There are two weeks left here at the Belize base before we leave for outreach and as of today I still owed $1,700. After the group of YWAMers learned about this, within about 20 minutes all of my outreach fees had been covered. WOW. I really have nothing else to say so, yeah. These people are amazing, can't believe how they sacrificed so that I would be able to go to the Philippines.
Heck yeah.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Destiny
Today our speaker proposed to us that if we were to have a reunion 10 years from now what would we like to say that we have done? She asked us to take 5 minutes and write down what we want our lives to be like. The purpose of this is to help us discover what our hearts desire for the future, kinda like our own personal mission statements. I really liked this exercise because it helped me to focus on who I hope to become...I don't exactly know what I want to do yet, but I do know what I want it to be like. I hope that 10 years from now this can be true of me.
This is what I wrote:
The past 10 years have been full of wild. fun adventures with God. I've been all over the world serving every kind of person; from the "least of these" to the "high citizens." I've seen God working in miraculous ways, I've seen scores of people healed, set free, and redeemed in a radical way by Jesus. I've experienced great joy and great suffering, and it's all brought me closer to the one I live my life for- Jesus. I've learned to hear God's voice and walk in the Spirit every day. My fuel for life comes from spending time in God's presence. I've experienced the joy of marriage and children and I battle for my family to stay in a place of love and belonging both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I've dreamed big dreams and I've seen them come true. I've built life long relationships with people whom I love and love me. I've been generous with my time, money, and resources. I've seen people for who God created them to be and I've helped them get there. I've lived life fully. I've taken what God has given me and I've ran with it. I have loved God and people with all that I am.
This is my desire...and I can't wait to see how it all works out.
This is what I wrote:
The past 10 years have been full of wild. fun adventures with God. I've been all over the world serving every kind of person; from the "least of these" to the "high citizens." I've seen God working in miraculous ways, I've seen scores of people healed, set free, and redeemed in a radical way by Jesus. I've experienced great joy and great suffering, and it's all brought me closer to the one I live my life for- Jesus. I've learned to hear God's voice and walk in the Spirit every day. My fuel for life comes from spending time in God's presence. I've experienced the joy of marriage and children and I battle for my family to stay in a place of love and belonging both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I've dreamed big dreams and I've seen them come true. I've built life long relationships with people whom I love and love me. I've been generous with my time, money, and resources. I've seen people for who God created them to be and I've helped them get there. I've lived life fully. I've taken what God has given me and I've ran with it. I have loved God and people with all that I am.
This is my desire...and I can't wait to see how it all works out.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Warzone
My legs currently look like a battelground because of relentless attacks from misquitoes and sand flies. I thought you all needed to be aware and pray into this issue :)
Okay so last week was pretty incredible and I'd love to give you all a snapshot how God proved his faithfulness...
In the spirit of Luke 10:2-11 which says:
2He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 10But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.
So, with a few others, I traveled several hours into an unknown town; we had no money or extra clothes and we were supposed to go out in the town trusting God to provide meals, water, and accommodations. It was so amazing to see God give us everything we needed… and it sure helped to build up my faith. We met some amazing people and got to stay a couple nights at a church, they completely took care of us and gave us money to get back. We encountered many people and got to pray for the sick and for the brokenhearted...it was really cool. What an amazing life God lets me live.
Thanks for all your love, support, and prayers :)
Okay so last week was pretty incredible and I'd love to give you all a snapshot how God proved his faithfulness...
In the spirit of Luke 10:2-11 which says:
2He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 10But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.
So, with a few others, I traveled several hours into an unknown town; we had no money or extra clothes and we were supposed to go out in the town trusting God to provide meals, water, and accommodations. It was so amazing to see God give us everything we needed… and it sure helped to build up my faith. We met some amazing people and got to stay a couple nights at a church, they completely took care of us and gave us money to get back. We encountered many people and got to pray for the sick and for the brokenhearted...it was really cool. What an amazing life God lets me live.
Thanks for all your love, support, and prayers :)
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Dicscipleship
Well it's been four weeks and I've been learning a ton, so I thought I'd share with you all some of the things that have really challenged me and/or resonated with me...
"True faith means holding nothing back" Frances Chan
Justice is equal to Righteousness; God always does the right thing and He is the ultimate standard of what is right.
God's character is based on his nature, His moral attributes- God is love, God is faithful, God is merciful, God is generous, God is good, God is jealous, God is just. Our character, however, is not based on our nature but on our choices.
On the topic of freewill:
1. Freewill if real.
2. God's relationship with us is based on LOVE.
3. Love without choice cannot be love.
4. Choice without freedom is not choice.
5. Freedom involves risk
6. The risk that God takes in giving us freewill:
a) people may not choose to follow and love God
b) people may choose to do evil
c) people will get hurt by those who choose to do evil
You're not really living unless you have a passion in your life worth dying for.
The motivation for evangelism should be to alleviate the pain and suffering God feels for His missing children.
Good stuff, ay?!
"True faith means holding nothing back" Frances Chan
Justice is equal to Righteousness; God always does the right thing and He is the ultimate standard of what is right.
God's character is based on his nature, His moral attributes- God is love, God is faithful, God is merciful, God is generous, God is good, God is jealous, God is just. Our character, however, is not based on our nature but on our choices.
On the topic of freewill:
1. Freewill if real.
2. God's relationship with us is based on LOVE.
3. Love without choice cannot be love.
4. Choice without freedom is not choice.
5. Freedom involves risk
6. The risk that God takes in giving us freewill:
a) people may not choose to follow and love God
b) people may choose to do evil
c) people will get hurt by those who choose to do evil
You're not really living unless you have a passion in your life worth dying for.
The motivation for evangelism should be to alleviate the pain and suffering God feels for His missing children.
Good stuff, ay?!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Wow!
So I was browsing through my journal and happened to stumble across something that made me laugh.
Two weeks before I had heard of YWAM at the One Thing Conference during Christmas break of 2009, I wrote the following in my journal:
12/13/09
"I want to dive into the deeper waters of your Spirit."
This date is exactly one month before I was accepted into the YWAM Discipleship Training School- The Adventure DTS, where I get to scuba dive!
It made me laugh that God answered my prayers in such a way :)
Two weeks before I had heard of YWAM at the One Thing Conference during Christmas break of 2009, I wrote the following in my journal:
12/13/09
"I want to dive into the deeper waters of your Spirit."
This date is exactly one month before I was accepted into the YWAM Discipleship Training School- The Adventure DTS, where I get to scuba dive!
It made me laugh that God answered my prayers in such a way :)
Monday, September 20, 2010
Making Waves
Hello! First of all can I just say that getting the opportunity to come to Belize and learn more about the creator of the universe is such a great gift. We had a great week of lectures and learning last week; Peter Warren the YWAM Director of the Denver, CO base came and shared with us about the charactersitics of God- his love, generousity, faithfulness and etc. He also taught on hearing from God and spiritual warfare- last week many people experienced some spiritual attack, including myself, which inspired us to walk around the base praying and praising God and things have gone quite well since.
One of my favorite times of the week is when we meet for intercession...it truly feels like we are changing tides in the kingdom by praying on behalf of others. I also enjoy having quiet time on the dock after the sunrise, it is so calm and life-giving. Saturday I had my first experience scuba diving, which was a blast. It does feel unnatural breathing through the scuba gear, but we saw some colorful fish- one girl even saw a sting ray. But I am super excited to see the location where sharks live :)
During our time here we are challenged to read the entire Bible, which I have decided to take...so far I have completed 8 books, from both the Old and New Testament. I am also reading a book called Heaven, which explores all the scripture for biblical insight on what Heaven will be like...and it sounds fantastic- and I'm sure it is soo much better that what earthly words can describe. I am soaking up everything I possibly can.
Last night I befriended a woman named Maritza, she was a very nice woman who worked in town. Say prayers for her and her family. Lots of Love!!
One of my favorite times of the week is when we meet for intercession...it truly feels like we are changing tides in the kingdom by praying on behalf of others. I also enjoy having quiet time on the dock after the sunrise, it is so calm and life-giving. Saturday I had my first experience scuba diving, which was a blast. It does feel unnatural breathing through the scuba gear, but we saw some colorful fish- one girl even saw a sting ray. But I am super excited to see the location where sharks live :)
During our time here we are challenged to read the entire Bible, which I have decided to take...so far I have completed 8 books, from both the Old and New Testament. I am also reading a book called Heaven, which explores all the scripture for biblical insight on what Heaven will be like...and it sounds fantastic- and I'm sure it is soo much better that what earthly words can describe. I am soaking up everything I possibly can.
Last night I befriended a woman named Maritza, she was a very nice woman who worked in town. Say prayers for her and her family. Lots of Love!!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Destination Paradise
The first week here at the base, well, has been pretty amazing...I'm here with 30 other people from many different places including England, Canada, Holland, Germany, Norway, and some local to Belize. The base is right on the beach and I when I wake up I can see the sun rising over the ocean without even getting out of my bed. It's an incredible sight to behold.
We are getting introduced to life here, there are many things to take note of- but I am glad at how laid back everything is...we are free to swim in the ocean, kayak, snorkel, walk, bike, and pretty much anything we feel while we have free time...and the time here that I spend with God looks so different as I get to connect with his creation in ways I normally wouldn't have the chance to do.
However today has been the greatest yet, as we experienced the Spirit of God move within the hearts of our students as we got open and honest with each other about our pasts and our struggles. I witnessed person after person give the most outstanding, authentic account of their life. Many girls were admitting to abuse and past poor choices that they had kept in the dark...but now these secrets are in the light and no longer have a hold over them, one guy told us of these intense demonic attacks that would leave him beating his head into the ground until they would stop--after he told of his experience he declared God's power over darkness, another girl told about the death of her father and how she became so hard-hearted after that, even using his death as an excuse to be cold and mean...with the help of a stand in proxy, she was able to say all the things she wanted to her father that she never had the chance to while he was here on earth, and she walked away feeling light and free.
Today was a beautiful demonstration of broken people coming together to receive God's love, mercy, and grace into their hearts....and it is only the first week. I cannot wait to see all that God will do in and through our group. I am feeling His presence in the midst of it all and I am so glad to be able to share with all my loving supporters.
Peace and Love
We are getting introduced to life here, there are many things to take note of- but I am glad at how laid back everything is...we are free to swim in the ocean, kayak, snorkel, walk, bike, and pretty much anything we feel while we have free time...and the time here that I spend with God looks so different as I get to connect with his creation in ways I normally wouldn't have the chance to do.
However today has been the greatest yet, as we experienced the Spirit of God move within the hearts of our students as we got open and honest with each other about our pasts and our struggles. I witnessed person after person give the most outstanding, authentic account of their life. Many girls were admitting to abuse and past poor choices that they had kept in the dark...but now these secrets are in the light and no longer have a hold over them, one guy told us of these intense demonic attacks that would leave him beating his head into the ground until they would stop--after he told of his experience he declared God's power over darkness, another girl told about the death of her father and how she became so hard-hearted after that, even using his death as an excuse to be cold and mean...with the help of a stand in proxy, she was able to say all the things she wanted to her father that she never had the chance to while he was here on earth, and she walked away feeling light and free.
Today was a beautiful demonstration of broken people coming together to receive God's love, mercy, and grace into their hearts....and it is only the first week. I cannot wait to see all that God will do in and through our group. I am feeling His presence in the midst of it all and I am so glad to be able to share with all my loving supporters.
Peace and Love
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