons and daughters of the Most High with me.
He won't force His love on you, but when you use your free will to choose the One who has loved you all along (and gave you the free will to begin with), you won't regret it and God will meet you wherever your at.

He LOVES you. Seriously.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

So I'm supposed to rely on science?

So I'm sitting in my Research Methods class that is discussing "Political Science" and one of my classmates asks "Isnt it dangerous to label this "political science" when this includes relative/ not completely truthful statements/ statements that can be denounced?" It lead me to look up the mere definition of 'science'. Science is the systematic knowledge (awareness/acquaintance of facts) of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation. Science in itself is composed of theories- which are accepted to be true- because they 'make sense' most of the time- matching up with our presumed/ seen/ tested thoughts/ beliefs. When it comes down to it science is formed by people!

When questioning the meaning of life, and what/why things happen in life- and questions related arise- I feel a little uneasy relying on any 'science' to guide me through life. One day people are happy, one day they are sad, one moment we are successful, the next moment we are alcoholics, then someone gets cancer and what do you do, how do you live even trying to be successful if one day you die and stay in the ground.

We are so fickle in our emotions and when life throws curveballs at us we can't rely on science to help anything.


So what about when it doesn't make sense, or science doesn't lead to the conclusion that you come up with? Well- you can try to prove what you believe through arguing x,y, and z- you can Just live what you believe, and you can also believe both- as long as there aren't extreme contradictions within both beliefs.

I'm sure anyone would argue that religion and science can't come together and resonate soundly within one individual, but I say that as long as we properly define science, knowing that it is not wholly reliable because people, fickle fleshly people, created the '"truth" within science'. It could be true sometimes, if the variables being tested react to the "constant" (nothings really constant, come on haha) in a familiar way that reaffirms the past conclusions.

But this all submits to the Creator's truth.

His ways are far above our ways, therefore He does a lot of things that don't make 'sense' to us. Really what it is is that He is so smart that He makes way more sense than we could ever imagine- because He always is fully aware of what has happened, is happening, and what is about to happen at every dashing moment.

You have to start with the Alpha to get to the Omega. Everything begins and ends with God! This world isn't just a series of understandable, explainable events- there is much more going on than the here and now- and if we put our trust in "man" we don't have a solid rock to stand on- we have contradictions upon contradictions within oneself and within life.

Your right, things don't make sense- that's why we desperately need God!

He's the answer, he's the hope, he's fully trusted, he's fully love, he's all-knowing all seeing- all providing!
He doesn't want us in darkness, we are made to be lights, don't you know?
Reach out to Him with a pure heart and He will answer.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Korea del Sur- do you want to be taller or shorter?

We get to Korea and when we finally get to the hotel, after about 20 hours of traveling we are exhausted! The hotel appears pretty nice! Which is awesome and when we go upstairs, we see that they took the beds out of the rooms, to make it more "roomy" for us. Hahah. Random but then we had a few days to relax before we were to be the prayer team for this Impartation Seminar held at the hotel. During our days relaxing we had some interesting food and some great worship sets. We also wrote up 'dreams' for trip, which was incredible to see come true throughout the trip (you will see)

Once we begin the first day of the Impatartation Seminar, we find out that there will be this awesome Korean worship band that makes you dance like crazy. So the first hour starts, and we are all jumping around dancing like crazy people- and needless to say continued jumping and dancing all crazy like for the next week and a half with them (our calves hurt to the point where we had to stretch everyday and be careful walking hahah) After being drenched with sweat, we sat down to listen to Deyoung speak then Chad Dedmon (from Bethel) spoke the majority of the Seminar. By the way- this seminar was filled with about 100 Koreans ranging from ages 15 to 68. The next few days we prayed for each one of them, recording what God would tell us when we asked how he created them. People were extremely blessed and Jesus was touching hearts even as we prayed.

The next day Chad felt like someone in the audience had knee and back pains and asked if they wanted to be healed. A few people from our Catalyst team went up, including me, and he prayed for us. When I was prayed for I was swaying back and forth and nearly fell over. Hah, I was also swept over with joy. My knees felt tingling in them. Then one of the leaders on our trip received prayer, One of Laurens legs was longer than the other because of a broken leg hindering growth when she was younger and she decided to get prayer for healing. She sat down on a chair and a group of us, including Chad, prayed for one of her legs to grow out (about 2 inches to catch up with the other) and I saw with my own 2 eyes God grow her leg out 2 inches.

At that point I had to refuse all human logic I've ever put my trust in, I knew God was big- but prior to this moment I thought He made a lot more 'sense' to human reasoning (silly statment in itself) and I had to expand my view of God, especially in reference to what He is capable of here on earth.

To top it off, a Korean woman needed healing on the same thing- one of her legs was also 2 inches shorter than the other- so we began to pray and the shorter leg grows now 2 inches longer than the other- Chad grabs a translator and asks the woman "do you want to be taller or shorter?" she says she's always wanted to be taller and as they pray the other leg catches up and becomes even with the other!

God doesn't give a dang about what should logically happen according to our little pea brains!!

Hahaha. There has been a lot of laughs. During one of the worship sets- I was overcome with laughter, along with a few others. And I could just feel how near God was in that place. The Holy Spirit was having a good time in there. It felt like I was playing with Jesus, it felt so right. God continually wants to surprise us, wants to take us to new places, and just have fun with us... It's true!

I've learned that the only thing that keeps us not living in this joy and adventure with God is our tendency to take our eyes off of Jesus and focus too much on others and ourselves. If we stay focused on God He will take care of us, and uniquely be with us, love us, and show us new things.

During one of the teachings- Chad spoke about Heaven's perspective on success, and how it is not about RESULTS but about our Faith in following Jesus and takings RISKS!!

Taking risks isn't merely physically demanding tasks, but also is about emotionally putting yourself out there when it doesn't feel right, when it doesn't feel comfortable, when it feels irritating, even when it feels pointless. We're called to put ourselves out there. To be vulnerable with each other- and to take on each others burdens. I haven't been the most vulnerable in the past, so when it came to dealing with my ish on the trip I tried to go back to old ways and internalize- but knew God was calling me to take a risk in this area, because He wanted to show me how He would take care of me and help me in those times.

Let me tell ya, the frustration in approaching vulnerability is so temporary and the results from taking risk in these areas lead to better relationship with others and with God. He loves breaking down the walls around our hearts so we can feel what love really is.

He brings us to greater life, we are indefinitely most alive when are with Him. He desires to be with us through everything- even more so for us to recognize that He has, in fact, been there all along.
So I fasted during lunch one day and just went through my life with Him and He showed me how He never leaves us nor forsakes us. "The love that he has given us was never in doubt"

This was merely the first 5 days in Korea. I realized at this point that my mind was about to be thoroughly blown while on this trip.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Chase.

I write this as a introduction leading into telling my experiences of venturing through Cambodia and South Korea, because an introduction is quite necessary for what was experienced.

As we neared leaving on outreach, I had questions, I had doubts, I had desires, I had hopes, insecurities, limitations on myself, limitations on God, fears as well as dreams.

Of course, I wasn't too aware of most of this, but God had a plan to teach me a lot! 2 journals full of teaching to be exact. Documented Highs and lows. Lessons from school in Tacoma. And now of God being God in Korea and Cambodia. Saving people, healing people, making himself known in peoples' hearts. Making Himself known in my heart.

The ways I saw Jesus come to His people has radically changed my life. People always use the "it's not a religion, it's a relationship" but woahhhh is it! Religion dies out eventually, as we all do. Relationship, Love-in fact with the one who made you, the one who your always at home with, and going home to some day- never dies out. Jesus is a lover and a fighter. He does not give up or forget to show up. He's in it for the long run and wants to give us a new song, wants to give us a new heart and WILL do all He promises to do.

So He promised He was going to show me who He is, and when I left the US He decided to start revealing Himself to me differently than He ever has. ...good different haha

He gave me new eyes and a new brain to start off.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

I leave for South Korea today!

Lesson on marriage? 

Mmm. Yep. And many other thoughts/lessons from this week (haven't written in forever!) 

We were all made for love. 
&
He wants our all. Because He has everything in return for us. 

Understanding that God is the ultimate lover changes things up. 

He is our Judge, our King, our Father, AND the Bridegroom.

And God has this fiery, fervent, unwavering, passionate, jealous love for us.

 He is currently preparing us for intimacy that is entailed in such a relationship.

This crushes Satan schemes to make us fall or wander off. Because! God is madly in love with us! He won't ever give up on us.  


When we say yes to him- its saying yes to Truth. Saying yes to life, saying yes to trust, saying yes to the definition of love. 
---------------------
On Sunday City Central and the pleasure of hearing John Dawson. Not gonna lie, I never know these famous Christians who we have been super blessed to hear speak while I've been here in WA! But I do know I am blessed! We had Allen Hood last week (am I name dropping) haha. The appropriate term for this time in Tacoma has been related to drinking out of a fire hose. We've just been straight up blasted with prophetic teaching, life changing messages, and actual life change! 

It's been a pretty wild ride. And has gone by SO fast. I must say Tacoma is doing some things "right" in my book. They have an incredible community, whom I will miss dearly -come to AZ next people!- hah and truly yearn for a life lived the way God intended it AND there is such fruit! In marriages, kids, ministries. Man, GOD is proud of these people! 

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 I've always known life was like a song to me, but in a recent message I heard life being compared to a poem. Written by God, flowing, strengthened and moved by God, powerful and convicting, passionate. 

We all have a story. This elaborate human story is being written simultaneously all over the world. And as we play a certain role, others have roles. We have different characteristics, varying backgrounds, belonging to somewhere and some people- but all playing a role in the same film. We all have room for redemption and saving. And never could say we have enough love. 

The director and main character is God and He is madly in love with us. 
It's the best love story ever told, and he's the greatest fighter you'll ever know. He loves to fight and fights to love. Never settling for our flesh's limitations. 


"If we all were the same, we would have nothing to offer each other- therefore our differences are what attract us to each other- our differences are what is beautiful" John Dawson
 As I am about a day away from being in South Korea, I start to really experience the reality of this whole deal. I'm getting on a plane tomorrow at 2pm for South Korea for around a week (going to be teaching English! Eek pray for me, hah) and then off to Cambodia (we will be in villages peaching the Gospel and teaching English) until the last week of August! It's a beautiful beautiful thing getting to be able to do this.  

Never thought I'd have a heart for Asia, but God does work in some funny ways.
I'm thinking God is about to blow my mind... 

To God be aaall the glory!  

Keep me in your prayers! Love you and miss you all! 
 

    

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Hello game changer

Don't give up.
We are called to keep on keeping on.
God promises that He is faithful to good servants. In Galatians 6:9 It is instructed that we must not grow weary of doing good, for in due time we will reap, IF we do not give up.

Let me be the first one to tell you that God is faithful and His promises endure!!

When we are hungry or thirsty, He's there pouring out just waiting for us to turn to Him.

I've had the gift this week, to receive even more understanding of what God has called our generation to do and it is so awe-inspiring-powerful-beautiful.
Nobody wants lukewarm, nobody wants just a Sunday activity, a conscience cleaner, or a low maintenance religion-
Our generation is a generation that seeks and is Finding! Finding God! Finding that He is real and He is Big! Finding that there is more to be found. And knowing that no matter how hard it is to get out of bed some mornings or how dry certain days feel- that God is working. God is building up like a humid day builds up clouds- like where it gets so hot and sticky before it just POURS!

God is starting to pour, preparing hearts so He can pour, and changing the game up.

During worship on Friday night, people began dropping to their knees and just releasing a full on surrender to God. Talk about powerful. We don't want anything to do with our flesh, we want pure hearts and to do God's will.

We are contending for the ultimate greatness.




"Forgive our debt, as we have forgiven our debtors" Matthew 6:12 we've gotta forgive or else were carrying around baggage that wasn't meant for us to carry- therefore it weighs us downnnn.

Matthew 16:12 the disciples were freakin' because they forgot bread. Jesus lays down the law and reminds them of the times He had just provided bread for thousands of people and that they need to have faith! Jesus tells us to be aware of false teaching and the spirit of religion over people.

It is so funny how dumb we are. As people (living in America especially) we are going day to day in no desperate need of really anything- because we so overly indulge in everything. It seems as if it is so simple to forget the basics.

Being thankful!! Remembering His hand throughout life, seeing answered prayers, signs and wonders, knowing that as He has provided He will continue to provide. He is Provider, and that will never change.

Intimacy is what we all need and long for. That intimacy is what switches the game up. Intimacy with God, our daddy! The Redeemer, Our hope, Forever, and the Greatest.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Goal; Reliance

RELIANCE: The faith, confidence, or trust felt by one who relies; dependence. See Synonyms at trust.

It appears that the act of relying on one outside of one's self is a difficult concept to live by as many are raised in ways that force them to be independent. I'm not saying that independence is horribly bad, but it definitely is part of the problem. Reliance has turned into painful memories of people not coming through creating the lie that "if you don't look out for yourself, no one else will". Walls are built up, reenforcing independence.

Life is about reliance!
We weren't made to live on our own. We weren't made by just one parent. We weren't made to hurt on our own. We weren't made to be silent. We weren't made to just love ourself.

We were made to be enjoyed by others. We were made to share life with others. In order to experience life with one another- reliance is a must!

Life wasn't intended to feel completely safe all of the time. It takes faith and trust in something beyond yourself to get through it. We must trust others' words, emotions, and promises.

We're living in a world where everything is telling you to run away and defend yourself and reliance means leaning towards and opening up. I understand this is hard. Even painful. Because people have and are going to run when you have leaned on them,

AND that is exactly why it is our duty to be the difference- to take a stand and hold fast to our promises and Commitments. To be faithful to one another. To truly love another. To depend on one another.

Weighing the pros and cons of putting yourself out there and experiencing that pain rather than never experiencing pain and living a life of seclusion and safety- there is love that results from putting yourself out there, taking risks, and relying on another!

"For it is better to have loved and be hurt, then to have never loved at all"

So why not yearn for reliance on one another. Let us be a generation that loves dangerously.

That loves even when we might not be loved back.


And how will we be able to rely on one another, even when we are broken, hurt, and weak-????

by relying on God first and foremost.

For His promise is to never leave us nor forsake us,
To rely on Him and ask Him questions and He will Answer!
His promise is that the sacrifice might be painful, but the reward is GREAT!
He promises to keep us safe, to lead us in paths of righteousness.
To love us.
To restore everything into perfection.


He is our reliance, our hope, our trust, our peace, our confidence.

Beginning and End.

Therefore we must be rooted in our reliance upon Him to also be rooted in others.

How sweet life is when it's shared eh?
Even sweeter when it's shared in such purity.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Say whatttt

God heals.

Amen!

Sooo, I'm not mature?

I've always thought I was one to quickly recognize that I was one of the most mature ones my age -then I came to Catalyst. Hah. Yeah having comfort in "being more mature than others" is probably a sign. Oh man, I need humility.

Over the last week, I've felt as if that comfort in 'maturity' was being stripped away. Ope! And with this I've surrendered reliance on my own strength, my own will, my preferences, and even my looks. All things that I have leaned on in the past have been brought up leading to a

breakthrough: realizing that when you want more of God, it means your agreeing to less of you.

The goal isn't robot-like people. The goal isn't passivity. The goal isn't surrendering and losing.

Because surrendering in these areas lead us to victory. That we will be mature by our reliance on God!

It's a frustrating process, no doubt, but this surrendering is necessary for me to learn how to be lead. So that I can let God be God, and trust that he will take care of the rest.

I'm giving up my constant striving, and I'm just going to let God love me.


Try it out, it's worth the battle.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Truth.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”


Thank youuuuu Nelson!

You know that whole "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine" deal? More like this gigantic light which is the presence of God in all of us. The world needs some light! Don't hold back the blessings we've been given. We are blessed to be a blessing!

Frustrating and funny.

Ever since I first arrived in Tacoma, things have been shaken up. Obviously living in a new home - shake. New community - shake. New church shake. New worship styles/sound -shake.

And I've found myself at times wanting to complain.... But knowing I wasn't justified in my complaints.
Approaching breakthrough is never as smooth as you might want it to be. It's so funny how you ask for something so much, and have this set out cookie cutter idea of how it should pan out THEREFORE blinding you from the process leading exactly to what you wanted.

Had this dream last night where I was trying to accomplish all of these small tasks and repeatedly failed. For example: Was given directions with a group of people= I was the only one who didn't understand. Had dirty hands= no way of washing them... Just to name a few of the aggravating things that occurred in this dream. Woke up this morning feeling that frustration, and then brought it up at church that night and asked for prayer about it, to see if God was trying to say something though it. Ding ding ding!

I'm at a point in my life where I'm giving up all areas of control, where I'm on the edge of this cliff and I've got to just jump in faith so that God can give me wings. This lack of control right now is Frustrating. But hello God. You do not call us to live comfortably! So this is so encouraging. Through this "letting go" I believe that God is going to take care of me. He desperately wants us to fall into His arms. That's love. In His love, He will take care of us- give us wings! That's the type of love He has. Love that brings freedom.

Praise God!

Friday, June 24, 2011

Where I am is exactly where You'll be.

First off, I'm being fed so much truth while here in Tacoma that I almost want to just bullet it out. I'll try to make it flow for y'all.

I was a bit frustrated the first few days, because God spoke that I am one to receive great revelation but I felt as if I was just experiencing the same old and that He wasn't "showing up" in His glorious mighty way. I was telling Him I'll lay it all down, striving to see His
Glory and feel His presence.
When we strive, we are reaching for something that is unattainable, that God didn't desire you to have at times- therefore it's exhausting because you never get what you want.

Over the past day and a half the teachings have really revealed to me the truth that exactly where we are- God is also! He carefully placed us in this place and time, specifically for us to learn from others and Him! To experience intimacy with Him! And to receive revelation in the seemingly ordinary.

As Ive begun to step back and SIMPLIFY things, I realize that God is right in front of my face. And through prayer lately, worship, and 'school' I am so much more quick to see Gods hand in all of it.

Everything is so woven together. It's beautiful. I love having a God that wants you to understand life. God is the perfection of communion and togetherness in Trinity.

I'm just super in awe today and Gods beauty, in my friends, in His plan! And in this gorgeous Tacoma environment.

Praise tha Lord!

I pray that the beauty of simplicity is revealed to all of us today! God show us your glory, but also show us how you make so much dang sense! Love you!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Revelation in the days to come

So I've always known that God has great plans for me, even when I didn't give credit to God for the plan.

It's now when these plans are becoming so tangible, so attainable. And ALL the glory goes to God. I'm seeing Him become more real within just the last few days.
The Lord said I will receive radically from Him and I will give radically. His promise is abundant life. More of God means more life.
------------------

Psalm 23
Learning to be content with what the Lord has given and shown me. "I shall not want" There is great peace in the presence of God. He makes me rest in fields of green by quiet streams. These steady streams are streams of our salvation. Our safety our promise. Our gift.
And God is here guiding us through it all right now. In utter darkness, He is our light. He is our safety and bravery while we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
We now can skip through these places we used to be so fearful of. Laugh in them even. There is goodness that is to come in the House of God Forever. God, I shall not want a thing- because you are going to provide and your gifts are never ending. Your blessings are new each day. Let whoever ask God in faith, and it will be given.

My prayer is that our wills become aligned with your will Lord, that we may seek to understand your plan and live accordingly!

Whatever the revelation you choose to give me, I will be thankful for. Whatever you show me, I will be in awe. You will always be the lover of my soul. I've been given a huge heart, and I just pray for the further capacity to love and be loved.


Lovelove loooove:)

Saturday, June 18, 2011

....surprise! Oh wait. Now? It's coming..

So God is always working.... Always being big and powerful even when we aren't amidst miracles or trials.

I've just arrived in Tacoma tonight and I'm still so taken back by all that surrounds me here. I dropped off other students at their "family's house" and then had the drive to the Buskirk's all on my own. I wanted to put on music to quiet certain anxious thoughts, but God was like nope, "be with me". I told Him personally how excited I am and how thankful I am that this is His plan. It was a bit sobering. Obviously God saw my excitement and knew it quite well, but just wanted me to talk directly to Him about what I've said to so many others. How great it is to have a jealous and intimate God. He desires our affections, and draws us near to Him.
That us totally what He is doing right now.

He has said that I will impact everyone that I meet, But I first must draw near to Him.

Im feeling this closeness that I haven't really felt before, at least I'm feeling it in a different way. Good different for sure.

Man, so I'm in the Buskirk's upstairs getting rushes from the coffee I drank 6+ hours ago (went to Dutch Bros in Oregon... Sweet! And he even accepted my coupon from AZ) and I'm totally not unpacked, just doing this thang.
I'm just so in awe. I'm living in a house with 9 other people over the next month and a half, and God is going to teach me so much through not only these people, but THROUGH Catalyst.. Duh. I've always had a desire in my heart for my house to be a place that is welcoming and hospitable to everyone and I think I'm going to learn how that is possible this summer... yes! I believe God is going to reveal my ministry and maybe even a possible job (career sort of thing haha)this summer. I'm going to do a lot of maturing and developing this summer.

I see some blossoming heading my way, but not without some heavy rain. Eh sorry I'm using corny metaphors, but seriously. Bring it God.

One huge desire of mine is to cry out of response to your presence, your glory, your power, and your LOVE. You are so big God.

But then again, I'm just sort of waiting for these surprises, so who knows what will happen this summer! I'm banking that it's probably going to blow my expectations out of the water, and kind of just switch up everything.. in an incredible way!

I praise God for getting us Arizonians safely to Tacoma. 26 hours of driving... Done! For now. Hah

Hallelujah to ya. I'm a bit loopy because of lack of sleep and the traveling but thanks for ALL the support.

Love!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Nothing but pure excitement

Soooo for some reason 1 and a half hours of sleep is okay for me on this day in particular. Woke up pretty darn easy about 15 mins ago.

About to leave for a wonderful journey that my life has been leading up to. I realize it has felt a bit like I'm being thrown a surprise party and all I know is that it's going to have great company.
the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!
-Jack Kerouac

I feel excited for the growth, life, the people.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. " Jeremiah 29:11

And what an excellent plan and promise that is.


Whoopeeee!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Oh Heyyy

I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

Tonight was quite a wonderful night. Good reminder that we need not try so hard. I have a friend who claims to have a fear of praying out loud and tonight we sat in my car and just spoke to our Dad. We giggled, were in awe, and felt the love. Our Dad was right there, with His hand on my cheek. I could feel how proud He was of His girls. We just spoke exactly what was on our minds and what the Lord put on our hearts and it was solid community time to say the least. Jesus was making himself known.

It's a funny thing how un-alone we always are. Our God never leaves our side, and is forever for us! If our God is for us, then nothing can stop us.
There is such beauty in meeting God exactly where we are at. Whether it be an emotional roller coaster, full of thanks, doubts, or fears. He is a man of His word. He's there to deal with it WITH us. He's there to have control when we've lost all hope in ourselves. He's there to have control! Hey, control! I repeat this because it's totally what He's trying to get through my pea-brain. Haha. Just give it up.

We're here to seek Him, seek His plan for our lives and the rest is in His hands- He will open and close the doors and lead us.

There's such simplicity and adventure in following.

May we grow in faith each day, so that we experience even more freedom in ever more light.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Upside to feeling weak.

Now we cannot...discover our failure to keep God's law except by trying our very hardest (and then failing). Unless we really try, whatever we say there will always be at the back of our minds the idea that if we try harder next time we shall succeed in being completely good. Thus, in one sense, the road back to God is a road of moral effort, of trying harder and harder. But in another sense it is not trying that is ever going to bring us home. All this trying leads up to the vital moment at which you turn to God and say, You must do this. I can't.
C. S. Lewis 

Truth!
This kind of sums up my frustrations and life lately. There's this constant striving and eventual feeling of defeat. There is our defeat and there is a positive defeat: where we finally stop trying, stop relying on our own doing and our own strength and once again land at the foot of the throne.

Tired and helpless, therefore pleading for God's help. Which is essentially where we should be all along. So in these times of weakness, there are great blessings and STRENGTH! Strength in knowing that we can't nor were made to do this on our own and the answer lies in giving up our own assumptions, pride, and plan and RELYING on God's will for our lives. For when we are weak, we give full reign for Him to be strong in us.

To God be ALL the glory.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

In the beginning...

Soooo I got accepted to Catalyst a few months ago. Interestingly enough, I was a bit doubtful of whether or not I was "good enough" for Catalyst at first. Definitely had some hesitation, but once I actually sought God's will for my life and applied- He decided to bless me with bold affirmations that completely directed me towards Tacoma, WA.

I remember waking up and feeling a little uneasy and almost saying "if this isn't your will, make it easy for me to understand" It felt as if I was interrupted mid-sentence by God laughing at me, basically saying you already know your accepted! .... 3 hours go by and what do ya know? I get a phone call from Ms Lauren telling me of my acceptance into Catalyst. Praise the Lord!

God has this wild, wild plan for me and my ministry and I have no doubt that His hand is guiding me entirely to Catalyst. He's doing a work in me! Day after day is revealing changes and how to further rely on Him. It is definitely a process, and I am learning all about rejoicing in these times of weakness. What this world has to offer is so temporary, while His plan provides not only bettering of myself and the place we live- but leads to life lived more abundantly.

Wild wild that's all this can be.
And yet we're so safe in thee.
I dive in and explore around
Seasons come and go, and I marvel at what I've found
That You continue to get bigger and leave no room for expectation.
Driven and peaceful, I surrender my all for your elation.